McPherson’s Legacy

News

Christina Wise

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January 15, 2025

December 30, 2024—Bruce McPherson’s last day as supervisor for the Fifth District of Santa Cruz County—dawned bright and blue. After bidding farewell to his team of analysts and taking down the last mementos from his office walls, McPherson traveled to Scotts Valley for his final interview to recount the highs and lows of his career.

“I feel very fortunate to have been in some form of service. I’ve had two primary careers over the past 50 years—I practiced journalism with the Santa Cruz Sentinel for 28 years, and then was in public service for the last 25. It’s been a blessing; I’ve enjoyed each of those careers because they bring something different every day, but I think being in the press really helped me in my political roles. Maybe it’s in my blood,” said McPherson, a fourth-generation Santa Cruz native, referring to his familial connection to both the Sentinel and the political scene.

The McPherson family owned the Sentinel from 1862 to 1982, carving a path for politically ambitious family members to not only have their voices heard, but also exercise influence in the political sphere of the county.

“I didn’t know I was going to get into politics—it was a surprise when I ran for the Assembly in 1993,” said McPherson, who clarified that the surprise was sprung upon his wife, Mary, to whom he has been married for 57 years. “I thought early on that being in the sports room and a reporter was enough, but when I started writing editorials for the paper, about two-thirds of them were focused on local issues, so I got a feel for what was going on. It was ever-changing and kept me on my toes. The excitement and the nature of constant change held my interest.”

McPherson’s father, Fred Jr., had run for State Assembly in 1932 and lost the contest by about 500 votes. In June of 1993, following a series of local shifts in the political landscape (Leon Panetta ascended from 17th Congressional District Supervisor to become President Bill Clinton’s Director of Office of Management and Budget, allowing Assemblyman Sam Farr to take the congressional representative’s seat in 1993), McPherson ran for Farr’s seat in a special election—and won.

When the election returns were broadcast on that June evening in 1993, Fred Jr. stood up, waved a towel in the air and bellowed, “It took us 60 years to get this seat, but it’s ours now.” Fred Jr. lived just a year after that election, and McPherson was thrilled that his dad was alive to see the results.

Grinning, McPherson recalled, “That was one of the greatest moments of my life.”

McPherson’s own transition to political practice came naturally following his time at the Sentinel. After leaving the paper, he served two terms in the California State Assembly (1993-96) and two terms in the California State Senate (1996-2004).

Following the resignation of California’s Secretary of State in early 2005, McPherson was confirmed unanimously in both the Assembly and Senate to be Secretary of State after being nominated by then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. As a Republican (Santa Cruz County was a red area until the 1960s) who later changed his political stripes to “no party preference” in 2012, McPherson found his stride in public service.

As Fifth District supervisor, McPherson was firm in his belief that local issues are not based on a political ideology, and that the Board of Supervisors is meant to serve the populace, not a party.

McPherson’s belief system was formed and nourished by the mentors in his life. Gordon “Scotchy” Sinclair, who joined the Sentinel in 1939 and became sports editor in 1941, was a huge influence for McPherson, as was the Cronkite-Brinkley-Rather era of news delivery.

“Back then, news was based on facts, not opinion. It’s just so different now,” remarked McPherson.

His journalism instructor at Cal Poly, John Healey, was another source of leadership.

“He was a fact-driven person who said not to release the story until you got the story right. He was a very important part of my life at that time,” recalled McPherson, who said Fresno’s Sen. Ken Maddy was another pivotal figure. “He was a moderate Republican, and I wanted to be just like him.”

McPherson recalled that some colleagues felt he was going backwards in his political career when he moved from state to local leadership with the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors, but McPherson disagreed.

“I could sense that politics were changing around that time, and I decided that I would be most comfortable in the supervisor’s seat. In fact, when I left the Senate, a fellow senator remarked that I was the most independent legislator in California, so I was coming into this new role with familiarity around governmental processes,” he said. “I quickly learned that as a county supervisor, you really need to know more about everything. In the county, you’re focused on issues like public safety, health and human services, parks—you have a buffet of issues that need your attention. You can’t let your mind wander, because something else is right around the corner.”

Those “something elses” materialized in rare form during McPherson’s tenure: floods, the CZU fire, earthquakes, tsunami-induced waves, atmospheric rivers—and yes, a tornado to top it off. Those issues restructured the way the Board of Supervisors operated over the past several years.

“We weren’t able to plan ahead; instead, we were working to get funding and resources to help communities impacted by natural disasters. Federal and state leaders determine the funding for disaster response, and the current structure is not the right one. FEMA has run out of money, and we need to adjust to a new reality. It seemed like we could hardly catch up, much less get ahead,” said McPherson, who noted that Santa Cruz County was owed over $100 million for road repairs going back seven years; the county has received about $50 million in repayment.

A former planning director once told McPherson that two-thirds of the mountainous roads in the Fifth District would not be permitted today, creating further funding challenges for the area.

For CZU victims, McPherson was frustrated by the addition of new county-based septic requirements for homes and other obstacles that impacted rebuild plans for residents.

“Santa Cruz County has the highest number of septic tanks west of the Mississippi, so to tell people that not only do they have to install a new system, but that it could run $75,000 to $100,000, and that material costs have doubled, and geological standards have been altered, which impact the permitting process, and the fire districts require a 14-foot wide road—it just became overwhelming for those residents, and understandably so. That’s been the most frustrating part of my time in the Fifth District,” said McPherson, adding that the permit process has been improving, but needs to be better. “I know that people will continue to work on that. I don’t want to make excuses, but those are the facts, and they really delayed what we wanted to accomplish.”

**BIDDING FAREWELL** With gratitude for the past 25 years, Bruce McPherson looks ahead to new opportunities. Photo: Christina Wise

The Fifth District is in a more sensitive rebuild environment than other locales, and according to McPherson, much of that has to do with new laws that have been passed at the state level.

“I’m really troubled with the amount of housing Sacramento is demanding we build in the district. We’re not going to be able to put any of the new units in the San Lorenzo Valley, and we won’t be able to meet the numeric requirements due to infrastructure concerns and environmental concerns,” he said. “If we meet those housing goals in the next eight years, Santa Cruz County is going to look a lot different.”

McPherson referenced some of the new developments going up in downtown Santa Cruz: “A lot of people don’t like it, but it’s what we’ve been ordered to do, and we don’t have a choice in the matter.”

As part of state legislation aimed at easing the housing crisis, the county is tasked with permitting 4,634 new homes by 2032, drastically altering the landscape of the area. “The state taking over the land use operations of counties is really concerning,” McPherson said.

During his time as supervisor, McPherson was recognized as Legislator of the Year by numerous organizations and foundations and served on a slew of committees that supported his main areas of interest, namely education, the environment, public safety and small business growth. The cornerstone of his political approach, McPherson said, was based on sports.

“I grew up playing sports, and I learned that you win or lose as a team. People said I was known for my attitude of being a team player, and that’s something I’m proud of,” he added.

That tactic came in handy during his time in government.

“The thing I believe the most is that you can have your own opinions, but you need to hear and respect the opinions of those that are different from your own,” McPherson said. “Maybe that’s a throwback to my journalism days, but I really think open communication is critical when working with others. Compromise is the most important thing one can achieve, and we need more of that today. Everyone could use a little more grace.”

In closing, McPherson became emotional when talking about wrapping up his time in public service.

“I was lucky enough to be born in the greatest place on the planet. I remember my dad saying to me, ‘We’re in a good position to make it better. Let’s just leave it better than we found it.’ My staff and I worked hard to achieve that goal, and I am grateful to all of them—and all of the agencies I worked with—for their tireless efforts under challenging circumstances,” he said. “These last five years have been unlike my first 20, and I really appreciate the cooperative ventures I’ve experienced with them all. The successes I’ve had are due to the people I’ve worked with.”

McPherson acknowledged the role his wife, Mary, played in his success.

“If it wasn’t for the support of Mary and my family, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I love this county. My family has been here for over 170 years, and I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. I don’t know what I’ll do in the future, but I plan to spend more time with my family and give myself some time to figure out what comes next,” McPherson mused. “I’ve met eight presidents, a dozen governors, and hopefully I’ve served the people well. Santa Cruz County has nearly 800 nonprofits, so there’s room for folks to volunteer and give back to this amazing place. We’re a giving community, and we’re better for it.”

Telling the Story of the Braceros

Todd Guild

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January 15, 2025

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In 1942, the U.S. and Mexico hammered out a deal that allowed millions of Mexican men to enter the country to work.

Through its 22-year history, the Bracero Program saw more than four million workers come to work as agricultural laborers. The Braceros—which means people who work with their arms—faced harsh conditions, discrimination and low wages.

But more than that, their work and struggles helped shape the rich history of the state’s agricultural industry, says Jose Sanchez Vargas, who has created a historical display of Bracero history.

“This is the work of my life,” he says. “By doing this I’m making sure the legacy and the sacrifices of my ancestors and all immigrants who have come before us are recognized and valued.”

Called “Braceros Hasta el Último Aliento” (Braceros Until the Last Breath), the display will be available through Feb. 28 at Watsonville Public Library’s main branch.

It is told through the stories of three Braceros who were alive at the time of the research: Arnulfo Palomino Alvarado, Jesús Solís Navarro and Javier Castro Arce.

From June of 1951 to April of 1952 there were close to 20,000 Braceros from the state of Guanajuato, 50% of whom went to California to work in Modesto, Fresno, Tulare, Yolo, Salinas, Monterey and Santa Cruz, Sanchez says.

They ranged in age from 19 to 50, and paid around 100 pesos for the ticket by train and about 60 pesos by bus.

Sanchez lived in Watsonville from 1986 to 2005, and says he formerly worked as a lettuce picker. He now lives in Guanajuato, Mexico.

In one interview conducted for the project, a man told me he had never seen one ‘gringo’ in 25 years working in the fields .

“To discover this information is very important to me, and we need to let the world know of the sacrifices they made. These people came here to rescue the American economy,” Sanchez said.

Sanchez explained how the U.S. lacked people who would work in the fields as the country recovered from the economic fallout of World War II.

“They came here not to take away American jobs,” he said. “The U.S required them here to rescue the economy after World War II and to help get the country back on its feet.”

In making the display, Sanchez says he wants to preserve the history and legacy of the Braceros of his home state, Guanajuato.

This includes his uncle Anastacio Sanchez Jasso, who was one of 22 who survived when a train hit the bus transporting them to work in Chualar, California. But 32 died in the crash on Sept. 17, 1963.

That incident was not the only one in which Braceros were injured, and the culture that allowed this to occur—and the stories of the people affected—should not be forgotten, Sanchez says.

Arnulfo Palomino Alvarado was 21 when he left his wife and daughters to come pick lettuce. He used the short-handled hoe, which the California Supreme Court banned in 1975.

“It is important to tell their histories because each one of them has a journey of struggles, sacrifices and most of the time people do not know about it or they are forgotten, they are blamed and used as scapegoats in many instances especially in politics,” he says. “In this time of darkness with the new government, we must step out to protect them, to legislate in their favor so that they can live with no fear.”

Sanchez graduated from Cabrillo College with an AS degree. He was an activist with the Watsonville Brown Berets. He is part of the White Hawk Indian Council for children, and is part of a Coalition of Immigrants from Guanajuato, which helps immigrants in both the US and Mexico with their needs.

Street Talk

Street Talk

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January 14, 2025

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What goes in your go-bag?

We have to be prepared for the Apocalypse. We need to start training in hand-to-hand combat, and learn to identify berries and mushrooms, to know what can kill us in nature and what can save us. A go-bag would be nice with non-perishable food, a first-aid kit, a book on how to survive, and a journal to keep yourself sane. Maybe a picture of family, I don’t know.

Lucy Jordan, 20, UCSC Anthropology Major

I would take some clothes, and things to keep myself clean. Sentimental things too, like family photos I have on my wall that I’d be pretty distraught over losing. And a thick fantasy book or two to pass the time and forget the gravity of the situation for a while.

Isai Rincon, 20, UCSC Computer Science / Game Design Major

The most important thing I’d bring is my tiny stuffed bunny that my childhood best friend gave me. I’ve known her since birth. I’d bring clothes and good shoes, but it’s the bunny. My friend goes to UCLA and when she evacuated because of the fire, she brought a stuffed dragon that I had given her, so that was quite sweet to hear.

Emily Scheuer, 20, Bryn Mawr Theology Major

I would pack pictures from my grandparents’ time and things that can’t be replaced.

Ethan Roberts, 22, UCSC Academic Advisor

I’d have MREs packed, because there’s going to be no food on the shelves, and straws that can filter water in case I come across unpotable water. And the chain I have on, for my ‘ family and my grandma. It’s just a simple silver chain, but it’s the first chain I’ve gotten.

Dax Bizzell, 21, UCSC Psychology Major

All I can imagine putting in a go-bag is the hard-drive backup of the last 25 years of my business. Pretty much everything else I can replace. I would just run away. Pictures of kids and grandkids are all on my I-phone, saved automatically. I’ve thought about having a survival box at home, but I haven’t done it.

Mark Darnell, 56, Dentist

Free Will Astrology

Astrology

Rob Brezsny

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January 14, 2025

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ARIES March 21-April 19

Abdulrazak Gurnah is a Tanzanian writer who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2021. He has also been shortlisted for four other prestigious awards. I find it odd that his acclaimed novels have received mediocre scores on prominent book-rating website Goodreads, which has 150 million members. Why is there such a marked difference between expert critics and average readers? I speculate that those in the latter category are less likely to appreciate bold, innovative work. They don’t have the breadth and depth to properly evaluate genius. All this is my way of encouraging you to be extra discerning about whose opinions you listen to in the coming weeks, Aries—especially in regard to your true value. Trust intelligent people who specialize in thoughtful integrity. You are in a phase when your ripening uniqueness needs to be nurtured and protected.

TAURUS April 20-May 20

“Every joke is a tiny revolution,” said author George Orwell. I agree, which is why I hope you will unleash an unruly abundance of humor and playfulness in the coming days. I hope you will also engage in benevolent mischief that jostles the status quo and gently shakes people out of their trances. Why? Because your world and everyone in it needs a sweet, raucous revolution. And the best way to accomplish that with minimum chaos and maximum healing is to: 1. do so with kindness and compassion; 2. be amusing and joyful and full of joie de vivre.

GEMINI May 21-June 20

Research suggests that if you’re typical, you would have to howl with maximum fury for a month straight just to produce enough energy to toast a piece of bread. But you are not at all typical right now. Your wrath is high quality. It’s more likely than usual to generate constructive changes. And it’s more prone to energize you rather than deplete you. But don’t get overconfident in your ability to harness your rage for good causes. Be respectful of its holy potency, and don’t squander it on trivial matters. Use it only for crucial prods that would significantly change things for the better.

CANCER June 21-July 22

I invite you to write a message to the person you will be in one year. Inform this Future You that you are taking a vow to achieve three specific goals by Jan. 15, 2026. Name these goals. Say why they are so important to you. Describe what actions you will take to fulfill them. Compose collages or draw pictures that convey your excitement about them. When you’ve done all that, write the words, “I pledge to devote all my powers to accomplish these wonderful feats.” Sign your name. Place your document in an envelope, write “MY VOWS” on the front, and tape the envelope in a prominent place in your home or workplace.

LEO July 23-Aug. 22

Congratulations on all the subtle and private work you’ve been doing to make yourself a better candidate for optimal togetherness. Admitting to your need for improvement was brave! Learning more about unselfish cooperation was hard work, and so was boosting your listening skills. (I speak from personal experience, having labored diligently to enhance my own relationship skills!) Very soon now, I expect that you will begin harvesting the results of your artful efforts.

VIRGO Aug. 23-Sept. 22

Construction on the Great Wall of China began in the 7th century BCE and lasted until 1878. Let’s make this monumental accomplishment your symbol of power for the next 10 months, Virgo! May it inspire you to work tirelessly to forge your own monumental accomplishment. Take pride in the gradual progress you’re making. Be ingeniously persistent in engaging the support of those who share your grand vision. Your steady determination, skill at collaborating and ability to plan will be your superpowers as you create a labor of love that will have enduring power.

LIBRA Sept. 23-Oct. 22

We are all accustomed to dealing with complications and complexities—so much so that we may be tempted to imagine there’s never a simple solution to any dilemma. Copious nuance and mystifying paradox surround us on all sides, tempting us to think that every important decision must inevitably be taxing and time-consuming. As someone who specializes in trying to see all sides to every story, I am especially susceptible to these perspectives. (I have three planets in Libra.) But now here’s the unexpected news: In the coming weeks, you will enjoy the luxury of quickly settling on definitive, straightforward solutions. You will get a sweet respite from relentless fuzziness and ambiguity.

SCORPIO Oct. 23-Nov. 21

When my daughter Zoe was 11 years old, she published her first collection of poems. The chapbook’s title was Secret Freedom. That’s a good theme for you to meditate on in the coming weeks. You are currently communing with a fertile mystery that could ultimately liberate you from some of your suffering and limitations. However, it’s important to be private and covert about your playful work with this fertile mystery—at least for now. Eventually, when it ripens, there will come a time to fully unleash your beautiful thing and reveal it to the world. But until then, safeguard it with silence and discretion.

SAGITTARIUS Nov. 22-Dec. 21

From a distance, Brazil’s Rio Negro looks black. The water of Rio Solimões, also in Brazil, is yellowish-brown. Near the city of Manaus, these two rivers converge, flowing eastward. But they don’t blend at first. For a few miles, they move side-by-side, as if still autonomous. Eventually, they fuse into a single flow and become the mighty Amazon River. I suspect the behavior of Rio Negro and Rio Solimoes could serve as a useful metaphor for you in the coming weeks, Sagittarius. Consider the possibility of allowing, even encouraging, two separate streams to merge. Or would you prefer them to remain discrete for a while longer? Make a conscious decision about this matter.

CAPRICORN Dec. 22-Jan. 19

During the next three weeks, doing the same old things and thinking the same old thoughts are strongly discouraged. For the sake of your spiritual and physical health, please do not automatically rely on methods and actions that have worked before. I beg you not to imitate your past self or indulge in worn-out traditions. Sorry to be so extreme, but I really must insist that being bored or boring will be forbidden. Stated more poetically: Shed all weak-heart conceptions and weak-soul intentions. Be of strong heart and robust soul.

AQUARIUS Jan. 20-Feb. 18

Wilderness campers have developed humorous terms to gently mock their fears and anxieties. The theory is that this alleviates some of the stress. So a “bear burrito” refers to a hammock. It addresses the worry that one might get an unwanted visit from a bear while sleeping. A “bear fortune cookie” is another name for a tent. “Danger noodle” is an apparent stick that turns out to be a snake. “Mountain money” is also known as toilet paper. I approve of this joking approach to dealing with agitation and unease. (And scientific research confirms it’s effective.) Now is an excellent time to be creative in finding ways to diminish your mostly needless angst.

PISCES Feb. 19-March 20

If you were producing the movie of your life, what actor or actress would you want to portray you? Who would play your friends and loved ones? How about the role of God or Goddess? Who would you choose to perform the role of the Supreme Being? These will be fun meditations for you in the coming weeks. Why? Because it’s an excellent time to think big about your life story—to visualize the vast, sweeping panorama of your beautiful destiny. I would also love it if during your exploration of your history, you would arrive at interesting new interpretations of the meanings of your epic themes.

Homework: What life would you be living if you weren’t living this one?Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com

Getting Ahead

Dining Reviews

John Koenig

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January 14, 2025

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Pop quiz, life-on-Earth edition: The future is…which of the following?

A) Scary; b) unpromised; c) exhilarating; d) onrushing; e) epic.

Correct answer: Yes.

So let’s leap in, cannonball-style, hearts emptied by the natural disaster in L.A., but uplifted by the ongoing—and indefinite—response.

Keeping with the theme, few of the following Santa Cruz County debuts have a guaranteed launch date. So we’ll start with what is most certain and scroll toward the less determined.

SURE THINGS

Jan. 1 brought along three major regulatory breakthroughs, so we’re already cooking with jet fuel, present tense, though each of these will require additional civic agency.

One, California Assembly Bill 1775 now allows cannabis cafes, a la Amsterdam, in the Golden State. That means dispensaries—if so moved, and permitted by their jurisdiction—can host smoking, provide live entertainment and do food and non-alcoholic drinks.

Two, AB 2174 empowers craft brewers to sell their beer at both public and private events through the use of what’s called a Beer Caterer’s Permit.

And three, after Microenterprise Home Kitchen (aka MEHKO) businesses were made legal last fall, financial aid is now available for the $470 inspection fees, and the nonprofit COOK Alliance (cookalliance.org) has $3,000 grants for those who complete an eight-week MEHKO training course, available online in English and Spanish. The first wave of MEHKOs may land locally as soon as February.

Another element that is already flowing: Coffee Conspiracy Co. (1855 41st Ave., F01, Capitola) has begun dripping its slow-brewed single-origin joe 10am–3pm Thursday–Sunday to start.

Creator Eddie Alaniz describes a desire to break the mold, and immense gratitude to the believers who helped underwrite his opening—in a former Starbucks—after unanticipated delays and expenses.

“Our new brick-and-mortar represents perseverance and an unwavering, supportive community,” he says. “This isn’t just coffee—it’s a movement.”

ANY DAY NOW

Local institution Gabriella Cafe (910 Cedar St., Santa Cruz) has a little sister on the way with the same DNA but her own personality. The Gabrielita Tamaleria kiosk (Pacific Avenue next to Del Mar Theater) will star chef Gema Cruz’s handmade, Oaxacan, banana-leaf-wrapped tamales in a variety of flavors unlike any around, according to Cruz herself.

While those range from savory to sweet, there will also be breakfast burritos, and eventually street tacos, but the emphasis here is clear, and right there in the name—and will unwrap for the public before the end of the month.

SOONER > LATER

The Alley Oop Lounge (320 Cedar St., Santa Cruz) will give a unique venue a smart and sexy new feel, right next to Kuumbwa Jazz Center. An extensive remodel is well underway, and owner-operator-veteran hospitality pro Max Turigliatto is eager to open by early summer, with what he calls “moody lighting and intimate ambiance” and a piano in the corner. [Update and correction made Feb. 19, 2025. —Editor]

“Reminiscent of New Orleans’ French Quarter,” he says, “ideal for a romantic date night or enjoying pre- and post-show drinks and shared plates.”

Ashby Confections, meanwhile, has crafted a beautiful and tasty inventory of caramels, tortoises and chocolates, and the loyal audience to go with it, at AC’s Scotts Valley shop (6C Victor Square Ext. Scotts Valley).

Now that’s moving to downtown Santa Cruz, in the former Joe’s Pizza & Subs (1207 Pacific Ave.). Conservative open date: early June.

“We’re really excited to go down there,” says creator Jennifer Ashby, “and the space opens up a lot of opportunities.”

A bumper crop of additional debuts, including a triple-restaurant property and multiple craft beer operations, are also materializing on the horizon.

Look for more on those here in the future, while doing your best to stay present.

Home Goods

Foodie File

Andrew Steingrube

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January 14, 2025

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A literal one-woman show, Susan Ortmeyer is the owner/founder/baker of Fika Bakeshop, a licensed home bakery (officially known as a Cottage Food Bakery) based in Ben Lomond. A self-described “recovering lawyer,” she went UCLA Law School then practiced law for several years before doing private investigative work, as well as getting married and having a child.

Then burnout set in, and she began looking for a new path. She had a love of baking since childhood, instilled by her Swedish-American mom—herself an accomplished baker who owned a café where Susan worked while growing up. Ortmeyer says she was inspired by her mom’s cultural traditions and customs, and how her love came through in the food she made.

Continuing this legacy, in 2021 she opened Fika, a Scandinavian/American specialty pastry shop, with imminent plans to expand the menu to include savory ready-to-eat dinners like Swedish meatballs. Her fare is offered via occasional pop-ups at her house, but more generally at Mountain Feed and Farm Supply in Ben Lomond and direct through her website for scheduled pick-ups.

Her primary passion is coffee-paired pastry; the raved-about best-seller is the Cardamom Bun: fluffy, yeasted and delicately sweet with cardamom/brown sugar filling and topped with chai-spiced syrup and freshly ground cardamom. Other favorites are the Semlor, with almond filling and the Swedish Sticky Chocolate Cake, a slightly undercooked and gooey chocolate brownie cake made with gluten-free almond flour. Further classic offerings include seasonally inspired scones, apple/cranberry streusel pie and chocolate Guinness cake with vanilla butter cream frosting.

Tell me all about Fika.

SUSAN ORTMEYER: It means coffee break in Swedish, but it is so much more. It is a long-held cultural tradition as a mindful and intentional pause in the middle of a busy day to either reconnect with other people or oneself. In Sweden, most workplaces have a dedicated space for this exact practice.

Where does your passion for Swedish pastry come from?

It’s a way to reconnect with my mother, my grandmother and all my Swedish ancestry. It makes me feel grounded and provides me with a better understanding of who I am and where I come from. And sharing this with other people fulfills something in me that I didn’t know was missing.

For information, call 562-761-0697 or visit fikabakeshop fikabakeshopbenlomond.com

The Editor’s Desk

Brad Kava

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January 14, 2025

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

Santa Cruz’s Museum of Art & History is on the cutting edge of making art more than just something you hang on a wall, and its current exhibit really inspires public participation—as you will see in Siran Babayan’s cover story.

Taking inspiration from the films of director Wes Anderson, the museum asked the community to contribute photos that look like the bright, almost cartoonish images in his films, such as Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Fantastic Mr. Fox and Isle of Dogs.

What they got was 400 entries of places around our county that could fit into the exhibit called “Accidentally Wes Anderson.” You could probably guess some: the Boardwalk, the Venetian, the lighthouses. But others will surprise you. They show just what a colorful county we live in.

“With this show, we’re really thinking about how Santa Cruz relates to the look and theme of his movies,” says MAH deputy director Marla Novo. “It’s a town that’s very much about travel and exploration. There’s beautiful things and quirky things that stand out here that are reminiscent of films.”

We’re fascinated by the concept…but which directors should they go for next? Stanley Kubrick? James Cameron? Hwang Dong-hyuk, who directed Squid Games?

Send us your nominations to ed****@*****ys.com.

Every five years, the U.S. government updates its Dietary Guidelines for Americans, a 421-page roadmap to choosing the right foods for promoting health and preventing chronic disease. You will want to read about this in Elizabeth Borelli’s Wellness column this week.

Looking for some music to start off 2025? You should check out Painted Mandolin Saturday at Kuumbwa. The four-piece jam act is inspired by the Grateful Dead and plays acoustic versions of covers from a cornucopia of genres—along with plenty of originals. With an ever-evolving setlist, no two nights are ever the same. If writer Mat Weir likes them, that’s enough for us to know they are worth seeing.

It’s a tough choice, because the same night A Woman’s Song for Peace featuring Holly Near, Ferron and Dance Brigade playsthe Cabrillo stage. So many choices, so little time. Isn’t that why we live here?

Thanks for reading.

Brad Kava | Editor

PHOTO CONTEST

FLYING HIGH The Flynn Creek Circus at the Capitola Mall. Photograph by Daniel T. (Tommy) Wellman III.

GOOD IDEA

On Thursday, 9-11am, join industry leaders for “Elevating LGBTQ+ Inclusion: Increasing Revenue, Retention & Respect,” a free event at the Hotel Paradox (611 Ocean St.) designed to help organizations leverage inclusion for growth and engagement.

This exclusive event will showcase how fostering LGBTQ+ inclusion can positively impact your organization’s bottom line, improve employee retention, and foster a culture of respect and belonging. Info: Santacruzpride.org/elevate.

GOOD WORK

The NAACP Santa Cruz County Branch invites the community to join the 2025 MLK People’s March for the Dream on Monday, Jan. 20, beginning 10am at Pacific Avenue and Cathcart Street, Santa Cruz.

Marchers will walk through downtown Santa Cruz then convene at the Civic Auditorium for an inspiring program from 11am–noon, featuring a resource fair and keynote speaker Gregory Hodge, who is the chief network officer of the Brotherhood of Elders Network, with a background in community organizing and advocacy. He has dedicated his life to creating inclusive spaces where everyone can thrive.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“Constant lying is not aimed at making the people believe a lie, but at ensuring that no one believes anything.” —Hannah Arendt

At First Blush

Vine & Dine

Josie Cowden

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January 14, 2025

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Wake up your senses with a flavorful glass of rosé from Frank Family Vineyards. Named Leslie Rosé after winery founder Leslie Frank, this impressive wine has a mouthwatering minerality—along with peach and wild strawberry aromas and exciting flavors of white nectarine and zingy citrus. It is bursting with fresh energy and bright acidity. Crafted from 100% pinot noir grapes sourced from Napa’s Carneros region, the 2023 vintage “is well balanced with bright acidity allowing the flavors of the region to shine through.” This delectable rosé ($50) will convert any doubting rosé drinker.

Add a little rosé to your wine rack, and drink something truly delicious.

Frank Family Vineyards, 1091 Larkmead Lane, Calistoga, 707-942-0859. Frankfamilyvineyards.com

The Haute Enchilada

Not only does the Haute Enchilada offer tasty food at their beautiful Mexican restaurant, they also have cottages where guests can spend time close to the harbor and beach. Or stay in an Airstream for an added dose of fun. Located in the heart of Moss Landing, it’s close to seals, pelicans and other wildlife, especially if you kayak around Elkhorn Slough to complete the experience.

Visit hauteenchilada.com for more info.

Correction

Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard’s Quinta Cruz label has two kinds of Souzão (a Portuguese wine varietal). One is a still wine ($24) and one is a sparkling wine ($48). In my column of Dec. 18, I wrongly wrote that the Quinta Cruz Souzão 2019 sparkling wine is $24. My apologies to winemaker/owner Jeff Emery, and to all who went to Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard’s tasting room to buy a bottle of sparkling Souzão. I’m sure you were happy with the still Souzão if you bought that instead.

Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard, 334 Ingalls St., Santa Cruz, 831-426-6209. Santacruzmountainvineyard.com

Rhymesayers

Music

John Koenig

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January 14, 2025

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Atmosphere rapper Slug didn’t harbor any aspirations that he and producer Ant would have a long career when they started releasing music 39 years ago.

After all, Minneapolis, their hometown, wasn’t exactly a hip-hop hotbed, like L.A. or New York. And, in the 1980s and ’90s, rap ate its young—a sensation today, gone tomorrow.

“I never could have told you that I would have been doing this for a living for this long because none of my heroes, the artists that I grew up listening to and enjoying, were able to,” said Slug, the rapper whose real name is Sean Daley, in an October interview. “Rap music used to be a young person’s game. It’s only over the last 10 years that rap music has even allowed old people like me to participate.”

The pioneering independent underground duo of Atmosphere has stayed in the hip-hop game for more than two decades via a rigorous musical output, releasing more than two dozen studio albums, EPs and collaborative side projects, the latest of which is the 2023 album So Many Other Realities Exist Simultaneously—and by relentlessly touring.

But that wouldn’t have been enough to sustain a career, if not for the fact that hip-hop, now in its forties, finally grew up along with its audience.

“I do think the culture has changed, because it’s not just us,” Slug said. “Some of my colleagues and peers have continued to perform, continue to tour and put out records well into their 40s and 50s. That’s not something you could do in the ’80s. You couldn’t be a 50-year-old rapper.

“I think also the fan base has grown with us. So, now, when I perform a show, I’m not looking at a crowd of 19-year-olds,” he added. “I’m looking at a crowd of 40-year-olds. There are some 19-year-olds in that crowd and some 9-year-olds that came with their parents. But mostly I look out and I see this audience that, you know, kind of followed us for years.”

Coming out of Minneapolis set Atmosphere apart from their rap contemporaries (most of whom were rooted in New York and Los Angeles) both in terms of the subject matter of Slug’s raps and the production of Anthony Davis, aka Ant.

“I think there was something about what we were doing that was a little bit different from everybody else in that we weren’t polished,” Slug said. “We didn’t know what we were doing. So instead of trying to polish this and figure it out how to do it. We just really stuck to speaking from where we are from, rather than trying to fit a niche or trying to fit a mold.”

Speaking from where he was from meant that Slug “rapped about being a dude in Minneapolis” rather than adopting the themes of urban street life that pervaded ’90s rap. It’s another reason, Slug said, that Atmosphere has endured. “You can’t sell drugs on a corner for 20 years—for real or in your raps,” he said.

Those tales of suburban Midwestern life also connected Slug and Ant with fans who were much like them, especially those from small cities and rural locales across the Midwest region.

“Growing up in Minneapolis, I was 20 minutes from the farms,” Slug said. “I had family on the farms. I had family in the woods, had family in the streets. So I had an experience that was definitely different than somebody who might have grown up in the Bronx…We always would joke about one foot in the forest, one foot in the gutter. That is kind of how I grew up and I was able to apply all of these types of thoughts and experiences to what I write about.”

Those thoughts are largely introspective explorations of failed romances and emotional challenges that eschew the larger-than-life characterizations and destructive tendencies that pervades much of hip-hip, earning Slug the reputation for being unflinchingly honest and authentic as he delivers his truths.

“It’s hard for me to point at myself and say I make honest music, because that’s just a weird thing to claim or proclaim yourself,” he said. “But anybody else that wants to say that, of course, I’ll accept it because it rings true to me…I think that I’ve always tried to present who I am through the music. I grew up in an era where the words keep it real (and) were very meaningful. They still meant a lot, and what it meant was don’t lie to the kids.”

The final element contributing to Atmosphere’s longevity, Slug said, is the duo’s independence.

Forged out to the Rhymesayers collective, Atmosphere made their music outside of the commercial, major label system, a stance and sound that allowed them to connect with, shall we say, an alternative hip-hop audience across the country.

“Being independent or underground or whatever term is something that did align me with a certain mindstate of an audience,” Slug said. “There’s an audience that wanted that, and first and foremost, attached themselves to that before they even understood what the music was that we were making. So we were in a genre. They were fans of the genre.

“It’s almost like if you like football, but you don’t really have a team. For instance, Nebraska doesn’t have a pro team, but you might still like NFL football,” he said. “So you attach yourself to the sport and you root for that quarterback over there, you root for that running back over there, and you might root for the Broncos or a team that’s nearby, but you kind of enjoy the sport overall.”

That said, Slug admitted to making some concessions to age on the live stage, increasingly emphasizing song storytelling to connect with the audience rather than tongue-twisting raps and wild stagework.

“I’ve developed to being more of a showmanship thing than just rap,” he said. “In the early rapping, it was like people wanted to hear you twist words and make things rhyme that they’d never heard anybody make rhyme before, you know, gastro infections, rhymes with astral projections. People wanted all that kind of stuff.

“Through my storytelling, I’ve been able to establish a little bit more of this kind of storyteller vibe on stage. I’m 52. I can’t jump up and down on stage like I used to,” Slug said. “I have to be a little bit more controlled with my physical stuff. I used to be able to climb a rafter and hang upside down from the scaffolding above the DJ table, all the punk rock stuff. … Now I put more emphasis and focus on how do you captivate a crowd without having to jump up and down like a clown?”

Atmosphere plays Jan. 18 at the Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. Sold out.

‘I’ve always tried to present who I am through the music. I grew up in an era where the words keep it real.’ —Slug

Dance for Peace

Dance

John Koenig

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January 14, 2025

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With the inauguration of president-elect Donald Trump on the horizon, Krissy Keefer’s Dance Brigade is singing and dancing for peace and an end to politicized conflict in its 50th season.

“As we move through an intense and divisive presidential election cycle in which these issues are front and center, Dance Brigade offers A Woman’s Song for Peace with the aim of reorienting audiences to our shared humanity and desire for peace,” Keefer says. “We believe that this collaboration can unify and activate people. We offer it as a gift to our communities for healing, transformation and a vision for a way forward.”

Some history: In 1975 the Wallflower Order Dance Collective was formed in Eugene, Oregon, following the 1970s mantra of “the personal is the political.” Dubbed “an American treasure” by the Kansas City Star, at the time an all-women’s dance troupe dancing for civil rights was groundbreaking. In the decades following the dissolution of the Wallflower Order, Keefer, who was a founding member, has carried on its legacy with her Berkeley-based Dance Brigade.

“Something that set us apart 50 years ago was that we were all women with very athletic dancing, lifts, physical intimacy and martial arts, which were and still are used to convey our themes,” she says.

As an ensemble Keefer’s Brigade integrates lyrics, taiko drumming and women’s poetry to convey specific themes in their activist pieces. As an artist Keefer knows her audience and chooses to reach the communities most likely to be impacted and make a difference.

“We aren’t just making art for art’s sake; we are trying to preach to the converted, to the communities most likely to see our shows and convert the unconverted,” Keefer says.

Coordinating a seven-city tour with folk legends Ferron and Holly Near and several other featured artists has been a massive undertaking for Keefer.

“Taking 25 people on tour is huge, but fortunately everyone was so excited to do it. Holly Near is opening and we’re closing it with a group set with the band covering some really exciting songs,” Keefer says.

Near, who began her career in the 1960s, has been an active and influential voice in protest music and in the LGBT community. Throughout her 29-album career she’s worked with artists including Joan Baez and Arlo Guthrie, and was on the famous 1984 “HARP: A Time to Sing!” tour with Guthrie, Ronnie Gilbert and Pete Seeger.

Ferron, whose stage name loosely translates from French to “iron and rust,” is known by many as one of Canada’s most respected songwriters. Over her five-decade career, her guitar and vocals have been an inspiration to generations of women in and out of the folk scene. Ferron states boldly on her website, “My dream is to die a Lesbian, First Nations, Canadian.”

Among the featured artists is Christelle Durandy, whose Afro-Caribbean jazz fusion creates a vibrant musical landscape; others are Jan Martelelli, Tammy Lyne Hall, Michaelle Goerlitz and Shelley Jennings.

Near, Ferron and Durandy are all groundbreaking artists in their own right, and their talents combined with the masterful choreography of Krissy Keefer’s Dance Brigade makes this once-in-a-generation show. With original music and covers of classic Woody Guthrie and Nina Simone songs, the program is a “tribute to the past, and a vision for the future.” Expect an evening fueled by the distinct energy intrinsic to peaceful protest.

A Woman’s Song for Peace ft. Holly Near, Ferron & Dance Brigade takes place at 7:30pm on Jan. 18 at Cabrillo College’s Crocker Theater, 6500 Lower Perimeter Road, Aptos. Tickets: $25-$45. cabrillovapa.universitytickets.com

Good TimesGood Times

Good TimesGood Times

Pesticide Reality Tour

Framing the Band

High Art

Playing Live

The Editor’s Desk

Letters

Brew Chew

Baby Food

McPherson’s Legacy

Telling the Story of the Braceros

Street Talk

Free Will Astrology

Getting Ahead

Home Goods

The Editor’s Desk

PHOTO CONTEST

GOOD IDEA

GOOD WORK

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

At First Blush

Rhymesayers

Dance for Peace

McPherson’s Legacy

Telling the Story of the Braceros

Street Talk

Free Will Astrology

Getting Ahead

Home Goods

The Editor’s Desk

At First Blush

Rhymesayers

Dance for Peace