Free Will Astrology

Astrology

-

June 26, 2024

ARIES March 21-April 19

This may sound weird, but I think now is a perfect time to acquire a fresh problem. Not just any old boring problem, of course. Rather, I’m hoping you will carefully ponder what kind of dilemma would be most educational for you—which riddle might challenge you to grow in ways you need to. Here’s another reason you should be proactive about hunting down a juicy challenge: Doing so will ensure that you won’t attract mediocre, meaningless problems.

TAURUS April 20-May 20

Now is an excellent time to start learning a new language or to increase your proficiency in your native tongue. Or both. It’s also a favorable phase to enrich your communication skills and acquire resources that will help you do that. Would you like to enhance your ability to cultivate friendships and influence people? Are you interested in becoming more persuasive, articulate and expressive? If so, Taurus, attend to these self-improvement tasks with graceful intensity. Life will conspire benevolently on your behalf if you do. (PS: I’m not implying you’re weak in any of these departments; just that now is a favorable time to boost your capacities.)

GEMINI May 21-June 20

Barbara Sher and Barbara Smith wrote the book I Could Do Anything If I Only Knew What It Was: How to Discover What You Really Want and How to Get It. I invite you to think and feel deeply about this theme during the coming months. In my experience with Geminis, you are often so versatile and multi-faceted that it can be challenging to focus on just one or two of your various callings. And that may confuse your ability to know what you want more than anything else. But here’s the good news. You may soon enjoy a grace period when you feel really good about devoting yourself to one goal more than any other.

CANCER June 21-July 22

You are entering a phase when you will be wise to question fixed patterns and shed age-old habits. The more excited you get about re-evaluating everything you know and believe, the more likely it is that exciting new possibilities will open up for you. If you are staunchly committed to resolving longstanding confusions and instigating fresh approaches, you will launch an epic chapter of your life story. Wow! That sounds dramatic. But it’s quite factual. Here’s the kicker: You’re now in prime position to get vivid glimpses of specific successes you can accomplish between now and your birthday in 2025.

LEO July 23-Aug. 22

How many different ways can you think of to ripen your spiritual wisdom? I suggest you choose two and pursue them with gleeful vigor in the coming weeks. You are primed to come into contact with streams of divine revelations that can change your life for the better. All the conditions are favorable for you to encounter teachings that will ennoble your soul and hone your highest ideals. Don’t underestimate your power to get the precise enlightenment you need.

VIRGO Aug. 23-Sept. 22

Border collies are dogs with a herding instinct. Their urges to usher, steer and manage are strong. They will not only round up sheep and cattle, but also pigs, chickens and ostriches—and even try to herd cats. In my estimation, Virgo, border collies are your spirit creatures these days. You have a special inclination and talent to be a good shepherd. So use your aptitude with flair. Provide extra navigational help for people and animals who would benefit from your nurturing guidance. And remember to do the same for your own wayward impulses!

LIBRA Sept. 23-Oct. 22

We have arrived at the midpoint of 2024. It’s check-in time. Do you recall the promises you made to yourself last January? Are you about halfway into the frontier you vowed to explore? What inspirational measures could you instigate to renew your energy and motivation for the two most important goals in your life? What would you identify as the main obstacle to your blissful success, and how could you diminish it? If you’d like to refresh your memory of the long-term predictions I made for your destiny in 2024, go here: tinyurl.com/Libra2024. For 2023’s big-picture prophecies, go here: tinyurl.com/2023Libra.

SCORPIO Oct. 23-Nov. 21

Scorpio-born Gary Hug was educated as a machinist and food scientist, but for many years he has worked primarily as an amateur astronomer. Using a seven-foot telescope he built in the backyard of his home, he has discovered a comet and 300 asteroids, including two that may come hazardously close to Earth. Extolling the joys of being an amateur, he says he enjoys “a sense of freedom that you don’t have when you’re a professional.” In the coming weeks, Scorpio, I encourage you to explore and experiment with the joys of tasks done out of joy rather than duty. Identify the work and play that feel liberating and indulge in them lavishly.

SAGITTARIUS Nov. 22-Dec. 21

Your power spots will be places that no one has visited or looked into for a while. Sexy secrets and missing information will be revealed to you as you nose around in situations where you supposedly should not investigate. The light at the end of the tunnel is likely to appear well before you imagined it would. Your lucky number is 8, your lucky color is black, and your lucky emotion is the surprise of discovery. My advice: Call on your memory to serve you in amazing ways; use it as a superpower.

CAPRICORN Dec. 22-Jan. 19

Happy Unbirthday, Capricorn! It’s time to celebrate the season halfway between your last birthday and your next. I hope you will give yourself a fun gift every day for at least the next seven days. Fourteen days would be even better. See if you can coax friends and allies to also shower you with amusing blessings. Tell them your astrologer said that would be a very good idea. Now here’s an unbirthday favor from me: I promise that between now and January 2025, you will create healing changes in your relationship with your job and with work in general.

AQUARIUS Jan. 20-Feb. 18

While sleeping, my Aquarian friend Janelle dreamed that she and her family lived in a cabin in the woods. When dusk was falling, a strange animal put its face against the main window. Was it a bear? A mountain lion? Her family freaked out and hid in a back bedroom. But Janelle stayed to investigate. Looking closely, she saw the creature was a deer. She opened up the window and spoke to it, saying, “What can I do for you?” The deer, who was a talking deer, said, “I want to give you and your family a gift. See this necklace I’m wearing? It has a magic ruby that will heal a health problem for everyone who touches it.” Janelle managed to remove the necklace, whereupon the deer wandered away and she woke up from the dream. During subsequent weeks, welcome changes occurred in her waking life. She and three of her family members lost physical ailments that had been bothering them. I think this dream is a true fairy tale for you in the coming weeks, Aquarius.

PISCES Feb. 19-March 20

A psychologist friend tells me that if we have an intense craving for sugar, it may be a sign that deeper emotional needs are going unmet. I see merit in her theory. But here’s a caveat. What if we are currently not in position to get our deeper emotional needs met? What if there is at least temporarily some barrier to achieving that lovely goal? Would it be wrong to seek a partial quenching of our soul cravings by communing with fudge brownies, peach pie and crème brûlée? I don’t think it would be wrong. On the contrary. It might be an effective way to tide ourselves over until more profound gratification is available. But now here’s the good news, Pisces: I suspect more profound gratification will be available sooner than you imagine.

Homework: Take a vow that you will ethically do everything necessary to fulfill your most important goal. Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com

LETTERS

Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor

-

June 26, 2024

0

FOLKLORICO

My name is Veronica Leon, I’m with Esperanza del Valle, Mexican Folklorico Dance Company from Watsonville. Our dance company, together with Cabrillo College, will be hosting the first international folklorico dance and music conference, “Reinforcing Cultural Identity” in our tri-county area (Santa Cruz, Monterey & San Benito), with the Ballet Folklórico del Puerto de Veracruz de Universidad Veracruzana, August 15-25.

This unique opportunity binds our community together and instills pride in our youth/students/community of Mexican heritage. We anticipate serving over 5,000 with dance and music classes, lectures, community events and gala performances!

Thank you,

Verónica León

COMMENTS

RE: FOOD BIN PROJECT

Really…………………….build housing without parking…………………..REALLY???

Warren Paradise | Facebook

RE: CLOCKTOWER PROJECT

I like and dislike. Architecture is to make a Statement but, lots of Waste!

Carl Sanders | Facebook

“This is what Santa Cruz needs, growth and density is the future of Santa Cruz.” ?!?! No it isn’t! How about not increasing the campus population so slugs aren’t taking up so much housing?

And love to see the Rush stay? Really? Will it be one of the businesses allowed in the mix-use first floor?

Ammer Mockus | Facebook

Oh boy. No more water rationing. Yippie, it’s a miracle.

Kevin Walter | Facebook

So it seems that all the new downtown housing projects are rentals and not an opportunity for people to buy and build equity. Is that correct? So rents can continue to escalate over time. offering no real housing security for the tenants. So we will have a small quota of “affordable apartments” and the rest will be subject to the forces of the rental market including supply and demand, growth of the university, etc.

Johanna Epps | Facebook

Build it on ucsc grounds.

Julianne Angus | Facebook

It looks good. I’d like to live there.

Jaime Sánchez

Instrumental Peace

Music

L. Kent Wolgamott

-

June 26, 2024

0

Jake Shimabukuro doesn’t want to take any credit for the ukulele boom that, over the last decade, has seen thousands pick up the four-stringed Hawaiian instrument.

But the “Jimi Hendrix of the ukulele,” who not so coincidentally broke through to the mainstream with a viral video of his performance of George Harrison’s “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” in 2006, literally sees his influence on generations of ukulele players at every show.

“Whenever we play in a new venue, the people there will be saying ‘There’s so many people that brought their instruments to the show tonight. Are they going to play along or something?’” Shimabukuro said in a recent interview. “No, they don’t play along or come up [on stage]. They’ll bring them to the signing booth after and I’ll sign them. They’ll say, ‘We’ve never seen that before.’ It’s just kind of a fun, fundamental thing that happens at the shows. I love that.”

Born in Honolulu in 1976, Shimabukuro had been a star in his home state and Japan for more than a decade before “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” garnered widespread notice , launching him on the path to becoming the world’s most famous ukulele player.

But his journey with the four-stringed instrument began decades before anyone heard him play.

“I first picked it up when I was four because my mom played,” Shimabukuro said. “She taught me a few chords and I just loved it. But I was always so shy, I would never play in front of people. When I got older, I took lessons. I always loved playing, but I would only play for my mom and dad. I never dreamed of being on stage. I never even wanted to.

“But it was my passion. I would try to get home from school as soon as I could, so I could practice,” he said. “Back then, I never thought of it as practice. I just wanted to play. That was like my equivalent to video games or whatever. I just wanted to play the ukulele.”

In high school, Shimabukuro met some other ukulele players and began to play with them. But he resisted those who urged him to play at school assemblies and talent shows.

“I was like, ‘No, no, no.’ But somehow, eventually they talked me into it,” he said. “Then I started doing some of those things. And I just really enjoyed performing in front of people, which was a big surprise to my family and even myself, because I was always very shy.”

Talked into making a record by his high school music teacher, Shimabukuro heard himself on the radio shortly after graduating from high school and became the ukulele player in Pure Heart, a trio that, with its 1999 debut album, won four Na Hoku Hanahano Awards, the Hawaiian equivalent of a Grammy.

When the band broke up in 2002, Shimabukuro went solo, signing a deal with Sony Japan. Then, just before posting “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” which got more than 15 million views, he moved into the U.S. market, opening for Jimmy Buffett and seeing his albums climb to the top of the Billboard World Music Charts.

Those albums contain a mix of Shimabukuro original compositions, cover songs and collaborations with the likes of Gov’t Mule’s Warren Haynes, Dolly Parton and, on the recently released Grateful, many of Hawaii’s top musicians.

The songs from Grateful figure prominently in the show that Shimabukuro and electric bassist Jackson Waldhoff are bringing to venues around the country.

“We’re definitely playing a lot of the music,” he said. “They’re the instrumental versions because I can’t sing to save my life. We definitely do all the instrumental stuff. But we also try to do a lot of the vocal tunes as well, some of the other classics on there like “Kawika.” Hopefully one of these days, we’ll be able to bring a lot of the artists on the album, you know, and we can perform these songs live. We did that in Hawaii, not all of them, but we got a lot of them, for a [fire] relief effort. But it would be great to be able to take them out with me on the road. It would be really special.”

The rest of the show is split between Shimabukuro’s original compositions—which he says he’s becoming ever more confident in performing—and his attention-grabbing covers.

“Maybe 40 percent, if not 50 percent of the show is original songs, but I like to mix in the covers because, for me, when I’m listening to new artists, it’s always so exciting when I hear something that I’ve already heard before and I can hear their interpretation of it,” he said. “It makes it a lot easier to connect with the audience, so I love throwing those in.”

Those covers are selected because they’re personal to Shimabukuro, who grew up listening to his mother’s collection of records from the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s before discovering songs on his own, often while working at a record store.

“Whenever I do a song like ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps’ or if I get to do something like [Queen’s] ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ or [Leonard Cohen’s] ‘Hallelujah,’ to me it’s the equivalent of a sports fan wearing their favorite player’s jersey,” he said. “I remember growing up, you know, you would wear your number 23 Chicago Bulls Michael Jordan jersey, or my son loves Steph Curry’s and wears his jersey.

“As a musician when you cover another song of another artist, it’s like putting on your George Harrison jersey or your Queen jersey or your Leonard Cohen jersey,” Shimabukuro said. “You’re kind of celebrating your appreciation and admiration for these amazing artists that inspired you and influenced you.”

So how do you turn an iconic song from a rock band into something that can be played on the ukulele?

“It’s hard to explain,” Shimabukuro said. “I cover, of course, the melody because I do an instrumental version of it. Take ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’—I kind of worked out a fingerstyle way of playing it. So you’re covering chord movements and there’s a lot of counterpoint in that piece too. I try to cover as much as I can with the counterpoint melodies while keeping whatever Freddie Mercury’s voice, his melody lines. You’ll just have to come to the show to get it.”

Jake Shimabukuro plays June 30 at the Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz. $40. riotheatre.com

Open Loophole

Cannabis

Dan Mitchell

-

June 26, 2024

0

One thing that often gets lost in all the debate over highly problematic hemp-derived THC products is that the people who make and sell them have every reason to oppose cannabis legalization. After all, the market for their products—some of which might be downright dangerous—exists largely because pot remains illegal in so many states and at the federal level. The hemp-derived products, which can get you high, exist in a legal gray area, and are thus widely available, including in states where pot remains illegal.

The products exist because of the dumb way the law legalizing hemp was written in the 2018 Farm Bill. Hemp in its natural state generally doesn’t contain enough THC to get a person high. The Farm Bill contains language limiting the amount of “Delta-9 THC,” which is the kind most often associated with weed.

But there are a bunch of different kinds of THC. One of them is Delta-8. So naturally, companies—many of them super-sleazy—started making products made from concentrations of Delta-8 (pr Delta-10, or etc.) derived from hemp. They are sold in stores and on the internet, and are easy to obtain by anyone of any age. Depending on how the law is interpreted, they might be no more illegal than a hemp skirt.

Congress is weighing a measure for the 2024 Farm Bill to close this loophole. There is wide agreement in the cannabis industry that “synthetic,” hemp-derived Delta-8 products should be legal and regulated just as regular weed is regulated. But some in the legal-weed business think the amendment being discussed goes too far. That’s at least in part thanks to the fact that some of them are themselves getting into the consumable-hemp business.

As with so many of the problems facing the cannabis industry, this one could be solved pretty simply: by legalizing weed, and regulating all this stuff the same way. Hemp and what we generally think of as “weed” are the same plant, after all (cannabis)—even if hemp and weed contain different amounts of various cannabinoids.

But since federal legalization appears to be dead in the water until at least after the November election (thanks mainly to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell refusing to allow a vote on legalization in the Senate) we’re left in this weird limbo where different parts of the industry are at odds with each other; with a market of unregulated, possibly dangerous products being sold; and with lawmakers at the federal and state levels reaching for clumsy solutions to the problem.

The politics of the situation are even more grotesque at the state level. Cannabis legalization is on the ballot in Florida in November, and, as is the case in most states, polls show a solid majority in favor of the measure (the vote might be close, though, since approval requires 60% of the electorate to vote “yes”).

Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis isn’t even pretending to not be corrupt on this issue: He opposes legalization, but also recently vetoed a bill that would have banned intoxicating hemp products in the state. Marijuana Moment quoted DeSantis baldly stating that part of his rationale for the veto was that “the marijuana industry wanted this hemp bill.”

DeSantis recently created a political action committee called the Florida Freedom Fund, which, even for these people, is a particularly Orwellian name. The PAC exists for the express purpose of defeating legalization and another ballot measure that would guarantee access to abortion, which is, you know, sort of the opposite of freedom.

Behold DeSantis’s word salad in explaining himself: “Some of these people that are funding the marijuana, they came in when we did the medical marijuana, which I implemented because the voters passed it, and they said, ‘We don’t believe in recreation. We just want to do medical. We think it can help alleviate pain or whatever.’ And those same people that were saying that are now trying this amendment.”

The longer we go with a bifurcated legal system, with weed being legal in some respects and illegal in others, the more perverse things will get.

Familial Feeling

Dining Reviews

Mark C. Anderson

-

June 26, 2024

0

There’s probably a word for it in German: that pleasant atmospheric density only found in a vibrant coffee house—part caffeinated humidity, part invested conversation, part collaboration, part you-do-you, part we-do-great-joe. With superb snacks.

The word for it in Scotts Valley is actually three, namely, “Cruise Coffee Company.”

And now the homespun and family-run operation has a third branch in Cruise Club (100 Enterprise Way, Scotts Valley).

The latest chapter complements the first two SV spots—the original Cruise Drive-Through (75 Mt. Hermon Road) and Cruise Cafe (246A Kings Village Road)—because its grab-and-go setup enjoys a shiny commissary kitchen that allows for more loaded (and organic) breakfast burritos, build-your-own bowls, bagel sandwiches and hearty salads for all three (and added catering bandwidth).

Cruise Club also meets a need for healthy fare in a well-trafficked spot, namely the Enterprise Technology Center, given the UC Santa Cruz offices and Enterprise Sports Club gym, among others, who call it home.

Like its sister spots, the Club deploys a half dozen different fair-trade coffees with thoughtful local art on the label and beans custom-roasted in collaboration with Midnight Coffee Roasting, to go with artisan baked goods by The Hot Pink Box Dessert Co.

Owner-operator Erin Buchla came to the CCC adventure after more than a quarter century as a nanny, toting as much care to her expanded family now as she did then (with lots of kid-centric activities too, like regular arts-and-crafts events for parents and littles).

The family-affirmative events include adult-friendly stuff too. Among them: Scotts Valley Cars & Coffee every third Sunday with a parking lot full of interesting cars (like her 1960 Apache Chevrolet truck) and free coffee, and Coffee Shopping each first Saturday of the month, with area makers doing art, jewelry, clothing, macramé, ephemera and more.

The whole idea, for her, boils down to community.

“I was a nanny because I love seeing kids become the people they are,” she says. “Everybody has a talent, whether creating art, building stairs or getting dogs to listen to you. That’s why I love doing events and creating a gathering space, a micro-community—because it brings all those talented people together…I just love people, and working with one another we create a fabulous unit.” cruisecoffee.square.site

BONUS FLOW

Le Creuset has debuted a new “shop-in-shop” at Toque Blanche (1527 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz), which translates to an atypical stash of professional-grade cookware and kitchen tools, and a 10% restaurant/chef discount, plus a ribbon cutting July 12 equipped with more promotional savings and gifts with purchase, mytoque.com…The new and self-described “informal” coffee bar service noon-4:30pm Friday-Sunday at Chocolate (1522 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz) is making great use of its vast chocolate catalog for next-level drinks, chocolatesantacruz.com…Never too early to plan around pie: Downtown Felton’s Annual Dessert Pie Contest slices things up Aug. 10: tasty pies, lively music, pie-eating contests and a chance of spotting Bigfoot, check Downtown Felton Association on Facebook…Trivia Night buzzes starting at 6pm every Wednesday in Humble Sea Westside’s “Seacret Garden” (820 Swift St. Santa Cruz). “Things get pretty heated back there!” insiders testify, humblesea.com…Life hack alert: Stuck with a bad cup of coffee? Drop a pinch of salt in…Which inspires a revisited reminder from Isak Dinesen: “The cure for anything is salt water—tears, sweat, or the sea.”

Holding Court

Foodie File

Andrew Steingrube

-

June 26, 2024

0

Koji Goto’s path to becoming chef/owner of Ramen Kaito started on the other side of the world in Japan, where he was born and raised. He started cooking there and immigrated to the U.S. at age 25, continuing restaurant work to gain more experience and level up his cooking game. His first foray into ownership came when he opened a restaurant in the Bay Area before he eventually moved to Santa Cruz and founded Kaito in 2013 on the Pleasure Point side of 41st Avenue. He decided to change locations three years ago, moving to the food court in the Capitola Mall.

Goto starts Kaito’s menu tour with the headlining ramen, a traditional Japanese noodle soup with a foundation of broth: a choice of pork bone, chicken bone or vegan/gluten-free. The tonkotsu with barbecue pork is popular and the spicy garlic with chicken is another favorite. Beyond ramen, Kaito also offers a Japanese curry stew with topping options of chicken cutlet, deep-fried shrimp and vegetable croquette. They also have appetizers like poke, teriyaki chicken and potstickers, and sushi selections of nigiri, sashimi and rolls.

For dessert, vanilla and matcha soft-serve ice cream is available, and the robust beverage menu has beer, sake and boba tea as well as traditional Japanese offerings such as green tea, marble soda and Calpico (a yogurt-based drink with different flavors like mango, strawberry and mandarin). Hours are Tuesday-Sunday from 11am-8pm (close 7pm Sunday).

What motivated your immigration?

KOJI GOTO: I wanted to bring Japanese flavors and food to the U.S. I’m happy to introduce part of Japanese culture and provide something different to the community here. And I also wanted to change my life and find a better one here. I wanted to experience and compare different cultures, different countries and a different life.

What inspires you about ramen?

It’s the ultimate Japanese comfort food, originally starting as a street food and something that everyone could enjoy. It’s very popular in Japan, and I grew up eating it from childhood. It’s traditionally simpler in Japan, but here I’m able to provide more options and styles. It’s like fashion; it’s a very trendy food and people of all ages seem to really enjoy it. My food makes people smile and warms their body and soul.

1855 41st Avenue, Suite RO6, Capitola, 464-2586; ramenkaito.com.

Native Sanctuary: Arana Gulch

Wellness

Richard Stockton

-

June 26, 2024

0

Feeling stress in our Santa Cruz paradise? Is your apartment so small that when you bend over in your bedroom you turn on your kitchen stove with your ass? Philosopher Frederick Gros says that “the body on a walk rests in contemplation of wide-open spaces,” and you can find wide open spaces right here in our ever more congested town.

Arana Gulch seems to be serotonin to the Santa Cruzan soul. Under a giant oak I meet two artists who have set up their easels to paint the golden meadow that dominates the preserve. One of the women says, “We’re playing Dueling Watercolors,” and then they pretend to fence with their brushes. At the next giant oak, two kids are climbing the tree; one is hanging upside down with his legs curled over a limb. He says, “I’m a possum.”

One of the last pockets of California coastal terrace prairie, Arana Gulch is right in the middle of Midtown Santa Cruz. The meadow has enormous eucalyptus trees around the edges, and the paved bike/hiker paths are studded with ancient coastal oaks where you can picnic or paint one another in the shade. A path circles the meadow, runs along the western edge and connects the park’s three entrances. I park on Frederick Street and enter from the north at Agnes Street. I walk by a hundred people standing in line to get free food from the Santa Cruz Bible Church and enter the 68-acre Arana Gulch preserve.

There are cows in certain areas to help restore the natural habit; apparently, cows eat invasive plant species and allow the native plants to flourish. I read an information plaque that says there are also cowbirds, and this makes me wish I had brought my helmet to protect me from three-pound cow patties falling from the sky.

The fight over what to do with this property that used to be called the Live Oak Ranch was contentious and long. It was exhausting and frustrating to the combatants over the decades, but what we ended up with is a wonderful combination of plant sanctuary, hiking and biking opportunities in the middle of town, and a way for bikers to safely ride between Midtown to Capitola. According to the city’s website, Santa Cruz has the second highest rate of bike commuting in the United States.

I hadn’t done much walking around electric bikes, and there is a stream of them passing through this preserve. Our local Santa Cruz City trails allow legal e-bikes on trails designated for bike use. If you are on a bike, or a hike, it is an amazing way to get from the Seabright neighborhood to Live Oak, or down to the yacht harbor.

Get-Off-Of-My-Lawn

On the paved trail, a kid speeds by on his electric bike with his dog while he talks on his cell phone. I’m certainly projecting here, but to me the dog looks concerned.

I was all set to rail against the e-bikes in Arana Gulch but found out that what the kid is doing in the photo is legal.

California requirements for riding e-bikes:

Riders must be 16 years old or older.
Riders must wear a helmet.
Riders cannot travel with a passenger.

So, I guess the kid in the photo nailed all three. He’s got a helmet; it seems a stretch, but he could be 16; and the dog is legal as well (having a dog in your car does not let you drive in the carpool lane). Even talking on his cell phone is legal. I used to think as I got older, I would become more of an activist. It turns out I’m just getting crankier.

Keeping the Arana Gulch controversy heated is just what we do. The commuter route aspect continues to be criticized; a quiet green space is now a paved thoroughfare for bicyclists. Some decry the loss of tar plant (endangered) territory because of the paved paths, but it does keep walkers and riders from widening dirt trails. Apparently, the new trails avoid the main tar plant population areas. What is cool about the trails is how easy it is for people of all mobility skills to come here. The more people, the safer it is.

The Coastal Prairie Loop Trail circles the entire meadow and runs along the western boundary. The Marsh Vista Trail goes to Arana Creek. There is a bathroom and water fountain near the harbor entrance to Arana Gulch along the docks.

How to Get There

From the harbor: On Seventh Avenue, turn into the Upper Harbor entrance at Brommer (between Capitola Road and Eaton Street). Park at one of the meters, and at the rear of the harbor there are trails leading into Arana Gulch.

From Agnes Street: Follow Soquel Avenue east from downtown Santa Cruz. Pass Frederick Street, turn right on Mentel Avenue or Park Way and it’s a block to Agnes Street. When parking, be sure to check the parking signs; the Santa Cruz parking police are famously tenacious. For more information, visit the City of Santa Cruz’s Arana Gulch page.

Final Passage

Wellness

Shelley Whizin

-

June 26, 2024

1

In 2005, my journey into the profound realm of death midwifery began unexpectedly yet inevitably, as I stepped into the role for one of my dearest friends, Susan. At 62, battling leukemia, Susan entrusted me not just with her final days, but with the sacred task of guiding her and her loved ones through a transition marked by grace, dignity and healing.

My path to becoming a death midwife was paved long before Susan’s illness. Rooted in a deep-seated belief in conscious dying, nurtured during a transformative journey to Peru in 1986, I found myself drawing on unseen reserves of empathy and intuition. Little did I know those lessons learned amid ancient landscapes would prepare me for the sacred duty of midwifing souls through their final passage.

When Susan made the courageous decision to forgo further treatments, opting instead for comfort and closure, our journey together took on a new dimension. It wasn’t just about managing symptoms or logistics—it was about crafting a sacred space where Susan could find peace and her loved ones could bid her farewell with love and reverence.

One of the defining moments came when I suggested a gathering of Susan’s closest friends, her beloved “sisters,” to share memories and say their goodbyes. Despite initial logistical concerns, Susan’s unwavering spirit and my insistence on the importance of the moment prevailed. We transformed her dining room into a sanctuary of love, adorned with her favorite flowers and cherished mementos, ensuring every detail reflected the beauty of her life.

Each woman arrived, carrying tokens of affection and heartfelt messages, bearing witness to Susan’s impact on their lives. As tears mingled with laughter and sorrow, it became clear that this gathering was not just a farewell, but a healing ritual—an affirmation of love and a celebration of a life well-lived.

In those final days, as Susan’s strength waned and her body sought solace in sleep, I became her companion in the quiet moments, while her husband tended to other matters. The soft music playlist I created filled the room, enveloping us in a cocoon of tranquility, while I whispered words of comfort and stroked her brow, assuring her of the love that surrounded her.

One profound lesson I carried from my training and experiences was the understanding that hearing is the last sense to go. Despite her unconscious state, I knew Susan could hear every word spoken, feel every touch bestowed upon her fragile form. It underscored the importance of creating an environment steeped in love and serenity—a stark contrast to the clinical detachment often associated with dying.

Before the inevitable moment arrived, and Susan drew her final breath, I made a deliberate choice to bathe her and pass in the light. Drawing open the curtains, I invited the warmth of the sun to fill the room, casting away shadows and embracing her departure with gentle radiance. It was a gesture not just for Susan but for her husband and loved ones—a testament to honoring her journey with dignity and grace.

As I cleansed her body and dressed her in her favorite attire, I felt a profound kinship with midwives throughout history, gently ushering new life into the world. This time, however, it was about honoring life’s culmination—a final act of love and respect for the vessel that had housed a vibrant soul.

In the aftermath, as I reflected on Susan’s journey and my role within it, I realized the profound impact a death midwife can have. Beyond the practicalities of care, our role is to transform the experience of dying from one of fear and loneliness to one of solace and connection. It’s about ensuring that each person’s final moments are imbued with the essence of their life—a celebration rather than a mournful farewell.

What we want in our last breath, I’ve come to understand, is a sense of peace and fulfillment—a knowing that we are loved and that our life has mattered. As death midwives, we have the privilege of creating that environment, of holding space for both the departing soul and those left behind. It’s a responsibility that requires empathy, intuition and a deep reverence for the sacredness of life’s closing chapters.

The lessons learned from Susan’s journey continue to guide me as I accompany others on their final pilgrimage. Each experience reaffirms the importance of presence, compassion and the healing power of love. It’s not just about easing physical discomfort but about nurturing the spirit, offering solace, and facilitating a transition that is as gentle and meaningful as possible.

As I look ahead, I carry with me the wisdom gained from Susan’s passage—a reminder that death, like life, is a natural part of our journey. Through our work as death midwives, we have the profound opportunity to reshape how society views and experiences death—not as an end, but as a sacred and transformative passage filled with love, honor and the enduring legacy of lives well-lived.

Shelley Whizin is a transformational life coach who guides families through a loved one’s final passage with a commitment to honor, dignity and healing. Contact her at sh*****@***********in.com or 818-414-5111.

Straight Talk

Wellness

Elizabeth Borelli

-

June 26, 2024

0

I am talking with Rita Rivera, a longtime figure on the Santa Cruz wellness scene, about posture.

We agree that among other things, posture—or the way we hold our bodies—is a form of communication. Someone walks toward us with open arms and we can tell they’re happy to see us. Slumped shoulders or crossed arms—maybe not so much.

Clearly our emotions affect our posture, but can posture affect emotions?Can, as one study famously suggests, a smile forced by holding a pencil between your lips make you happy, even if the expression is emotionally devoid?

This conversation with Rivera was inspired by a recent article suggesting that yes, it can. The author, clinical psychologist Joseph Wielgosz, describes his studies and the two-way relationship between posture and stress.

Rivera has been teaching posture health for decades. She recalls taking her first Alexander Technique class in New York City, where she was working as a professional ballet dancer. “So, here I was spending four or five hours a day training in pointe shoes, and it really builds up a lot of stress and tension in your body,” Rivera recalls. But she wasn’t in pain and looking for treatment; instead, she went because her boyfriend at the time had paid for a session he couldn’t use.

“I was blown away by the experience,” she says. “At first I didn’t know what I was getting into; it’s very subtle work. The bottom line is it helps you develop kinesthetic awareness.”

I can relate. During my speaking engagements I’ll often stop to ask audience members to notice their posture. There are always rustles and whispers as people reposition and sit up straight.

Rivera says, “Most of us are very unconscious of our posture whether on the phone or computer—really, whatever activity you’re doing. We tend not to notice unless we’re in pain, right? When we’re in pain, we’ll pay attention.”

Rivera describes a typical two-part Alexander Technique session, which includes working in a chair and then on a mat or massage table: “It’s a very gentle, hands-on technique with a focus on breathing, because that is critical to get someone really present in their body, and to access the parasympathetic nervous system, slow their mind down.”

After that first session in New York, she says, “I realized how much tension I was working with at the ballet bar. It really changed my work habits tremendously, and so when I moved to Northern California in 1983 I did the three-year [Alexander] training here and started teaching.”

Today clients see Rivera at her Santa Cruz clinic for reasons that span physical and emotional pain and recovery from injury. “You develop bad habits because you’re protecting the injured part of the body. So I help clients stay balanced as best they can while they’re in that process of healing,” she says.

“What if you have a job where you’re sitting at a desk all day long?” I ask “Is sitting still the new smoking?”

This question has come up often enough to inspire Rivera to develop “Your Brilliant Back,” a 28-day guided video series to support posture change.

She says “a lot of back pain is related to posture and depending on what people do in their lives. Both too little movement and too much physical exertion can create stress in the back.

“Think about people who are on their computers or driving, neck strained or hunched forward. Developing awareness around your posture is essential for a wellness plan. Because as we age, our posture doesn’t automatically get better. We follow a trajectory of the patterns that have been set up in the body,” she says.

“So if you’re in a chronically stressed state, and unconscious about the way you’re using your body, as you age, you’re going to follow that trajectory,” she cautions. “That’s why I think it’s so essential to pay attention to good postural use.”

In the end, posture is more than just physical alignment—it’s a reflection of our overall well-being. By embracing a few basic principles, we can feel better physically, and at the same time build emotional resilience. As Rita Rivera reminds us, paying attention to how we carry ourselves can have profound effects on both our bodies and minds. So stand tall, breathe deeply, and let the connection between body and mind guide you toward a healthier, more balanced life.

Learn more about the Alexander Technique at RitaRivera.com.

The Editor’s Desk

Letters to the Editor

Brad Kava

-

June 26, 2024

0

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

The first time I felt the physical power of music it was negative.

I had been at a two-day rap concert called Summer Jam at Shoreline Amphitheatre and in the middle of the second day I came down with a flu that was as bad as when I had Covid. My throat swelled, my head ached and I could barely walk, I was so dizzy.

The lyrics reflected how I felt. It was all N-word with an unhealthy dose of misogyny. And to make matters worse, two of the performers pulled guns on each other backstage and they shut the show down early.

The next day I had committed to cover a concert by the band Yes at Concord Pavilion, not just because it was my job, but I was bringing a friend, the musician Greg Kihn, who wanted to go despite my illness.

Here’s the amazing part. Midway through the first song, my head cleared, my fever abated, and damn, I felt great. It was like a miracle.

Now, my skeptical side thought it was a 24-hour virus and cured on its own. But it happened so fast and powerfully, I was convinced it was because the positive music of the band with the positive name cured me of a case of illness caused by negative vibes.

So, I was thrilled when our wellness writer Elizabeth Borelli was working on a story about sound baths and their curative possibilities. I’ve wanted to try one and will do so after reading the cover story. Let me know if you tried one and how it went.

On other fronts, we’re taking another look at how Downtown SC is changing, this time south of Laurel Street, by the KP Pavilion. Our picturesque and relatively sleepy town is on the way to looking like a Silicon Valley city. Is this progress, or a case of paving paradise and putting in a parking lot? Check out two articles by William S. Woodhams for the facts.

More positivity as master hiker Richard Stockton takes a stroll through the once hotly contested and now beloved Arana Gulch. It’s a great one if you can avoid the way-too-fast ebikes.

Writer John Koenig takes you someplace you didn’t expect: local classes for ancient sword fighting. It’s either the most Santa Cruz thing you’ve heard, or the least. You have to love living in a community filled with daily surprises.

Speaking of surprises, ukulele player Jake Shimabukuro returns to the Rio Theatre and will turn heads as usual. I’m no fan of the uke. It’s up there with the bagpipes, which I avoid at all costs. But people come away from his shows celebrating the things he’s done with it. He’s collaborated with Warren Haynes and Dolly Parton, so those are some high-level references.

There’s a lot more in this issue, which also features a special section on health and fitness that should keep you reading up to the July 4 holiday.

Enjoy!

Thanks for reading.

Brad Kava, Editor

PHOTO CONTEST

SUMMER’S HERE It was a full moon, it was solstice, it was Jive Machine jammin’ on the beach, with our beautiful Monterey Bay as a backdrop. It just doesn’t get any better than this. Photograph by Ross Levoy

GOOD IDEA

The Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter will cut adoption fees by at least half until June 30. Currently, the shelter houses 74 dogs and 180 cats, and 23 dogs and 115 cats in foster care.

The adoption fees for puppies and kittens under six months will drop to $105 and $60, from $210 and $125. The fees for adult dogs and cats will drop from $150 and $110 to $75 and $55. Rabbits of all ages can also be adopted for $35, down from $75.

The shelter will waive adoption fees for six dogs, two cats and four rabbits that have been at the shelter for more than 60 days. The fees include spay or neuter surgery, vaccinations, flea and tick services, microchipping and licenses.

Information: www.scanimalshelter.gov.

GOOD WORK

Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation, in partnership with the California Department of Transportation, will hold a ribbon-cutting for the newly renovated Main Beach public restrooms at 120 Beach Street, Friday at 10am.

The project, funded by the Clean California program led by Caltrans and the Parks and Recreation Facilities Tax, increases ADA accessibility, provides cleaner restrooms and upgrades site furnishings. The building features a collection of three tile mosaic wall murals by local artist Taylor Reinhold titled “Pacific Dream.” This $1 million project was made possible by Governor Gavin Newsom’s Clean California program, a historic, $1.2 billion cleanup effort led by Caltrans to remove trash, create thousands of jobs, and reclaim, transform and beautify public spaces.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music.”― Aldous Huxley

Good TimesGood Times

Good TimesGood Times

Failure to File

Music to Save Humanities

Secret Projections

Mind-altering Music

Street Talk

Free Will Astrology

Going Big

Italian I Scream

Free Will Astrology

LETTERS

COMMENTS

Instrumental Peace

Open Loophole

Familial Feeling

Holding Court

Native Sanctuary: Arana Gulch

Final Passage

Straight Talk

The Editor’s Desk

PHOTO CONTEST

GOOD IDEA

GOOD WORK

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

Free Will Astrology

LETTERS

Instrumental Peace

Open Loophole

Familial Feeling

Holding Court

Native Sanctuary: Arana Gulch

Final Passage

Straight Talk

The Editor’s Desk