A new community-focused and beer-brewing downtown landmark will not be showing photos of its flagship taproom on social media.
The big reveal of the 100-year-old bar may happen as soon as late February. Co-creator, brewer master, Presbyterian minister and Watsonville High JV coach Rev. Robby Olson is somehow succeeding at preserving the suspense.
“The carpenters and woodworkers have made something beautiful,” he says. “We’re intentionally not posting because we want people to experience it in full when they visit it for the first time.”
Olson started brewing on site last week. The brews he’s making have been tuned up over a decade home brewing, donating creations to nonprofit events and entering home-brew contests. The two most popular overall are his West Coast IPA and Mexican-style ale.
Give the people what they want—and what Watsonville is eager for, complemented by neighboring Tamale Factory fare, rotating food trucks and their own small kitchen operation.
The intended takeaway for guests, Olson adds, is good vibe + good bev.
Debut #1: Watsonville Public House leads a trio of places that are both among the biggest debuts of the year and should open soonest.
Debut #2: Winter in Santa Cruz can be a nice time and place to recharge, and that could be a working motto for Pretty Good Advice of Soquel.
PGA’s second spot is making final touches on the former Pacific Thai and plans on a conservative debut of “late January” (!!), per do-everything GM Page Traeger.
Debut #3: When Chef Nick Sherman opened Trestles in Capitola, it ranked near the top of Best New Restaurants. Now he has a great team and skilled partner in longtime friend and chef Shawn Ryberg to open Cavalletta.
I’ve attended a training session there and the pizzas and pastas hold up nicely, and the easy Italian-Santa Cruz versatility and overall seasonality of the menu help.
After a long wait—which allowed the team to add reps—Sherman messages that they could open as soon as early February.
WILD TASTES
Another look ahead: Monterey Bay Fisheries Trust, the nonprofit that supports local fishers, the fishery and equitable access to fresh catch (and where I also write) has announced its lineup of restaurants for the 2024 Get Hooked! dinner series. The next on the Santa Cruz side happens March 7 with Fonda Felix fish empanadas, Monterey Bay fish paella and corn miso bread to go with Madsen Wines. It presents a fun way to support an industry on the brink of more consolidation. At least as of last week crab season is a go, finally, with restrictions on how much can be harvested. montereybayfisheriestrust.org.
VARIOUS VITTLES
Burger Week cometh, and I’d love to hear any and all of your suggestions for great burgers via @MontereyMCA on Instagram…Chef, food justice activist, publisher and author Bryant Terry speaks at Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium Wednesday, Jan. 31 for UCSC’s 40th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Convocation, which is free and open to the public…The Curious World of Seaweed is up and eye-catching at Santa Cruz Museum. Humble Sea has started experimenting with limited openings of its tavern space in Felton like a smashburger run with S.C. Bread Boy they ran with earlier…Hasta pronto.
As we dive headfirst into 2024 brimming with new resolutions, with all of the breakthroughs in the field of health and wellness, it’s a good time to revisit our options. On a national level, the big headlines latched onto a new class of injectable weight loss drugs with guaranteed results, various side effects and a hefty price tag.
Today this treatment is available to anyone seeking a weight loss hack who can afford it. And the response has been so overwhelming, even the pain of a weekly injection hasn’t curbed growing demand. So, if a resolution to change your eating habits strikes a fear too hard to face, you can pay your way straight to the end zone.
Levity aside, there’s a reason New Year’s resolutions are seldom sustainable; lifestyle habits are notoriously hard to change. Willpower sounds tiring, exercise takes work, and if there’s a solution that’s slightly less painful, sign me up.
The quick-fix solution does beg some questions though. Like how will re classifying obesity as a disease in need of a pharmaceutical cure change our overall view of personal responsibility? Is outsourcing our health to big pharma a smart path to wellness? This commentary does not discount the fact that pharmaceutical interventions save lives for those who need them. The bottom line is, are they helping or hindering those who don’t?
The answers depend on whom you ask. The National Wellness Institute, the research organization credited with applying a cohesive approach to the subject, defines wellness as “a process of becoming aware of and making choices toward a more successful existence”.
Don Ardell, PhD. and author of the groundbreaking book High Level Wellness; an Alternative to Doctors Drugs and Disease contends the single greatest cause of poor health in this nation is “most Americans neglect, and surrender to others, responsibility for their own health”
If you agree with that perspective, then taking responsibility sounds like the better option. And here’s where the news gets good.
Starting with willpower. Turns out the act of forcing yourself to do or not do things you really want to, does not make for lasting habit change. Nor does committing to an exercise you dislike, or anything that ultimately feels like sacrifice. This is one big reason why so many resolutions fail.
Over the decades we’ve seen rates of obesity rise in direct correlation with lack of access to fresh foods and green space. Studies show maintaining a health resolution is less about willpower and more about logistics than we may think.
Stress, good or bad, drives short-term thinking. And when the level climbs too high, you feel a biologically-driven need to stop the pain. Suddenly, no matter how much you love your superfood smoothie, you know that only a bacon double cheeseburger can instantly take the pain away.
Yes, breakthroughs like Wegovy, Ozempic and Mounjaro are big news, but true wellness is ultimately an inside job. As Dr. Ardell reminds us, the charge for your health is all yours, but you don’t have to do it alone. In fact, studies show you’ll be more successful with group or professional support.
The Local Leading Edge
Environment and lifestyle go hand in hand, and here is where you and I get the edge. Nestled along the picturesque coast, Santa Cruz is celebrated as a wellness mecca, offering a sanctuary for those seeking holistic health and balanced living.
With its abundance of fresh, locally sourced foods and ample green spaces, the city provides a nurturing environment conducive to well-being. Santa Cruz stands out as a vibrant community dedicated to fostering a culture of wellness.
An Eastern Approach
Suhas G.Kshirsagar BAMS, MD, is an advisor to the world-renowned Chopra Center and the Director of Ayurvedic Healing at the Soquel-based Integrative Wellness and Pancha Karma center. A recognized leader in the field of Ayurveda & Integrative Medicine, Dr. Suhas has traveled around the globe popularizing Ayurveda, Yoga, Meditation & Natural Medicine.
I learned of Dr. Suhas’ work years ago, while searching for a non-pharmaceutical alternative for my daughter’s asthma.The complaints that Dr. Suhas hears daily, from high body weight, low energy, and poor sleep, to headaches, unexplained congestion, and depression, all have a surprising common denominator: a weak digestive “fire.”
Drawing on traditional Indian practices and principles, his best-selling book The Hot Belly Diet shows you how to optimize your digestive powers to foster rapid weight loss and vibrant health.
At the core of this three-phase diet that makes lunch the most important meal of the day is a dish called khichadi (pronounced kitch-a-de)—a completely nutritious but incredibly easy-to-make meal that helps clear out your “ama,” or the digestive sludge that antagonizes weight loss, provokes hormonal imbalances, and ultimately triggers inflammation—the root cause of virtually all disease. It also explains what foods are incompatible (milk and eggs, for example), why the sensation of hunger is essential, and how to time your meals throughout the day to avoid snacking.
MIND, BODY, SPIRIT Dr. Suhas Kshiragar is the director and Ayurvedic physician
at Ayurvedic Healing in Santa Cruz. Photo: Tarmo Hannula
When it comes to those New Year’s resolutions, diet is but one piece to an integrative approach. Dr. Suhas explains. “Weight Loss is much easier and more sustainable when you invoke your inner intelligence. Eating the right foods at the right time, suitable to your body type and using spices that regulate your metabolic pathways. The key is a health-conscious lifestyle, positive attitude and regular detoxification.”
According to Dr. Suhas, most people think of a detox as a superficial process. You change your diet, or take supplements, or abstain from harmful substances and the body does the rest. Suhas is an advocate of all these methods but knows that many of his patients have health concerns that go beyond a poor diet. They need a multi-faceted approach to rid their bodies of excess toxins to function optimally.
“When you carry a burden of toxins from these various sources, you may gain weight, have low energy, achy joints, skin rashes, small things, nagging headaches that don’t seem tied to any particular ailment,” he says.
“People can walk around in this state of lower-level toxicity for years, reaching for cold medicines, headache remedies, allergy medications, antacids. They rely on over-the-counter remedies when what they need is a deep tissue cleanse that will clear the body of all of this debris. We need to use a combination of heat, oils, massage and other treatments to get the body to purge the substances it has been holding on to.”
Eating, exercising, and living in harmony with your body-type, known as a dosha in Ayurvedic terminology, are essential for maintaining good health, yet Ayurveda offers an additional method for flushing ama (endotoxins) out of the body. When the seasons change, or if you need to address a particular health concern, you may need to cleanse and rebalance doshas that are aggravated or deficient.
In Ayurveda, this detoxifying process is called panchakarma—literally “five actions” or “five treatments” in Sanskrit. Done under the care of an Ayurvedic practitioner, panchakarma is tailored to your dosha. It includes oil massages, steam-sweat treatments, herbal enemas, nasal administrations of herbs and oils, and/or gentle laxatives and emetics.
These techniques cleanse the body of toxins that have been absorbed by the tissues and that could contribute to illness.
One of the most effective healing modalities in Ayurvedic medicine, panchakarma detoxifies the body, strengthens the immune system, and restores balance and well-being. By activating the body’s organs of elimination—the sweat glands, lungs, bladder/urinary tract, stomach, intestines, colon—panchakarma rejuvenates body, mind, and spirit.
A Western Approach
For those seeking a more mainstream approach, Cheri Bianchini RN, PHN founder of The Healthy Way, has been offering a safe and supportive haven to those struggling with weight management for more than 38 years. Regarding the new weight loss drugs, Cheri says that she and her team of experts have “seen it all over the years and know if it seems too good to be true, it probably is just that!” She’s learned that without a designated food plan and commitment to exercise, most people will fail at keeping weight off.
Bianchi contends that for most clients she works with, the key to sustained weight loss begins with balancing blood sugar. She says blood sugar concentration can determine how you feel physically and emotionally. Blood sugar stabilization keeps energy up, helps control hunger and prevents mood swings.
A low blood sugar level can cause irritability, fatigue, lethargy, excessive hunger, moodiness, depression and cravings for sweets — factors which can undermine a healthy diet. A stable blood sugar / glucose level is the cornerstone of The Healthy Way Program and is accomplished through individually tailored, low-glycemic meal plans and snack ideas, an exclusive Healthy Way Chewable Supplement for blood sugar stabilization and nutritional/motivational coaching and counseling and regular exercise.
And for those who need a pharmaceutical intervention to manage diabetes, Healthy Way offers a new medication-assisted program for a fraction of the cost of the new weight loss drugs.
When it comes to innovation, Healthy Way has teamed up with local expert Jay Pennock MD to offer the more natural, compounded generic version of Semaglutide, a medication used to help people with type 2 diabetes manage their blood sugar levels. It works by mimicking the action of a natural hormone called GLP-1. Coupled with individualized nutrition counseling, accountability, support and lifestyle education, clients stand a much better chance at maintaining weight loss.
Cheryl and her team encourage their clients to think of the diabetic intended/weight loss med as a “last resort” and to try the standard program first. To be sure, Semaglutide is not without its own set of complications such as nausea and GI tract issues, but for the most part these are short-lived. Yet for those who have exhausted the alternatives, this solution is a game changer. The assist gives them the kick-start they need to make the lifestyle changes they’re seeking.
A Relational Perspective
On a broader scale, one new study offers fresh insights into the age-old question of why some people are able to reach their lifestyle, including weight loss goals more readily than others.
Study author Abdo Elnakouri, a Banting Postdoctoral Fellow at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, has identified a significant factor in personal goal achievement: the phenomenon of “shared reality” with “instrumental others”.
According toElnakouri, Shared reality refers to the perception of sharing inner states – feelings, beliefs, or concerns – with others regarding the world. This concept goes beyond mere liking or closeness in relationships. It involves creating a common understanding of external events, people, and objects, which is crucial for navigating and succeeding in the world.
Instrumental others refers to individuals in our lives who significantly aid or facilitate our ability to achieve our goals. These can be mentors, colleagues, friends, family members, or any other key figures who actively contribute to our journey towards success.
Together, the findings suggest that habit change success is not just a product of individual effort or talent but also significantly influenced by the quality of one’s relationships, particularly the shared reality with those instrumental in one’s life.
“The way people see the world helps them connect with others and isn’t just constructed in isolation,” says Elnakouri. “People’s reality is co-constructed with other people, and people tend to share reality with those who help them with their goal.”
A Behavioral Approach
Jaimi Jansen is Founder & CEO of Santa Cruz CORE Fitness + Rehab. As a result of a bike accident 20 years ago, she started as an early adopter of the integrative wellness model. She now runs three locations that have evolved into a medical company and practice management company.
WORK IT OUT Gui Ferreira, a trainer at Santa Cruz CORE Fitness + Rehab
helps Jaimi Jansen, founder, work through an exercise. Photo: Tarmo Hannula
The key for her is to keep your habits bite-sized, and avoid peering too far into the future. When we make a resolution or set a goal fixated solely on the end result, we tend to make temporary progress or none at all.
Instead, set yourself up for success by committing to new behaviors you can meld into your lifestyle long term.
One struggle most people face when attempting to lose weight is snacking between meals, whether it’s mindless eating, a way to avoid our feelings, or overeating during lunch with friends at the Cheesecake Factory. Yet one small habit, known as a ‘keystone’ habit, breaks down the patterns into individual behaviors that can be changed one at a time.
She suggests that when it comes to making lasting lifestyle changes, from diet to exercise, immersing yourself in a positive environment that fuels your motivation for daily habits is a game-changer.
Jaimi advises that relying solely on willpower or motivation won’t cut it. You need to set yourself up for success by designing your living space to reflect your goals, choose your friends wisely, and, above all, treat yourself with the utmost care. As a new mom this fitness guru follows her own advice through regular sessions at Core as she works to get back in shape post baby.
Change starts with you, and it can be surprisingly easy once those tiny adjustments take hold—remember, tiny is mighty!
A Multifaceted Process
As distinctive as each of these viewpoints may be, none of them exclusively centers around diet alone. As we stand on the cusp of a new year, contemplating the numerous paths to wellness in 2024, I find myself both intrigued and cautious.
The allure of injectable weight loss drugs promises a shortcut to the finish line, but as we delve deeper, questions of personal responsibility and the potential consequences of outsourcing our well-being emerge. Do we redefine obesity as a disease with a pharmaceutical cure, or do we embrace the charge for our health as a personal journey, recognizing that true wellness is an inside job? Dr. Ardell’s wisdom echoes in my thoughts, emphasizing the pivotal role of self-responsibility in achieving lasting health.
The exploration of Eastern and Western approaches unfolds a tapestry of possibilities. Dr. Suhas’ Ayurvedic insights and the transformative power of panchakarma for those seeking balance and detoxification.
Cheri Bianchini’s decades-long commitment to blood sugar stabilization through The Healthy Way provides a compelling alternative to the lure of quick fixes. It becomes evident that wellness is a multifaceted process, gleaming with diverse solutions that respect the intricacies of individual health journeys.
In the relational realm, Abdo Elnakouri’s study underscores the impact of a shared reality within our most instrumental relationships on habit change. The reminder that our perceptions are co-constructed with those who support our goals prompts reflection on the significance of fostering connections that inspire and uplift us.
Jaimi Jansen’s advocacy for tiny habits becomes a beacon, guiding us away from the allure of grand resolutions and toward the steady, sustainable rhythm of daily positive choices.
Ultimately, the menu of options for weight loss options seems almost unlimited. But we’ve also learned how stress can undermine even the most robust action plan.
Change is Never Linear
As a life coach, I know accountability is the most important service I can provide. The allure of a new solution coupled with the promise of a New Year’s transformation is motivating. It’s exciting to see your efforts begin to pay off when you stick to your new routine.
Yet I love to remind my clients, change is never linear, you’ll have your share of both great days and slips up, but it’s how you respond to the pitfalls that makes the difference. A coach, supportive partner or friend is there to help when the going gets tough, to remind you that when you fall off the wagon, instead of ‘game over’, it’s part of the natural progression of change.
The journey toward wellness in 2024 is a dynamic, ever-evolving process—one where embracing personal responsibility, seeking diverse approaches, nurturing relationships, and fostering tiny, impactful habits collectively pave the way to a healthier, more fulfilled self. Here’s to the journey, the discoveries, and the transformations that await on the road to true wellness.
About the author: In 2013 I wrote my first book, “Beanalicious Living”, drawing inspiration from the culture of sustainability rooted in the place we call home. Now I’m back from a six-year hiatus, certified in life-coaching, yoga and nutrition, and eager to explore the people and places helping us thrive. I hope you’ll join me in celebrating a wellness community as multifaceted and unique as Santa Cruz.
Lock the door and throw away the key because the Delta Bombers are returning to the Catalyst! For 16 years, this rock ‘n’ roll quartet has blitzed the world with their tales of drinking, fighting and breaking hearts—all the finer things in life. It makes sense that they originally hail from Sin City itself: Las Vegas. Despite a few lineup changes, the core founding members, Andrew Himmler and Chris Moinichen, have remained. Last year, the band released their fifth studio album, Neon Sounds, which perpetuates their gritty sound of rockabilly, country and dirty rock ‘n’ roll. On this tour, they’re traveling with the blackgrass devils themselves, the Goddamn Gallows, and the thrash ‘n’ twang duo Volk. MAT WEIR
INFO: 9pm, The Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $20adv/$25door. 713-5492.
FRIDAY
ROCK
BRENT PIERCE & HIS ACID GRASS BOYS
Brent Pierce is a musical man about town, but it’s not every day he rocks Abbott Square. Backed by his Acid Grass Boys, Pierce brings bluegrass, country and rock ‘n’ roll originals and covers to the stage. The energy is high, the banjos are full of twang and the foot tapping is unstoppable. During the pandemic, Pierce fulfilled a lifelong dream by recording his solo EP, Sweet Rosemarie. He explained his ethos to Good Times: “Music to me is an expression of the emotion that you’re in—sometimes it’s a banjo, and sometimes it’s a Telecaster.” ADDIE MAHMASSANI
INFO: 7pm, Abbott Square, 725 Front St., Santa Cruz. Free.
FRIDAY
FOLK
WILD IRIS
Wild Iris brings a full band, including stand-up bass, fiddle and mandolin, to the Crepe Place for an acoustic feast this Friday. The Santa Cruz duo, featuring guitarist Bryan Shelton and vocalist Kate Mullikin, has released a steady stream of rollicking folk albums since their self-titled debut in 2014. Their most recent work, Forward Now, starts with a barn burner of a tune called “Train of Thought.” Mullikin sings with whooping and hollering in the background, “My train of thought, my train of thought, why does it have to make so many stops?” A question for the ages. AM
INFO: 8pm, The Crepe Place, 1134 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. $10. 429-6994.
SATURDAY
FILM
SHE ADVENTURES FILM TOUR
The She Adventures Film Tour, an annual event, celebrates adventurous outdoorswomen and the joy of pushing boundaries. It’s an over two-hour collection of short films by indie filmmakers worldwide. The feats covered include three Olympians’ epic cycle from Switzerland to New Zealand, skiing over 50 mph with a blind skier, high-speed mountain biking and more. A portion of the ticket sales will benefit Girls Rock Women’s Mountain Biking. DAN EMERSON
INFO: 7pm, Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. $20. 423-8209.
SUNDAY
ROCK
LACY J. DALTON
This Sunday, a who’s who of local musicians and celebrities descends upon Moe’s Alley for a matinee show supporting a great cause. Country rock artist Lacy J. Dalton and local legendary KPIG alum “Sleepy” John Sandidge are raising money for Jimmy Jackson and Ellen O’Hanlan, two local artists, healers and community members in need. Along with Dalton (an ex-Bonny Dooner with several hit songs like “Takin’ It Easy” and “16th Avenue”), the star-studded event boasts performances by the Carolyn Sills Combo, Edge of the West, Sharon Allen & Dusty Boots, KSQD’s Rachel Goodman and many more. MW
For anyone who hasn’t gotten their headbangin’ in yet in 2024, fear not because the final weekend of the month is raining down some serious horn-throwing, mosh-inducing, chaos-inflicting metal upon downtown Santa Cruz. For a nominal fee, heshers of all ages will be treated to five Bay Area bands known for their shredding riffs, grimy vocals and sulfuric sounds. Headlining this explosion of hell is none other than local five-piece death metal maniacs Eviscerate. Since the forgotten days of 2007, this band has continued cranking out flesh-ripping songs that cause even the tamest of people to lash out in mind-numbing madness. MW
INFO: 6pm, Vets Hall, 846 Front St., Santa Cruz. $10/adv, $15/door. 454-0478.
TUESDAY
POETRY
ROSS GAY
It might seem obvious, given the title of two of his essay collections (The Book of Delights and his recent follow-up, The Book of (More) Delights), but Ross Gay is really into finding joy. The joy he uncovers in his essays and poetry isn’t the blaring, bold version that might bloom on a wedding day or from a familial homecoming; instead, Gay hunts for his delights in the everyday. He chronicles everything from hikes to praying mantises, allowing his words to linger in the natural spaces that contain so much rough-edged beauty. He is wry but hopeful, which feels so necessary in our current age. JESSICA IRISH
INFO: 7pm, Bookshop Santa Cruz, 1520 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. Free. 423-0900.
TUESDAY
DARKWAVE
TWIN TRIBES
If Duran Duran made a soundtrack for a spooky movie, the final product would probably sound a lot like the music of Twin Tribes. Synthy layers of sound meet goth vocals, creating a sonic experience that must be similar to hanging out at the best dance party Dracula ever hosted—and who wouldn’t want an invite to that occasion? Their songs span musical genres while staying deeply rooted in the cold wave, post-punk occult energy that defines them. The only risk of attending this show is who it might attract; after all, Santa Cruz is known for its vampires. JI
Like other rising jazz stars of his generation, pianist-composer James Francies has avoided being boxed in by genre expectations by drawing on his eclectic music background of R&B, classical music, gospel, and more. As an alum of Houston’s famed Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, he’s followed the path of two other modern keyboard greats, Robert Glasper and Jason Moran. He first gained attention as a sideman with high-profile artists, including Pat Metheny, Stefon Harris and Questlove before releasing his well-received Blue Note debut, Flight, in 2018. He followed that up in 2021 with the nearly all-original Purest Form, showing his abstract, ethereal approach to composing music. DE
INFO: 7pm, Kuumbwa Jazz Center, 320-2 Cedar St., $36.75/adv, $42/door. 427-2227.
In the music world, some bands have “it” and some bands don’t. In fact, many don’t.
However, when one does have it, its music hits with an unworldly force that some never recover from. Just shell-shocked fans, barely holding themselves together long enough to understand what happened before succumbing to the uncontrollable urge to pass the experience along to everyone else.
And Urban Heat from Austin, Texas definitely has “it.”
On January 30th the goth synth wave trio descends upon Moe’s Alley with Twin Tribes and Vandal Moon bringing their explosion of visceral energy and emotionally raw lyrics wrapped in a blanket of neon beats.
“I have transformative experiences on stage which is why I think our shows are so raw and violent even though the music doesn’t necessarily lend itself to that,” explains singer Jonathan Horstmann.
“The purpose of doing that is to signal to [the audience] that they’re allowed to do that themselves. They’re allowed to let the music do whatever it’s supposed to do.”
Formed in 2019, Urban Heat began as a way for Horstmann to rediscover himself. As singer for the politically charged, electro-punk Black trio BLXPLTN, years of raging against racism, classism, and police brutality made him disillusioned about how the message was being delivered.
He began using synthesizers as a form of meditation after kicking heroin, cocaine and alcohol in 2018. However, it wasn’t until he met electronics manipulator, Kevin Naquin, that the spark for Urban Heat was lit. The two met on the set of a music video for Austin pop artist, SORNE, whom Naquin performed with.
They quickly recruited bassist and synth player, Pax Foley, and wrote most of their post-punk influenced, 2022 six song EP, Wellness, during the 2020 lockdowns. It perfectly captures the feeling of our modern era, riding a fine line of hope and existential nihilism, fueled by future-retro sound .
“I think it happened naturally,” Naquin explains of their style. “We were all in the same place wanting to do something different.”
And it worked.
The combination of Horstmann’s sonic baritone voice and wild stage presence with Naquin and Foley’s contagious beats and calm, emotionless demeanors hidden under sunglasses has given fans and critics alike the vapors.
Last year they were featured on the cover of the Austin Chronicle and named “One of Eight Austin Acts Poised To Break Out” at 2023’s South By Southwest festival. Almost immediately after they opened at California’s two largest goth/’80s/new wave festivals, Cruel World and Darker Waves, playing alongside acts like Siousxie Sioux, New Order, Tears For Fears and more.
Songs like“Trust” (with lyrics “when we were young the future was bright/no one told us we were buried alive” and chorus “Trust there’s just no future left for us”) and “That Gun In Your Hand” (an emotional cry against gun violence and mass shootings) speak to a lost generation. One that was raised on certain beliefs only to become disenchanted and disoriented, turning to sex, drugs and violence.
“I want to make music that matters and I want our shows to matter,” Horstmann says. “On our last tour, there was a kid who let me know he was planning on shooting himself but ‘That Gun in Your Hand’ was the reason he didn’t and I got to hug him.”
Yet it’s “Have You Ever?”–with lyrics like “Have you ever thought the best would come/till you realize that it had come and gone?” and “Have you ever found your sense of self/just to realize you’re being someone else?”–that put Urban Heat on the underground map and launched them to Tik Tok stardom. The track spread like a virtual wildfire on the social media platform and overnight they went from 75 followers to 3,000 to 30,000 over the course of a month.
“Tik Tok is a weird thing, man,” Foley says. “You have people that try to go viral and it doesn’t work.”
“Tik Tok is good for attention but not for building relationships,” admits Horstmann. “Which is what I try to do with our fanbase: build relationships.”
On August 16 Urban Heat is set to release their sophomore album, The Tower. The first single, “Like This” came out last October and the next one, “Sanitizer” drops on January 26th with a new song releasing every six weeks until the official date.
“It’s the first collection I’ve ever been a part of making where it feels like that live energy comes through,” declares Horstmann.
He pauses before adding, “At least for me, and I’m a pretty harsh critic of myself.”
Tuesday, January 30th. 8pm, Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $20adv/$25door. 479-1854.
Talking with Lacy J. Dalton about her Jan. 28 benefit at Moe’s Alley for beloved Santa Cruz guitar player Jimmy Jackson and his wife Ellen O’Hanlon, I mention I’d just listened to “Crazy Blues Eyes” again, Lacy’s song of the paradox of love and independence.
She remembers writing it in her Ben Lomond cabin on Alba Road. She had put on a pot of coffee and started writing, but knew she needed help from her friend Mary McFadden, friends since they were 7.
“I took a broom handle and pounded on the bottom of the loft that Mary was sleeping in. ‘Mary, get up!’ She was recovering from a divorce, and I called up to her, ‘You’re in the perfect mood to write this song with me.’ And we wrote ‘Crazy Blue Eyes’.”
The Nashville Billy Sherill Years
“We had offers from every record company in Nashville on the strength of that song. I think it was because it was such a different attitude for a woman to have in Nashville. My producer was the great Billy Sherrill (George Jones, Tammy Wynette, Ray Charles) and he says, ‘Doesn’t it bother you to have people think that you’re a whore?’ He was very straight, Baptist, but we had an incredible relationship. He never did anything except love me more than I love myself. I needed that.”
“He was talking about the lyric,
‘I never could stand the touch of a man Who’d brand me to keep me around.’”
“Right. I said, ‘Billy, if I thought what I was doing was wrong, I wouldn’t do it.’ The bottom line is, we were liberated women. There were a lot of liberated women before us, but they didn’t have the orange crate to stand on and shriek about it. It’s not ‘Stand By Your Man’. It’s more, ‘I’m going to be a free woman and I really don’t want to be tied down.’ That song started me off as an outlaw artist.”
“Billy Sherill clearly got who you are.”
“He said, ‘You are the most difficult artist I have ever worked with to find songs for, because you want to believe what you’re singing. You care. You’re not going to have an easy time.’ Boy, was he right.”
A Million Promises
Raised in Bloomsburg, PA, she was born Jill Lynn Byram, the daughter of a beautician and a mechanic.
“When I turned 21, I ran off with a rock and roll guitar player and a legal bottle of booze. I met him at the county fair. He was selling psychedelic posters, and I was selling jewelry.
“We fell in something like love, and he told me he was going to California to try a commune and be part of the children. I decided to go. I knew I was destined to go to California; I thought the whole place was like one long beach with Orange Julius stands. We were in a blizzard all the way from Tunkhannock, PA.
“We had enough money for gas, not much more. When we hit the California state line the sun burst out of the clouds like a million promises. The trees had icicles, dripping crystals. The light was only as it is in California. My heart swelled and opened, and I was ready for the experience that I had, the psychedelic experience of the 60s and 70s in California.”
It’s For Jimmy Jackson and Ellen O’Hanlon
“I’ve known Jimmy ever since I was in Santa Cruz and have always loved him. He was a hard charger back then and an incredible musician. One of the best guitar players I have ever, ever heard. In later years, when I went back to Santa Cruz, I looked him up and he is truly like a brother to me. I admire him so much. We’ve written songs and produced records together all our lives. Ellen O’Hanlon is a healer, his wife, the most beautiful soul everybody loves.”
It’s For the Spirit of Santa Cruz
“There’s a spiritual energy in Santa Cruz, an elevated consciousness. That energy I had thought was gone, that I always felt in the 70s, that I was so homesick for, it’s still here. I’m so grateful, when I asked people if they would do this benefit for me, I did not have one refusal in the entire musical community of Santa Cruz. It’s old home week.”
$60 advance / $70 day of show All proceeds go to Jimmy Jackson and Ellen O’Hanlon to cover medical expenses.
Appearing: Lacy J. Dalton and Dale Poune Edge of The West Ginny Mitchell w/ Daniel Shane Thomas & Patti Maxine Michael Belanger & Jack Bowers William Strickland Sharon Allen & Dusty Boots The Carolyn Sills Combo Bonny June & Bonfire Beans Sousa w/ Lacy J. Dalton Jimmy Jackson Michael Gaither and His New Best Friends Rachel Anne Goodman & Steve Palazzo Rotating musicians: Bill Laymon, Jimmy Norris, Craig Owens and Charlie Wallace
From one angle, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s United Cannabis Enforcement Task Force has been effective. Last week it announced that in the task force’s first full calendar year of operations, the state has seized more than $312 million in unlicensed cannabis. That includes 190,000 pounds of illegal cannabis as well as 318,000 plants. Law enforcement also seized 119 illegally possessed firearms in 2023.
From another angle, though, it seems almost futile. In touting the numbers, the Department of Cannabis Control said one of the task force’s goals is to “advance the integrity of the licensed cannabis market,” and it noted that the illicit cannabis industry “undercuts the regulated cannabis market.”
Talk about an understatement. A better term than “undercuts” might be “dwarfs” or “overwhelms.” Or even “threatens the very existence of.” About two-thirds of all cannabis sales in California are illicit, a ludicrous situation in a state where pot has been legal for more than five years. The illicit market is hard to measure, but estimates put its size at roughly $10 billion; the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration estimates that the state racked up $5.2 billion in legal sales in 2023.
The disparity isn’t because illegally grown weed is superior. It’s almost entirely because, for most California cannabis consumers, the legal stuff is either not available or is too expensive. Prop. 64, which legalized pot in the state in 2016—legal sales began in 2018—was sold on the promise that legal weed would fill the state’s coffers with tax proceeds and that city and county governments would be allowed to ban cannabis operators from doing business in their communities.
As a result, about two-thirds of the state lacks any cannabis retailers. Pot delivery is allowed statewide but is often unavailable, and those who can access legal pot have to pay an enormous amount of taxes: regular sales taxes plus the state’s 15% excise tax, plus whatever local taxes might be levied. Add to that the cost of legal businesses having to adhere to costly regulations that illicit vendors can ignore, and the price of dispensary weed is often double or more what people pay their local dealer.
Indeed, all of the problems cited in the DCC’s press release as caused by the illegal market—environmental harms and product safety, to name but two—would be far less severe if legal pot were both affordable and widely accessible. But it isn’t, and the business is imploding as a result as illicit operators continue to thrive despite the state’s enforcement actions, which barely put a dent in the illegal market.
In short, it’s a demand problem, not a supply problem. If the state were to allow demand to reach its natural level—say, by cutting or eliminating the excise tax or by forcing local jurisdictions to allow licensed pot companies to do business, the illegal market would rapidly shrink.
To be fair, California’s home-rule policy is enshrined in the state constitution, forestalling the possibility of forcing legal pot on local jurisdictions. The excise tax, on the other hand, could easily be cut if only there were political will. But that’s in short supply lately, as California is now running a budget deficit and the designated recipients of the excise-tax proceeds—chiefly, anti-drug programs, environmental initiatives and public-safety groups, including the cops—are unlikely to sign on with cutting off their own funding.
“I don’t see that there’s an appetite for cutting the tax,” said Pamela Epstein, chief legal and regulatory officer of Terpene Belt Farms and, until recently, president of the California Cannabis Industry Association.
That might change in the future, but in the meantime, Epstein said there are things the state can do to ease the burden on the legal industry. One major reform would be “regulatory flexibility,” she said, especially when it comes to obtaining and transferring licenses.
The difficulty of doing so has crimped business and put off many would-be entrepreneurs. That and other such reforms are “light-touch areas” that would be “easy wins” for the state, she said. When it comes to state regulations, she added, “it’s just too expensive to be compliant.”
ARIES March 21-April 19 Aries author Dani Shapiro has published six novels, three bestselling memoirs, and a host of articles in major magazines. She co-founded a writer’s conference, teaches at top universities, and does a regular podcast. We can conclude she is successful. Here’s her secret: She feels that summoning courage is more important than being confident. Taking bold action to accomplish what you want is more crucial than cultivating self-assurance. I propose that in the coming weeks, you apply her principles to your own ambitions.
TAURUS April 20-May 20 Throughout history, there has never been a culture without religious, mythical, and supernatural beliefs. The vast majority of the world’s people have believed in magic and divinity. Does that mean it’s all true and real? Of course not. But nor does it mean that none of it is true and real. Ultra-rationalists who dismiss the spiritual life are possessed by hubris. Everything I’ve said here is prelude to my oracle for you: Some of the events in the next three weeks will be the result of magic and divinity. Your homework is to discern which are and which aren’t.
GEMINI May 21-June 20 Several wise people have assured me that the pursuit of wealth, power, popularity, and happiness isn’t as important as the quest for meaningfulness. If you feel your life story is interesting, rich, and full of purpose, you are successful. This will be a featured theme for you in the coming months, Gemini. If you have ever fantasized about your destiny resembling an ancient myth, a revered fairy tale, a thousand-page novel, or an epic film, you will get your wish.
CANCER June 21-July 22 “Life as we live it is unaccompanied by signposts,” wrote author Holly Hickler. I disagree with her assessment, especially in regard to your upcoming future. Although you may not encounter literal markers bearing information to guide you, you will encounter metaphorical signals that are clear and strong. Be alert for them, Cancerian. They might not match your expectations about what signposts should be, though. So expand your concepts of how they might appear.
LEO July 23-Aug. 22 I wrote a book called *Pronoia Is the Antidote for Paranoia: How the Whole World Is Conspiring to Shower You with Blessings*. Among its main messages: There’s high value in cultivating an attitude that actively looks for the best in life and regards problems as potential opportunities. When I was working on the book, no one needed to hear this advice more than me! Even now, I still have a long way to go before mastering the outlook I call “crafty optimism.” I am still subject to dark thoughts and worried feelings—even though I know the majority of them are irrational or not based on the truth of what’s happening. In other words, I am earnestly trying to learn the very themes I have been called to teach. What’s the equivalent in your life, Leo? Now is an excellent time to upgrade your skill at expressing abilities and understandings you wish everyone had.
VIRGO Aug. 23-Sept. 22 In 1951, filmmaker Akira Kurosawa made a movie adapted from *The Idiot*, a novel by his favorite author Fyodor Dostoevsky. Kurosawa was not yet as famous and influential as we would later become. That’s why he agreed to his studio’s demand to cut 99 minutes from his original 265-minute version. But this turned out to be a bad idea. Viewers of the film had a hard time understanding the chopped-up story. Most of the critics’ reviews were negative. I bring this to your attention, Virgo, with two intentions: 1. I encourage you to do minor editing on your labor of love. 2 But don’t agree to anything like the extensive revisions that Kurosawa did.
LIBRA Sept. 23-Oct. 22 I have selected a poem for you to tape on your refrigerator door for the next eight weeks. It’s by 13th-century Zen poet Wu–Men. He wrote: “Ten thousand flowers in spring, the moon in autumn, / a cool breeze in summer, snow in winter. / If your mind isn’t clouded by unnecessary things, this is the best season of your life.” My wish for you, Libra—which is also my prediction for you—is that you will have extra power to empty your mind of unnecessary things. More than ever, you will be acutely content to focus on the few essentials that appeal to your wild heart and tender soul.
SCORPIO Oct. 23-Nov. 21 Psychologist Carl Jung wrote, “Motherlove is one of the most moving and unforgettable memories of our lives, the mysterious root of all growth and change; the love that means homecoming, shelter, and the long silence from which everything begins and in which everything ends.” To place yourself in rapt alignment with current cosmic rhythms, Scorpio, you will do whatever’s necessary to get a strong dose of the blessing Jung described. If your own mother isn’t available or is insufficient for this profound immersion, find other maternal sources. Borrow a wise woman elder or immerse yourself in Goddess worship. Be intensely intent on basking in a nurturing glow that welcomes you and loves you exactly as you are—and makes you feel deeply at home in the world.
SAGITTARIUS Nov. 22-Dec. 21 In a set of famous experiments, physiologist Ivan Pavlov taught dogs to have an automatic response to a particular stimulus. He rang a bell while providing the dogs with food they loved. After a while, the dogs began salivating with hunger simply when they heard the bell, even though no food was offered. Ever since, “Pavlov’s dogs” has been a phrase that refers to the ease with which animals’ instinctual natures can be conditioned. I can’t help but wonder what would have happened if Pavlov had used cats instead of dogs for his research. Would felines have submitted to such scientific shenanigans? I doubt it. These ruminations are my way of urging you to be more like a cat than a dog in the coming weeks. Resist efforts to train you, tame you, or manipulate you into compliance.
CAPRICORN Dec. 22-Jan. 19 Before poet Louise Glück published her first book, *Firstborn*, it was rejected by 28 publishers. When it finally emerged, she suffered from writer’s block. Her next book didn’t appear until eight years after the first one. Her third book arrived five years later, and her fourth required another five years. Slow going! But here’s the happy ending: By the time she died at age 80, she had published 21 books and won the Pulitzer Prize and the Nobel Prize for Literature. By my astrological reckoning, you are now at a phase, in your own development, comparable to the time after Glück’s fourth book: well-primed, fully geared up, and ready to make robust progress.
AQUARIUS Jan. 20-Feb. 18 “All good writing is swimming under water and holding your breath,” wrote author F. Scott Fitzgerald. I’d like to expand that metaphor and apply it to you, Aquarius. I propose that your best thinking and decision-making in the coming weeks will be like swimming under water while holding your breath. What I mean is that you’ll get the best results by doing what feels unnatural. You will get yourself in the right mood if you bravely go down below the surface and into the depths and feel your way around.
PISCES Feb. 19-March 20 In honor of this pivotal time in your life story, I offer four pronouncements. 1. You can now be released from a history that has repeated itself too often. To expedite this happy shift, indulge in a big cry and laugh about how boring that repeated history has become. 2. You can finish paying off your karmic debt to someone you hurt. How? Change yourself to ensure you won’t ever act that way again. 3. You can better forgive those who wounded you if you forgive yourself for being vulnerable to them. 4. Every time you divest yourself of an illusion, you will clearly see how others’ illusions have been affecting you.
On Thursday evening, Santa Cruz City Mayor Fred Keeley released a statement alongside the family of the 16-year-old who made death threats against the Mayor last week.
On Jan. 10, the teenager left death threats on Keeley’s voicemail in response to the city council declining to pass a resolution calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza conflict.
According to a joint statement, Keeley, the teenager and his father met at City Hall Jan. 18 to have an open dialogue about the teenager’s actions. At the meeting, the teenager presented the mayor with a letter of apology for his actions, and the three “pledged to each other that we would keep open lines of communication for any future complex and vexing issues.”
According to the statement, they spent half an hour sharing thoughts on public policy and discussing their relative perspectives.
“We recommend this kind of conversation to others who have strongly held views, and want to manifest peace and reconciliation in the face of turmoil,” the statement read.
The family also released the apology, included in full below.
“On behalf of our family, we truly apologize for the actions our son took on January 10. He got caught up in the moment after watching a Santa Cruz meeting online and was confused with what he saw and thought that making this call would change the conflict overseas without thinking about the pain this would cause to you, your staff and family. He regrets these actions and now has processed and understood how much pain this caused you and your family including his family here at home. He now understands that threat violence or threat thereof is not the answer to solutions. Our family including my son truly apologize to you and hopefully with time you can forgive this act taken upon you, your staff and loved ones. We thank you for taking the time to talk to us, as we will use this as a learning experience for his growth into adulthood.”
Santa Cruz City Mayor Fred Keeley will meet with the family of the 16-year-old teenager who left death threats on Keeley’s voicemail on Jan. 10.
The threats were made after the city council rejected to pass resolution calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza conflict. The minor and his family will be delivering a formal letter of apology to the mayor during a private meeting, according to Keeley.
“What we agreed to is that […] they’re going to hand-deliver me the letter and we’re going to sit down, the three of us, without anybody else around here,” Keeley said.
The teenager was detained in Watsonville on the evening of Jan. 16 by Santa Cruz police with the assistance of Watsonville police. The teenager was traveling in a vehicle with his parents en route to the Watsonville City Council meeting. The council was expected to debate the drafting of its own ceasefire resolution that evening.
Authorities were able to track the phone number from which the threatening calls originated and located the caller.
“[The perpetrator is] a minor male juvenile that resides in Watsonville, but when we identified him and determined how old he was, we detained him and released him back to his family,” said Santa Cruz Police Deputy Chief Jon Bush. “Due to his age, we didn’t arrest him.
Bush said that threats to do bodily harm or cause death are considered a felony under the law.
Keeley said that if he received a letter of apology it would be the end of the issue for him. But he said it was up to the district attorney’s office whether or not to file charges.
On Jan. 17, Keeley received the apologetic call from the same phone number from which the death threats were made. They both expressed ‘deep sorrow’ and apologized for the threats.
The father and son requested a sit-down with Keeley to open a dialogue on how to move forward.
“They obviously felt very strongly about their position and neither they nor I are trying to get each other to change our positions. It’s [about] getting to know each other better,” Keeley said.
“I think a calm environment here, just the three of us talking it through, I think will be a helpful thing. So that what isn’t the end of the story Is the death threat. The end of the story is we’re trying to make peace with each other,” Keeley said.
The minor’s family could not be reached for comment at this time.
Kelly-Moore Paints, a household name for the past 78 years in residential and commercial paint, has abruptly closed.
With locations in Watsonville, Aptos, Santa Cruz and 61 stores sprinkled around the San Francisco Bay Area, the paint giant officially announced last week that it is “shutting down and closing every store nationwide.”
A hand-scrawled “closed” sign was posted on the door of the Freedom Boulevard location Monday.
“I’m extremely disappointed and saddened by this outcome, as the entire Kelly-Moore team made incredible efforts to continue innovating and serving the unique needs of professional painting contractors,” CEO Charles Gassenheimer wrote. “Sadly, no matter how great the Kelly-Moore team, products and reputation for service, we simply couldn’t overcome the massive legal and financial burdens that have been weighing on the company for many years.”
With more than 30 years on the courtroom floor over legal issues about asbestos use in Kelly-Moore’s cement and texture products, the ongoing cases continue to stack up around $600 million in case filings.
”I am shocked and I am sad to hear about Kelly-Moore closing,” said Dave Herry, owner of Dave Herry Construction and Development Inc. of Santa Cruz who has completed numerous construction jobs around the county. “They have been the best by far for paint and painting supplies. They have consistently helped me with any problem I walk through the door with. And they have helpful workers with reliable products.”
During the wind-down process, the company will continue to fill previously placed customer orders based on existing inventory in its Union City distribution facility.
“All the company’s other facilities will be permanently closed effective immediately, including Kelly-Moore’s manufacturing facility in Hurst, Texas, and its retail stores, all of which were leased,” the Kelly-Moore statement read. “Kelly-Moore employees will be fully compensated for regular time worked, and management will continue its efforts to collect receivables to pay all accrued benefits including paid time off.”
“I could not be prouder of what our talented team accomplished under extremely challenging circumstances,” Gassenheimer said. “My deepest sympathy goes out to our loyal employees, customers, industry partners and the communities where we do business, who have supported Kelly-Moore throughout its long history.”
As we dive headfirst into 2024 brimming with new resolutions, with all of the breakthroughs in the field of health and wellness, it’s a good time to revisit our options. On a national level, the big headlines latched onto a new class of injectable weight loss drugs with guaranteed results, various side effects and a hefty price tag.
Today this...
If Duran Duran made a soundtrack for a spooky movie, the final product would probably sound a lot like the music of Twin Tribes. Synthy layers of sound meet goth vocals...
Talking with Lacy J. Dalton about her Jan. 28 benefit at Moe’s Alley for beloved Santa Cruz guitar player Jimmy Jackson and his wife Ellen O’Hanlon, I mention I’d just listened to “Crazy Blues Eyes” again, Lacy’s song of the paradox of love and independence.
She remembers writing it in her Ben Lomond cabin on Alba Road. She had put...
From one angle, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s United Cannabis Enforcement Task Force has been effective. Last week it announced that in the task force’s first full calendar year of operations, the state has seized more than $312 million in unlicensed cannabis. That includes 190,000 pounds of illegal cannabis as well as 318,000 plants. Law enforcement also seized 119 illegally possessed...
ARIESMarch 21-April 19Aries author Dani Shapiro has published six novels, three bestselling memoirs, and a host of articles in major magazines. She co-founded a writer’s conference, teaches at top universities, and does a regular podcast. We can conclude she is successful. Here's her secret: She feels that summoning courage is more important than being confident. Taking bold action to...
On Thursday evening, Santa Cruz City Mayor Fred Keeley released a statement alongside the family of the 16-year-old who made death threats against the Mayor last week.
On Jan. 10, the teenager left death threats on Keeley’s voicemail in response to the city council declining to pass a resolution calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza conflict.
According to a joint...
Santa Cruz City Mayor Fred Keeley will meet with the family of the 16-year-old teenager who left death threats on Keeley’s voicemail on Jan. 10.
The threats were made after the city council rejected to pass resolution calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza conflict. The minor and his family will be delivering a formal letter of apology to the...
Kelly-Moore Paints, a household name for the past 78 years in residential and commercial paint, has abruptly closed.
With locations in Watsonville, Aptos, Santa Cruz and 61 stores sprinkled around the San Francisco Bay Area, the paint giant officially announced last week that it is “shutting down and closing every store nationwide.”
A hand-scrawled “closed” sign was posted on the door...
