Free Will Astrology

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Free Will Astrology

ARIES March 21-April 19
Why do birds sing? They must be expressing their joy at being alive, right? And in some cases, they are trying to impress and attract potential mates. Ornithologists tell us that birds are also staking out their turf by chirping their melodies. Flaunting their vigor is a sign to other birds of how strong and commanding they are. In accordance with astrological omens, I invite you Aries humans to sing more than ever before in 2024. Like birds, you have a mandate to boost your joie de vivre and wield more authority. Here are 10 reasons why singing is good for your health: tinyurl.com/HealthySinging.

TAURUS April 20-May 20
Which zodiac sign is most likely to have a green thumb? Who would most astrologers regard as the best gardener? Who would I call on if I wanted advice on when to harvest peaches, how to love and care for roses as they grow, or how to discern which weeds might be helpful and useful? The answer, according to my survey, is Taurus. And I believe you Bulls will be even more fecund than usual around plants in 2024. Even further, I expect you to be extra fertile and creative in every area of your life. I hereby dub you Maestro of the Magic of Germination and Growth.

GEMINI May 21-June 2
Research I’ve found suggests that 70% of us have experienced at least one traumatic event in our lives. But I suspect the percentage is higher. For starters, everyone has experienced the dicey expulsion from the warm, nurturing womb. That’s usually not a low-stress event. The good news, Gemini, is that now and then there come phases when we have more power than usual to heal from our traumas. According to my analysis of the astrological omens, the coming months will be one of those curative times for you.

CANCER June 21-July 22
At their best, Libras foster vibrant harmony that energizes social situations. At their best, Scorpios stimulate the talents and beauty of those they engage with. Generous Leos and Sagittarians inspire enthusiasm in others by expressing their innate radiance. Many of us may get contact highs from visionary, deep-feeling Pisceans. In 2024, Cancerian, I believe you can call on all these modes as you brighten and nurture the people in your sphere—even if you have no Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Leo, or Pisces influences in your astrological chart.

LEO July 23-Aug. 22
Here are my wishes for you in 2024. 1. I hope you will rigorously study historical patterns in your life story. I hope you will gather robust insights into the rhythms and themes of your amazing journey. 2. You will see clearly what parts of your past are worth keeping and which are better outgrown and left behind. 3. You will come to a new appreciation of the heroic quest you have been on. You will feel excited about how much further your quest can go. 4. You will feel gratitude for the deep inner sources that have been guiding you all these years. 5. You will be pleased to realize how much you have grown and ripened.

VIRGO Aug. 23-Sept. 22
Virgo author Eduardo Galeano mourned how our institutions condition us to divorce our minds from our hearts and our bodies from our souls. Even sadder, many of us deal with these daunting schisms by becoming numb to them. The good news, Virgo, is that I expect 2024 to be one of the best times ever for you to foster reconciliation between the split-off parts of yourself. Let’s call this the Year of Unification. May you be inspired to create both subtle and spectacular fusions of your fragmented parts. Visualize your thoughts and feelings weaving together in elegant harmony. Imagine your material and spiritual needs finding common sources of nourishment.

LIBRA Sept. 23-Oct. 22
According to ancient Greek myth, the half-divine hero Heracles consulted the Oracle of Delphi for guidance. He was assigned to perform 12 daunting feats, most of which modern people would regard as unethical, like killing and stealing. There was one labor that encouraged integrity, though. Heracles had to clean the stables where over a thousand divine cattle lived. The place hadn’t been scrubbed in 30 years! As I meditated on your hero’s journey in the coming months, Libra, I concluded that you’d be wise to begin with a less grandiose version of Heracles’ work in the stables. Have fun as you cheerfully tidy up everything in your life! By doing so, you will earn the power to experience many deep and colorful adventures in the coming months.

SCORPIO Oct. 23-Nov. 21
I will name two taboos I think you should break in 2024. The first is the theory that you must hurt or suppress yourself to help others. The second is that you must hurt or suppress others to benefit yourself. Please scour away any delusion you might have that those two strategies could genuinely serve you. In their place, substitute these hypotheses: 1. Being good to yourself is the best way to prepare for helping others. 2. Being good to others is the best way to benefit yourself.

SAGITTARIUS Nov. 22-Dec. 21
“Doubt has killed more dreams than failure ever will,” says Sagittarian author Suzy Kassem. Many of us have had the experience of avoiding a quest for success because we are too afraid of being defeated or demoralized. “Loss aversion” is a well-known psychological concept that applies when we are so anxious about potential loss that we don’t pursue the possible gain. In my astrological estimation, you Centaurs should be especially on guard against this inhibiting factor in 2024. I am confident you can rise above it, but to do so, you must be alert for its temptation—and eager to summon new reserves of courage.

CAPRICORN Dec. 22-Jan. 19
In 2024, I predict you will be blessed with elegant and educational expansion—but also challenged by the possibility of excessive, messy expansion. Soulful magnificence could vie for your attention with exorbitant extravagance. Even as you are offered valuable novelties that enhance your sacred and practical quests, you may be tempted with lesser inducements you don’t really need. For optimal results, Capricorn, I urge you to avoid getting distracted by irrelevant goodies. Usher your fate away from pretty baubles and towards felicitous beauty.

AQUARIUS Jan. 20-Feb. 18
Some people feel that “wealth” refers primarily to financial resources. If you’re wealthy, it means you have a lot of money, luxurious possessions, and lavish opportunities to travel. But wealth can also be measured in other ways. Do you have an abundance of love in your life? Have you enjoyed many soulful adventures? Does your emotional intelligence provide rich support for your heady intelligence? I bring this up, Aquarius, because I believe 2024 will be a time when your wealth will increase. The question for you to ruminate on: How do you define wealth?

PISCES Feb. 19-March 20
“No one can build you the bridge on which you, and only you, must cross the river of life,” said philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. Here’s my response to that bold declaration: It’s utterly WRONG! No one in the history of the world has ever built anything solely by their own efforts, let alone a bridge to cross the river of life. Even if you are holed up in your studio working on a novel, painting or invention, you are absolutely dependent on the efforts of many people to provide you with food, water, electricity, clothes, furniture and all the other goodies that keep you functioning. It’s also unlikely that anyone could create anything of value without having received a whole lot of love and support from other humans. Sorry for the rant, Pisces. It’s a preface for my very positive prediction: In 2024, you will have substantial help in building your bridge across the river of life.

Homework: I invite you to redefine what it would look and feel like to be your best self. Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com

The Wharf’s Controversy

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The Wharf’s Controversy

After years of debate and litigation, the city is trying once again to expand the wharf—but one group continues to try and halt plans for proposed changes.

Local environmental group Don’t Morph the Wharf has been fighting against the city of Santa Cruz’s plans to expand and upgrade the Municipal Wharf since 2016. The group filed a lawsuit against the city in 2022, saying its plans for the Wharf failed to acknowledge potential environmental consequences—a claim former Santa Cruz County Superior Court Judge Paul Burdick ruled in favor of.

In 2022, Burdick ruled that the plan did not meet certain requirements under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The city updated its plan, and on Tuesday, staff presented a new version of the Wharf Master Plan to the Santa Cruz City Council, claiming to have addressed the judge’s concerns. 

The disputes over the future of the Wharf lie in what the Wharf is understood to be. The city sees the wharf as ever-changing: a terminus for timber and then a hub for fishing, before organically transitioning into restaurants and parking. The wharf is a place of business and potential earnings for the city. In other words, the form of the wharf should match its current function as a major recreation destination in the region.

But the group Don’t Morph the Wharf sees the historic pier as fundamentally a public resource and a piece of history—the group hopes to preserve the iconic wharf, a semblance of Santa Cruz’s history that dates back decades. After the judge’s ruling, the group believes there are risks associated with other parts of the plan, particularly the proposed Western Walkway, which the group said could pose a risk to pedestrians and the wharf itself.

In the past decade, the two visions have crashed into each other, delaying progress—which the city said comes at the expense of the wharf’s infrastructure. 

The Case For The Western Walkway 

Since it was first proposed in 2011 after a tsunami damaged the Santa Cruz Harbor, the Wharf Master Plan hasn’t progressed. Although approved in 2020 by the city council in a 5-2 vote, movement on the plan was halted in 2022, and the delay of the project has potentially cost the wharf grant money in a time when the city won millions for other transit and housing projects, according to McCormic.

State agencies are prohibited from funding projects with an unapproved Environmental Impact Report—the same goes for federal funding. Once the city and the Coastal Commission approve the plan’s EIR, the city can seek out funding to build the different proposals, according to McCormic. 

The city argues that the ‘Western Walkway’ outlined in the Wharf Master Plan would allow the city to replace the old pilings under restaurants, rather than waiting for the pilings to be demolished by natural disasters. The path would encircle the wharf in shorter pilings, 8 ft. below the restaurants, and also act as a “fender” against storms and waves, according to McCormic.

“The wharf widening is intended to wrap the existing older wharf in a defensive layer of infrastructure,” said McCormic.

Recent storm damage done to the end of the wharf on Dec. 28 shows why the delay of the plan has been costly, according to McCormic.

On that day, at least two pilings were destroyed under the Dolphin Restaurant, which had already been missing an additional two. The area around the eatery is where some of the wharf’s oldest structures are still in use, and the area has not been worked on since the sea lion viewing holes were added in the 1960’s, McCormic said.

On average, the city replaces 30 pilings annually: 18 were lost in the January storms of last year. 

This would change if the Western Walkway was built, according to McCormic.

Don’t Morph the Wharf’s Case

Gillian Greensite of Don’t Morph the Wharf has led the charge against the city’s entire project for the wharf since 2016. 

After judge Burdick ruled in favor of the group’s environmental concerns, Greensite said the focus is now on preserving the historical pier from what she sees as a “very poorly thought out” Western Walkway.

“That is illogical,” said Greensite about the city’s claims that the Western Walk will protect the wharf. “Instead of rolling under the wharf it will hit this lower structure and send spray flying with all the debris that is in the spray and above the walkway are the restaurants with plate glass windows,” Greensite said.

The wharf was deemed in good condition in a 2014 engineering report, and it has survived huge storms for over a century with its sleek design that allows waves to ride underneath it. In the report, 5% of pilings that need repairs were not under the restaurants but under the roadway. For Greensite, the idea that the walkway is needed for repairs is suspect. 

Greensite also disputes the city’s dire financial picture on the wharf and the city’s claim that the Wharf Master Plan is needed for grants.

In 2021, the city got a $620,000 grant to fix the pilings under where the old Miramar restaurant stood. This shows the city could do repairs if they wanted to without the plan according to Greensite.

The city’s finances are harder to discern but the wharf is not exactly swimming in money. In 2020, the city said the wharf had lost money in four of the last six years. 

That assessment took into account maintenance costs like emergency services and parking upkeep. For 2023, the wharf is projecting revenue of $2.6 million and maintenance expenses of $2.5 million, but there is also a infrastructure backlog as high as $14 million. 

“As long as [the wharf] continues operating at a loss, and with the city’s own economic challenges, it will be very difficult to make the investments—to make the 5% [of pilings that are damaged] drop to 0% or 1%—where we don’t risk the loss of a longtime business in a storm,” said McCormic.

Greensite doesn’t see why the city didn’t propose a master plan that the whole city could get behind. 

“Isn’t the wharf good enough as it is?” she said.

Future of the Plan

If the plan is approved at the city council meeting on Tuesday, the city will focus on building a new entranceway and expanding the Eastern Promenade first, and aiming for a 2026 start after Coastal Commission approval is won. 

This leaves the Western Walkway for a later date. Even if the Wharf Master Plan’s EIR passes on Tuesday, the wharf’s transformation remains a long way off. 

It is up to the court to judge if the city has provided enough evidence to prove that the Western Walkway is feasible in the new EIR.

“If the court does in fact find that they did not satisfy the writ, they’re going to have to delay it even longer. The ball is in their court. We would be happy to settle if they took away the Westside Walkway,” said Greensite.

New Board Chair Chosen For Santa Cruz Supervisors

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New Board Chair Chosen For Santa Cruz Supervisors

The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors unanimously appointed Justin Cummmings as this year’s Board Chair, and Felipe Hernandez as Vice Chair.

While the Chair role is largely ceremonial, the supervisor in that position leads the meetings and often serves as the spokesperson for the board.

Previous Chair Supervisor Zach Friend handed over the gavel to Cummings as they switched seats.

In the coming months, the Board is likely to see a significant change, as four people have lined up to replace outgoing Supervisor Bruce McPherson. A total of five are hoping to replace Supervisor Zach Friend, who has announced he is not seeking another term. 

Lani Faulkner, meanwhile, is looking to oust First District Supervisor Manu Koenig.

Soquel Drive Closed After Collision

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Soquel Drive Closed After Collision

Westbound Soquel Drive at Cabrillo College is closed indefinitely after a trailer hauling an excavator struck a pedestrian over-crossing.

The collision occurred at about 12:30 p.m. at Cabrillo College Drive. California Highway Patrol is advising motorists to avoid the area, and to use Perimeter Rd. and northbound Highway 1 as a detour.

No injuries were reported.

King Tides On The Horizon

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King Tides On The Horizon

King tides, or the highest tides of the year, are expected to move into the Monterey Bay Area Wednesday through Friday.

Dial Hoang, meteorologist with the National Weather Service of Monterey, said high tides could reach six feet around Monterey Bay and even 7 feet in the San Francisco Bay Area.

King Tide is a term used to describe very high tides, caused by the alignment of the gravitational pull between the sun, moon, and Earth, Hoang said. If such tides occur during floods or storms, water levels can rise much higher than normal conditions with a potential of causing damage to the coastline and coastal properties—similar to what coastal areas in Santa Cruz County experienced just over a week ago.

Adding to the impact, Hoang said, is a weak weather system coming through around Wednesday in combination with a northwest swell generated by a low pressure system in the Pacific.

The swell will have a more significant impact and could bring some flooding around the Monterey Bay at beaches and low lying areas around Moss Landing and elsewhere in the Monterey Bay.

“The old rule of never turning your back on the ocean is always a good idea,” he said. “The weather system could create the risk of winter waves or sneaker waves and some coastal trails and paths might get tidal water. There are a couple systems coming in the middle of the week. There’s not much rain in the model we’re seeing, like less than a tenth of an inch. The big question is toward the end of the week when a more significant system off the Pacific comes in with a chance of more rainfall and significant winds.”

Hoang added that there is a significant upper level trough moving toward the U.S. west coast but it is not yet clear if it will impact California, Oregon or Washington. 

“That is something we are watching carefully,” Hoang said.

County’s Plan For Aging Survey Seeks Community Input

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County’s Plan For Aging Survey Seeks Community Input

Santa Cruz County is presenting a Master Plan for Aging (MPA) survey residents can take that will help county leaders craft a plan to meet the needs of its rapidly-growing senior population.

When it is complete, the county’s MPA—called “Age Well Santa Cruiz County”—will be part of a statewide effort to create a 10-year blueprint for providing services for older adults.

Such efforts are important in Santa Cruz County, which has the largest senior population in the state, says Gray Bears Executive Director Jennifer Merchant. 

“It’s important for Santa Cruz to follow the lead taken by the state of California, so we can better meet the needs of the entire community as it ages,” she says. 

Santa Cruz’s Human Services Department and the Seniors Council are teaming up to create the plan.

“The County of Santa Cruz is dedicated to promoting the well-being of older residents and people with disabilities,” says Alicia Morales, Director of the Human Services Department’s Adult and Long-Term Care Division. “Age Well Santa Cruz County will be a blueprint for implementing strategies and partnerships that promote healthy aging for all.”

The State of California released a Master Plan for Aging in 2021, and all counties are required to make one of their own.

The survey will be launched on Jan. 8. Results will help inform the local MPA’s goals.

The survey will be available online from Jan. 8 to March 31 at wagewellsantacruzcounty.org and buenavejezcondadodesantacruz.org.

For information, email Ag*****@***************ca.gov or call 454-4397.

Richard Thornton, Former Olympian, Dies At The Hook

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Richard Thornton, Former Olympian, Dies At The Hook

On Thursday, Richard Thornton, a member of the 1980 U.S. Olympic swim team and the longtime head coach of San Ramon Valley Aquatics, died while at The Hook Vista Point in Santa Cruz. He was 65.

In a Facebook post on Thursday morning, Thornton’s younger brother Marc confirmed his brother’s passing.

“My father died while stepping into the water having just finished catching up with some surf buddies and the cause of death is still unknown at this time,” Kira Thornton, daughter of Richard Thornton, said in an email.

Over the past week, Santa Cruz County has experienced huge swells from recent storms, causing damage to businesses and structures along the coastline. On Dec. 30, the Santa Cruz Fire Department executed almost a dozen water rescues for surfers caught in rip currents.

Thornton’s family has a long history with swimming: his father was the late Nort Thornton, the longtime head men’s swimming coach at University of California, Berkeley. 

In 1980, the junior Thornton was one of 45 Americans named to the U.S. Olympic swim team. He would go on to help found San Ramon Valley Aquatics, known throughout the country as a first-class swim program. He coached numerous Olympic and world championship finalists, including legendary American swimmer Matt Biondi, who was a member of the U.S. Olympic teams in 1984, 1988, and 1992.

This story was updated on Jan. 5 at 12:00 p.m.

Man Who Reportedly Shot At Family Arrested

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Man Who Reportedly Shot At Family Arrested

A Hayward man who reportedly shot at a vehicle on Highway 1 in May, injuring a 3-year-old child and the male driver, has been arrested.

Raphael Abduh-Salam, 33, is in custody in Contra Costa Jail. He will soon be transferred to Santa Cruz County Jail, where he faces multiple counts of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon. He has also been charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Witnesses say that Abduh-Salam was driving erratically south on Highway 1 on May 26 when he pulled in front of a vehicle occupied by a family of five and slammed on his brakes.

The family’s vehicle struck Abduh-Salam’s car, and when the two pulled off at the Freedom Boulevard exit in Aptos, Abduh-Salam took 15 shots at the family with a Glock handgun, according to investigators.

The father, who was driving the car, was struck twice, and a 3-year-old child strapped into a car seat was struck by a bullet and shrapnel, Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Lt. Ian Patrick said.

Abduh-Salam then fled, but a witness who took a video—and forensic tests on the spent shell casings that connected his gun to other similar crimes—helped investigators track him to his Hayward residence, where law enforcement officials served a search warrant, Patrick said.

California Highway Patrol officers assisted in the investigation and arrest.

At the time of his arrest, Abduh-Salam was on parole for similar charges, Patrick said.

According to online court records, he also assaulted a woman on May 7, 2013 just south of Sacramento when he pulled his car in front of hers and forced her to stop.

He then told her to call the police, but then took her phone, snapped it in half and threw it at her face. 

Court records show that Abduh-Salam then repeatedly kicked the woman. He later told police he was angry because he thought the woman accelerated toward his car.

In another incident on June 7, 2013, Abduh-Salam reportedly aimed a gun at a separate victim during a road rage incident and pretended to take shots at them, court records show.

It is not yet clear when Abduh-Salam will make his first court appearance.

Storms And Huge Swells Caused Numerous Water Rescues

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Storms And Huge Swells Caused Numerous Water Rescues

As storms and huge swells swept Santa Cruz’s coastline, first responders were called out to help with almost a dozen water rescues from Dec. 28 until New Year’s Day. 

The biggest storm of 2023 rolled in last week and brought coastal flooding that prompted evacuations and damaged businesses in Capitola Village and Rio Del Mar. The large swells lingered into the weekend, and onlookers flocked to Capitola Village, West Cliff and other coastal areas to view the 30 ft waves despite warnings from authorities.

On the afternoon before New Year’s Eve 2024, the Santa Cruz Wharf and the adjacent Cowell’s Beach were teeming with tourists and surfers just hours after a high surf advisory and flood warning was lifted.

Around 40 surfers were in the water as the clouded sun waned, and at 4:25 p.m. Santa Cruz Fire dispatchers called for a water rescue at the wharf.

A surfer was caught in a rip current and separated from his board. After the tide pulled him towards the pier by the water, he caught onto a piling under the wharf. 

In less than five minutes after the call came through, multiple fire engines and lifeguard trucks were on the scene and a jet ski from State Parks was out on the water.

Santa Cruz Fire Department lifeguard Trevor Martin jumped off the wharf’s west walkway to rescue the stranded surfer.

“I deployed myself from the wharf, jumped in and was able to get the victim in a rescue tube and swim away from the danger, away from the wharf,” Martin said.

Santa Cruz Fire Captain Johnny Fox said that, thanks to information from bystanders who called in the incident, rescuers were able to pinpoint the victim’s location.

“Usually, it’s within four minutes, but this time it was much less because you’ve already got lifeguards on the scene,” Fox said.

The surfer suffered minor injuries, and lifeguards examined him at Cowell’s Beach. Dozens of onlookers on the wharf and on the beach watched the successful rescue.

According to Santa Cruz Fire Chief Robert Oatey, as of Dec. 31, his department responded to at least 10 water rescues since Dec. 28. Many of the calls came from popular surf spots along West Cliff Drive and East Cliff Drive, where surfers enticed by the large swells found themselves in trouble.

Oatey said that the large number of people heading to the coastline was partly due to the break in the rain. Most of the calls were stranded surfers and there were no major injuries reported, Oatey said.

“The minute you put out the county’s [high surf advisory] and the National Weather Service’s high surf advisory, a number of people came down to see it for themselves, and at times put themselves in harm’s way not really knowing the true dangers, the full effects the ocean has,” Oatey said.

The concentration of people near and in the water makes for a higher likelihood of water rescues, which takes resources away from other emergencies, especially during a storm, Oatey said.

As winter storms begin to reach their peak, local officials are stressing safety during big wave events. This also applies to people lining the coastlines to catch a glimpse of the swells.

On Dec. 28, KSBW captured on the video the moment a rogue wave crashed over the cliff near Abbott Lighthouse on West Cliff Drive and knocked down a couple of young onlookers. On Dec. 30, Reddit user Stauce52 posted a photo showing a large group of people being soaked by a large wave and knocking down multiple individuals also near the lighthouse.

WAVE WIPEOUT: Reddit user Stauce52 captured the moment a wave knocked over various onlookers

Martin said that in the past, people have gotten swept off cliffs during similar high surf events, leading to fatalities. There have not been any incidents like that during these storms, Martin said, but he stressed caution as more stormy weather approaches.

“We always encourage people to take extra caution. Stay behind the fences and on the swells stay even further back,” Martin said.

As Martin and Fox prepared to leave the scene at Cowell’s after the rescue, a call came through asking one of the departing fire engines to check on bystanders standing too close to the edge on Pleasure Point.

“[Our chief] was seeing a lot of people right by the railing and over the railing so [he asked us] to have them move back,” Fox said.

Winter Covid Update

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Winter Covid Update

Anecdotally, it feels like everyone knows someone with Covid these days—or someone who is sick.  

Even Deputy Health Officer Cal Gordon was sick during Good Times’ interview with him about the state of illness in the county. Not with Covid, he clarified. 

“It’s just the common cold that my grandson gave to me,” Dr. Gordon said. “We all tested negative and he had been tested for RSV and that was negative.” 

People might be surprised to learn that in comparison to last year’s winter, there’s actually less Covid this year, as observed in the county’s wastewater. But according to Dr. Gordon, the worst is yet to come—last year, Covid cases peaked in January and February, and he expects a similar trend in the coming months.  

Dr. Gordon spoke about the county’s approach to Covid and the RSV illness rising around the nation, and more, below.

Dr. Gordon Talks Winter Covid Questions 

There seems to be a lot of people getting Covid right now. Should people be more concerned about contracting Covid this winter versus previous years since the pandemic  began?

CAL GORDAN: What’s happened I think with Covid is that the virus continues to change and become more infectious, so it’s more easily caught. I would say there’s several good things at this point with Covid: at least 95% of people either have had Covid previously or have been vaccinated or both. And so there is some level of immunity that will serve people. Our numbers are about half of what they were last year right now.

I’m a pediatrician, and we’re having a lot of RSV and and then flu is now going up in a big way.

What should people know about the new strain COVID-19 variant known as JN.1? What is the severity of this new strain, is it more transmissible? 

CG: So the current variant is increasing in percentage, and we’ll probably get the majority variant within the next week or two. So in many respects  it’s more infectious so the vaccines aren’t necessarily going to keep you from getting the infection, but they will help keep you from getting hospitalized. 

They call it immuno-evasive: whether it’s the antibodies that people have had from prior infection or prior vaccination, may be a little bit less effective with this particular strain. 

There was a new vaccine—Novavax—that rolled out a few months ago. Do you have an estimate of how many people in the county were vaccinated with the new vaccine?

CG: For the newest up-to-date Covid vaccine at the county level, it’s 16% which is still super low. The good news is that those people who are over 65 have a vaccination rate of 41.2%.

It’s not too late to get vaccinated. The newest version of the monovalent vaccine is specifically tailored to our newer strains of viruses that are currently in the community and so they will be more effective. We have January and February ahead of us and it’s very possible that the Covid will continue to increase. We’re thrilled that our wastewater rates and our hospitalization rates are pretty level now. It’s still a prevalent virus out there and it can be serious for certain populations.

Wth the new strains of Covid, how long can it be typical for someone to have symptoms? How long do symptoms last before it starts looking like long-Covid? 

CG: After three or four weeks, it’s potentially turning into a long Covid. So long COVID can be a matter of many weeks, to many months. 

I would say most people have symptoms for at least a couple of weeks, in terms of the effects and usually you’re starting to feel better by the second week. Your fevers are gone, you’re gonna have some congestion, but you’re making slow progress. 

Is Santa Cruz County experiencing a surge in respiratory viruses like that which is being seen around the state, including RSV and pneumonia?

CG:  We mirror the state pretty much with RSV. Typically, high cases are right there in the middle of the winter, like most flus. But since the pandemic, RSV is presenting much earlier—last year, it peaked higher than the current influx we’re experiencing right now. But in the county, it appears that it’s still there. We’re not necessarily seeing a downward trend per se. But accordinging to our wastewater samples there may be some indication that it is starting to go down, which would be good because then we would just have the flu and the Covid content in terms of the major infections.

What can you tell me about COVID hospitalizations in the past month and also hospitalizations from flus like RSV?

CG: We haven’t had a significant uptick that we’ve seen so far. The RSV hospitalizations are pretty small. Oftentimes, children may get hospitalized elsewhere if they’re severely ill. But the numbers are very small at this point too. And so I would say compared to last quarter, overall, at this time we’re much better than we were last winter, but again we have a couple more months ahead of us. At this time last winter, we had significantly more hospitalizations from RSV, flu and Covid.  

What do you credit the lower hospitalization numbers to this year?

CG: I think it’s really hard to say. Covid in many respects doesn’t have a predictive kind of pattern. I would say probably in part, the level of immunity that the general population has towards Covid. I think the vaccines absolutely helped reduce the level of severity of hospitalizations. 

You mentioned that the months that typically see the highest rates of Covid cases are coming in January in February. What preparations are being taken at hospitals and with doctors and nurses to prepare for that? 

CG: One area we have focused on for many months has been to work with our skilled nursing facilities to make sure staff and residents are vaccinated, that they have Paxlovid on hand.That’s really the probably the most at-risk population.  We’ve encouraged our staff in the hospitals to be vaccinated. Oftentimes part of the hospital’s capacity to take care of patients is dependent on how many staff are not ill and the rest so we want them to be vaccinated, if at all possible. 

What would you recommend people do to stay healthy? 

CG: If you haven’t gotten vaccinated for flu or Covid or if you’re eligible for RSV, get the vaccine. Consider masking in public settings, especially indoor settings.

Free Will Astrology

Astrology, Horoscope, Stars, Zodiac Signs
ARIES March 21-April 19Why do birds sing? They must be expressing their joy at being alive, right? And in some cases, they are trying to impress and attract potential mates. Ornithologists tell us that birds are also staking out their turf by chirping their melodies. Flaunting their vigor is a sign to other birds of how strong and commanding...
Read more

The Wharf’s Controversy

After years of debate and litigation, the city is trying once again to expand the wharf—but one group continues to try and halt plans for proposed changes. Local environmental group Don’t Morph the Wharf has been fighting against the city of Santa Cruz’s plans to expand and upgrade the Municipal Wharf since 2016. The group filed a lawsuit against the...
Read more

New Board Chair Chosen For Santa Cruz Supervisors

Board Chair
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors unanimously appointed Justin Cummmings as this year’s Board Chair, and Felipe Hernandez as Vice Chair. While the Chair role is largely ceremonial, the supervisor in that position leads the meetings and often serves as the spokesperson for the board. Previous Chair Supervisor Zach Friend handed over the gavel to Cummings as they switched seats. In...
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Soquel Drive Closed After Collision

Soquel Drive
Westbound Soquel Drive at Cabrillo College is closed indefinitely after a trailer hauling an excavator struck a pedestrian over-crossing. The collision occurred at about 12:30 p.m. at Cabrillo College Drive. California Highway Patrol is advising motorists to avoid the area, and to use Perimeter Rd. and northbound Highway 1 as a detour. No injuries were reported.
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King Tides On The Horizon

King tides, or the highest tides of the year, are expected to move into the Monterey Bay Area Wednesday through Friday. Dial Hoang, meteorologist with the National Weather Service of Monterey, said high tides could reach six feet around Monterey Bay and even 7 feet in the San Francisco Bay Area. King Tide is a term used to describe very high tides,...
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County’s Plan For Aging Survey Seeks Community Input

Plan For Aging
Santa Cruz County is presenting a Master Plan for Aging (MPA) survey residents can take that will help county leaders craft a plan to meet the needs of its rapidly-growing senior population. When it is complete, the county’s MPA—called “Age Well Santa Cruiz County”—will be part of a statewide effort to create a 10-year blueprint for providing services for older...
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Richard Thornton, Former Olympian, Dies At The Hook

On Thursday, Richard Thornton, a member of the 1980 U.S. Olympic swim team and the longtime head coach of San Ramon Valley Aquatics, died while at The Hook Vista Point in Santa Cruz. He was 65. In a Facebook post on Thursday morning, Thornton’s younger brother Marc confirmed his brother's passing. "My father died while stepping into the water having...
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Man Who Reportedly Shot At Family Arrested

man who reportedly
A Hayward man who reportedly shot at a vehicle on Highway 1 in May, injuring a 3-year-old child and the male driver, has been arrested. Raphael Abduh-Salam, 33, is in custody in Contra Costa Jail. He will soon be transferred to Santa Cruz County Jail, where he faces multiple counts of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon. He...
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Storms And Huge Swells Caused Numerous Water Rescues

Water Rescue
As storms and huge swells swept Santa Cruz’s coastline, first responders were called out to help with almost a dozen water rescues from Dec. 28 until New Year’s Day.  The biggest storm of 2023 rolled in last week and brought coastal flooding that prompted evacuations and damaged businesses in Capitola Village and Rio Del Mar. The large swells lingered into...
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Winter Covid Update

Winter Covid
Anecdotally, it feels like everyone knows someone with Covid these days—or someone who is sick.   Even Deputy Health Officer Cal Gordon was sick during Good Times' interview with him about the state of illness in the county. Not with Covid, he clarified.  “It’s just the common cold that my grandson gave to me,” Dr. Gordon said. “We all tested negative and...
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