“Be like water.” It’s the philosophy of Jeet Kune Do. It’s adapting to your surroundings, and don’t try to move the mountain, go around the mountain. It’s no good to be upset about things in your way, you must pivot and keep going. Slowly the water will erode the mountain and carve its own path.
Wes Pannell, 50, Co-owner GAME Santa Cruz on Cedar St
LAUREL
In art, everything has already been done, so just do whatever it is that you want. As I’m getting older, I’m realizing style is just the things that you can’t help but do. Your style is basically the things that you can’t change about yourself.
Laurel Meissener, 37, Artist
DAVE
It’s an oldie, but “Treat people the way you would want to be treated.” I was probably at around 7 or 8, growing up on the upper west side when my mom gave me that advice.
Dave Cowan, 59, Co-owner GAME Santa Cruz on Cedar St
NIKKI
My Dad told me, “Don’t ever worry about what anybody else thinks, just be you and don’t be nervous about anything.”
Nikki Frediani, 44, Graphic designer
CHRIS
Well, I was divorced, and I had met Melissa my current wife. That was kinda difficult for me, and one of my daughters said, “Dad, she’s great, we love her. Make sure you don’t mess up.”
Chris Coleman, 56
MELISSA
I don’t know, I always go back to the foundation of what my parents taught, “Treat people how you want to be treated.”
Here comes the Hating and Mating Season. I want to help you minimize the “hating” part and maximize the “mating” part, so I will offer useful suggestions. 1. To the degree that you can, dissolve grudges and declare amnesty for intimate allies who have bugged you. 2. Ask your partners to help you manage your fears; do the same for them. 3. Propose to your collaborators that you come up with partial solutions to complicated dilemmas. 4. Do a ritual in which you and a beloved cohort praise each other for five minutes. 5. Let go of wishes that your companions would be more like how you want them to be.
TAURUS April 20-May 20
Many fairy tales tell of protagonists who are assigned seemingly impossible missions. Perhaps they must carry water in a sieve or find “fire wrapped in paper” or sort a heap of wheat, barley, poppyseed, chickpeas and lentils into five separate piles. Invariably, the star of the story succeeds, usually because they exploit some loophole, get unexpected help, or find a solution simply because they didn’t realize the task was supposedly impossible. I bring this up, Taurus, because I suspect you will soon be like one of those fairy-tale champions. Here’s a tip: They often get unexpected help because they have previously displayed kindness toward strangers or low-status characters. Their unselfishness attracts acts of grace into their lives.
GEMINI May 21-June 20
You are in a phase with great potential for complex, unforeseen fun. To celebrate, I’m offering descriptions of your possible superpowers. 1. The best haggler ever. 2. Smoother of wrinkles and closer of gaps. 3. Laugher in overly solemn moments. 4. Unpredictability expert. 5. Resourceful summoner of allies. 6. Crafty truth-teller who sometimes bends the truth to enrich sterile facts. 7. Riddle wrestler and conundrum connoisseur. 8. Lubricant for those who are stuck. 9. Creative destroyer of useless nonsense. 10. Master of good trickery. 11. Healer of unrecognized and unacknowledged illnesses.
CANCER June 21-July 22
Tanzanite is a rare blue and violet gemstone that is available in just one place on earth: a five-square-mile region of Tanzania. It was discovered in 1967 and mined intensively for a few years. Geologists believed it was all tapped out. But in 2020, a self-employed digger named Saniniu Lazier located two huge new pieces of tanzanite worth $3.4 million. Later, he uncovered another chunk valued at $2 million. I see you as having resemblances to Saniniu Lazier in the coming weeks. In my visions of your destiny, you will tap into resources that others have not been able to unearth. Or you will find treasure that has been invisible to everyone else.
LEO July 23-Aug. 22
Marathon foot races are regularly held worldwide. Their official length is 26.2 miles. Even fast runners with great stamina can’t finish in less than two hours. There’s a downside to engaging in this herculean effort: Runners lose up to 6% of their brain volume during a race, and their valuable gray matter isn’t fully reconstituted for eight months. Now here’s my radical prophecy for you, Leo. Unless you run in a marathon sometime soon, your brain may gain in volume during the coming weeks. At the very least, your intelligence will be operating at peak levels. It will be a good time to make key decisions.
VIRGO Aug. 23-Sept. 22
Is there a greater waste of land than golf courses? They are typically over 150 acres in size and require huge amounts of water to maintain. Their construction may destroy precious wetlands, and their vast tracts of grass are doused with chemical pesticides. Yet there are only 67 million golfers in the world. Less than 1% of the population plays the sport. Let’s use the metaphor of the golf course as we analyze your life. Are there equivalents of this questionable use of resources and space? Now is a favorable time to downsize irrelevant, misused and unproductive elements. Re-evaluate how you use your space and resources.
LIBRA Sept. 23-Oct. 22
On the morning of Jan. 27, 1970, Libran songwriter John Lennon woke up with an idea for a new song. He spent an hour perfecting the lyrics and composing the music on a piano. Then he phoned his producer and several musicians, including George Harrison, and arranged for them to meet him at a recording studio later that day. By Feb. 6, the song “Instant Karma” was playing on the radio. It soon sold over a million copies. Was it the fastest time ever for a song to go from a seed idea to a successful release? Probably. I envision a similar process in your life, Libra. You are in a prime position to manifest your good ideas quickly, efficiently and effectively.
SCORPIO Oct. 23-Nov. 21
You have passed the test of the First Threshold. Congratulations, Scorpio! Give yourself a kiss. Fling yourself a compliment. Then begin your preparations for the riddles you will encounter at the Second Threshold. To succeed, you must be extra tender and ingenious. You can do it! There will be one more challenge, as well: the Third Threshold. I’m confident you will glide through that trial not just unscathed but also healed. Here’s a tip from the Greek philosopher Heraclitus: “Those who do not expect the unexpected will not find it.”
SAGITTARIUS Nov. 22-Dec. 21
What development are you so ready for that you’re almost too ready? What transformation have you been preparing for so earnestly that you’re on the verge of being overprepared? What lesson are you so ripe and eager to learn that you may be anxiously interfering with its full arrival? If any of the situations I just described are applicable to you, Sagittarius, I have good news. There will be no further postponements. The time has finally arrived to embrace what you have been anticipating.
CAPRICORN Dec. 22-Jan. 19
Capricorn screenwriter and TV producer Shonda Rhimes has had a spectacular career. Her company Shondaland has produced 11 prime-time TV shows, including Grey’s Anatomy and Bridgerton. She’s in the Television Hall of Fame, is one of the wealthiest women in America, and has won a Golden Globe award. As you enter into a phase when your ambitions are likely to shine extra brightly, I offer you two of her quotes. 1. “I realized a simple truth: that success, fame and having all my dreams come true would not fix or improve me. It wasn’t an instant potion for personal growth.” 2. “Happiness comes from living as your inner voice tells you to. Happiness comes from being who you actually are instead of who you think you are supposed to be.”
AQUARIUS Jan. 20-Feb. 18
I have performed in many poetry readings. Some have been in libraries, auditoriums, cafes and bookstores, but others have been in unexpected places: a laundromat, a bus station, a Walmart, a grocery store and an alley behind a thrift store. Both types of locations have been enjoyable. But the latter kind often brings the most raucous and engaging audiences, which I love. According to my analysis, you might generate luck and fun for yourself in the coming weeks by experimenting with non-typical scenarios—akin to me declaiming an epic poem on a street corner or parking lot. Brainstorm about doing what you do best in novel situations.
PISCES Feb. 19-March 20
I have two related oracles for you. 1. During the unfoldment of your mysterious destiny, you have had several homecomings that have moved you and galvanized you beyond what you imagined possible. Are you ready for another homecoming that’s as moving and galvanizing as those that have come before? 2. During your long life, you have gathered amazing wisdom by dealing with your pain. Are you now prepared to gather a fresh batch of wisdom by dealing with pleasure and joy?
Homework: Maybe it’s time to fix a seemingly unfixable discomfort. Do it!
Ally Venable is not your typical blues guitarist. At 25, she’s a seasoned veteran, having released a debut EP, Wise Man, in 2014, and following up with five albums. Venable is also a hard-working touring musician, having played hundreds of dates in the U.S. and across Europe. Her most recent album, 2023’s Real Gone, featured guest turns from Joe Bonamassa and Buddy Guy; the latter has been a longtime supporter and mentor of Venable’s artistry.
On Buddy Guy’s 2021 tour, the legendary bluesman gave the opening spot to Venable. And the young guitarist has a deep appreciation for what that meant to her career. “Just seeing him live is amazing,” Venable says. “But having the opportunity to play with him onstage every night was an experience I’ll never, ever forget.”
That was just the beginning. Venable recalls an October 2021 concert date at the King Center for the Performing Arts in Melbourne, Florida. An amateur video of a six-minute jam featuring the two trading fiery guitar licks is on YouTube, but the evening’s most important exchange took place backstage.
After the show was over, Guy invited producer Tom Hambridge, Venable and several others back to his dressing room. “We were just talking about music,” Venable says, and then Buddy said, ‘We should help Ally with her next record.’ And that’s how it started.” Guy would guest on “Texas Louisiana,” one of Real Gone’s hardest and heaviest numbers; like that concert clip, the track features plenty of good-natured back-and-forth between the blues icon and his protégé.
Venable’s rock sensibility adds a modern quality to her blues outings; the influence of artists like ZZ Top, Jeff Beck and Jimi Hendrix finds expression in her fretwork and muscular arrangements. And her years on the road—including an extended, 60-date run as part of the international Ruf Records Blues Caravan—has given Venable more than the average 25-year-old’s lifetime worth of experiences.
The guitarist—who writes and/or co-writes her own material—says that she draws upon those experiences for her songs. Looking back at the music she made a decade ago, she says that she has matured as an artist and musician. “When I wrote my first songs, I went off what I thought was ‘correct,’” she admits. “But we all go through things, and that’s what I base my material on now. I build off my life and what I think other people can relate to.”
Venable is still enjoying the success of Real Gone, with a tour that features several songs from the album. But work on an as-yet-untitled follow-up album, set for release in spring 2025, is well underway.
She provides some hints as to where that album will take her: “I’m being a little more vulnerable with what I say and how I say it,” she says. “And I’m being more bold with what I’m trying in the studio, with sounds, harmonies and my vocal range.” Though she has a solid body of work behind her, Ally Venable is clearly just getting started.
Ally Venable plays at 8pm on Sept. 26 with Preacher Boy Trio. Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. Tickets: $20 adv/$25 door. moesalley.com
The experience of watching a group of artists get together and create something raw and heartfelt is like no other. Some may go so far as to say people are attracted to places like Santa Cruz for its openness to such endeavors.
Such is the case for Elie Mabanza, 42, a musician born and raised in Congo Brazzaville who became smitten by the town’s ocean, forests and people.
Mabanza’s first home in America was in Cary, North Carolina, where he worked as a dishwasher at an Olive Garden, which he says was a new adventure. After three years, Mabanza came to visit a friend in Santa Cruz. He says he fell in love with the town and decided to move closer in 2017.
“Music brought me here. I don’t like to talk about my past life,” Mabanza said when asked why he left Congo. “Sometimes you don’t want to go back, to just close the door and walk away. … I can create something that takes me to the past.”
Almost a decade after leaving his hometown, Mabanza is the frontman in many bands, such as Afro Hi Life and Mokili Wa (which means “World Listen” in Mabanza’s native languages of Lingala and Lari). He lures people in with a sweet voice and a band of skilled musicians.
Mabanza regularly plays with Ryan Price (bass), Spencer Peterson (keyboards), Joe Rayhbuck (drums), Anne Stafford (sax), Drew Pieros (percussion) and Jaime Sanchez.
At each gig, Mabanza and his colleagues improvise a unique set—one that he says “has never been played before and probably won’t ever be played again.”
Mabanza insists that everyone has rhythm within them. “Any person in this world … is like a musician because our body, it’s music. It’s like a clock. Your heart is beating, your clock is moving, everything is in rhythm.”
That is why he says that every musician should learn percussion: “That’s our rhythm, our heart.”
Mabanza says he started playing music in his mother’s womb, his first instrument being his heartbeat. His family was musical, and Mabanza is undoubtedly a gifted singer, songwriter and instrumentalist himself. He allows that his mother was not the one to pass down the singing genes. His father, a pastor, would play the guitar to his mother while she was pregnant, foreshadowing Mabanza’s passion for playing the guitar, in which he is almost entirely self-taught.
Mabanza says he was always the troublemaker growing up.
“I have to say I was really stubborn, I cannot ignore that,” he recalls. “With seven siblings you’re sure to have someone who is the ‘good crazy.’ … I was the good crazy.”
His father was a disciplinarian who kept him “in the loop.” Mabanza remembers many instances in his childhood where his father confiscated his guitar as a punishment and put him in a room with nothing to do for hours.
Mabanza remembers his father as a good leader who supported his community. He has taken on that role himself, both as a father and by being there for others through his musical performances.
“It’s hard to see a lot of people dying and fighting, it’s really hard,” Mabanza says. “No one belongs to this Earth; one day we’re gonna die. Why not put our ego away and be there for everybody?”
Elie Mabanza plays in Santa Cruz on Sept 27 at Chaminade and Sept. 28 at Abbott Square. For details on these shows and others in the future, visit eliemabanza.com.
Monterey Bay and a thriving fishing community might seem synonymous. Sadly, shockingly and in all seriousness, they are not.
But think about it: Not only are local fishermen facing down extended salmon and crab season closures, cheap imports, climate change and rising costs, both basic infrastructure at local ports (like ice and cold storage) and public awareness of their plight is often limited.
Enter Monterey Bay Fisheries Trust, where I’m learning all about those challenges with new depth as a contributing writer. The good news is MBFT draws from a mighty alliance of marine scientists, fishermen, chefs, policy makers and advocates to do all sorts of things to support fishermen and the wider industry.
Those efforts include keeping local fishing quotas with area boats, advocating for the industry through local governments and management councils, sharing local seafood guides and sublime recipes, relaying policy updates and breaking news, spotlighting dock sales, and supplying fresh Monterey Bay seafood to nearby food banks and Meals on Wheels through its Community Seafood Program (CSP).
This month, it’s also celebrating a decade since earning its nonprofit status, with a seafood celebration Sept. 29 starring (yes) fresh catch, chefs Diego Felix and Tim Eelman, craft beer and local wine, and comments from national leaders like Margaret Spring and Jimmy Panetta.
Readers can support the cause by buying local—and embracing the glory of salmon alternatives like halibut, rock cod, sand dabs, sardines and sablefish. They can also check out the ongoing Get Hooked! dinner series with fishermen supplying harvest and insight, standout chefs rising to the occasion, and proceeds benefiting the CSP.
“It’s all about local seafood on local plates!” Executive Director Melissa Mahoney says. Amen, and bon appétit.
TOPICAL TOPPINGS
Bring on the brioche loaves, date sticky buns and GF chocolate chip cookies: Dani O Bakeshop (Capitola Mall, 1855 41st Ave.) celebrates its grand opening at 4pm on Sept. 27. “We are finally ready to open our doors and share what we have been working on and launch our mindful, indulgent pastries and naturally leavened breads and lunch items!” DOB’s website: daniobakeshop.com.
Santa Cruz Open Farm Tours appear on the horizon Oct. 12-13, with a lineup blooming with great growers, openfarmtours.com…A life-affirming conference cometh: The first ever “Food As Medicine – Santa Cruz” gathers healthcare professionals, researchers and experts from various fields to dig into the benefits related to plant-based diets Oct. 20 at Hotel Paradox (611 Ocean St., Santa Cruz), with scholarships available to locals via in**@*********************uz.org. “Let’s pack the place!” says conference co-organizer Wendy Gabbe Day.
The Amah Mutsun Land Trust celebrated the fall equinox with some inspired updates, including 1) the fruition of a partnership between AMLT, Rick Flores from the UCSC Arboretum and Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History (705 Front St.) on a native habitat in MAH’s Secret Garden, with plants like blue elderberry, mugwort, Ohlone manzanita, coyote mint, fuchsia, bush poppy, ladies tobacco and yerba buena honoring Amah Mutsun history; and 2) a comprehensive map of AMLT’s stewardship projects with their original names. For more: amahmutsunlandtrust.org and santacruzmah.org.
Reminder: Ten percent of New Leaf Community Markets’ profits—from spots in Capitola, Aptos, downtown Santa Cruz and the Westside—go back to the community, and right now dry-farmed tomatoes are 25% off, newleaf.com…See us out, M.F.K. Fisher: “There is a communion of more than our bodies when bread is broken and wine drunk.”
An economist by trade in Rome, Marco Paoletti settled in Santa Cruz 10 years ago, seduced by its natural beauty and diversity. Professionally, he applied his economic background to the restaurant industry, opening Obló in downtown Santa Cruz six months ago with his business partner and chef, Andrea.
With a name that means “porthole” in Italian, Obló’s ambiance has a boat-like feel, set off by rounded architecture, plentiful windows and prominent blues throughout. The cuisine is modern Italian with California influence and includes grilled octopus, pan-seared scallops, pancetta-wrapped shrimp, and grass-fed elk carpaccio sliced thin and finished with lemon juice, black pepper and honey mustard aioli. Succulent salad selections include a caprese with Naples-sourced mozzarella and arugula with sautéed calamari.
Entrée favorites are red wine-braised short ribs with creamy polenta, pappardelle pasta with bison ragout, and a rotating fish of the day special. The burger is another popular pick with ground-in-house ribeye, brie cheese, sautéed oyster mushrooms and crispy onions. Desserts include Chocolate Bomb, a gluten-free layered chocolate mousse made from scratch.
Describe your economist-to-restauranteur evolution.
MARCO PAOLETTI: I always had a passion for good kitchens; growing up in Italy, my mom was a tremendous cook and I always loved food and trying new restaurants. But I got a degree in economics and finance and was a CPA in Italy for several years. It’s important to serve good food, but also be very mindful of the numbers behind the scenes and to keep an eye on rising costs that can drag a restaurant down. My economic background really instilled in me food financial instincts.
Tell me about the bar program.
We invented all our house cocktails and they are made with fresh-squeezed juices and housemade infusions—everything is hand-crafted and high quality. Our espresso martini with vanilla-infused vodka and authentic imported espresso is one great example, and our most unique cocktail is the Italian Stallion: an aperitif-style sour with fresh lemon juice and honey syrup, Szechuan bitters and three different Italian bitters.
740 Front St., Santa Cruz, 831-600-7770; oblosc.com
HAND CRAFTED House cocktails at Obló are made with fresh-squeezed juices and housemade infusions.
Baldacci Family Vineyards is one of an abundance of superb wineries boasted by Napa Valley. Family owned and located in the renowned Stags Leap District AVA, it is only a couple of hours’ drive from Santa Cruz—and perfect for a weekend getaway.
The estate-grown 2022 Carneros Chardonnay ($50) is phenomenal. Aromas of lemons, bananas and apricots, combined with rich and appealing flavors of orange zest, biscuits, brioche and butter, make this a truly superb wine. With its mouthwatering acidity, gorgeous fruit flavors and appealing golden straw color, it’s a delightful match for any meal.
Baldacci Vineyards has just launched a new Estate Tasting ($85 per person). Each wine, starting with a splash of sparkling brut, is paired with seasonal small bites—a good time to relax and enjoy the vineyard views.
Baldacci Family Vineyards, 6236 Silverado Trail, Napa, 707-944-9261. baldaccivineyards.com
Grazing Day
Gourmet Grazing on the Green is a wine, beer, spirits and food event par excellence. Enjoy live music as you bid on wonderful raffle prizes and walk around sampling restaurant fare and fine wines from local vendors. For close to three decades, the Santa Cruz Cancer Benefit Group has held fundraisers dedicated to improving the quality of life for local people living with cancer.
Gourmet Grazing is noon to 4pm, Saturday, Oct. 5 at Aptos Village Park. Visit sccbg.org for tickets and more info.
The Color Purple
My husband and I visited Romania in July—and tried some excellent wines. One of them was a Cabernet Sauvignon by Domaine Muntean called Zâna Purpurie, which means Purple Fairy. Romania is one of the world’s largest wine producers, and you can find many wines online from different regions of the country, including infamous Transylvania. Visit domaine-muntean.com for info.
There’s nothing like summer at the beach to bring on the thirst for a quenching libation, so while you’re at it, why not try some local flavor created right here on the Central Coast? The Expendables, Santa Cruz’s own reggae/ska/surf rock band, has released the Expendables Pleasure Point Hard Pink Lemonade, the band’s first venture into the hard seltzer market, and so far the response has been tremendous.
Created in collaboration with Monterey-based California Seltzer Co., the Expendables Pleasure Point Hard Pink Lemonade is a crisp, bubbly libation crafted with fresh lemon juice and other natural ingredients. It’s available throughout Santa Cruz and Monterey counties to anyone 21 and up.
Formed in Santa Cruz in 1997, the Expendables are four longtime friends: Geoff Weers (guitar and vocals), Adam Patterson (drums and vocals), Raul Bianchi (lead guitar) and Ryan DeMars (bass). “We’re all from the East Side, went to Soquel High School right up the street,” says Patterson, sitting outside the Ugly Mug.
The first seven years of their career were fueled with three full-length, independent releases. Now, the Expendables perform at venues across the country and have toured with such notables as NoFx, Fishbone, Pennywise, Slightly Stoopid and Rebelution.
Patterson described the band’s hands-on approach to the creative process for the seltzer, including tastings and flavor evaluations with California Seltzer Co. The whole band tried and tested an assortment of flavors before deciding on pink lemonade, he said. “We are not brewers or bartenders, but we do know what we like.”
The band tried other flavors but the pink lemonade “really stood out,” Patterson said.
“We were the first band to drink hard seltzer when it came out … I’m claiming it. We liked their pink lemonade that they were toying with, and we kind of tweaked it a bit.”
At 5.5% alcohol, it’s “not insanely alcoholic,” Patterson said—a perfect choice for a reggae show or a hot day on the beach. When the seltzer made an appearance at Cali Roots Festival, its booth quickly sold out.
“It is tart but there’s also a hint of sweetness,” says Veronica Camp, owner of California Seltzer Co.
“It has more of a real lemon flavor to me,” Patterson said. “It’s perfectly sweet, just enough.”
The band worked on packaging with California Seltzer Co. to design a matte black can and colorful artwork. “It’s black but not too aggressive,” Patterson said. “They really embodied everything we are. They have been amazing at keeping us involved in the whole process.”
Growing up, the band always wanted to do a beer, Patterson said, and they had already tried their hand at cannabis and wine. In 2021, the band released “Bottle for Two,” (a nod to their song “Bowl for Two”), a petit syrah Paso Robles limited release that was not available in stores. “This will be around longer,” he says.
Naming the seltzer after Pleasure Point was natural, too. In the beginning, the four friends all practiced music along the famed stretch of coastline. “We were gravitating toward pink lemonade. Besides, PPPL sounded good,” Patterson said.
Pleasure Point Pink Lemonade is currently on shelves at Pleasure Point Wine & Spirits, Crows Nest Beach Market, Seascape Foods, Harbor Liquors, and served on tap at Oak & Ale, 3102 Portola Dr., along with multiple locations on Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.
“We’ve seen in Santa Cruz alone that weekly orders have increased since we launched the product,” Camp said. “Craftshack.com sold out of our initial order the first weekend that we made it live… It’s definitely a testament to the Expendables and their fans.”
Pleasure Point Hard Pink Lemonade was the official seltzer at the recent Dry Diggins Music Festival in Auburn, Calif. “We are going to participate in events where we can do joint ventures,” Camp says. The seltzer is available at Pleasure Point Street Fair and will be sold at the Catalyst when the Expendables perform Dec. 7.
CAN FOR ONE At 5.5% alcohol, PPPL is ‘not insanely alcoholic,’ Expendables drummer Adam Patterson says.
In these politically correct times, is it possible for comedians to tell jokes?
Some big names, including Jerry Seinfeld and Bill Maher, argue that comedians are being silenced especially on college campuses by an audience that is offended by everything.
But comedians featured at a giant weeklong comedy festival in Santa Cruz from Oct 1-5 have other opinions.
Writer Sean Rusev talked to many of them for our cover story about the festival, which has attracted both big and local names. It’s interesting to see how many locals have made the big time over the years and this is your chance to catch up-and-comers and already-theres at a panoply of locations around town.
Given the tensions around the world and in this country, laughter has never been more needed. Our prescription is simple: you know the cliche that laughter is the best medicine. Well, here’s your chance for a good dose of laughter.
On the news front, students at UCSC are in for some big changes in the wake of last year’s protest. Josué Monroy will update you in his article. We also have all kinds of information in our student guide, which features cheap eats, ways to rate your professors, a hip-hop dance teacher who has worked with famous artists and a focus on online learning.
Welcome to Santa Cruz, new students.
In music we profile an African man who has developed a reputation as one of the best guitarists in Santa Cruz. We also cover an amazing 25-year-old woman who is keeping the blues alive for a new generation.
Then there’s a new release from a DIY/Punk label, Shallow Dive Records, covered by Mat Weir, which you probably won’t read about anywhere else. Mat, who is a true music maven, also covers hardcore supergroup Seized Up, which has an album release show at Moe’s Alley.
For great eats, we have a six-month-old restaurant, Obló, which serves fresh, authentic Italian meals with an interesting twist. The owner studied business so knows the ins and outs of staying in business. It’s been sad to see other great restaurants disappear.
What a great way to help local restaurants still recovering from tough times during the pandemic: go out for a great meal.
Have a great time this week.
Brad Kava | Editor
PHOTO CONTEST
EGYPT ON THE BEACH These sand pyramids are part of an art installation by Jim and Brighton Denevan at Cowell Beach and sponsored by the MAH. Photograph by Jim Sullivan.
GOOD IDEA
In an exciting show of community spirit and friendly rivalry, two city managers are taking the plunge—literally! Matt Huffaker, city manager of Santa Cruz, and Rene Mendez, former city manager of Watsonville, will jump off the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf into the Pacific Ocean Friday at 3pm to celebrate their cities’ efforts in last season’s Holiday Food & Fund Drive fundraising competition. Huffaker raised an impressive $26,264 (equivalent of 78,792 healthy meals), while Mendez brought in $14,159 (42,477 healthy meals), both supporting Second Harvest’s mission to combat hunger in Santa Cruz County. Santa Cruz County Lifeguards will be standing by to ensure a safe and splashy landing.
GOOD WORK
The California Public Utilities Commission approved the fifth round of recommended awardees for 10 last-mile broadband projects, awarding a cumulative $91 million worth of grants to projects serving predominantly disadvantaged and low-income communities.
Nearly $15 million of those funds is slated for broadband infrastructure projects designed to connect and empower underserved and unserved rural communities in Santa Cruz and San Benito counties. Surfnet Communications, of Santa Cruz, has been awarded $4,348,793 to serve an estimated 410 unserved locations in the communities of Hutchinson and Radonich and along Mt. Bache Road.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.” —George Bernard Shaw
If you are getting power through Monterey Bay Community Power be aware that some of your power will soon come from a very destructive project in the Mojave Desert. Aratina Solar Center is in the process of removing thousands of Joshua trees from an intact desert ecosystem. The panels will cover 2,300 acres. Whatever you think of green energy, this is the most destructive type of land use. In my opinion, solar should be decentralized to minimize loss of habitats and farmlands.
Sandra Baron | Watsonville
CAPITOLA CROSSWALK
It’s very telling that all the people complaining are those complaining about what it’s like TO BE IN A CAR. And many of them are complaining about congestion, aka how fast they can LEAVE the area. They offer no perspective or have no time to care about what it’s like to be someone OUTSIDE of a car. Someone who just wants to use their legs to cross a street. Or bicycle. Or maybe have the audacity to push a stroller.
The values they hold dear are clear, if only implied: You have no right to feel safe walking in this community. Safety is for people in cars. Spend thousands and thousands of dollars on vehicles, insurance, and fuel. And any time you want to go somewhere, even if it’s just to pick up a pack of butter from the store, be prepared to take two tons of metal and plastic with you.
Enough already. Enough of the danger, enough of the car bullying. Walking and biking should be safe and healthy options in our community.
DC
SAVING OUR SHORES
Save Our Shores (SOS) announced the results of the 2024 Annual Coastal Cleanup Day for Santa Cruz and Monterey counties. With the help of 1,540 volunteers, Save Our Shores tackled 56 cleanup sites from Año Nuevo State Beach in the north to Andrew Molera State Park in the south.
Volunteers successfully removed over 6,945 pounds of trash and 612 pounds of recyclables in just three hours. Some of the top numbers of the day include 1,345 pounds of debris removed on Zmudowski State Beach, and an impressive 103 volunteers at Del Monte Beach.
Save Our Shores Executive Director Katie Thompson thanked site captains as they returned cleanup supplies to the Save Our Shores office Saturday afternoon.
“Today’s efforts prove that community action is powerful. By joining forces and getting our hands dirty, we’re not just cleaning up—we’re creating a legacy of environmental stewardship. We deeply appreciate the support from local nonprofits, businesses, and community members who share our vision for a cleaner, healthier bay,” she said.
ARIES March 21-April 19
Here comes the Hating and Mating Season. I want to help you minimize the “hating” part and maximize the “mating” part, so I will offer useful suggestions. 1. To the degree that you can, dissolve grudges and declare amnesty for intimate allies who have bugged you. 2. Ask your partners to help you manage your fears; do the...
