A New Stage of Life

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“The stage is a magic circle where only the most real things happen, a neutral territory outside the jurisdiction of Fate where stars may be crossed with impunity. A truer and more real place does not exist in all the universe.”
― P.S. Baber

You can end the year with the fastest talking comedian at Scotts Valley’s newest venue. Coming on Dec. 30 is a comedy show and fundraiser, for the Scotts Valley Community Theater Guild (The Guild). This is a chance to not only laugh, lift your burdens and carry a silly grin, but to also help contribute to a worthy local cause.

Headlining the show is internationally-known comedian Myq Kaplan. Kaplan has been onTV shows including; Conan O’Brien, Craig Ferguson, David Letterman, Seth Meyers and America’s Got Talent.

From his home in Brooklyn, NY, Kaplan is enthusiastic about his upcoming performance.

“I’m always grateful when new places open up for live performances. It’s like beginner’s mind Buddhism. Shunryū Suzuki has said ‘In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities.’ And, a new performance space is just like that. Anything can happen. The room is just charged with energy, waiting to be filled with laughter. Or, whatever else is going to fill it. I like laughter. Let’s fill it with laughter.”

The magnificent magical space is located across from the  Scotts Valley metro station. You can tell. because it has the word, “THEATRE”, festooned over the top of the doors. A labor of love, a dream realized, Santa Cruz’ newest stage is the vision of a dedicated group of Scott’s Valley community members.

(The Guild) spent nine years and used 250 volunteers to manifest the theater. The doors opened just over a year ago, and programming has been diverse and dedicated to community enrichment.  SCPA has had over 52 performances and events under its belt.

The Guild slowly refurbished an old skating rink into a beautiful 284-seat performing arts venue. Guild members say they believe in providing an affordable, centrally-located venue for theater and community events. The SVCPAC still has that new theater smell. While a great place to gather, this stage is also a chance for community creatives to bring their ideas to the boards and floodlights, and bring their dreams to life.

At the New Year’s Eve Eve Comedy Show, they will be selling locally brewed beer and wine. All proceeds benefit The Guild and allow their mostly volunteer driven staff, to maintain this ambitious adventure.

If you’ve never been to a comedy show, this is an opportunity to also see Emily Van Dyke. Originally from the Midwest, Van Dyke is the number one comedian in San Francisco and recently recorded her first comedy album.

According to headliner Myq Kaplan, “Laughing is one of the most unifying experiences there is. Whatever language you speak, wherever you come from, whoever you are, you can laugh. and by doing it with a room full of people it’s even better. Or, maybe doing it alone is even more impressive. Either way, it’s great! Laughter! (This message brought to you by Comedians For Laughter.)”

Doors open at 6:30 and you can listen to live jazz by Lee & Treeswing, see vendors provided by Little Hill Sanctuary and meet the comics. Take a chance, and come support Scotts Valley’s newest attraction. The New Years Eve Eve Comedy Show/ Fundriaser will happen on Saturday, December 30  at the Scotts Valley Performing Arts Theatre located at 251 Kings Village Road. Tickets are $20 in advance/ $25 at the door. Suitable for 16 and up, accompanied by an adult. Tickets are on Eventbrite.

Free Will Astrology

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ARIES March 21-April 19
Among couples who share their finances, 39 percent lie to their partners about money. If you have been among that 39 percent, please don’t be in 2024. In fact, I hope you will be as candid as possible about most matters with every key ally in your life. It will be a time when the more honest and forthcoming you are, the more resources you will have at your disposal. Your commitment to telling the truth as kindly but completely as possible will earn you interesting rewards.

TAURUS April 20-May 20
According to tradition in ancient Israel, a Jubilee year happened every half-century. It was a “trumpet blast of liberty,” in the words of the Old Testament book Leviticus. During this grace period, enslaved people were supposed to be freed. Debts were forgiven, taxes canceled, and prisoners released. People were encouraged to work less and engage in more revelry. I boldly proclaim that 2024 should be a Jubilee Year for you Bulls. To launch the fun, make a list of the alleviations and emancipations you will claim in the months ahead.

GEMINI May 21-June 20
“Make peace with their devils, and you will do the same with yours.” The magazine Dark’s Art Parlor provides us with this essential wisdom about how to conduct vibrant relationships. I invite you to make liberal use of it in 2024. Why? Because I suspect you will come to deeply appreciate how all your worthwhile bonds inevitably require you to engage with each other’s wounds, shadows, and unripeness. To say it another way, healthy alliances require you to deal respectfully and compassionately with each other’s darkness. The disagreements and misunderstandings the two of you face are not flaws that discolor perfect intimacy. They are often rich opportunities to enrich togetherness.

CANCER June 21-July 22
Cancerian author Franz Kafka wrote over 500 letters to his love interest Felice Bauer. Her outpouring of affection wasn’t as voluminous, but was still very warm. At one point, Kafka wryly communicated to her, “Please suggest a remedy to stop me trembling with joy like a lunatic when I receive and read your letters.” He added, “You have given me a gift such as I never even dreamt of finding in this life.” I will be outrageous here and predict that 2024 will bring you, too, a gift such as you never dreamt of finding in this life. It may or may not involve romantic love, but it will feel like an ultimate blessing.

LEO July 23-Aug. 22
Renowned inventor Nikola Tesla (1856–1943) felt an extraordinary closeness with sparrows, finches, pigeons, and other wild birds. He loved feeding them, conversing with them, and inviting them into his home through open windows. He even fell in love with a special pigeon he called White Dove. He said, “I loved her as a man loves a woman, and she loved me. As long as I had her, there was a purpose to my life.” I bring this to your attention because I suspect 2024 will be an excellent time to upgrade your relationship with birds, Leo. Your power to employ and enjoy the metaphorical power of flight will be at a maximum.

VIRGO Aug. 23-Sept. 22
“All the world’s a stage,” wrote Shakespeare. He was comparing life to a theatrical drama, suggesting we are all performers attached to playing roles. In response, a band called the Kingpins released the song “All the World’s a Cage.” The lyrics include these lines: “You promised that the world was mine / You chained me to the borderline / Now I’m just sitting here doing time / All the world’s a cage.” These thoughts are the prelude to my advice for you. I believe that in 2024, you are poised to live your life in a world that is neither like a stage nor a cage. You will have unusually ample freedom from expectations, artificial constraints, and the inertia of the past. It will be an excellent time to break free from outdated self-images and your habitual persona.

LIBRA Sept. 23-Oct. 22
At age 10, an American girl named Becky Schroeder launched her career as an inventor. Two years later, she got her first of many patents for a product that enables people to read and write in the dark. I propose we make her one of your role models for 2024. No matter how old you are, I suspect you will be doing precocious things. You will understand life like a person at least ten years older than you. You will master abilities that a casual observer might think you learned improbably fast. You may even have seemingly supernatural conversations with the Future You.

SCORPIO Oct. 23-Nov. 21
Here are excellent questions for you to meditate on throughout 2024. 1. Who and what do you love? Who and what makes you spill over with adoration, caring, and longing? 2. How often do you feel deep waves of love? Would you like to feel more of them? If so, how could you? 3. What are the most practical and beautiful ways you express love for whom and what you love? Would you like to enhance the ways you express love, and if so, how? 4. Is there anything you can or should do to intensify your love for yourself?

SAGITTARIUS Nov. 22-Dec. 21
Like the rest of the planet, Scotland used to be a wild land. It had vast swaths of virgin forests and undomesticated animals. Then humans came. They cut the trees, dug up charcoal, and brought agriculture. Many native species died, and most forests disappeared. In recent years, though, a rewilding movement has arisen. Now Scotland is on the way to restoring the ancient health of the land. Native flora and fauna are returning. In accordance with astrological omens, I propose that you launch your own personal rewilding project in 2024. What would that look like? How might you accomplish it?

CAPRICORN Dec. 22-Jan. 19
Capricorn-born Lebron James is one of the greatest players in basketball history. Even more interesting from my perspective is that he is an exuberant activist and philanthropist. His list of magnificent contributions is too long to detail here. Here are a few examples: his bountiful support for charities like After-School All-Stars, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the Children’s Defense Fund, and his own Family Foundation. I suggest you make Lebron one of your role models in 2024. It will be a time when you can have more potent and far-reaching effects than ever before through the power of your compassion, generosity, and beneficence.

AQUARIUS Jan. 20-Feb. 18
I propose we make the shark your soul creature in 2024. Not because some shark species are apex predators at the top of the food chain. Rather, I propose you embrace the shark as an inspirational role model because it is a stalwart, steadfast champion with spectacular endurance. Its lineage goes back 400 million years. Sharks were on Earth before there were dinosaurs, mammals, and grass. Saturn’s rings didn’t exist yet when the first sharks swam in the oceans. Here are the adjectives I expect you to specialize in during the coming months: resolute, staunch, indomitable, sturdy, resilient.

PISCES Feb. 19-March 20
In the 19th century, many scientists believed in the bogus theory of eugenics, which proposed that we could upgrade the genetic quality of the human race through selective breeding. Here’s a further example of experts’ ignorance: Until the 1800s, most scientists dismissed the notion that stones fell from the sky, even though meteorites had been seen by countless people since ancient times. Scientists also rejected the idea that large reptiles once roamed the Earth, at least until the 19th century, when it became clear that dinosaurs had existed and had become extinct. The moral of the story is that even the smartest among us can be addicted to delusional beliefs and theories. I hope this inspires you to engage in a purge of your own outmoded dogmas in 2024. A beginner’s mind can be your superpower! Discover a slew of new ways to think and see. Homework: Enjoy free articles and audios from my new book: https://bit.ly/lovelifegifts

Sno White Drive-in

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Opened way back in 1957 during the golden era of its type, Sno White Drive-In has been a pillar of the Seacliff Aptos community. Kosal Ky’s sister bought the place in 2014, and Ky moved to Santa Cruz. Born in Cambodia, Ky had no previous experience in restaurants, but learned the ropes of the industry.

The popular neighborhood spot is open every day from 6am-8pm, and Ky credits all the local regulars with keeping the place afloat during the pandemic. The menu is full of classic nostalgic throwback American drive-in food, headlined by hamburgers and French fries that can be cooked crispy to the customer’s liking.

 The surprisingly extensive menu also features egg rolls and burritos, chicken wings and tenders, and fish and chips and calamari.

Breakfast favorites include English muffins with egg and cheese, sausage or ham, hash browns with bacon and eggs, and even pancakes. And no drive-in menu would be complete without thick and classic milkshakes, available in options like vanilla, chocolate and strawberry, as well as more exotic flavors like banana and pineapple.

What has been the hardest part of owning a restaurant?

KOSAL KY: The long hours and having to deal with everything from food ordering, to staffing and finding employees, to the safety and quality of the food. Management is hard, and arranging employee’s schedules as well as our own is a constant challenge. And we also have to worry about making a profit, which is especially difficult with inflation. We want to keep our prices fair and reasonable, but also make money, and that can be a challenge as well.

What’s it like being an independent quick-service restaurant?

KK: It’s hard competing with the large chain fast-food restaurants because they have their own suppliers and are able to get food and supplies for much cheaper. Unlike some other places, we get our meat fresh and cook it fresh, and our French fries are the same way. And we also serve some non-American items like egg rolls that are very popular and customers always rave about them. We have a large and diverse menu, and offer many items that other fast-food places don’t.223 State Park Drive, Aptos, 831-688-4747

Community Safety Nets

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Whether its local youth seeking a safe place to grow and thrive, or refugees from halfway around the world looking for a better life, these organizations are serving as community safety nets and helping people feel at home here.  

Encompass Community Services

This year, Encompass is celebrating 50 years of offering behavioral health, early childhood education, and housing support services in Santa Cruz County. 

Encompass CEO Monica Martinez has been at the helm for ten years now, having previously served as executive director for Housing Matters. 2024 is looking bright for the organization, Martinez says, as long-planned projects are underway. The Santa Cruz Gives fundraising drive helps organizations with their ‘Big Idea’ project for the next year. Encompass plans to use funds to expand its Thrive Hive in 2024. 

The Thrive Hive is a drop-in resource center located at its Santa Cruz facility that provides services for individuals involved in its Transition-Age Youth (TAY) program. The center will have an outdoor area into a “healing garden” where young people can grow vegetables, spend time outside and engage in activities like meditation. 

“As you can imagine, youth who are caught up in systems like the foster care system, the probation system or experiencing homelessness often don’t have a stable and consistent resource where they can kind of have a one-stop shop access to everything that they need,” Martinez says.

Martinez says that the number of people seeking services has increased since the Covid pandemic and wants the community to know that Encompass is a safe place for youth to come get connected with services or even just hang out.

“We have really worked hard to create a space that is ‘no wrong door.’ Anybody who comes in can seek services there. Whether they are experiencing homelessness or coming out of the probation system,” Martinez says.

Encompass also has plans to break ground on a new behavioral health center in South County for 2024. The organization recently got its accreditation from the Commision on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) as a provider of clinical behavioral and rehabilitation services.

“We don’t want to be a kind of second-standard, sub-tier level of services. We want people to have the quality that they deserve. We want people to be treated with dignity and respect,” Martinez says.

Santa Cruz Welcoming Network

The Santa Cruz Welcoming Network has been providing comfort and support for people who seek asylum from war zones or persecution since 2019. 

The all-volunteer network has helped individuals from places like Ukraine, Afghanistan, Central America and Colombia. Volunteers connect personally with each asylum seeker and assist them in navigating the immigration process, securing work and housing, and getting enrolled in school. They have 100 volunteers in the county working to help refugees feel like they belong.

Paul Johnston is a retired sociology professor and volunteer with the Welcoming Network. He says that the organization started when members of Holy Cross Church in Santa Cruz came together to help a refugee seeking asylum. The word spread among immigrant communities and the group added volunteers to help with the growing need.

“I think a lot of people feel a great deal of compassion and, more than that, sometimes anger and frustration about what’s happening on our border and what’s happening to people who are trying to make their way through Latin America toward our border,” Johnston says. “It’s just horrifying.”

The organization is fundraising for 2024 to continue providing basic assistance to asylum seekers and to build a legal defense fund. The legal process for asylum seekers is long and costly, with attorney and application fees in the thousands of dollars. The Welcoming Network partners with other community organizations such as Catholic Charities to match refugees with legal aid.

Johnston says that the last few years have been a learning experience for the volunteers. They don’t have a traditional staff and rely solely on individuals willing to give their free time. With the federal government now considering curbing the intake of asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border, Johnston feels their work is now more urgent.

“We have to turn to each other and I think that’s part of the secret of what’s made everybody develop such competency. Also, Santa Cruz has a lot of retired folks with a lot of skills, who are looking for meaningful stuff to do,” Johnston says.

Other Community Organizations:

Association of Faith Communities

Association of Faith Communities is a network of over 30 faith communities in the area that helps individuals experiencing homelessness. The organization shelters over 150 individuals annually through their Faith Community Shelter and Safe Spaces parking program. 50% of program participants move to permanent housing, according to AFC. The group also distributes over 11,000 pairs of new socks annually and provides over 1,500 hot showers annually with our mobile shower trailer.

For its Big Idea in 2024, AFC is raising money to provide laundry services for their more than 150 program participants. AFC is also currently working to develop an 8-bed family shelter that will provide families with private rooms and bathrooms.

Community Bridges

Community Bridges (CB) is a nonprofit that runs 10 programs in the county to provide essential services for families experiencing financial difficulties. The organization provides access to resources like food distribution, health education and financial assistance. In the last year, CB   has served 22,000 community members, 80% of whom earned incomes below the federal poverty level.

For its fundraising drive for 2024, CB is raising money to expand its Elderday Adult Day Health Care program, which empowers elders to live with greater independence and dignity. The program supports indoor and outdoor activities at a new facility in Watsonville, including physical activities and mental stimulation for elders with dementia.

The Friends of the Santa Cruz Public Libraries

The Friends of the Santa Cruz Public Libraries support the Santa Cruz Public Libraries through fundraising, volunteer services and advocacy. The organization’s goal is to help enrich county residents through accessible and diverse library programs.

For Its Big Idea in 2024, FSCPL is fundraising for its Boundless Minds program which provides access to books, materials and programming to 450 individuals incarcerated in the county jail. About 70% of incarcerated individuals read at 3rd grade level or below and literacy programs can help them not only read at a higher level, but create connections that help prevent recidivism. The program will also provide books, materials and library space for the development of a book collection for Juvenile Hall.

Grey Bears

Grey Bears is committed to improving the health and well being of local seniors through food and meal deliveries, volunteerism, resource conservation and recycling programs. U.S. Census data shows Santa Cruz County has the fastest-growing senior population in California. 

For its fundraising drive in 2024, Grey Bears is working to create the Santa Cruz County Senior Night Out series, which will organize events to foster social connection. Grey Bears is partnering with other community organizations to bring about 12 monthly events in 2024 that focus on maintaining healthy bodies and minds.

Mare Rescue Heals Horses And Program Participants

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Animal communicator Cindie Ambar volunteers weekly for Pregnant Mare Rescue in Watsonville. 

PMR is a temporary horse sanctuary committed to rescuing pregnant mares and orphan foals from abuse, advocating for the humane treatment of all horses. Ambar, of Heartsong Animal Healing, is a local animal communicator and healer and has seen horses from all walks of life, former Olympic athletes, mares used to make female hormones, and discarded horses. 

“All have been traumatized, some so severely abused or neglected that it takes a great deal of healing work and loving kindness to heal. This includes an understanding of trauma reactions and symptoms, as well as the ability to provide appropriate and compassionate support,” Ambar says. “PMR works with the horses by giving them the space and time they need to heal and allow the horses to take the lead in their own journey.”

She explains that the PMR sanctuary is different from most rescue facilities, which have a trauma-informed perspective when working with horses and provides from two to six hours of pro bono healing work and communication on a weekly basis. 

Ambar provides healing with Reiki energy since it’s a modality that can support multiple animals at the same time. Trained in 18 different healing modalities, she uses her skills to create physical, emotional, and behavioral healing for the horses on an individual basis. 

She recalls a profound healing experience for a filly named Lady. At six months of age, Lady was untouchable. Ambar made progress on the first two visits, but on the third, something remarkable happened. 

“I had been with the horses for almost twenty minutes when Lady started to close her eyes. This meant that I had established a great deal of trust, and she felt safe enough to let her guard down. She continued with eyes closed, starting to drop into sleep,” Ambar says. “She slept standing up for about half an hour, then would open her eyes, stretch, close them, and go back to sleep. After that session, we were able to connect physically.”

While her contributions make a tremendous difference, she attributes much of PMR’s success to farm manager, Denna Kelley, referring to her as “The Horse Whisperer of Santa Cruz County.” 

Kelley’s passionate journey with horses began at the age of six when she was drawn in by horses’ elegance, grace, and powerful presence. She had competed in many Equine disciplines over a period of 20 years but after getting married and starting a family, she disconnected from the horse world and began a career helping adolescents suffering from addiction and alcoholism. 

In 2012, after suffering a severe injury on the job, her dreams of continuing as a professional clinical technician ended. Suffering from depression after her injury, she began volunteering with Pregnant Mare Rescue, believing that getting back to horses was vital to her recovery. Observing the horses’ healing process sparked a personal healing journey that was far beyond anything she thought was possible. 

As the healing began, the depth of Denna’s progress was profound. Recognizing the power of reciprocal healing occurring organically, deepened her understanding of the horse and human relationship, laying out new pathways for deeper healing not only for horses but humans. 

She now manages the Pregnant Mare Rescue Sanctuary, where non-ridden and retired rescue horses reside, grazing in their beautiful eight-acre pasture. She gives guided tours offering meditation with the horses, as well as conducting programs for children and adults. She is also developing healing workshops to be offered as the pasture space evolves to facilitate these amazing Zen experiences. Denna speaks of horses as being magical and deeply grounded in a realm we can all aspire to connect to more often. 

“They assist in healing through their innate wisdom and are incredible teachers that guide us on a spiritual journey,” Denna says. 

Pregnant Mare Rescue, Watsonville – pm*******@****************ue.com

408-540-8568 Visiting hours by appointment only.

Extreme Weather Alert Sent To Residents Ahead Of Wednesday

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On Christmas Eve, Santa Cruz County residents who signed up for CruzAware, the county’s alert system, received an extreme weather alert. 

The alert cautions residents of a rainy week starting Wednesday, along with heavy winter surf conditions, and a probability of coastal flooding. 

According to county spokesperson Jason Hoppin, the areas the county encourages to prepare for flooding include the lower lying areas around East Cliff Drive and the Rio Del Mar flats. The National Weather Service for Monterey currently predicts wave heights of 30ft, which, on top of the high tides, increases the chances of those coastal areas flooding, Hoppin says. 

The timing of this alert will likely feel all too familiar to residents: the severe weather and flood warning is reminiscent of the floods that happened nearly exactly a year ago. Last year’s floods resulted in county-wide damage.  

“It’s not quite what we saw last January, but if you did flood last year, prepare for flooding again,” Hoppin says. “I would guess East Cliff will be flooded at some point in the next few days.”  

Hoppin says one of the primary concerns is the heightened risk of sneaker waves paired with tourists and visitors who might not be as accustomed to surf precautions. Sneaker waves are a disproportionately large coastal wave that can often appear without warning, catching unsuspecting beachgoers off guard. 

“On Thursday, there’s a lower chance of rain, so the more serious concern is tidal run-up that is on Thursday morning, partly because visitors might not realize they’re putting themselves up for serious risk from sneaker waves,” Hoppin says. 

As for Wednesday, Hoppin says the primary concern is gusty winds that will probably take down power lines and block roads.

In preparation for the winter, Hoppin says the county has cleaned channels and streambeds to clear excess vegetations, compacted the Pajaro levee to try and improve integrity, and taken other routine winter preparedness measures around the county since Oct. 15.

To better communicate with unincorporated residents—136,000 people—about severe weather and natural disasters, the county launched CruzAware in June. There are around 9,000 people signed up to receive alerts, Hoppin says. 

“The system is more responsive to our needs and allows us to send out messages to residents more quickly,” Hoppin says. 

Helpful resources:

To find sandbags for floods, visit: 

dpw.santacruzcounty.us/Portals/19/Documents%20and%20Forms/Sand%20and%20Sandbag%20Locations_11_20_23.pdf 

Local road closures (unincorporated only): www.sccroadclosure.org. Local highway conditions: www.cruz511.org.


Sign up for local emergency notifications: cruzaware.org

Miramar Restaurant Could Return To Santa Cruz Wharf

The Miramar Fish Grotto restaurant could return to the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf with a brand new design and new ownership in the next few years.

The Historic Preservation Commission, which reviews new buildings that might change heritage structures, saw preliminary plans for the new restaurant on Wednesday night. 

Currently, the Humble Sea pop-up occupies the site. 

Fuse Architects presented the project. Fuse’s other projects include the interior of Verve downtown. The city is in negotiations with Mark Gilbert of the Firefish Grill and the Dolphin to lease the new building. In February, Gilbert got the go ahead from the city to draw up the plans for a two-story restaurant.

The old Miramar restaurant was opened in the late 1960’s, closed in 2015, and razed in 2019 due to general disrepair, according to Development Manager David McCormic. 

The proposed two-story building will be on a 7,000 square feet lot, and includes an outdoor deck with a roof, an exhibition kitchen, an oyster bar, with 450-500 total seats. An indoor and outdoor staircase will lead to the roof. 

“That’s larger than the UCSC dining hall,” said Commissioner Frank Zwart.

The interior plans have the building split up into distinct areas to facilitate a different experience everytime you come, said architect Dan Gomez.

Even though the building is divided into different functional spaces, the design went to extreme ends to keep the building open to the front which Gomez called a “one-sided main street.”  Large glass windows on both sides of the building are meant to invite people in and let people see out. This is in contrast to the wharf’s opaque architecture from the 1980’s, and a return to the fish-stalls of the past.

The design of the building is meant to evoke the different eras of wharf buildings: vent stacks to disguise the elevator they propose, redwood-slabs at the main entry, and the original Miramar neon signage if the restauranter wants to keep the name.

“[The sign] is sitting in the wharf yard, in a shed,” said McCormic. 

McCormic is also overseeing the Wharf Master Plan which the City Council will decide on January 9th. The plan proposes new pedestrian walkways on the east and west sides of the wharf (the westward pathway being closer to the water), expanded boat-landings, infrastructure repairs, and a sitting-area at the end of the wharf with a rebuilt historic pavilion. The group, Don’t Morph the Wharf, opposes the plan on environmental and anti-commercialization grounds. 

Commissioners were generally pleased, but Commissioner David Subocz thought the building should be “simplified” and criticized the zinc gabled-roof. It does not conform to the traditional flat-line and flat-roof vernacular of the wharf’s moderne period, Subocz said. 

Dan Gomez pushed back, pointing to several pictures of gabled-roofs on old fishing shacks from the early 20th century. Flat roofs are more work to clean because of the large amount of bird detritus, he said. 

“I think the context here is what would a fisherman do? So I would urge you for a little while at least to take off your architect hat and put on your fisherman hat,” said Zwart about the idea of simplification.

Mark Gilbert says it is “all about the food,” and he  hopes the city will go ahead with his design, but understands that everyone wants their two cents in the process. 

“The offer is on the table. They have a little while to make up their mind. They’ve talked themselves out of a couple other restaurants,” Gilbert said. 

A big consideration for the architects are the southwest winds and often cloudy conditions which is why the outside dining area will be covered. The second floor will allow views of both the Boardwalk and Steamers Lane.

McCormic expects construction to start sometime in 2025. The project will return to the Historical Commission and the City Council in 2024 for approval. Humble Sea Brewery is invited to stay at the site until construction begins. 

Boardwalk’s New Boardwalk

The Seaside Company’s Kris Reyes presented a new wrap-around boardwalk on the beach connecting the colonnade to the picnic area on Beach Street. The Commissioners approved the project unanimously within 10 minutes. 

The project will now be presented to the California Coastal Commission. 

Record Number Of Unhoused Deaths

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Around 200 people went to the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium Thursday for the annual Homeless Memorial to pay tribute to the record number of unhoused people who died this year. 

Marie Riggs was among those in attendance.

About seven years ago, Marie Riggs was living in a homeless shelter and addicted to alcohol, wondering how she would survive this low point in her life.

“I was a hopeless mess,” she says. “I had no idea how to live, I didn’t know how to act.”

But Riggs also had a friend in Charles Green, who encouraged her to join a program that would help her get clean. He even drove her to the front door of the program and visited her every two weeks, she says. 

She was there to honor Green, who is no longer in her life. He died this year at 68 while experiencing homelessness.

“He smiled all the time, and he just encouraged,” she says. “He never gave up on me.”

Joey Crottogini, Health Center Manager for the Homeless Persons Health Project (HPHP), says that 122 people died this year, a record number and a 40% increase from last year.

The number includes 61 who died from accidental Fentanyl overdoses. 

A recent census counted roughly 1,800 homeless people in Santa Cruz County, a number that does not include those that are doubling up in acquaintances’ homes or “couch surfing,” Crottogini said. 

“What we’re hoping to do today is really honor and celebrate the lives of those that we’ve lost and bring some dignity and respect to them as well. These aren’t just people experiencing homelessness,” Crottogini said. “These are human beings that we’ve loved, that we’ve worked with. They’re family members.”

The event is also intended to  bring attention to the issues affecting unhoused people, Crottogini says. 

“We want to bring attention to the fact that this is unacceptable for our community,” he says. 

David Davis, who produced a report on the county’s homeless population, says that this year’s number living outside decreased from last year, thanks to efforts to successfully house 911 people. 

Still, the number of those that died is sobering, Davis said.

“This is the first year that we’ve eclipsed 100 deaths in a calendar year,” he said. 

A man who identified himself as “Joe” was sitting outside the Civic after the ceremony, sitting on a beat-up backpack and smoking a cigarette. He says he came out of respect for his “brothers and sisters.”

“It could be me they’re honoring next,” he says. 

65 Units Of Affordable Housing Coming To Watsonville

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65 units of affordable housing are coming to Watsonville, thanks to a grant awarded to The Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District (METRO).  

Metro announced that it received a $2,000,000 grant from the Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments’ (AMBAG) on Thursday afternoon. The funds will be used to redevelop METRO’s Watsonville Transit Center into an affordable, transit-oriented housing development. 

The grant funding will cover the architecture and engineering phase of the project, a two-year process that will begin in January 2024 and conclude in December 2025 with a fully designed, permitted project that will be ready to move to construction. 

The announcement comes on the same day that new METRO services start in Watsonville, bringing the wait time between buses that bring passengers from Watsonville to Santa Cruz down from one hour to 30 minutes. 

Watsonville City Council Member Eduardo Montesino who represents District 1—the district where the affordable housing project is slated to be built—said that the project will address both transit inequity and a need for more lower income housing. 

“It’s going to be great for the community,” Montesino said. “To have those opportunities, for transportation and housing. We’re in a situation where we’re living more than 1 household per unit.” 

Montesino credits the grant and the expansion of services to Watsonville to METRO’s new CEO, Michael S. Tree. Tree took the helm in 2022 and has since had what Montesino calls a vision. 

“I’ve worked for the district for more than 20 years, always been in the cutting mode – cutting services, which have gotten more expensive,” Montesino said. “This is the first time we’re talking about increasing services. He’s getting grants, the community involved, and tap into different resources. It’s actually very exciting.” 

Overall, Montesino said, the new transit hub and affordable housing will be a game-changer for the community.

“Families will be able to afford to live in the community,” Montesino said. “We’re being pushed out more to southern areas. People will be able to stay and still live here.” 

Man Died Wednesday Morning In Highway 1 Crash

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The 27-year-old Santa Cruz man died in a Wednesday morning in a single-vehicle crash has been identified as Cesar Ramirez-Garcia.

California Highway Patrol officer Israel Murillo said Ramirez-Garcia was driving southbound at an undetermined speed on Highway 1 north of Morrissey Boulevard at 7:44am.

For unknown reasons, the white 2001 Ford F-150 veered off the roadway and overturned. 

As a result of the crash, the Ramirez-Garcia died Wednesday morning after the driver suffered major injuries. He was pronounced deceased at the scene by medical personnel, despite their life saving efforts. 

The cause of the crash is still under investigation.

“It is unknown if alcohol and/or drugs are a factor in this crash at this time,” Murillo said.

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