Pie Chart

Cover Stories

GT Staff

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January 29, 2025

As of press time, the following Pizza Week specials are on offer at these participating restaurants. Visit SantaCruzPizzaWeek.com or check the Pizza Week app for more specials, updates and additions.

Bookie’s Pizza

Santa Cruz

Meatball Pizza and Wild Mushroom Pizza.

Buzzo

Soquel

Carbonara Pizza

Cavalletta Restaurant

Aptos

Meatball Pizza: Housemade meatball and herbed ricotta pizza.

Churchill and Beers

Aptos

Aloha Pizza: Chili sauce, carnitas, red onion, pineapple.

Rio Del Margherita Pizza: Canadian bacon, basil, garlic, pepperoni, bacon.

Crow’s Nest Beach Market

Santa Cruz

Cali Sizzle: Spicy Italian sausage, bell peppers, red onion with a zesty arrabbiata red sauce.

Engfer Pizza Works

Santa Cruz

Roasted eggplant with sweet pickled peppers, red onions, orange zest, arugula.

Kianti’s Pizza & Pasta Bar

Santa Cruz, Capitola

Traditional Italian: Pesto and pizza sauce topped with artichoke hearts, spinach, sliced almonds, tomatoes, feta.

K House: Pepperoni, zucchini, jalapenos, toasted almonds, feta.

Kianti’s Pizz’alad: Thin crust pizza baked with pesto, then topped with mixed greens, basil, peperoncinis, almonds, gorgonzola, balsamic vinegar, olive oil.

Laili Restaurant

Santa Cruz

Apricot Chicken Flatbread: Roasted chicken, caramelized onions, apricots, melted cheese, and a touch of fresh herbs.

Pear Gorgonzola Flatbread: Pears, gorgonzola, caramelized onions and a drizzle of honey.

La Marea Cafe & Pizzeria

Capitola

Fredo Pie: Italian sausage, salami Toscano, pickled peppers, shaved spring onion, mozzarella, herby ranch.

Green Dreams Pie: arugula pesto, melted leeks, green garlic cream, burrata, mozzarella, Castelvetrano olives, lemon zest.

La Posta Restaurant

Santa Cruz

Amatriciana: Tomato, guanciale, roasted onion, black pepper, pecorino Romano.

Mentone Restaurant

Aptos

Nonna (classic take on Margherita) and Black Trumpet (trumpet mushrooms, taleggio, thyme).

Namaste Grill & Bar

Santa Cruz

Butter Chicken Pizza: Chicken thigh, tikka masala sauce, bell pepper, onion, cheese.

Pizza My Heart

Santa Cruz, Capitola

Mushroom Magic.

Pizzeria la Bufala

Santa Cruz

Pizza Boscaiola: Asiago, gorgonzola, Parmigiano, fontina, smoked Provolone, seasonal mushrooms.

Pizza Regionale: Calabrian soppressata salame, broccoli rabe, smoked provolone.

Seabright Social

Santa Cruz

Sweet ’n’ Spicy Roasted Butternut Squash Pizza.

The Social White Clam Pinsa.

Sleight of Hand Pizza

Various locations

Savor the Moment: Roasted delicata squash, caramelized onion, Foustman’s Hot Toscano, goat cheese, fresh mozzarella, arugula and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar on sourdough crust.

**ON THE MOVE** Sleight of Hand will serve pies at three different locations; see the Pizza Week app for details: Courtesy of Sleight of Hand Pizza

Slice Project

Watsonville

Saucy Little Chicken: Mozzarella, tomato sauce, chicken, not-so-pesto sauce, garlic, shallots.

The Pizza Series

Scotts Valley

The Maple “Crunch” Special: Signature maple sauce with a kick of heat and crunch.

Tramonti Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz

Four Cheese and Coppa: Blend of fresh mozzarella, fontina, Parmigiano reggiano and gorgonzola, topped with fresh sliced Coppa Piacentina.

Upper Crust Pizza & Pasta

Santa Cruz

The Bee Sting: Pepperoni and jalapeños drizzled with Mike’s Hot Honey.

Vinocruz Bakery & Bistro

Soquel

Apple Brie Sourdough Flatbread: Onion confit, apricot habanero jam, prosciutto, arugula.

Woodstock’s Pizza

Santa Cruz

The Spicy Slug: Classic secret red sauce, fresh grated mozzarella, pepperoni, sausage, sliced jalapeño, Mike’s Hot Honey drizzle.

**TASTE OF HONEY** The Spicy Slug will be served during Pizza Week. Photo: Courtesy of Woodstock’s Pizza

One day after a group of Santa Cruz County residents collected soil samples from the areas impacted by the Jan. 16 battery storage facility fire at the Moss Landing Power Plant to test for heavy metals, a San Jose State University professor released the results of a study confirming their suspicions.

The study of a two-mile radius around the plant by Professor Ivano Aiello found “unusually high concentrations of heavy-metal nanoparticles in marsh soils at Elkhorn Slough Reserve” after the fire, with increases of a hundredfold to a thousandfold from previous testing.

This included nickel, manganese and cobalt, all of which are known to be toxic to aquatic species and animals, including humans.

“Our intention and our goal is to study how those elements affect the local ecosystems,” Aiello said.

The study is part of a decade-long monitoring program of the Elkhorn Slough estuary.

While the effects of the fire are still being studied, the incident will give scientists a chance to better understand the potential downsides of battery storage plants, which are likely to become more widespread as people increasingly rely on alternative energy sources, Aiello said.

“It is certain that there is going to be more and more battery storage facilities,” he said. “They will be bigger and more concentrated. Unfortunately for us, this is an opportunity to study for the first time to study the effects of such a fire.”

Aiello’s team—and the Elkhorn Slough Reserve—will continue monitoring the soils and waterways on a short- and long-term basis.

Brian Roeder, a spokesman for “Never Again Moss Landing,” said the group was formed in the wake of the fire to gather information that previously was unavailable to the public.

Because the group’s study includes a larger area than the one by SJSU—volunteers took samples from as far south as Gonzales, as far north as Davenport and east to Hollister—it can serve as a supplement to the overall findings, Roeder said.

Texas-based Vistra Corp., which owns the plant, did not immediately return a request for comment.

Santa Cruz County Supervisor Glenn Church called the results “concerning and disturbing.”

“The fact is that whatever’s there on the top of the ground is also what was in the smoke layer, and we were all exposed to that,” he said.

It is not clear when Vistra plans to reopen. But county officials have said that the company does not need county approval to do so.

Vistra is considered a utility, and as such is regulated by the California Public Utilities Commission.

In a meeting last week, the supervisors approved Church’s motion to form a subcommittee to explore the county’s legal options.

“We really don’t know how to regulate (the technology) from a government level, because everything is so new,” he said. “This industry really doesn’t know how to control it either.”

Never Again Moss Landing is footing the $6,300 bill for the local testing.

Roeder, a Prunedale resident, said his wife launched the group after they saw the incident from their property.

“We step out on the balcony, and there’s the place on fire,” he said.

The day the Facebook group was launched, more than 1,200 signed on; the next day, that number had jumped to 2,000, he said.

Soon, a representative from Biomax International had offered the company’s testing services.

“We discussed the fact that, as far as we knew, no samples had been for testing, other than the initial EPA (hydrogen fluoride) testing,” he said. “And that is all they’ve been able to measure, and they basically said, ‘we’re done.’”

It was possible, Roeder knew, that the large battery fire could have sent contaminants into the air.

Volunteers distributed 150 testing kits on Jan. 25 and collected them the next day. The results are expected within 10 working days, Roeder said.

The group’s data could someday be admissible in court. But Roeder was quick to point out such action is not the focus of the group.

“We are not about court,” he said. “We have not spoken to any attorneys about this issue. We’re not trying to solicit for legal action. We are trying to get information to the community.”

The group was formed with the objective of making sure that an event like the fire cannot happen again. And that begins, he said, with an informed public.

“If there is going to be a ‘never again,’ that requires the citizenry that are being affected to be able to have a voice there,” he said.

Monterey County officials are urging caution for anyone who finds residue from the fire and wants to dispose of it.

• Do not allow children to play in or with items covered by fire residual. Wash and clean affected children’s toys before using.

• Use “wet” methods when cleaning, such as a damp cloth or wet mop.

• Only use HEPA-filter vacuum cleaners if vacuuming is necessary.

• Avoid direct skin contact with fire residual by wearing gloves, long-sleeved shirts and pants during cleanup.

• Use a disposable N-95 mask to avoid breathing in small particles that may be disturbed during cleaning.

• Wear safety goggles—not safety glasses—if cleanup may cause ash in the air and if using chemical cleaning solutions to prevent splashing into the eyes.

• Wash any home-grown fruits or vegetables from trees or gardens before eating.

For information, visit bit.ly/4hefNXi and bit.ly/40Q2XZB.

Something in the Air

Tarmo Hannula

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January 28, 2025

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The California Department of Pesticide Regulation held a public hearing Jan. 16 at the National Steinbeck Center in Salinas to address a new draft regulation for Telone, a pesticide also known by the chemical name 1,3-dichloropropene.

Protesters say the regulations proposed by the DPR allow 14 times more of the pesticide than is recommended by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment.

The department’s recommended level is the same as the pesticide’s manufacturer, Dow Chemical.

Telone is a cancer-causing fumigant that is banned in 40 countries, but is the third most-used pesticide in California.

Dozens of community members—including scores of area farmworkers—took turns speaking out against the use of 1,3-D, citing a host of health problems stemming from the fumigant’s use.

“There is no question that 1,3-D is a carcinogen,” said Antonio Velasco, a family physician who has studied protocols for treating pesticide-poisoning victims. “My question to you is, ‘Why do you continue to use it?’”

At one point the event was interrupted by more than a dozen protesters surrounding the podium in a mock “die-in,” while others unfurled large bilingual banners saying “DPR is racist!” and the crowd of over 100 chanted “DPR, you can’t hide; we can see your racist side.”

“It’s good that DPR is finally using the OEHHA findings for some. But why not all?” said Mark Weller of Californians for Pesticide Reform. “It is not scientific to say that children—and we’re talking about mostly Latino children here—have a different lifetime cancer risk tolerance than adults.”

The hazard assessment office in 2022 issued a Prop 65 safe harbor level—the maximum exposure amount determined to be safe—for 1,3-D that converts to a daily air concentration of 0.04 parts per billion. The 1,3-D air concentrations at the six active state pesticide air-monitors, including those in Pajaro, Santa Maria and Oxnard, have exceeded the office’s lifetime cancer risk level since testing started in 2011.

“While much of the world is banning 1,3-D, California is going in the wrong direction,” said Safe Ag Safe Schools organizer Yanely Martinez. “Our regulators must follow health protective science, but DPR’s policies ignore the science in favor of protecting Dow Chemical’s profits. They should be protecting our health. This is a racist policy.”

Woody Rehanek of Watsonville, also a member of Safe Ag Safe Schools, said that there are 50 farms, nurseries, and greenhouses within a quarter-mile of many PVUSD schools.

“The strawberry and raspberry growers among them are applying drift-prone 1,3-D, a carcinogen and toxic air contaminant banned in 34 countries. This is a significant public health hazard for local children, school staff, residents, and farmworkers,” he said.

The Editor’s Desk

Brad Kava

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January 28, 2025

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

The worst pizza I ever had was in Rome, Italy. It was square, cold, mushy and tasteless. I thought I was going to have the best slice ever after traveling to what I thought was the capital of pizzadom. But, nope. I never found a great slice there, although our cover story writer Christina Waters has.

Here in Santa Cruz, there are so many choices and twists on what used to be a simple triangle of cheese, tomato sauce and dough.Waters found toppings such as coconut, banana, kiwi, potato and sour cream, arugula, ranch dressing, even pickles.

Sorry, yuck. Keep mine more simple.

My first taste of pesto pizza was from Pizza My Heart and I was hooked. It became my go-to and a standard by which all future slices were measured.

Speaking of slices: my first time in San Jose I went to a pizza shop and ordered a slice. The guy brought out a can of the soda named Slice. “No, a slice of pizza,” I said, feeling like I’d landed on another planet.

“Oh, you have to buy a whole pie,” he explained. “We don’t sell it by the slice.”

That was a bizarre concept for someone raised in New York, where the slice is king: a meal, a snack, and sustenance for a student. I was just about ready to get on a plane and head back East. Luckily local pizza shops have advanced.

Waters’ story is a revelation for a foodie. She tracks our local pies and their history. And during our Pizza Week, you have a chance to splurge, get deals and try so many tasty offerings. This should be a national holiday.

Visit SantaCruzPizzaWeek.com to view the full list of restaurants. And download the Pizza Week App to rate pies, post photos and win gift certificates.

Also: how do you eat your pizza? There’s nothing more creepy to me than watching someone eat it with a knife and fork. My routine involves folding it in half and eating it with my hands.

If you go back to ancient times, you know, back in the 6th Century B.C. and B.I. (before the Internet) a variant of pizza was eaten in Persia, where soldiers made pies on their shields with flatbread, cheese and dates.

I’m kind of surprised that recipe and serving platter hasn’t been picked up here. But, give it time.

Thanks for reading

Brad Kava | Editor

PHOTO CONTEST

ROMANCE BY THE WAVES Couples out for a stroll on the Santa Cruz main beach after the storm. Shot on an iPhone. Photograph by Brian Caulfield

GOOD IDEA

The City of Santa Cruz is now accepting applications for its 2025 Master Recycler Volunteer Training Program. Over the course of eight weeks in February and March, participants will attend eight training sessions to become “Master Recycler Volunteers” in areas related to waste reduction and recycling. Session topics include Food Waste Prevention; Diversion, Collection and Processing of Food Waste; Rethink Your Habits; Green Businesses; and Zero Waste. Field trips go to the city’s Recycling Center, where 30-50 tons of material is recycled every day, and to the Grey Bears campus. Applications are at cityofsantacruz.com/recycleright.

GOOD WORK

Yvette Lopez Brooks, the new CEO of United Way of Santa Cruz, recently stepped down as mayor of Capitola after serving on the council from 2018 to 2025.

“While stepping down from the City Council was not an easy decision, I am excited to embrace this new opportunity to serve the entire county. United Way’s mission to ignite our community to give, advocate, and volunteer resonates deeply with me, and I look forward to dedicating my efforts to ensuring our youth succeed in school and life, our residents are healthy, and our families achieve financial independence,” she said.

Brooks has spent over 15 years at the Santa Cruz County Office of Education.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“Schools should be a place of safety and learning…
the threat of ICE has turned them into places of fear.”

–Gabriel Medina, PVUSD trustee.

LETTERS

Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor

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January 28, 2025

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IMMIGRANT SUCCESS

As a legal immigrant teacher from Hong Kong, I arrived in the United States during the Umbrella Movement with my 14-year-old daughter and no external support. After settling in Santa Cruz, I acquired a Kumon tutorial business and observed a compelling pattern: the majority of my most dedicated students come from first-generation Asian immigrant families. For these families, academic excellence is a cornerstone of their culture and remains a priority even after immigration, as they strive for Ivy League admissions and future job security.

This dedication is reflected in the 2022 PISA rankings, where Asian countries dominate the top five spots. While the United States has made progress, climbing from 25th in 2018 to 18th in 2022, there is still significant room for improvement. I have personally witnessed how the U.S. offers a comparatively fair platform for those who work hard, regardless of race, gender, or social status. This meritocracy enables individuals to achieve the American Dream, for which I am profoundly grateful.

As an educator, I am honored to play a role in fostering academic excellence among my students. However, I firmly believe that as the wealthiest nation, the United States must unite and collaborate with hardworking immigrant communities to sustain its global standing. If we fail to embrace and maximize the potential of all who contribute to this society, another nation may rise to surpass us in the future.

Thank you for the opportunity to share my perspective.

Doris WL

BATTERY FIRE DANGER

The battery facility fire still burning today in Moss Landing is directly relevant to issues around the City of Santa Cruz construction plans for a new parking garage which will have housing on the floors above the garage.

In December 2022 I prepared a report on safety issues related to lithium battery fires and the city’s design for the new parking structure downtown. The new Moss Landing incident again serves to highlight the need for the city to take seriously the amazing power of a lithium battery fire. But to date, I have NO indication that the city is taking the issues seriously. I am very worried that the city is creating a potentially tragic outcome for itself and the future residents of the new housing.

The city may be able to build a safe structure for the residents, but if they ignore the very real issues related to these powerful batteries, they will be multiplying the risks for residents. If the city blindly accepts the assurances of their contractors that all is well—nothing to worry about here—that willful blindness makes it even more likely that serious problems are being designed into the planned building rather than being mitigated. I very much hope you are not ignoring these issues.

Since I sent the report to the city in 2022, battery fires in electric vehicles have continued in California and worldwide. There was a recent lithium battery fire in a parking structure in Korea. I have sent several follow-up emails to city officials since December 2022, but still I have never received any response from any city official.

I have not told the City they must not build the planned structure. But I am worried that real safety issues are being ignored, and I am very worried about the safety of the future residents.

Richard Stover | PhD

Eat with Intent

Wellness

Elizabeth Borelli

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January 28, 2025

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Are you hitting the reset button for health and wellness this month? Maybe it’s time to dust off those goals and refocus on habits that bring energy and vitality.

But with so much nutrition advice swirling around, where do you even begin? According to local nutrition experts, the key is to keep it simple, sustainable and aligned with what works for your body.

From metabolism-boosting spices to mindful meal planning, these tips from Santa Cruz pros are about creating a lifestyle that nourishes rather than restricts. Whether you’re looking to shed the holiday heaviness, support long-term health, or simply feel better day-to-day, these practical strategies help kick off the year with intention—and without the crash diets.

Jill Troderman of SantaCruzHolisticNutrition says, “One of the best things you can do to improve your health is to support your metabolism. Good metabolism is the key to keeping your body functioning optimally. Metabolism is basically all of the chemical reactions happening on a cellular level to burn calories that support life.”

To provide that support, Troderman suggests “adding in booster foods with thermogenic effects increases metabolism. Foods like cinnamon, ginger, cayenne, and chili pepper can support fat-burning for energy, may decrease appetite, and reduce fat cells. Green tea, high in powerful antioxidant EGCG, has been used for centuries to increase metabolism.”

Getting good sleep and managing stress levels also helps support good metabolism, Troderman points out.

Rock Hudson of Mavericks Fitness says, “I focus on building sustainable habits rather than chasing extremes. Eating a variety of colorful vegetables ensures you’re getting essential nutrients, protein builds and maintains healthy muscle tissue, and healthy fats are critical for brain and joint health.”

Hudson points out, “Carbohydrates are not the enemy, especially when paired with regular movement. The key is prioritizing slower-digesting options like whole grains and sweet potatoes over sugary foods. It makes weight maintenance and loss easier and allows you to feel more energized throughout the day. Portion control can be simplified by using your hand as a guide. This leads to eating smaller meals and slowing down to notice when you’re full.”

Addressing the challenge of how to set goals for improving metabolism, Rebecca Hazelton—creator of The Unstoppable Health Guide—advises against setting arbitrary goals or resolutions. “What’s the reason WHY you want to achieve that goal or resolution? Make sure you set a system into place that helps you keep your WHY on your radar,” Hazelton says.

“Eating a protein-forward and fiber-forward diet is one of the healthiest broad nutrition goals you can set to help you improve your quality of life as well as improve longevity,” she says.

“And lastly,” Hazelton explains, “a huge tip I have for people who find themselves setting and then falling short of their health resolutions year after year is to try a different strategy! Motivation is waning. Inspiration lasts! Find ways to be inspired: coaches, instructors, teams, and getting crystal clear on your WHY.”

Jenny Brewery, the nutritionist behind the website Nourishing Nutrition, has advice for people who are feeling heavy after the holidays.

“it may be tempting to try and make big dietary changes. However, this can be stressful, and—as we know—unsustainable in the long term.”

To reduce stress, she suggests three steps to encourage mindfulness and simplicity when relating to food:

1. Take a few deep breaths before each meal and slow down while eating. This will support you to eat until you are just satisfied, not full.

2. Front load your day with consistent nutrition and hydration. I suggest consuming a fruit/vegetable with a healthy protein as soon as you feel hungry in the morning and drinking your water earlier in the day. You’ll have more energy throughout the day and this prevents you from playing ‘catch up’ later in the day, which usually leads to overeating.

3. Avoid food decision fatigue. Set yourself up for success by planning your meals, especially during busy times so you have healthy, empowering choices to make.

As you move forward with your health and wellness goals this year, remember that small, intentional steps often lead to the most lasting changes. Here’s to a year of nourishment, energy, and feeling your absolute best! Elizabeth Borelli is the author of the new book Tastes Like La Dolce Vita. To learn more about her, visit ElizabethBorelli.com.

Sips at Sevy’s

Vine & Dine

Josie Cowden

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January 28, 2025

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Sevy’s Kitchen & Bar is an ideal spot for indoor and outdoor dining. Recently redecorated, it’s a revamped and welcoming place for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The casual bar comes with an upbeat vibe, and is a great gathering spot for a glass of wine or tasty cocktail. Situated in the Seacliff Inn in Aptos, Sevy’s is a hive of bustling energy and action—hosting many featured music gigs and public events.

Heading there recently for dinner, we were delighted with the quality of the food and excellent service. Executive Chef Kenneth Drew has a wealth of experience, and has certainly made his mark at Sevy’s with eclectic and popular menu selections.

I took along a bottle of La Crema’s 2024 Russian River Valley Red Wine Nouveau(corkage is a reasonable $15). This easy-drinking red wine ($35) comes with lighter tannins and fruit-forward flavors—and pairs well with a variety of cuisine. “This wine charms with a radiant expression,” says La Crema of their superbly made wine. “It woos us to submit to the joy of this very moment.” Lacrema.com

Sevy’s Kitchen & Bar, 7500 Old Dominion Court, Aptos, 831-688-8987. Sevysbarandkitchen.com

Family Farmed

Farm Fresh To You is a collection of California family-owned farms. They grow sustainably, and protect soil resources, water resources and farm workers. They also do a weekly harvest and box up a variety of fruits and vegetables—and then bring them to your home as often as you like. Artisan farm products, such as fresh eggs, dairy, pickled veggies, honey and jams, can also be added to your organic produce box. Contact Farm Ambassador Matthew Harnack at 669-234-9529 for more info. For $10 off your first box, visit farmfreshtoyou.com and use Harnack’s promo code: MTOCMHAR.

Weeded Out

Cannabis

Dan Mitchell

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January 28, 2025

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Even in this age of shamelessness, it’s been astonishing to watch business leaders bend the knee to Donald Trump as he prepares to take office.

Newspaper owners like the Los Angeles Times’ Patrick Soon-Shiong and the Washington Post’s Jeff Bezos, after years of staying mostly hands-off, have suddenly forced their journalists to move in a pro-Trump direction.

CEOs of companies including Apple (Tim Cook) Uber (Dara Khosrowshahi) and Amazon (Bezos again) have written million-dollar checks to Trump’s inaugural committee, forsaking their basic human dignity in return for government perks including, perhaps “not going to prison.”

But no mogul has debased himself more than Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg (whom Trump has threatened with a life sentence). He cut the check. He bent the knee. But he also publicly and explicitly signed on with Trump’s authoritarian cause, declaring in the name of “free speech” that the fading social-media service he started as a way to rate the attractiveness of college women will now allow all kinds of bigotry and dangerous conspiracy theories to be posted unchecked. (While he was at it, he ordered that tampons be removed from the company’s men’s rooms. Really.)

And yet, if you search on Facebook (or Instagram, or Threads) for “cannabis,” you’ll be out of luck, and if you mention weed, you still might be censored. That was really weird even before all this, but it’s far weirder now that Facebook users are allowed to say, for instance, that Covid vaccines might kill you or that being gay or trans is a symptom of “mental illness.”

The company isn’t talking outside of issuing statements and having its weird, pallid CEO go on Joe Rogan to say all kinds of loopy shit, like how American business needs more “masculine energy.” But it appears that, as before, Facebook still considers cannabis an illegal “drug” and will continue to block searches and even censor content (albeit in a haphazard, impossible-to-predict fashion). In its announcement of the policy changes, Facebook stated that it will “continue to focus on tackling illegal and high-severity violations, like terrorism, drugs, fraud and scams.”

So, presumably, you can tell people to inject bleach or declare that their sexuality is a sickness, but don’t go talking about how high you got last night, or (more to the point, really) how weed helped get you off fentanyl or relieved chronic pain.

“Haphazard and impossible-to-predict” is a wild understatement. Facebook’s content “moderation” has always been something of a joke. And there is a ton of weed-oriented stuff on Facebook, including whole pages and groups dedicated to the topic, that goes entirely uncensored, often for years. At the same time, though, other weed content is subject to being vaporized, and nobody knows what the criteria are.

But the bigger problem is that searches for cannabis content are blocked by keyword. The cannabis-policy news site Marijuana Moment took note of the continued censorship last week. Reporter Ben Adlin reported that “even when searching for accounts that merely regulate state-legal marijuana, engage in political advocacy or simply report news related to the issue,” you can’t find them via Facebook search. “A query for ‘Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission,’ ‘Marijuana Policy Project,’ or ‘Marijuana Moment,’ for example, yields no results and instead displays a notice encouraging users: ‘If you see the sale of drugs, please report it.’”

It should be noted that you can find those pages via Google.

All of this mess highlights how difficult it is to moderate content on a large social-media site, even when you have the best of intentions, as Facebook once pretended it had. But it also highlights how terrible Facebook in particular has always been on this score. It has changed moderation strategies so often over the years that it ultimately became impossible to gauge their effectiveness beyond concluding that it wasn’t very effective at all.

But if you still need a reason to abandon Facebook and all of Meta’s social-media sites, the fact that you can’t search on “cannabis” but you can search on the N-word should be enough.

Free Will Astrology

Astrology

Rob Brezsny

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January 28, 2025

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ARIES March 21-April 19

In medieval Europe, beekeepers made formal reports to their hives of significant events in the human world, like births, deaths, marriages and departures. They believed the bees needed to be continually informed so as to ensure robust honey production. The practice was called “telling the bees.” Let’s make this an inspiring story for you in the coming weeks, Aries. I invite you to keep your community fully apprised of what’s happening in your life. Proceed on the assumption that sharing your plans and changes with others will generate harmony and support. Like the beekeepers, you may discover that keeping your community in the loop will strengthen your bonds and sweeten your endeavors.

TAURUS April 20-May 20

A regular guy named Jesse Ronnebaum bought an old painting at a yard sale for 50 cents. For the next ten years, it hung on the wall in his living room. Then he noticed a dim inscription on the painting that suggested maybe it was more valuable than he realized. Consulting an art dealer, he discovered it was an unusual composition that featured the work of seven prominent artists—and was worth a lot of money. Ronnebaum said, “Years of struggling, barely making bills, and the whole time there’s $50,000 hanging over my head, literally.” I am predicting metaphorically comparable events unfolding in your life during the coming months, Taurus. Hidden value will no longer be hidden. You will potentize neglected sources of wealth and finally recognize subtle treasures.

GEMINI May 21-June 20

In Namibia’s arid grasslands, fairy circles periodically emerge. They are highly regular rings of bare land encompassed by vegetation. What causes them? Supernatural entities, as believed by the local people? Sand termites or hydrogen-loving microbes, according to a few scientists? As yet, no definitive explanation has emerged. I love that! I cherish mysteries that thwart attempts at rational explanation. In accordance with astrological omens, Gemini, I invite you to specialize in tantalizing and unsolvable enigmas in the coming weeks. Your soul needs rich doses of provocative riddles, mysterious truths and fun puzzles. Exult in the liberating declaration, “I don’t know!”

CANCER June 21-July 22

Wherever you wander, be alert for signals that remind you of who you used to be. This will stimulate your creative speculation about who you want to evolve into during the next few years. As you ruminate about your history, you will get inspirations about who you want to become. The past will speak vividly, in ways that hint at your best possible future. So welcome clues from people who are no longer alive. Be receptive to old allies and influences that are no longer a central part of your world.

LEO July 23-Aug. 22

“Crown shyness” is a phenomenon seen among some trees like lodgepole pines. In forests, they grow big and strong and tall, yet avoid touching each other at their tops. This creates canopies full of pronounced gaps. What causes this curious phenomenon? First, if branches don’t brush up against each other, harmful insects find it harder to spread from tree to tree. Second, when winds blow, branches are less likely to collide with each other and cause damage. There’s a third benefit: More sunlight penetrates to the forest floor, nourishing animals and other plants. I propose that you adopt crown shyness as a metaphor for your use, Leo. Express your beauty to the max—be bold and vivid and radiant—but also provide plenty of space for your allies to shine. Be your authentically amazing self, but create boundaries that allow others to be their amazing selves.

VIRGO Aug. 23-Sept. 22

Some astrologers assert that you Virgos suffer from an ambition deficit. They authoritatively assert that a fiery aspiration to achieve greatness never burns hot within you. But in the coming months, I will work to show you a different perspective. Let’s start now: Many of you Virgos are highly skilled at being self-sufficient. But sometimes this natural strength warps into a hesitancy to ask for help and support. And that can diminish your ability to fulfill your ambitions. My goal will be to celebrate and nurture your self-sufficiency even as I coach you to be dynamic about gathering all the assistance you can.

LIBRA Sept. 23-Oct. 22

Life is not fair. In the coming days, you will be odd proof of this fact. That’s because you are likely to be the beneficiary of uncommon luck. The only kind of karma that will be operating in your vicinity will be good karma. X-factors and wild cards will be more available to you than usual. Your timing will be impeccable, and your intuition will be extra incisive. You may even be tempted to theorize that life is conspiring to bring you an extra supply of meaningful experiences. Here’s the clincher: If anyone in your sphere is prone to feeling envy because you’re flourishing, your charm will defuse it.

SCORPIO Oct. 23-Nov. 21

Here are three questions to ruminate on: 1. What resources are you afraid you will run out of or squander? 2. What if your fear of running out or squandering these resources obstructs your ability to understand what you need to know and do so that you won’t run out or squander them? 3. How can you dissolve the fear and feel confident that the necessary resources will keep steadily flowing in, and you will use them well?

SAGITTARIUS Nov. 22-Dec. 21

Most stars have at least one companion star, sometimes two. Our sun, which is all alone, is in the minority. Astronomers have found evidence that our home star once had a companion but lost it. Is there any chance of this situation changing in the future? Might our sun eventually link up with a new compatriot? It’s not likely. But in contrast to our sun’s fate, I suspect that 2025 will offer you a significant diminishment in your personal loneliness quotient. If you crave more camaraderie and togetherness, the coming months will be a favorable time to seek them out. Your meditation question: What’s the opposite of loneliness?

CAPRICORN Dec. 22-Jan. 19

In the coming weeks, your authenticity will be your greatest strength. The more genuine and honest you are, the more life will reward you. Be alert for situations that may seem to demand camouflage when in fact they will ultimately reward your complete transparency. You will be most powerful and attractive as you allow yourself to be fully seen. You can even use your vulnerability to your advantage. Be openly, clearly, unabashedly yourself.

AQUARIUS Jan. 20-Feb. 18

As I envision your life in the coming weeks, I am moved to compare you to certain birds. First, there will be similarities between you and the many species that can literally perceive Earth’s magnetic fields, seeing them as patterns of shadow and light overlaid on their regular vision. You, too, will have an uncanny multi-dimensional awareness that helps guide your travels. Secondly, Aquarius, you will be like the migrating songbirds that recalibrate their internal compass every day when the sun sets. In other words, you will make steady efforts to ensure that your magical ways of knowing are grounded in earthy rhythms.

PISCES Feb. 19-March 20

In some Polynesian cultures, there is a belief that one’s mistakes, including excessive anger, can cause physical sickness. Hawaiians traditionally have employed a ritual remedy for such ills called ho’oponopono. It includes acts of atonement, forgiveness and correction. It may even involve a prayer conference where all the people involved talk about their mutual problems with respect and compassion, seeking solutions and restitution. The coming weeks will be a fantastically favorable time for you to carry out your own version of ho’oponopono, Pisces.

Homework: Make two promises to yourself: one that’s easy to keep and one at the edge of your capacity to fulfill.
Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com

Master of Disaster

DNA

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January 22, 2025

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Extreme photojournalist Alekz Londos, and his most recent content of Los Angeles burning, garnered him a spot on Fox News, where his videos went viral, with millions of views.

“Fox let me know that I couldn’t talk about climate change or politics,” Londos said from his home in Santa Cruz. “If I could have, I would have talked about the erratic wind speeds, climate-related disasters and weather-related anomalies.”

Londos spent eight years at Cabrillo College studying fire technology courses, and learning all he could about disaster survival. In the case of LA, Londos is quick to relate his studies to the still-happening catastrophe.

He and his cameras have covered 60 forest fires, seven hurricanes and the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. He also went to Nepal after an earthquake, Ghana during the Ebola outbreak, and volunteered in Syrian refugee camps. During Hurricane Hugo, he slept in a windblown parking garage while others fled New Orleans.

But, according to Londos, LA was different.

“It’s so hard to even comprehend what it’s like. It’s like a war zone. It’s literally like a war,” Londos says. But in this case, the enemy is fire, and the firefighters are the soldiers. Unlike the CZU Lightning Complex fires, this wasn’t about saving 637 homes. In LA, over 10,000 homes have been lost, so far.

“What’s flammable? All the paints, all the lacquers, the siding, the fossil-fuel-derived roofs, and all of the different components that go into the building of a house. The insulation is flammable, most products in the house are petroleum-based, and we love to live amongst trees, even in a severe drought. People are living outside their means,” Londos says.

Londos doesn’t hold back on his praise of the response of the firefighters. “They’re constantly just trying to save the homes they can, and unfortunately the reality is that they spend their time, and their limited resources, protecting the homes that have a higher chance of being saved.”

**FIRE’S AFTERMATH** In the split-second decisions that firefighters have to make, homes are saved or lost. PHOTO: Aleks Londos

Maybe the homeowner had more defensible space, or home hardening techniques, or they didn’t stack wood piles next to the side of the house. And in the split-second decisions that firefighters have to make, homes are saved or lost. Combine this with there not being enough trained humans to make their way safely through neighborhoods to spot in advance for the firefighters, just to let them know that a savable house is just around the corner.

“As a journalist,” Londos begins, “I have reign of the entire area in the disaster zone. I’m already driving around and getting my content. And I saw a house that could be saved. I filmed it, drove around the block and found some firefighters, and showed them the video. They figured out the address, called it in, and the house was saved, no questions asked. I did that three times.”

Important to note that Londos is trained, experienced and follows protocol. But even the most experienced disaster chaser can be overwhelmed. “I was driving through one neighborhood, probably seven city blocks. Homes were on fire, other homes were already destroyed. I did not see a single firefighter. It just overwhelmed everyone, so fast.”

Londos is hoping to be able to reach out to young people through his social media (@envirolize), and has an urgent piece of advice.

“Expand your education, preferably at a community college, and try to diversify your information, so that you can learn more about people, animals and the world. Try to get a good grasp on what this world is about and how things work. And then you’ll be able to make more of an informed decision with how you spend your money, how you vote with your money, how you spend your time, and the direction that you choose to go in life.

“I think everything has to do with making informed decisions, and that also requires personal sacrifices in one’s life. Rather than watch that soap opera, spend more time trying to do things that improve your life. Make more calculated decisions of how you think about everything. Weigh out the pros and cons. Will your decisions help people and animals? Think about how you can help your family and the future generations of the world. Manifest the life that you want to create, and how you can help this society that we live in. And think about how you can find your place in that,” Londos concludes.

Back in Santa Cruz for a breather, Londos was still packed when the Moss Landing fire started and he headed out again.

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