Free Will Astrology

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ARIES March 21-April 19

In honor of the intensive homecoming phase of your astrological cycle, I have homework for you. 1. Make a prediction about how old you will be when you know precisely who you are. 2. Forecast the day when you will look in the mirror and recognize your face as an intricate portrait of every experience you have ever loved. 3. Imagine the dawn when the boundary between your own longing and lifeโ€™s longing will dissolve, revealing theyโ€™ve always been the same current. 4. Predict when your heart will be as wild and free and brave as you have always wanted it to be.

TAURUS April 20-May 20

Ornithologists studying migration know that some birds donโ€™t fly directly to their destination. They follow โ€œleading lines.โ€ These are geographical features like coastlines and mountain ranges that provide orientation. Even when this means taking a longer route, the certainty of having a guiding landmark outweighs the efficiency of a straight line across nondescript terrain. I recommend the birdsโ€™ approach to you in the coming weeks, Taurus. Follow your own leading lines: practices and intuitions that provide lucid orientation even when they donโ€™t offer shortcuts. The indirect path offers the surety you need.โ€จ

GEMINI May 21-June 20

Whatโ€™s an important truth you keep forgetting about? Maybe itโ€™s a promise you once made to yourself, or an understanding that your younger self knew, or a wisdom your body keeps trying to communicate while your mind ignores it. What truth returns again and again in different guises: through synchronicities, seemingly random comments from friends, recurring dreams or the same lesson repeating in new situations? What crucial insights about life do you remember during crisis or ecstasy, only to abandon them once normalcy returns? Now is a favorable time to fully recover this lesson and install it firmly at the heart of your life.

CANCER June 21-July 22

Make a list of your five greatest pleasures. These are experiences that stir your senses, steady your pulse and remind you why you love being alive. Write them down as if they were sacred prayers. Sing a spontaneous song of praise for them. Then set out on a quest to discover pleasure number six. This is a delight you have never tasted, touched or imagined before. Maybe it will come from saying yes to a possibility you usually decline. Treat this experiment as a form of worship and a way to boost your devotion to your healing life force.

LEO July 23-Aug. 22

According to neuroscientists, the โ€œdefault mode networkโ€ is the area of your brain that lights up when youโ€™re daydreaming, drifting through thoughts and feelings, and letting your imagination roam around. This is when your deep self does crucial work: weaving memories into stories, making creative connections, rehearsing possible futures and forging your sense of identity. I mention this, Leo, because the coming days will be prime time for you to indulge lavishly in this healing and restorative activity. Donโ€™t let a task-obsessed world shame you out of your reveries. Your genius will bloom from their slowly swirling flow.

VIRGO Aug. 23-Sept. 22

Here are three gentle nudges: 1. One of your trusty tools or assets still seems to be working fine, but I suggest you look into the possibility that it will soon need repair. 2. Unless you act proactively to ease the strain on your system, a mini-breakdown could be on the horizon. 3. The monster hiding in your closet is hibernating, which makes this the perfect time to summon an exorcist before it rouses. Hereโ€™s the very good news, dear Virgo: Because you are reading this oracle, you are now armed with all you need to stave off turmoil and head in the direction of an exciting renaissance.

LIBRA Sept. 23-Oct. 22

Researchers who study improvisational jazz have found that master musicians often anticipate each otherโ€™s ideas milliseconds before anyone actually plays the notes. Their brains become exquisitely synchronized through deep listening rather than rigid planning. Maybe more than any other sign, you Libras possess a similar aptitude in managing your intimate alliances and social connections. In the coming weeks, this superpower will be even more necessary and available than usual. Iโ€™ll provide a reminder: Pay less attention to what people claim to mean and more attention to the rhythms beneath their words. Let your intuition guide you. The subtly shared timing will generate elegant cooperation.

SCORPIO Oct. 23-Nov. 21

โ€œItโ€™s bad luck to be superstitiousโ€ is a delightful paradox that I enjoy playing with. It makes fun of our tendency to believe that invisible forces are constantly keeping score on our behavior. On one level, the phrase pokes at the way superstition multiplies anxiety instead of easing it. If you really believed itโ€™s bad luck to be superstitious, then your belief about bad luck would itself be a superstition. So youโ€™d have to avoid the very thinking pattern youโ€™re using to feel safer. It exposes how easily the mind can tie itself in knots trying to control the uncontrollable. On another level, โ€œitโ€™s bad luck to be superstitiousโ€ is an invitation to examine which of your little rituals are entertaining and nourishing and which are cages. Keeping a lucky stone in your pocket is fine if it amuses you, but believing youโ€™re doomed if you donโ€™t carry the stone isnโ€™t so fine. My advice: Notice when your charm or taboo is no longer a quirky companion, but starts being a tyrant that shrinks your freedom.

SAGITTARIUS Nov. 22-Dec. 21

Are you the type of Sagittarius who pushes open doors with โ€œpullโ€ signs on them? Do you get a secret kick out of opening boxes from the end that says โ€œopen other sideโ€? Maybe you even yack on your phone in designated quiet zones. If so, Iโ€™d like to suggest channeling your rebellious spark into grander acts. In the weeks ahead, you will be carrying some potent renegade energy. Used wisely, your radiant defiance could topple a stagnant situation thatโ€™s overdue for change.

CAPRICORN Dec. 22-Jan. 19

Many healers favor the slow-and-steady path. They often meet with people once a week, trusting that even stubborn issues must be unwoven with patience and gentleness. But there are also bold experimenters who work differently. I know an acupuncturist who invites clients to live at her clinic for six days straight, offering a new treatment every two hours during the waking hours. She creates a healing immersion chamber. Thatโ€™s the spirit I recommend for you in the coming weeks, Capricorn. Youโ€™re at the threshold of resolving a long-standing imbalance. What will serve you best isnโ€™t dabbling at it but offering it focused, sustained, wholehearted attention until the shift activates.

AQUARIUS Jan. 20-Feb. 18

You can refresh and boost your ambition if you give it a firm, precise adjustment sometime soon. Your raw vitality will surge back if you refrain from indulging in a careless habit that has been draining it. Your willpower and determination have been weakened by the fallout from an old misstep, but you now have the clarity needed to repair that error. Your libidinous energy is not as clear and potent as it could be, but it will become so once you get more honest about what truly excites you.

PISCES Feb. 19-March 20

Youโ€™re like an arrow that has been shot from a bow and is three-quarters of the way to the target. Youโ€™re a delicious meal still simmering on the stove, or a pregnancy at seven months, or the last two weeks before a major election. When I turned my inner vision to you, I glimpsed a honeybee wriggling a dance to show its coworkers where a stand of blooming lilac awaits. Have you ever been on the verge of speaking a new language with ease? Thatโ€™s where you are now, Pisces: just before true fluency clicks.

Homework: Do a ritual in which you vow to attract more blessings into your life. tinyurl.com/ommm777

Things to do in Santa Cruz

THURSDAY 7/16

ELECTRONIC

RJD2 Electronic Musician RJD2, aka Ramble Jon Krohn, has a knock-your-socks-off impressive resume of collaborations with people like Mos Def and MF Doom. His 2006 track with American rapper Aceyalone was used for the theme song of Mad Men. RJD2โ€™s new album Visions Out of Limelight is a self-reflective look at his reign in the underground and finally stepping out from behind the decks and studios. Using found sound, RJD2 intends to shift mindscapes by dipping into Saturday morning cartoon themes, Dr. Dre, KMD and other often overlooked beats. RJD2 is a unique voice in an increasingly homogenized playing field. DNA

INFO: 8pm, Felton Music Hall, 6275 Hwy 9, Felton, $44. 704-7113.

MUSICAL

CRY-BABY The John Watersโ€™ cult film Cry-Baby has been transformed into a rockabilly musical that will have the audience jumping and jiving! A story of star-crossed lovers takes place in 1954 America where conservative squares go against leather-clad delinquents. Wade โ€œCry-Babyโ€ Walker is a bad boy with a good cause. Meanwhile, Allison Vernon-Williams is a rich, square girl who finds herself falling for the bad boy across the tracks. She leaves her square boyfriend, even as the rebel group led by Walker is accused of arson. The tale unfolds alongside energetic rockabilly musical numbers. It is a demented, joyful, and funny musical interpretation of John Watersโ€™ work. Goes until July 19. ISABELLA MARIE SANGALINE

INFO: 7pm, Renegade Theater Co, 303 Potrero St., Unit 33, Santa Cruz.  $25. 713-9392.

FRIDAY 7/17

THEATER

ALADDIN JR. Dust off the magic carpet and soar through the magical world of Aladdin Jr. Based on the classic 1992 film and the 2014 Broadway musical, this show is sure to delight the whole family. The show follows the scrappy hero, Aladdin, through an adventure filled with surprises like magic lamps, genies, and princesses to win over. Through the testing of grit and character, Aladdin will be taken out of his familiar street rat ways and discover his true worth. Filled with new songs and amplified characters, this adaptation of a timeless story polishes up just like Aladdinโ€™s magic lamp. Goes until July 19. SHELLY NOVO

INFO: 6:30pm, The Landing, 251B Kings Village Rd, Scotts Valley, $22-$28, 438-3251.

BLUEGRASS

HOT BUTTERED RUM Hot Buttered Rum debuted on record with 2002โ€™s Live at the Freight and Salvage. A document of the band at the esteemed Berkeley venue captured the bandโ€™s wit and style. A popular live act, the six-piece group is a familiar fixture on the festival circuit. The group has thrilled audiences across the country, including high-profile spots at South by Southwest, the Newport Folk Festival, the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival and many others. While the prolific bandโ€™s lineup has changed a great deal over time, their winning approachโ€”live and in the studioโ€”has earned them a dedicated following. Tea Leaf Green opens. BILL KOPP

INFO: 8pm, Felton Music Hall, 6275 Highway 9, Felton. $44. 704-7113.

SATURDAY 7/18

BLUEGRASS

WATER TOWER An embryonic version of Water Tower was launched in Portland in 2005, later relocating to L.A. Combining the acoustic musical values of bluegrass with the fury and attitude of punk, Water Tower has long managed to draw ardent fans from both camps. Tours with Against Me! and close association with members of Black Flag helped establish the bandโ€™s indie cred, and the bandโ€™s self-release approach to albums (and self-contained management approach) underscore their commitment to doing things their way. Less a band than a collective, Water Tower features auxiliary members who come and go, with founding member Kenny Feinstein as the bandโ€™s center of gravity. Fast-rising Santa Cruz songwriter JAM opens the show. BK

INFO: 7pm, Kuumbwa Jazz Center, 320-2 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. $32-$57. 427-2227.

ROCK

THE UMBRELLAS Record stores are an essential cornerstone of any vibrant community. Thatโ€™s a hill I will happily die on. Case in point, the four-piece indie pop rock outfit, The Umbrellas. The band (Matt Ferrera, Nick Oka and Keith Frerichs) basically formed because they frequented Amoeba Records, got to know one another and liked each otherโ€™s musical tastes. Singer Morgan Stanley joined after she was heard singing karaoke at a 4th of July party (Happy bandiversary!) and the band released their debut EP in 2019. This is for fans of The Vaselines, Nick Lowe and early Alvvays as The Umbrellas mix romantic melodies with honest-to-goodness pop rock for contagious songs lifted on airy vocals. MAT WEIR

INFO: 9pm, Crepe Place, 1134 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. $15. 429-6994.

SUNDAY 7/19

ROCK

COME TOGETHER Once again, Santa Cruzโ€™ most intimate music venue/coffee spot, The Ugly Mug, is cramming world-class musicians into its joint. This time, itโ€™s musicians who specialize in the music of The Beatles. Drew Harrison of The Sun Kings plays over 100 tribute shows a year. Harrison holds down the John Lennon spot. Stephen Krilanovich, of the White Album Ensemble, steps in for Paul McCartney. Jerry Whitney from Across the Universe provides the sweet Harrison bass lines. The room is too small for drums, but there will be sweet melodies from Cheryl Dalessandro, making it a modern-day Fab Four. DNA

INFO: 6pm, Ugly Mug, 4640 Soquel Drive Soquel. $25. 477-1341.

MONDAY 7/20

DRAG SHOW

PINK LADIES OF THE SONNETS Santa Cruz Shakespeare leans into dragโ€™s theatre roots with full sequined conviction. Pink Ladies of the Sonnets brings some of the Bay Areaโ€™s most talented drag queens and kings to the park for an evening where Shakespearean poetry, comedy, and drama meet the glittery cabaret of drag. Drawing inspiration from the sonnets, these performers carry on a tradition of gender play that runs through Shakespeareโ€™s work from the very beginning. This one-night extravaganza of Shakespearean proportions is sure to have the audience laughing, dancing, and singing along. Enjoy the show in drag, denim, however feels right. After all, the Bard was always fabulous. SHELLY NOVO

INFO: 7pm, Audrey Stanley Grove, 501 Upper Park Road, Santa Cruz. $25. 460-6399.

TUESDAY 7/21

POETRY

KAILY DORFMAN Tucked away off Almar Avenue on the Westside sits a hidden gem. Operated by Tom Brady (no, not that Tom Brady), Satori Arts is a center for anything that falls under the wide umbrella of โ€œperforming arts.โ€ This Tuesday, it will host an open mic with guest poet Kaily Dorfman. Born and raised in Santa Cruz, Dorfman has an MFA in poetry from UC Irvine and a PhD in English and literary arts from the University of Denver. She will be reading some of her esteemed work that has earned her nominations for the Pushcart Prize and has been published in New England Review, Tar River Poetry and Summerset Review. MW

INFO: 7pm, Satori Arts, 815 Almar Ave., Unit 9, Santa Cruz. Free. 314-503-8441.

Brighten Up

In the immortal words of modern-day philosopher-poet SpongeBob Square Pants, โ€œYou donโ€™t need a license to drive a sandwich.โ€

Mr. Pants is on my mind because he was on a big screen in the middle of Murray Street Friday night, helping lead the charge to bring people to Seabright and Santa Cruz Harbor while the Murray Street Bridge remains closed.

Next up: Legally Blonde (July 16), Minecraft Movie (July 23), Shrek (July 30), Hoppers (Aug. 6) and Goat (Aug. 13)

Now, three bonus tastes of double-barreled inspiration to help celebrate Seabright.

1. The crazy stacked sandwiches at Seabright Deli (415 Seabright Ave, Santa Cruz), where a surf-and-turf-type duo of The Grotto (blackened snapper, chimichurri tomatoes, jalapeรฑo-lime slaw, tarragon-basil aioli, arugula on toasted Francese roll) and a Smokeshow (house smoked brisket, stracciatella cheese, roasted jalapeรฑo aioli, sweet cherry pepper relish, arugula, also on Francese) provided supreme satisfaction.

2. A pair of slices at Engfer Pizza Works (537 Seabright Ave.)โ€”a pesto and a cupping pepperoni, with memorable homemade sauces and nice thin presentationโ€”which I was delighted to discover also provides a ping pong table to play on.

3. A โ€œ1+1โ€ at Verve Coffee Roasters (104 Bronson St #19, Santa Cruz), a stylish combo of single espresso alongside a single shot macchiato, to supercharge my morning.ย  exploreseabrightharbor.com

BIGGER SLICE

Bookieโ€™s Pizza (inside Sante Adarius, 1315 Water St., Santa Cruz) boasts some of the fluffiest, tastiest and creatively decorated dough in the region, if not the state. So itโ€™s a mouthwatering thing to consider those Detroit-style beauties will soon be even better. At least thatโ€™s one takeaway from news chef-pizzaiolo Todd Parker and team BP have signed an agreement to occupy one of three retail spots in the new Anton Pacific residential building (800 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz), set to debut next springโ€”with no gap in production between new and old digs (whew). A big pizza dough retarder will allow for even greater consistency and quality, more kitchen capacity will empower big group orders, and more square footage will make private parties possible, bookiespizza.com.

SHOOTS AND SPROUTS

I just donated a non-running vehicle to support the angels at Meals on Wheels, and it was easy as promised, 855-500-7433, cars.orgโ€ฆPublic Tours of the Santa Cruzโ€™s Resource Recovery Facility happen 10am every Friday through Aug. 14 (plus a single Saturday July 25), with the invitation to โ€œDiscover the journey your recycling and food scraps takeโ€”and see firsthand how your actions make a difference!โ€ to the tune of 30 to 50 tons of material that Santa Cruzians place into their blue recycle bins every single day, cityofsantacruz.com/toursโ€ฆ

New York Timesโ€™ roundup of the year’s nutrition reporting by Caroline Hopkins Legaspi and Alice Callahan totaled 10 items and gets a 10/10 recommendation from this omnivore. My three favorites: โ€œThe science of intermittent fasting isnโ€™t as sound as you may thinkโ€; โ€œThere is such a thing as too much proteinโ€; and โ€œYou should probably try to get more fiber,โ€ nytimes.com/spotlight/well-nutritionโ€ฆ

This year marks the 30th year of data collection for Reef Check Foundationโ€™s coral monitoring program, reefcheck.org โ€ฆMonterey Bay Master Gardeners share practical tips for choosing plants that thrive in our local conditions while supporting a healthier environment with the latest Earth-friendly gardening workshops, โ€œPlant Selection,โ€ 10am-noon July 26 at UCSC Arboretum, Horticulture 2 Meeting Hall, arboretum.ucsc.eduโ€ฆSquidward: “You can’t fool me. I listen to public radio!”

New York Style

A cocktail lounge with cuisine that complements, The Alley-Oop owner Max Turigliattoโ€™s inspiration was a New York basement bar with New Orleans French influence.

Growing up locally and in the industry, he says he was โ€œborn in a bar โ€“ almost physically.โ€ His mom was a bookkeeper for an Italian restaurant and one day when the dishwasher didnโ€™t show up, the owner offered 9-year-old Turigliatto $20 to work the shift.

โ€œI kept coming back for more,โ€ he said, bussing, cooking, watching the clientele and learning the business intimately. He then worked around town at other restaurants before pivoting to lumber sales, but says he still had that pesky industry itch.

Opening The Alley-Oop in February 2026 in the old Poet & Patriot Pub site, Turigliatto describes the vibe as cozy, dim and moody, feeling old but clean with accents of leather, leopard print, dark turquoise and Bordeaux red. He defines the cocktail selection as house craft specialties mixed with speak-easy era classics, highlighting the Giant Dipper (cognac, Luxardo cherry liqueur, sweet vermouth, chocolate bitters, vanilla extract) and his personal favorite, the Poetโ€™s Dream combining gin, dry vermouth, Benedictine and orange bitters finished with a lemon twist.

The food is described as approachable, small shared plates; their signature top-seller is the shoestring-cut Skinny French Fry with vermouth aioli and optional caviar. Other favorites are the Prawn Remoulade in spicy Cajun sauce, a classic hamburger, blackened ahi salad and locally sourced handmade beignets.

What is The Alley-Oop going for?

MAX TURIGLIATTO: An intimate late-night date night spot with a dress-up outing vibe is our intention here. Itโ€™s very different, teleporting guests out of Santa Cruz in a โ€œcould be anywhere in the worldโ€ way. So, not Santa Cruz but still Santa Cruz at the same time. I felt like the town really needed this, and guests often remark the same.

Describe your journey to opening.

It was a three-year process, which involved a full renovation of the previous space and a completely new built-out kitchen. The permitting, design and details of the space were not rushed and were all intentionally curated to create the feel that Iโ€™m going for. Itโ€™s been worth it;I was nervous about putting so much time, energy and money into a new-for-Santa Cruz concept. I have been extremely humbled and in awe of all the local support weโ€™ve received since opening.

320 Cedar Street, Santa Cruz, 831-461-3283; jazzalleylounge.com

Housing for Teachers

Over the past decade, 127 teachers left Santa Cruz City Schools because they couldnโ€™t afford to live in the county, and 95% of job offers were declined for the same reason, according to the district.

To alleviate the cost-of-living burden on local teachers and improve retention rates, Santa Cruz City Schools broke ground on the district’s first educator housing community last March.

The project, at 313 Swift Street, will house at least 100 district teachers and classified staff at 60-70% of market rates.

โ€œWe simply plan on providing the biggest discount we can afford while still paying off the property in 30 years,โ€ said District Communications Officer Sam Rolens.

The average rent in Santa Cruz is over $3,000 a monthโ€”approximately 70% higher than the national average, according to Zillow.

A fully credentialed teacher in the district can earn a base salary of between $66,350 and $123,120 a year, according to the district’s salary schedules.

Housing is a challenge for new teachers and staff to remain in the district long-term, said incoming Greater Santa Cruz Federation of Teachers president and Santa Cruz High School teacher Conor O’Brien.

โ€œWeโ€™ve become something of a teacher farm,โ€ said O’Brien. โ€œWe train up teachers that are excellent, but then theyโ€™re gone.โ€

With this new development, the union is excited to have this option available to teachers in the near future, added O’Brien. โ€œDedicated housing for teachers will surely help us retain staff, which benefits students and the community at large.โ€

The planned 4-story building on the Westside of Santa Cruz is expected to be completed in the summer of 2028 and is currently estimated to cost the district just under$86 million, according to a district update this past March.ย 

The development promises to include approximately 100 units, including 11 studios, 28 one-bedroom units, 50 two-bedroom units, and 11 three-bedroom units, for both the district’s certificated teachers and classified support staff, according to the Santa Cruz City Schoolsโ€™ press release this past March.

The project will also include additional site improvements and the renovation of two existing buildings on the four-acre property, according to a press release from Bogard.

The project is being funded by bond measures K and L, which passed in 2022, totaling $371 million, according to Rolens.

The district currently estimates that approximately $40 million of the bonds will go toward the housing project, said Rolens. He  explained that to pay off the remaining costs, the district plans to issue a Certificate of Participationโ€”the mechanism that allows a school district to take in funds to be repaid over time.

The project used the Teacher Housing Act of 2016, which assists California school districts in establishing affordable housing for employees, as a reference in creating the legal framework with the City of Santa Cruz, said Rolens.

Bogard Construction, along with architect firms EHDD and Studio VARA, officially joined the project in October 2023, according to the district timeline.ย 

The idea of creating dedicated educator and staff housing was partly driven by the goal of reducing the financial burden on staff, within the limits of what the district was legally and financially able to do.

โ€œWe want to pay everyone more, and we donโ€™t have any more money,โ€ said Rolens. โ€œSo this is one of the things that weโ€™re trying.โ€

According to the districtโ€™s records, the site was previously owned by the United States government and was transferred to the district in 1988.

โ€œMany of us in our office are products of the Santa Cruz City School District,โ€ said Jared Bogaard, the president of Bogard Construction. (The second โ€œaโ€ in his name is a reference to Victor F. Bogard, his grandfather and founder of Bogard, who dropped the second โ€œaโ€ and later requested the following generations add the โ€œaโ€ back into the name.)

โ€œFor the local teachers to have something that they can live in at an affordable rate,โ€ said Bogaard. โ€œIt’s just nice to be part of something like that.โ€

โ€œThis is an easy one to get behind,โ€ said Rocamora. โ€œIt’s sort of like an instant gratification in terms of doing something socially significant for your community.โ€

During the design process, the Bogard team and the project architect interviewed district teachers and staff to better understand their needs.

โ€œWe incorporated as much of the elements that were feasible into the design,โ€ said Bogaard, explaining that creating a comfortable and desirable space to live in was one of the main priorities, which also led to some quintessentially โ€œSanta Cruzโ€ requests.

โ€œAn interesting one in the project that I don’t think a lot of other projects take into consideration is wetsuit storage and surfboard storage,โ€ said Bogaard.

The project is also the most recent iteration of similar projects in neighboring districts, such as in Mountain View in the Whisman School District, which opened in February 2025 at below-market rates and is only 72% occupied, according to reporting from SFGate.

However, according to Rolens, he doesnโ€™t believe this will be a problem and that employee polling indicates strong interest among staff.

โ€œIf we have a persistent inability to fill a necessary percentage of our units, then we’ll try to make memorandums of understanding with other school districts to say, we want to offer this space to your employees as well, running through the same process as what we have,โ€ said Rolens,  adding that they are considering keeping several units vacant to offer to teachers and potential employees if needed. 

Following the completion of the project, the district plans to select potential candidates through a lottery system , the terms of which will be decided after the district establishes a dedicated committeeโ€”expected to be comprised of union representation, human resources staff, and staff representativesโ€”which is planned to be put together for the first time in 2027, said Rolens.

โ€œThat committee will also be part of the conversation about rents and things like that,โ€ said Rolens. โ€œWhen we get closer to opening the doors, weโ€™ll be able to get an understanding of what the housing market looks like and how much weโ€™ve spent so that we can set those prices.โ€

Today, the project is well underway, but not without some difficulties, admitted Bogaard.

According to Bogaard, the site had a large amount of contaminated soil ,which Bogaard and the district believe stems from the site’s history as a property of the United States Government. Getting the site up to code, following guidance from a soils consultant, required removing and replacing it with new soil, a process Bogaard described as complicated and expensive, additionally saying that, once the proper measures are completed, the site will be entirely safe for occupancy.

Another complication so far has been that the soft soil on the site does not compact properly, said Bogaard, requiring the team to focus on stabilizing the dirt before building.

However, despite the complications, the team seems to be taking it in stride, according to Bogaard, adding that from his perspective โ€œthe district has kind of maintained a positive outlook.โ€

Robot Masters

Nine months of late nights, countless repairs and more than 100 hours spent testing an underwater robot in a swimming pool paid off in a big way for a team of Santa Cruz County high school students.

Hephaestus Robotics, a 21-member team representing eight county high schools, captured first place in the Ranger Class at the 2026 MATE ROV World Championship on June 27 in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, earning the program’s first world title after finishing third in each of the past two years.

The victory came against 47 high school teams from 13 countries competing in the Ranger division, one of several classes at the international competition, which featured 86 teams from 16 countries.

Among the team members was Pajaro Valley High School student Raul Lopez, who said the experience changed the way he thinks about engineering and teamwork.

โ€œThis experience taught me how to work within a big team made of smaller teams, an experience I hope to contribute to building a MATE ROV college team at CSUMB,โ€ said Lopez, who will attend Cal State Monterey Bay this fall to study mechatronics.

The team qualified for the world championship by winning the MATE Monterey Bay Regional ROV Competition in April.

At the three-day world championship, students operated a remotely operated underwater vehicle in facilities designed to simulate real ocean conditions, including a 1.7 million-liter flume tank and a wave basin.

Their robot completed a series of tasks modeled after real marine science and offshore engineering work, including replacing a simulated environmental DNA sensor, recovering an anchor buoy and deploying an autonomous float capable of maintaining depth while collecting data.

Students also used professional sonar equipment to locate simulated marine debris.

โ€œRather than simply simulating operations within a controlled pool, our team rose to the challenge of performing real-world ocean protection,โ€ said Santa Cruz High School student Elle Williams, who piloted the robot during the bonus mission. โ€œWe deployed a professional sonar tool on our ROV to scan for and identify ghost gear and debris in the Atlantic Ocean. That was amazing.โ€

The competition extends well beyond building a robot.

Teams operate as mock engineering companies, preparing technical reports, budgets, marketing materials and formal presentations that are judged by professionals from the marine technology industry.

Mission Director Sam Imahara of Kirby School said the championship reflected months of persistence.

โ€œCompeting on the world stage against so many talented teams was an unforgettable experience,โ€ he said. โ€œAs the electronics lead, seeing our countless hours of late-night troubleshooting, complex wiring, and system integration culminate in a world title is wildly rewarding.โ€

Float Team Vice President Amber Williams of Pacific Collegiate School said the team’s success was especially satisfying after setbacks earlier in the season.

โ€œThese many months of continuously fixing issues and dedication led us to finally achieving the full 85 points, something only three out of 47 teams managed to do,โ€ she said. โ€œAfter watching the float fail at regionals, having everything come together at worlds felt incredible.โ€

The team includes students from Pacific Collegiate, Sequoia, Soquel, Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley, Pajaro Valley, Sapphire and Kirby schools.

Tim Sylvester, founder of nonprofit X Academy and the team’s lead mentor, said the championship reflects the diversity of the students involved and the commitment they showed throughout the school year.

โ€œOur team brought together students from across Santa Cruz County, including the children of Silicon Valley tech workers, doctors, carpenters, electricians, and farmworkers,โ€ he said. โ€œAfter nine months of hard work and more than 100 hours of practice in the pool, they truly earned this win.โ€

Hephaestus Robotics is part of the Santa Cruz County Office of Education’s X Academy Robotics Clubs, a partnership that gives students free, hands-on experience in engineering, computer science, entrepreneurship and project management.

Since the partnership began in 2023, X Academy mentors have worked with more than 200 students from 15 high schools through weekly robotics sessions in Santa Cruz and Watsonville.

Santa Cruz County Superintendent of Schools Faris Sabbah said the world championship highlights what students can accomplish when they have access to hands-on learning opportunities.

โ€œThis championship is the result of years of student leadership, mentorship, problem-solving, and persistence,โ€ Sabbah said. โ€œThe Hephaestus Robotics Team has shown what is possible when students have access to rigorous, hands-on learning and a community of mentors who believe in them.โ€

For graduating Sequoia High School student Carlos Ortiz-Lopez, the lessons learned extend beyond robotics.

โ€œBeing a part of the Hephaestus Team taught me to be relentless and to not give up no matter what gets thrown your way,โ€ he said. โ€œI will use this to help me become an apprentice electrician with the IBEW.โ€


The Editor’s Desk

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

If you wonder how Shakespeare stays relevant four centuries after he wrote his plays, take a look at some of his tragedies, such as Macbeth or Hamlet. There were madmen and women in power, and as unimaginable as it would seem, the same is happening today, right here, right now.

Innocent Americans are being shot on the streets by bands of agents with no respect for constitutional rights or human kindness. A mad king has knocked down part of the White House with no oversight or permission, while accusing a guy on a bicycle of vandalizing the reflecting pool with zero evidence or credibility.

“Madness in great ones must not unwatch’d go,” says Hamletโ€™s King Claudius and if you donโ€™t see a daily dose of madness in the news, you arenโ€™t paying attention.

Never would I have thought we would be living in an age like Shakespeareโ€™s kings, but here we are. No coincidence that the anti-administration protests are called No Kings days, because we are seeing king-like misbehavior every day.

There are great lessons to be learned from the plays Santa Cruz Shakespeare is putting on this season, as unveiled in our cover story by Christina Waters, which is why the Bard is still studied and still entertaining.

One thing youโ€™ll get from her story is a behind-the-scenes glimpse into what the directors are thinking and how theyโ€™ve made important decisions about the plays. You wonโ€™t find that anywhere else.

Added note: there are two special Scotch tastings at the shows on July 17 and Aug 27, adding some spice to Macbeth.

And, I know I say this all the time, but it deserves to be said: how lucky are we in one of the smallest counties in the state, to have a stunning, professional theater company bringing these plays and others to life? Find me another city the size of Santa Cruz, population 61,000 with this kind of culture. They are rare.

And to put a point on it: next weekโ€™s cover is about the Cabrillo Music Festival held here, which is an internationally recognized forum for experimental music. Again, we live in such an extraordinary place.

Also, congratulations to those working to bring people to the Seabright neighborhood by the Harbor, which is being threatened by the closure of the Murray Street Bridge. Organizers have put on a parade and now a movie night and shopping to keep the neighborhood alive.

Thanks for reading.

Brad Kava | Editor


PHOTO CONTEST

WHALE, WHALE, WHALE Taken on a boat in Monterey Bay. Photograph by Susan Japinga, Aptos.


GOOD IDEA

Santa Cruz Public Libraries is excited to welcome former Simpsons and King of the Hill artist Carlos Nieto III to the Aptos Branch Library and invites artists of all abilities, ages 12-18 to join us for a free โ€œAnime Your Wayโ€ drawing workshop on Sunday, July 26 at 1pm in the Betty Leonard Community Room.

Nieto III will teach a comprehensive, step-by-step program in which participants create and modify an anime character from scratch. This workshop is part of the Summer Reading Program and invites young people to join in and explore their creativity. No prior experience is required. Space is limited and registration is required. To register for the Aptos Branch Library workshop visit: santacruzpl.libnet.info/event/16116863

GOOD WORK

Bike Santa Cruz County will host a media conference to present the findings of its second annual countywide survey of cycling in the county, July 16 at 4 pm at the Community Room of the Downtown Branch.

The survey received 743 responses from residents across the county, nearly three times the participation in the organizationโ€™s 2025 survey. Respondents included people who bike for transportation, recreation, exercise, errands, school, family trips, and connections to transit.

The findings point to a consistent problem: many people want to bike, but the countyโ€™s network remains stressful, fragmented, and difficult to use from beginning to end.

โ€œPeople who bike every day, recreational riders, families, e-bike users, and people who would ride more if they felt safer are all pointing to the same problems: fast traffic, close passing, missing connections, difficult crossings, and routes that suddenly stop,โ€ said Mikey Cohen, chair of Bike Santa Cruz County.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“Madness in great ones must not unwatch’d go.โ€
โ€”William Shakespeare in Hamlet

Ouch: Summer Blues

If youโ€™ve found yourself wondering whether someone forgot to tell the weather itโ€™s July, youโ€™re not alone. Every few years, we get a summer like this, weeks of gray skies, stubborn marine layer, and temperatures that feel more like winter than beach season.

While it may be perfect for the redwoods, endless cloudy mornings can take a surprising toll on our mood and energy. The weather could be playing a bigger role than you realize.

There are simple, science-backed ways to boost your energy, lift your spirits, and make the most of even the foggiest days. Choose one or two suggestions that sound most doable and add on from there.

1. Hydrate Straight Up

After a night’s sleep, your body is naturally dehydrated. Before reaching for coffee, rehydrate with a big glass of warm water and a squeeze of lemon. The warmth wakes up your digestive system while the lemon adds a refreshing dose of vitamin C.

Try this: Warm a glass of water in a kettle or the microwave, add a squeeze of lemon and sip it while you get ready for the day.

2. Soak Up the Morning Light

Even on cloudy days, outdoor light is far brighter than indoor lighting. Spending a few minutes outside within 30 minutes of waking helps regulate your circadian rhythm, increase alertness, and support mood.

Try this: Step outside for five to 10 minutes to stretch, walk, or simply enjoy the fresh air. If you’re working from home, open the blinds and sit near a bright window whenever possible.

3. Hold the Brew

Make the most of your morning brew by waiting 60 to 90 minutes after waking to drink it. Giving your body’s natural cortisol cycle time to do its job can lead to steadier energy and fewer afternoon crashes.

Try this: If holding out for a hot morning drink sounds like torture, try switching up your routine by starting with a cup of herbal tea. Youโ€™ll benefit from the antioxidants and a light boost of caffeine to tide you over to coffee time.

4. Get Outside Anyway

Don’t let gray skies keep you indoors. A cloudy day still provides 10 to 20 times more natural light than most indoor spaces, making even a short walk worthwhile.

Try this: Aim for a 20- to 30-minute walk before starting your day. It’s one of the simplest and most underrated ways to boost both physical and mental health.

5. Move with Other People

When motivation is low, let community do some of the work. Exercising with others adds accountability while providing another powerful mood booster: social connection.

Try this: Take a group fitness class at your gym, join a MeetUp walking group, beach volleyball or pickleball game, or a Dance Church gathering.

6. Don’t Skip Strength Training

Resistance exercise strengthens more than muscles. Studies show regular strength training can reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression while building confidence and resilience.

Try this: Aim for two or three sessions each week. Whether it’s yoga sculpt (my classes are all-levels friendly), barre, or weight training, Santa Cruz has a fitness option for every age, ability, and interest.

7. Plan One Small Adventure Each Week

Novel experiences stimulate the brain’s reward system. Instead of waiting for the weather to improve, shake up your routine.

Try this:

  • Try paddleboarding or visit a float spa. Yes, itโ€™s a thing.
  • Attend one of the free outdoor summer concerts.
  • Take a beach yoga or outdoor fitness class, or get your groove on at Salsa by the Sea.
  • Visit a new farmers’ market.
  • Explore a different hiking trail or beach.

Sometimes a small adventure is all it takes to reset your perspective.

8. Make Time for Friends

Gray weather often makes us want to stay home, but connection is one of the strongest predictors of emotional well-being.

Try this: Schedule something to look forward to, a coffee date, a walking Meetup, a Santa Cruz Shakespeare  performance, a potluck picnic or a happy hour.

9. Create Daily Micro-Joys

Happiness isn’t always found in big moments. Small pleasures, repeated often, can have a surprisingly powerful effect on mood.

Try this:

  • Enjoy a cappuccino after your morning walk.
  • Pick up fresh flowers at the farmers’ market.
  • Read outside wrapped in your favorite hoodie.
  • Spend five minutes practicing deep breathing.
  • Walk to the beach and pause to notice the waves, birds, or blooming flowers.

Those little moments add up.

The Takeaway

Rather than waiting for the sun to return, create your own version of summer through your morning routine, movement, time outdoors, and meaningful connection.

Elizabeth Borelli is a yoga sculpt teacher at Kula Connections, Mediterranean Diet and Lifestyle coach, and therapist in training. Learn more about her work and events at ElizabethBorelli.com

Ideal Nectar

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Tasting wine at Alfaro Family Vineyards is always an upbeat experience.

And amongst the many different wines made at Alfaro, a well-priced standout is the 2025 โ€œAโ€ Estate Chardonnay at $25. Light straw in color, it has โ€œintense flavors of pear, apple and white peach, followed by a hint of lemon curd and honeyed oak.โ€ Aged for nine months in 20% new French oak, itโ€™s an ideal nectar for summer sipping.

Another lovely wine to try at Alfaroโ€™s Saturday wine tasting is the โ€œAโ€  Estate Syrah ($25). Bursting with notes of โ€œwhite pepper and cigar-box aromas,โ€ it comes with layers of dark fruits, spice, and stewed plum.

Both these wines will be served at a reception by photographer Mary Altier. The event is to celebrate her photography exhibition at the Aptos Branch Library. She and her husband, John Walker, have traveled the worldโ€”with stunning images taken by Altier.

This is an opportunity to not only try these two wines, but also to feast your eyes on Altierโ€™s brilliant photography.

Alfaro Family Vineyards, 420 Hames Road, Watsonville, 831-728-5172. Alfarowine.com

Around the World with Color Photography by Mary Altier, which runs until Sept. 30 at the Aptos Library,ย  includes images taken in Papua New Guinea, China, Italy, India, and Africa.ย  Altierโ€™s free reception with Alfaro wines and refreshments is from 1:30-4:30pm on Saturday, Aug. 1. Info: maryaltier.com

Hawaiian, Polynesian and Pacific cultures celebrated

The first annual Aloha Music & Arts Festival celebrates Hawaiian, Polynesian, and Pacific cultures with local Santa Cruz County bands, food vendors and more. The two-day event takes place from noon to 6pm, July 31 and Aug. 1 at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds. Free entry, parking $20. For more info alohamusicandartsfestival.com

Street Talk

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Where is your favorite place to walk?

ELIAS

โ€œI like going for a walk on Ventura Beach. Thereโ€™s good lunch places and itโ€™s like a small-town area near the water.โ€

Elias Daniel, 22, Cal State Fullerton psychology graduate


DEVAN

โ€œIโ€™m going to go with the beaches, and Iโ€™ll say Point Dume in Malibuโ€”walking down Point Dume and taking the stairs on the more rugged part of the point. And then doing a little boogie boarding, a little surfing and a little strollingโ€”very masculine strolling, of course.โ€

Devan McGivern, 22, Cal State Fullerton business management graduate


LINCOLN

โ€œIโ€™ll say Griffith Park in L.A. Thereโ€™s an Observatory trail that stops halfway and you have to scamper up to the Observatory. The park has a very interesting ecosystem and its own environment. Itโ€™s always buzzingโ€”thereโ€™s always a party or a community event going on.โ€

Lincoln Charles, 22, Cal State Fullerton political science graduate


THURE

โ€œI really like the Blue Trail in the woods behind Chaminade. There are a lot of banana slugs, and people in the neighborhood walk their dogs there. Itโ€™s kind of a secret spot.โ€

Thure Sullivan, 22, University of Denver music recording major


EMILY

โ€œThereโ€™s a beach trail in Southern California that I walk from San Clemente Pier down to San Clemente State Beach. I just like walking on the beach in the morning or at sunset. I usually run into people I know, so thatโ€™s fun.โ€

Emily Anderson, 23, University of Denver psychology major


AMBER

โ€œThe Tillamook Forest trail, near Portland. There are not many people at the more difficult heights. At the top thereโ€™s a really good view. Past the forest is the Tillamook community where Iโ€™m from. The ice cream is just down the road, and you can visit the creamery and everything. You smell the cows before you see them, but thereโ€™s plenty of them.โ€

Amber Dockter, 41, human resources

Free Will Astrology

Astrology, Horoscope, Stars, Zodiac Signs
This weekโ€™s horoscopes invite each sign to follow its guiding instincts, recover forgotten truths, embrace restorative pleasures and prepare for meaningful change.

Things to do in Santa Cruz

Water Tower band members pose together before their Kuumbwa Jazz Center performance
Water Tower brings bluegrass chops and punk fury to Kuumbwa, with founding member Kenny Feinstein leading the bandโ€™s fiercely independent, ever-evolving collective.

Brighten Up

Blackened snapper sandwich with purple slaw, tomatoes, arugula and aioli at Seabright Deli
Seabright delivers stacked sandwiches, memorable pizza and strong coffee, while Bookieโ€™s Pizza prepares for a larger downtown Santa Cruz location.

New York Style

Bartender Kendra Casey pours a Manhattan at The Alley-Oop cocktail lounge in Santa Cruz
The Alley-Oop brings moody New York cocktail-lounge style to downtown Santa Cruz, pairing classic drinks with small plates and late-night date-night atmosphere.

Housing for Teachers

Bogard Construction leaders Jared Bogaard, Ryan Bogaard and Dave Sullivan stand at the future Santa Cruz City Schools staff housing site
Santa Cruz City Schools is building roughly 100 below-market apartments on Swift Street to help teachers and staff afford to remain in the community.

Robot Masters

Santa Cruz County high school students from Hephaestus Robotics celebrate winning the MATE ROV World Championship
Santa Cruz County high school students won the Ranger Class at the 2026 MATE ROV World Championship after months of designing, repairing and testing their underwater robot.

The Editor’s Desk

Patty Gallagher, Mike Ryan and Dan Donohue
Brad Kava reflects on Shakespeareโ€™s enduring warnings about power and madness, celebrates Santa Cruz Shakespeare and highlights community efforts in Seabright.

Ouch: Summer Blues

Canada goose stands among coastal plants overlooking the foggy Santa Cruz shoreline
Extended summer gloom can drain mood and energy, but simple habits involving light, movement, hydration, strength training and social connection can help.

Ideal Nectar

Bottle of Alfaro Family Vineyards A Estate Chardonnay stands among grapevines
Alfaro Family Vineyardsโ€™ 2025 โ€œAโ€ Estate Chardonnay offers bright pear, apple and white peach flavors, while a summer reception pairs local wine with photography.

Street Talk

Street Talk asks readers to share their favorite places to walk, from beaches and mountain trails to forests, neighborhood paths and Griffith Park.
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