Higher Standards

Letters to the Editor

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October 15, 2025

A new law authored by Sen. John Laird—and signed into law Oct. 7 by Gov. Gavin Newsom—will bolster safety standards for new battery storage facilities and improve coordination with fire officials.

Senate Bill 283 was sponsored by the California Professional Firefighters and the California State Association of Electrical Workers, Laird stated in a press release.

“California must prioritize safety at every step when expanding battery storage to meet its clean energy goals,” he stated. “SB 283 ensures that future battery storage facilities are developed with safety and the community in mind, and that our fire officials are involved in every step along the way.”

Laird introduced the bill after the Vistra battery storage fire in Moss Landing on Jan. 16, which sent a massive plume of toxic smoke into the air that left residue in the water and soil.

Since then, Laird says he has worked with state environmental and energy agencies and local jurisdictions to push for investigations into the incident, encourage appropriate monitoring of environmental and public health impacts and secure funding for scientific studies into the impacts of the fire.

Under SB 283, battery storage developers will be required to engage with local fire authorities prior to submitting an application.

This consultation must address facility design, assess potential risks, and integrate emergency response plans.

A facility will be required to undergo a safety inspection by local fire officials before the facility can go online.

SB 283 ensures that the facility owner covers the cost of inspections, reinforcing accountability in the permitting process.

The law also directs the state to review the configuration of facilities, including limitations on development within combustible buildings to avoid another incident like Moss Landing.

“Senate Bill 283 is a critical step forward in protecting both our firefighters and the communities they serve,” said Brian K. Rice, President of California Professional Firefighters.

Keanu Reeves Plays Santa Cruz

Letters to the Editor

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September 16, 2024

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In a “most excellent” display of rock, Dogstar—featuring Hollywood outsider favorite Keanu Reeves on bass—played to a sold-out Catalyst main room last night. The air was more electrified than the batteries of the Matrix as everyone anxiously waited to get a glimpse of the star. Despite the show starting at 8pm, Catalyst staff had been at the club since 10am setting up the stage and keeping fans away from the tour buses all day.

Yet despite the early call time, stage managers, runners and security were in as good of spirits as the fans later in the evening. That’s just the magic of Keanu.

While the official time the doors opened was 7pm, VIP lanyard ticket holders were allowed in 20 minutes before. A group of 50 or so individuals rushed to the front of the stage to stake their place. Every once in a while a friend from any given group would go to the bar and place an order of drinks to bring back while the crowd broke into cheers whenever the door to the green room opened.

By the time opening band Sons of Silver hit the stage, the Catalyst bars were in full gear cranking out drinks to thirsty crowds. The Los Angeles five piece is touring off their latest single, “Running Out of Words,” ahead of the release of their debut full-length, Runaway Emotions. Featuring former members of Pearl Jam, Candlebox and Skillet, Sons of Silver brings a certified classic rock sound with a twist from keyboardist Brina Kabler. Their first time in Santa Cruz and at the Catalyst, Sons of Silver singer Peter Argyropoulos acknowledged the venue’s historic past.

**EVERY DOGSTAR HAS ITS DAY** Keanu Reeves and Dogstar played the Catalyst on Sept. 15. PHOTOS: Mat Weir

“It’s good to be in a proper rock ’n’ roll club,” he told the audience, noting the current Summer Vacation Tour with Dogstar has taken the bands to multiple casino resort shows.

After a 20-minute or so break between bands, the crowd erupted as the three-piece Dogstar took the stage. They opened the set with “Blonde,” an Echo & the Bunnymen-esque song that also opens Dogstar’s new album, Somewhere Between the Power Lines and the Palm Trees, which came out in October 2023. Throughout the set they played a number of new tracks, such as the break-up ballads “How The Story Ends” and “Glimmer” along with an energetic anthem, “Breach.”

After a quick five-minute break, Dogstar returned for a four-song encore that included lively cover versions of The Cure’s “Just Like Heaven” and The Ramones’ “I Wanna Be Sedated,” maybe or maybe not in honor of the day being the 20th anniversary of the death of Johnny Ramone.

As they closed out the set, singer Bret Domrose—a Santa Clara native who has also acted in movies like The Replacements with bassist Reeves and previously played bass in San Francisco new wave punk act The Nuns—told the Catalyst he was once in a local band as “a kid” that tried to play the venue but couldn’t get a gig.

“So thanks for finally letting me in,” he joked before the band walked off stage.

Living up to his reputation as a “regular person” and grateful star, Reeves re-emerged once most of the venue cleared out to greet fans and hang out with old friends. Before heading back onto the bus he signed autographs and took a couple of photos with some lucky fans while rocking a comfy pair of UGG boots. Like his character in The Devil’s Advocate said, it’s “free will after all.”

Jake Nielsen Setting the Pace

A&E
Music

Letters to the Editor

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July 3, 2024

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STRUMMING ALONG Catch Jake Nielsen on Fourth of July at Junction Park in Boulder Creek. PHOTO: Tarmo Hannula

What do you do when you’re a young rodeo rider, your whole family is known for professional rodeo, and a baby bull steps on your face?

For Aptos musician Jake Nielsen, then 9 years old, it was a pivotal moment in his musical journey.

“I actually got my face stepped on. A hoof cut my eyelid,” Nielsen says. “After that my parents were like, ‘No.’” Instead, Nielsen’s uncle Jayme Acevedo bought the teenager his first guitar, an Ibanez.

A few years later, after seeing his son’s dedication, Nielsen’s dad, Jeff, surprised him with a trip to Guitar Center in Gilroy. “I picked a black Fender Telecaster, and it’s my number one guitar that I still play all the time,” Nielsen says.

Fast forward a decade, and Nielsen is performing on stages nationwide. He signed with a new record label and has a jam-packed touring schedule, with a new single, “Baby Let Go,” coming out this summer. But don’t fret, Santa Cruz, because you can still see this Aromas native known for his scorching guitar and blazing riffs at multiple gigs around town.

Early Years

For Nielsen, who was born with cerebral palsy and cannot walk without crutches, playing the guitar came naturally. “I cannot for the life of me play piano, but anything with strings I can play,” he says. “It just always feels natural.”

His progression happened quickly. At 17, Jake was going to Bay Area open pro blues jams in the city with his uncle’s friend, Sal. “It was my first time being on stage in front of a crowd,” he says.

Being underage, “They would only let me in to play,” Nielsen explains. “I would have to wait in the car.” Open mics were nerve-wracking, he adds, but over time he gained experience surrounded by the other musicians: “I soaked it up like a sponge.”

He always had the strongest support and encouragement from family and friends in Aromas.

Testing out of Watsonville High School to pursue music, Nielsen formed the bands Fubar and later Jake Nielsen’s Triple Threat and started to hit local venues—Moe’s Alley, the Sand Bar and the Catalyst, to name a few.

Although Jake Nielsen’s Triple Threat has changed its lineup over the years, Nielsen sees it as part of his evolution as a musician.

“Right now I’m playing with two different drummers and two different bass players this summer,” he says. These include drummer Dennis Dove from the Bay Area and David De Silva, who is also bass player for Archer (another band from Santa Cruz). “One cool thing about being a solo musician is I can pick up good musicians wherever I go, and get to play with a bunch of different people,” Nielsen says. Bass player Brendan Brose (What’s Good and THC) and drummer Christian Walsh complete the band’s extended family.

Nielsen says he enjoys the chance to play with different musicians, like he did recently in New York. Although he’s had a few different drummers, the professionalism of the musicians has for the most part exceeded his expectations. “It’s cool to see that caliber of musicians,” he says. “It pushes my playing.”

On the Records

Nielsen released his first full-length album, Everyday Thing (The Orchard Records), in December 2022. The first single, “40 to Life,” is a high-energy, blues-meets-reggae rhythm, with lyrics inspired by Nielsen’s cousin, who got caught up in gang violence and served out a lengthy prison sentence. It’s a true story.

In addition, he’s come out with two new singles since Everyday Thing dropped. “Baby Let Go” is a “vibey-reggae island” number that’s set for release at the end of summer. Additionally, he recorded “Pick up the Pace” with Adam Patterson, drummer for the Expendables. “We did a bunch of tracks at his home studio in Corralitos. It was rad to sit down with him in the studio, and talk about music and road stories. I’ve grown up being a fan of theirs. … They are super humble dudes.”

“Pick Up the Pace” is now available on Spotify and all streaming music platforms.

Last summer, Nielsen signed to record label Just Call Me By My Name, which is distributed by the Orchard, a branch of Sony Music, based in New York. When we spoke, he had just returned from a live gig and media tour hosted by the label, which brought him to the Scarsdale Music Festival in New York. He was hoping to play a couple little shows beforehand to get ready, but that didn’t happen.

Noting that this was his first show since joining the new label, Nielsen says, “The first show of the summer was a big one.” After the day in New York doing interviews including Associated Press, “it was basically a whole day of answering the same questions over and over,” he says.

For Nielsen, who faces many challenges as a disabled musician, the road to success hasn’t always been smooth. Before he discovered music, he tried his hand at adaptive sports, which were not integrated with able-bodied sports people. “I still find new differences every day,” he says. “I just have to deal with them.”

For example, Nielsen says he doesn’t use a lot of effects in his shows. “My amp has a pedal, and I go from clean to distortion, maybe a little echo and reverb. I can’t really hit the pedals. I’d have to grab a crutch and hit a pedal with it. There’s been times I would miss it [the pedal], too, so I just keep it simple.”

And fortunately, there’s that strong family dynamic: his brother, wife Ashley and their two children are always there if he needs them. “It’s just always been who I was,” he says, addressing the challenges he faces on the road. “I never knew how to walk or run, so it doesn’t really bother me that I can’t do it.”

In fact, Nielsen has turned his disability into an unusual component of his live show. In what the band jokingly calls “the chainsaw massacre,” Nielsen uses his crutch to play slide guitar. “Every time I do it, people flip out,” he says. “One time I didn’t do it and got called out. Nothing about it sounds good, but people love it.”

With each performance as unpredictable as it is inspiring, every show draws on its audience. “It all kind of depends on how my legs are that day,” he says. “A lot of days the energy of the crowd will make me wanna get up…I just can’t sit down.”

Let Jimi Take Over

With an ambitious touring schedule—Denver, San Diego, Lake Tahoe—Nielsen looks forward to a full day of music July 12 at the Hello Inclusion festival at the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts in New York, his second consecutive year of playing at the show. “It’s super rad,” he says. “It’s kind of like Shoreline. They built it on the same grounds as Woodstock ’69.” Yes, that Woodstock, the very same festival grounds where Jimi Hendrix performed his famous guitar exploits all those years ago.

“Hendrix would have loved Jake,” says Ken Trush, co-founder and managing director of New York-based Daniel’s Music Foundation, and Just Call Me By My Name Records. The foundation is a nonprofit supporting musicians with disabilities. “Jake is a star and he’s a great speaker, but even more than that, he just lets his music do the talking,” Trush says. “And then when he lets the crutch fly, everyone goes crazy.”

Co-founded by the Orchard label, the Foundation hosts the Danny Awards, a global video call drawing some 110 musicians of all disabilities. Nielsen joined the top 10 finalists last year in New York and ultimately won the award. He was signed by the label last summer, and won the opportunity to perform at Bethel Woods with the other finalists. He will be featured on the foundation’s second sampler EP, Call Me By My Name Vol. 2, which drops Oct. 18. “This is about moving the needle for our community because we see so much talent,” Trush added. Nielsen also performs alongside this year’s headliners, Jason Mraz and Boston-based band Ripe.

Switching gears from power trio to solo name was inevitable for Nielsen. At least the change in name should make it easier for promoters to spell it out. “The worst one on a marquee was ‘Jack Wilson’s Triple Treat,’” Nielsen says. “I’ve seen it butchered.”

For now, Nielsen is looking forward to whatever the future holds, whether it be forming another band or a solo career—as long as he’s making music. “I’m never going to stop,” he says. “If a couple of us come together, I can see us sticking together for a long time,” he says. “Either way, I’m not stopping. The show must go on.”

Jake Nielsen plays on Fourth of July at noon in Junction Park in Boulder Creek, at 7pm on July 19 at the Midtown Block Party in Santa Cruz, and at 2pm on July 20 at “The Lot” concert series at Pleasure Point. Learn more about upcoming shows and where to find albums and singles at jakenielsenmusic.com.

Wolf Jett’s Album Release Party at the Kuumbwa.

Music

Letters to the Editor

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March 13, 2024

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Wolf Jett’s Album Release Party at the Kuumbwa.

Wolf Jett’s drummer, Jon Payne, and lead vocalist Chris Jones, understand the double-edged chainsaw nature of mountain life, for better (and worse), than most. Childhood friends, Jones and Payne dreamed of one day building a recording studio to capture their cosmic mountain music rhythms. In 2020, they completed the high-end, but rustic, studio on the property that Payne and his wife live on, in Boulder Creek. Within a notoriously short amount of time, due to the CZU Lightning Complex Fire, the studio, and home, and dream, were ashes.

Like their spiritual, and geographical compadres, The Coffis Brothers, the inspirational, fuel-injected Wolf Jett, also identifies as a band from the Santa Cruz Mountains. The mysteries, tragedies and beauty of living in the mountains, infuse the spirit of Wolf Jett’s songs. Add to this the band’s camaraderie, community spirit, and positive affirmation that things will be OK, make Wolf Jett poised and ready for the bigger stage.

Wolf Jett’s new album (their 2^nd) is titled, Time Will Finally Come. You can draw a line from the immersive sounds of Bay Area bands of the 1960s-1980s (Payne and Jones originally bonded on their mutual love of Metallica) to the dorms of Chico State, where the Mother Hips formed, down to the mountains of Santa Cruz. Call it California Soul, or whatever label you need, but Wolf Jett moves effortlessly between grinding little numbers like, Strong Help Carry the Weak, to bluegrassy jams like Fare Thee Well. The beautiful ballad, Tivara, anchors the uplifting jams the band is known for, with a bittersweet soulful sound. Eclectic, and unable to be pigeon-holed, Wolf Jett comes across as a band whose time has indeed, finally, come.

On Time Will Finally Come, when Laura T. Lewis sings Broken, you can hear a hit that could be picked up by Nashville country singers. Lewis brings all the sunshine that hides behind the clouds. And, when Lewis joins Jones on the eponymous Time Will Finally Come, it’s like traveling back in time to the music of Delaney and Bonnie. There’s a soulful undercurrent brewing, that is more like the San Lorenzo breaching its banks. The track, Feel The Way I Feel, is another time-travelling ditty that could have appeared in any decade, in the last sixty years. What ties it all together is a sense of hope, community and overcoming adversity.

After three years of touring throughout California and beyond, the band has earned frequent radio play on local favorite KPIG and become a staple of the Santa Cruz music scene. Now, “Time Will Finally Come” is poised to broaden the band’s musical appeal and become a fan-favorite, as evidenced by the overwhelmingly positive reception of their first three singles released from the record in 2023. Produced and recorded in Oakland by Jonathan Kirchner (Con Brio), the album evolves the band’s sound in a more upbeat, cosmic-electric soul direction and features guest artists AJ Lee (AJ Lee & Blue Summit) and Jason Crosby (Jackson Browne, Phil Lesh, Mother Hips).

Payne says that Wolf Jett’s music, “Has a foot in the jamband world and a foot in Americana. And, Chris Jones was raised in the South and he brings a Southern rock/country influence.”

Chris Jones states, “Time Will Finally Come is a redemption story. We are finally able to celebrate life again, but these songs don’t forget what has happened over the past few years. There’s recognition of our trauma alongside hope for what’s to come. It’s the sound of rebuilding and learning from the past.”

Wolf Jett is having their record release party, of Time Will Finally Come, at The Kuumbwa Jazz on March 16^th and will play the album in its entirety, with vinyl and CDs to sell. Plus, with their studio, finally being rebuilt and ready to roll, just this month, Wolf Jett has come full circle and ready to rise up, like a Phoenix in the sky.

Wolf Jett will have a record release party at The Kuumbwa Jazz, 320-2 Cedar Street, on Saturday, March 16^th. For tickets and more information go to www.wolfjett.com

Philanthropist, publisher Rowland Rebele dies at 93

News

Letters to the Editor

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November 29, 2023

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Philanthropist, publisher Rowland Rebele dies at 93

Rowland Rebele, a publisher and philanthropist who wanted to give away all of his money before he passed away, died Saturday at the age of 93.

“Reb,” as he liked to be called, served in the U.S. Navy and attended Stanford University before embarking on a career as a newspaper owner, mostly in California with business partner Lowell Blankfort. They sold them off one by one at a time when print publications were far more valuable than they are today.

Born in San Francisco, he lived his later years in Aptos, where he supported civic causes throughout Santa Cruz, including UC Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz Symphony, Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music, Santa Cruz Shakespeare and most important to him, the downtown homeless shelter, named the Rebele Family Shelter.

He also funded journalism training at Cabrillo College and Stanford University, where he regularly met with students studying and working in the field. He was a leading donor to the California First Amendment Coalition, a group that promotes a free press and freedom of expression.

Reb regularly told the students that his goal was to give away his money before he died. But his efforts weren’t limited to financial help. He regularly worked on the census of the local unhoused community, climbing down hillsides and along river banks to interview the people living there, even in his 80s.

His health deteriorated in later years, but not his vigor, intelligence or wicked sense of humor. He remained devoted to his college sweetheart, Patricia, who helped with managing the newspapers’ financial operations.

“Reb and his wife Patricia were completely devoted to each other, and together they supported numerous non-profit organizations,” wrote the Santa Cruz Symphony in an email. “They were present for nearly all our concerts and special events. Reb was typically the first to stand for an ovation and could be heard yelling bravo at most concerts.”

Rebele at home in 1999. Photograph by George Sakkestad.

Rebele and Blankfort purchased the Chula Vista Star News in 1961 and sold it to Hart Hanks Corporation, remaining there until 1978. He later owned newspapers in Butte County, California.

He acknowledged that publishing was a controversial industry. “We did have animosities because of our stand-taking journalism,” he told Metro Santa Cruz in 1999. “In our news columns, we tried to be fair and objective because that’s the role of a paper in part. It’s also the purpose of a paper to raise hell.”

Rebele helped kickstart the news organization that ended up owning Good Times. “I met him after I graduated from UC Santa Cruz and was starting the Los Gatos Weekly,” Good Times Publisher Dan Pulcrano said. “I visited him at his Aptos home and pitched him on investing. He pulled out a black binder, wrote a check for $500 and handed it to me. Those first dollars were the catalyst for starting a company, and everything that came after that.

“His Paradise Post printed our newspapers for a number of years, and his generosity in supporting the public’s right to know, local culture and housing for the community’s most vulnerable members was truly singular. He was one of a kind.”

Free speech, independent press protect expression rights for all

Letters to the Editor

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November 28, 2023

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Free speech, independent press protect expression rights for all

Reporter Josué Monroy set out to cover a pro-Israel march last week and fairly present the views of the participants. We’ve also covered three pro-Palestinian demonstrations, and this was the first coverage that contained views from Israel’s supporters.

Josué presented a first-hand account of how divisions in the Middle East play out in our community. Our mission as journalists is not to select and quote views with which we agree. Rather, we must unflinchingly ask questions and share answers—even if we disagree with or are horrified by the thoughts expressed.

That is the nature of free expression. A quote is not an endorsement. Sunlight is the best disinfectant.

Since publishing comments from several named individuals from the march on the Good Times website, we have heard from people who feel that we “amplified” the remarks, should not have published them, that we should apologize and issue statements on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

The quotes in question were not printed, appeared on our site for 48 hours and were viewed by less than 1000 people. They were posted on Saturday and removed midday Monday. We listened to the community and were also asked by the individual quoted to retract the statement.

After the removal, two masked individuals showed up at Good Times’ office and anonymously posted flyers. They claim we support genocide. The leaflets personalize and give further distribution to the very words and ideas our critics contend we promoted. They publicly single out Monroy, who was doing his job as a journalist: reporting on local events, including quotes from the people there.

One group subsequently made threats and issued demands that we make political statements on the future of Israel in Palestine.

That’s not our job. We are here as independent journalists to cover local issues and dig deep into the things that make Santa Cruz tick.

We oppose Islamophobia, antisemitism and hate speech; and, we also believe that drawing attention to these issues serves the public interest. Activists on the Palestine issue should understand that the same protections afforded their critics protects their own free speech and assembly rights.

We will continue to do that and we will continue to elicit and print comments from the community, which is fundamental to our role as the Santa Cruz County’s principal locally-owned newspaper. In these times of war and misinformation, a free and independent press is more important than ever.

At a time when the journalistic community should stand together for free expression and the safety of journalists, we are also deeply disappointed to see competitors exploit this situation. They have given advance publicity to anonymous persons who will be engaging in an aggressive pressure campaign this week on our property.

The chilling effect of silencing opposing views through intimidation should concern all of us who value the free exchange of ideas in an open society.

The Editor’s Desk

Brad Kava

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April 1, 2026

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Santa Cruz California editor of good times news media print and web — **Brad Kava** | Good Times Editor

I almost feel guilty admitting this, but the past two years, my only vacations were at the Sphere in Las Vegas, seeing U2 and Dead and Company.

While the music was great, the thing that really got to me most was seeing a new art form, a 3D surround projection unlike anything I’ve ever seen. The visuals were great art, a demonstration of so many artful ambitions, a way to create a new world right there during what are otherwise often concerts with sub-par graphics.

But the Sphere…they now call it Sphere, dropping the the, but that sounds so lame to me. Clearly they are marketing the fact that they want to build more of the $2.3 billion-dollar domes, and well, they should.

The concerts I saw there were unforgettable, as good as the trips around the world I might have gone on. For years impressarios tried to bring visual elements to concerts, from 1960s light shows to giant screens. But everything paled compared to what I saw in Las Vegas. It was never boring because it took all of many senses to take it all in (the seats even move haptically with drum beats) and things fall out of the sky.

My highlight was bringing five kids to a show, which they chose over going to Hawaii and they loved it too.

So, when I heard that a Santa Cruzan was instrumental in the designs I saw, I had to learn more, and I sent our magical techno genius, to get behind the scenes. Some of it was so technical that he had to translate it for me, but he made it work for everyone.

And as it turns out, Santa Cruz is at the cutting edge of another technology. I don’t think there’s another town of our size that has been on the forefront of so many movements.

Now, when can I afford to see the Wizard of Oz at the Sphere and is it worth it? I’m tempted.

PHOTO CONTEST

Scenic relaxing view at UCSC Farm and Garden with greenery and open landscape

RELAXING VIEW This photo put me in a good mood. Shall we say it had an overall net positive effect on me. This is up at the UCSC Farm & Garden, one of my favorite places to get away from it all, without leaving the farm. Photograph by Ross Levoy

GOOD IDEA

In response to California’s ongoing housing affordability crisis, Assemblymember Tina McKinnor (D- Inglewood) has introduced a comprehensive package of legislation aimed at reducing costs, increasing transparency and protecting renters from exploitative practices. The three-bill package targets systemic barriers that make it harder for Californians to secure and maintain safe, affordable housing.

AB 1963 tackles the high and repetitive costs of rental application fees by requiring landlords to accept reusable Portable Tenant Screening Reports (PTSRs). Specifically, the bill also caps the cost of rental screening reports, requires upfront disclosure of all application requirements and allows rental screening reports to be reused for up to 45 days. It also protects renters from high-interest, short-term lending schemes marketed as “Rent Now, Pay Later.” These financial products often trap tenants in cycles of debt through hidden fees and escalating interest rates.

GOOD WORK

U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Jim Banks (R-Ind.) announced that the Senate unanimously passed their bipartisan legislation to help combat the fentanyl crisis. Tyler’s Law would direct the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide hospitals with guidance on incorporating fentanyl testing into routine emergency room drug screenings.

The legislation is named after Tyler Shamash, a Los Angeles teenager who died from fentanyl poisoning after he was admitted to the emergency room, where fentanyl was not included in the standard toxicology screen. Following Tyler’s tragic passing, California became the first state to pass Tyler’s Law in 2022.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

The healthiest version of you isn’t waiting. It’s built in the choices you make today.”
—Elizabeth Borelli

Letters

Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor

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April 1, 2026

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BELOVED ARTIST DIES

I wanted to let you know that Richard ‘Dick’ Bennet died Jan 6. He was an artist and sculptor and spent many years teaching at the Art League. There will be a remembrance of him at the Art League April 12 at 1:30 p.m. and an art show and sale from 3-6 p.m. All proceeds go to the Art League.

Dick was an interesting fellow and well-known in art circles. I bet he taught a few artists around here the basics. He was married to Ann Bennett, who reviewed plays for many years in the area, including at the Good Times. His son David lives in London now I believe, but is in the area to settle things.I just wanted to let you know, but there is no expectation. He was quite the artist. (Painted in the South of France, the Southwest, surveyed across the US, an intellectual and known for his kindness).

Stacey Vreeken | Santa Cruz

SUPPORTING JIMMY PANETTA

Anyone who has been reading local news outlets over the last few weeks has seen several letters attacking Congressman Panetta for his Middle East policy. “Good Times” recently published a lengthy letter that used criticism of Panetta to spread more lies about the Jewish people’s connection to the land of Israel.

Panetta has been a strong advocate for peace, but does not believe in peace at any price We should not ignore the threat that Iran poses to the world. President Trump has done a poor job in explaining this and should have consulted with Congress before attacking the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Iran has been at war with the United States for forty-seven years. It is a daily ritual in their schools to shout “Death to America and Death to Israel”. Iran supports Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis. These far-left opponents of Panetta are upset with him because he opposes these terrorists. They seem to support a candidate who does not have a problem with regimes that kill thousands of their own people, execute gays and women who dare to show their hair. Do you want a representative who fights for the rights of women, gays and political dissidents wherever they are, or one who ignores these atrocities unless Jews and Israel can be blamed?

Panetta wants us safe. The other candidate’s policy would endanger us all.

Gil Stein | Aptos

SUPPORT IMMIGRATION PROJECT

There’s about 60 tickets left for the benefit for the Immigration Project of Santa Cruz County with Painted Mandolin and JB Barton opening.

Expect to hear some songs this evening supporting the immigration situation happening in this country right now.

The Immigration Project helping immigrants acquire legal status, reuniting immigrant families, and making U.S. citizenship more accessible to eligible immigrants. They provide competent and professional legal services, advocacy, and community education and information.

The show is 7:30pm Saturday at Kuumbwa Jazz Center. Tickets are $33 in advance; $38 at the door. TheWheelCompany.com

Jay Saber | Santa Cruz

Brew Chew

Foodie File

Andrew Steingrube

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April 1, 2026

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Josie Lewis began cooking with her parents during childhood before attending culinary programs in high school that she says truly ignited her passion for food. Quickly evolving into a professional chef in her early 20’s, she started in bakeries, including one that shared a space with Other Brother Beer Co., which is how she met the owners (Evan Lowey, Justin DiMauro and Kevin Brown).

After developing a strong and dynamic professional bond with them, she became the executive chef three years ago. In addition to their original Seaside location, they have a second one in Aptos Village described by Lewis as a warm, open and inviting modern industrial space with both indoor and outdoor seating that gives neighborhood hangout spot vibes.

She defines the menu as casual, slightly upscale American fare with eclectic cultural influence. Small bites include a housemade hummus plate, a cheesy and herby artichoke dip and a tin fish plate. Entrée favorites are a nostalgia-inspired classic grilled cheese/tomato soup combo, a saucy chicken parm sandwich and a roast beef sandwich accompanied by horseradish aioli, pickled red onion and sharp white cheddar cheese. They also have inventive salads, desserts are coming soon and the beer selection is mostly their own, with 10-15 rotating options in a wide variety of styles.

What catalyzed you becoming a chef?

JOSIE LEWIS: I was extremely fortunate to attend Pacific Grove High School because it offered a culinary program that gave me a non-traditional creative outlet that I was seeking. My instructor, Imogen Erickson, was incredibly inspiring to me at the time and is still a role model of mine. I definitely would not be where I am today without her or the program. More schools are now offering similar programs, and I think that’s really welcome and impactful. Cooking is fundamental to life; it’s so important to teach kids these skills, whether or not they apply them professionally.

What inspires the menu at Other Brother?

We intentionally curate fresh high-quality, locally-sourced ingredients and provide food that can be eaten any time as either a snack or meal. We want our menu to be approachable and complementary to our craft beer selection, and have something for everyone with vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options. And we also have a cute little kids menu that really makes the whole family happy.

10 Parade Street Suite B, Aptos, 831-661-5008; otherbrotherbeer.com

Things to do in Santa Cruz

Things To Do This Week

GT Staff

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April 1, 2026

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THURSDAY 4/2

STORYTELLING

FREE 99 SHOW AND TELL The MAH is having another solid cultural experience, where the audience is invited to bring something found in a free pile, and give a 3rd grade Show and Tell story. Curated by Louise Leong, who has a penchant for drawing attention to the things in our lives that reek of nostalgia and exist alongside humor. Leong co-founded Little Giant Collective downtown, creating a community around printmaking. Leong is also the Head of Exhibitions at UC Santa Cruz Institute of Arts and Sciences and brings a scholarly focus to a beloved childhood game. DNA

INFO: 6pm, Solari Art Gallery, 705 Front St, Santa Cruz. Free. 429-1964.

FRIDAY 4/3

EXPERIMENTAL

Two musicians standing indoors with long hair and leather jackets — **THE GARDEN**. photo: Taylor Bonin

THE GARDEN What started as a side project of twin high schoolers has become a quest to go beyond the confines of punk rock. Wyatt and Fletcher Shears went into this musical experience with the intention to grow and evolve, hence the name, The Garden. At first, their sound was largely punk-influenced with two-piece bass and drums at the core, but they eventually incorporated guitar, synth, and began to lean into their own, DIY, color-outside-the-lines style. With influences that span from E-40 to video game composer Manabu Namiki, they’ve dubbed their genre, “Vada Vada,” an idea that expands beyond all traditional genres and into pure creative expression. SHELLY NOVO

INFO: 7pm, Quarry Amphitheatre, 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz. $39-$59. 459-4184.

INDIE ROCK

ELISE TROUW Elise Trouw is on her “Diary of Elon Lust Tour,” crushing venues with her sardonically funny, catchy tunes. Trouw broke through the cluttered field of attention economics with her ability to play all the instruments on her songs and loop them into genre-breaking hits. Online, her mashups achieved viral success and caught international attention. A San Diego sensation, Trouw, released four singles back in 2016 that paved the way for her ascent to headlining. “X Marks the Spot” is a blueprint song, showcasing Trouw’s ability to mimic ’90s pop with ’60s cocktail music and meld it all seamlessly. DNA

INFO: 8pm, Catalyst, 1101 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz. $29-$99. 713-5492.

SATURDAY 4/4

LITERARY

WHEN THE FOREST BREATHES Slow down and breathe. Listen to the trees. Dr. Suzanne Simard, author of Finding Mother Nature, reminds us to listen to nature in her latest book, When the Forest Breathes. Plants have a lot to say when we listen. They can educate on adaptability, resilience, and community. Through collaboration with indigenous groups and reflection on her own life, Dr. Simard reveals the unseen cycles of regeneration and how human intervention can help protect and facilitate these practices. Join her at the Cowell Ranch Hay Barn to receive a copy of When the Forest Breathes and learn about these sacred cycles of regeneration. ISABELLA MARIE SANGALINE

INFO: 2pm, Cowell Ranch Hay Barn, Ranch View Road, Santa Cruz. $36. 423-0900.

ROCK

CÉSAR ROSAS For over five decades, Los Lobos has been a leader in Chicano Rock, keeping their roots firmly planted in East Los Angeles while delivering their music to the masses. Now co-founder, singer and guitarist Cesar Rosas is hitting the Central Coast sans Los Lobos for a few dates celebrating his illustrious career. Joining him as his backing band is local favorites Los Survivors, the six-piece Chicano rock and soul act formed during the 2020 pandemic. This is a unique experience to give fans a more intimate show while still keeping the music’s integrity fully intact. It’s a meeting of the minds coming straight from the heart and heading directly to everyone’s dancing shoes. MAT WEIR

INFO: 8pm, Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $46. 479-1854.

SUNDAY 4/5

ROCK

MIDNIGHT NORTH Blending rock, blues, country, western and folk, Midnight North is about as Americana as they get. Since they formed in 2012, Midnight North has delivered sun-soaked harmonies, wandering riffs and uplifting melodies in songs about life on the road, on the stage and in the backyard of the American Dream. In 2023 they released their fifth studio album, Diamonds in the Zodiac, produced by their close friend Amy Helm (daughter of legendary Levon Helm from The Band) and featuring Midnight North’s singer, Grahame Lesh’s dad, Phil Lesh, the late bassist and co-founding member of THE San Francisco legacy rock band, The Grateful Dead. MW

INFO: 8pm, Felton Music Hall, 6275 Hwy 9, Felton. $25. 704-7113.

REGGAE

RIZE THE PEOPLE The epic reggae powerhouse, Nattali Rize, presents Rize the People, a celebration of music, community, and freedom. Nattali Rize will get the crowd dancing and grooving to heavy beats and conscious lyrics that ignite a passion for collective liberation. With her magical vocals and kinetic rhythms, Nattali Rize inspires audiences of all ages and calls for solidarity and light. This joyful outdoor staging will offer market booths featuring local crafts, delicious food and drinks, and selectas. In collaboration with the community-focused Woodhouse Brewery, Rize the People will feature multiple indoor and outdoor stages where people can dance, groove, and connect physically and consciously. SHELLY NOVO

INFO: 3pm, Woodhouse Blending and Brewing, 119 Madrone St., Santa Cruz, $45, 313-9461.

FOLK-ROCK

Man holding red electric guitar wearing black beret smiling with eyes closed — Legendary folk-rock guitarist Richard Thompson brings decades of masterful songwriting and virtuosic playing to the stage, delivering an unforgettable live performance rooted in British folk and rock tradition. PHOTO: Vincent Dixon

RICHARD THOMPSON Richard Thompson is a musician’s musician. Coming to public attention as co-founder of Fairport Convention in 1967, he helped bring British folk and rock together. When he launched a solo career in 1971, Thompson showcased his style, skill and versatility on a grander scale. A run of six albums made in collaboration with his then-wife Linda brought Thompson to a wider audience. And his work since then has found him working solo and in fertile collaboration with even more artists. Thompson is at his very best onstage, where his encyclopedic knowledge of music and his expressive fretwork continue to amaze and inspire. BILL KOPP

INFO: 8pm, Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. $35. 423-8209.

MONDAY 4/6

FUSION

MARK LETTIERI GROUP With five Grammy awards to his credit, guitarist, producer, composer and educator Mark Lettieri combines multifarious instrumental skill with a passion for transcending genre. His latest release, 2024’s Can I Tell You Something? is an exemplar of that wide-encompassing approach: a purely instrumental recording, it touches on everything from funk to jazz and beyond. Lettieri is also a member of two acclaimed groups, Snarky Puppy (with whom he has made 12 albums) and the Fearless Flyers (on eight albums to date). The Texas-based musician has recorded with a dazzling and eclectic array of artists, including David Crosby, Ledisi, and Ghost-Note. BK

Good TimesGood Times

Good TimesGood Times

STRUMMING ALONG Catch Jake Nielsen on Fourth of July at Junction Park in Boulder Creek. PHOTO: Tarmo Hannula

PHOTO CONTEST

GOOD IDEA

GOOD WORK

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

The healthiest version of you isn’t waiting. It’s built in the choices you make today.”—Elizabeth Borelli

BELOVED ARTIST DIES

SUPPORTING JIMMY PANETTA

SUPPORT IMMIGRATION PROJECT

THURSDAY 4/2

STORYTELLING

INFO: 6pm, Solari Art Gallery, 705 Front St, Santa Cruz. Free. 429-1964.

FRIDAY 4/3

EXPERIMENTAL

INFO: 7pm, Quarry Amphitheatre, 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz. $39-$59. 459-4184.

INDIE ROCK

INFO: 8pm, Catalyst, 1101 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz. $29-$99. 713-5492.

SATURDAY 4/4

LITERARY

INFO: 2pm, Cowell Ranch Hay Barn, Ranch View Road, Santa Cruz. $36. 423-0900.

ROCK

INFO: 8pm, Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $46. 479-1854.

SUNDAY 4/5

ROCK

INFO: 8pm, Felton Music Hall, 6275 Hwy 9, Felton. $25. 704-7113.

REGGAE

INFO: 3pm, Woodhouse Blending and Brewing, 119 Madrone St., Santa Cruz, $45, 313-9461.

FOLK-ROCK

INFO: 8pm, Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. $35. 423-8209.

MONDAY 4/6

FUSION

INFO: 7pm, Kuumbwa Jazz Center, 320-2 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. $21-$42. 427-2227.

The healthiest version of you isn’t waiting. It’s built in the choices you make today.”
—Elizabeth Borelli