Free Will Astrology

Astrology

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May 29, 2024

ARIES March 21-April 19

Welcome to the future of your education, Aries! Here are actions you can take to ensure you are exposed to all the lush lessons you need and deserve in the coming months. 1. Identify three subjects you would be excited to learn more about. 2. Shed dogmas and fixed theories that interfere with your receptivity to new information. 3. Vow to be alert for new guides or mentors. 4. Formulate a three-year plan to get the training and teachings you need most. 5. Be avidly curious.

TAURUS April 20-May 20

Poet Emily Dickinson was skillful at invoking and managing deep feelings. One scholar described her emotions as being profoundly erotic, outlandish, sensuous, flagrant, and nuanced. Another scholar said she needed and sought regular doses of ecstasy. Yet even she, maestro of passions, got overwhelmed. In one poem, she wondered “Why Floods be served to us in Bowls?” I suspect you may be having a similar experience, Taurus. It’s fun, though sometimes a bit too much. The good news is that metaphorically speaking, you will soon be in possession of a voluminous new bowl that can accommodate the floods.

GEMINI May 21-June 20

All of us periodically enjoy phases I call “Freedom from Cosmic Compulsion.” During these times, the Fates have a reduced power to shape our destinies. Our willpower has more spaciousness to work with. Our intentions get less resistance from karmic pressures that at other times might narrow our options. As I meditated on you, dear Gemini, I realized you are now in a phase of Freedom from Cosmic Compulsion. I also saw that you will have more of these phases than anyone else during the next 11 months. It might be time for you to get a “LIBERATION” tattoo or an equivalent new accessory.

CANCER June 21-July 22

Bold predictions: 1. Whatever treasure you have lost or are losing will ultimately be reborn in a beautiful form. 2. Any purposeful surrender you make will hone your understanding of exactly what your soul needs next to thrive. 3. A helpful influence may fade away, but its disappearance will clear the path for new helpful influences that serve your future in ways you can’t imagine yet. 4. Wandering around without a precise sense of where you’re going will arouse a robust new understanding of what home means to you.

LEO July 23-Aug. 22

Denmark’s King Canute IV (1042–1086) wasn’t bashful about asserting his power. He claimed ownership of all the land. He insisted on the right to inherit the possessions of all foreigners and people without families. Goods from shipwrecks were automatically his property. But once, his efforts to extend his authority failed. He had his servants move his throne to a beach as the tide came in. Seated and facing the North Sea, he commanded, “Halt your advance!” The surf did not obey. “You must surrender to my superior will!” he exclaimed, but the waters did not recede. Soon, his throne was engulfed by water. Humbled, Canute departed. I bring this up not to discourage you, Leo. I believe you can and should expand your influence and clout in the coming weeks. Just be sure you know when to stop.

VIRGO Aug. 23-Sept. 22

Virgo-born Irène Joliot-Curie craved more attention than she got from her mother, Marie Curie. Mom was zealously devoted to her career as a chemist and physicist, which is one reason why she won Nobel Prizes in both fields. But she didn’t spend sufficient time with her daughter. Fortunately, Irène’s grandfather Eugène became his granddaughter’s best friend and teacher. With his encouragement, she grew into a formidable scientist and eventually won a Nobel Prize in chemistry herself. Even if you’re not a kid, Virgo, I suspect there may be a mentor and guide akin to Eugène in your future. Go looking! To expedite the process, define what activity or skill you want help in developing.

LIBRA Sept. 23-Oct. 22

I have a fantasy that sometime in the coming months, you will slip away to a sanctuary in a pastoral paradise. There you will enjoy long hikes and immerse yourself in healing music and savor books you’ve been wanting to read. Maybe you will write your memoirs or compose deep messages to dear old friends. Here’s the title of what I hope will be a future chapter of your life story: “A Thrillingly Relaxing Getaway.” Have you been envisioning an adventure like this, Libra? Or is your imagination more inclined to yearn for a trip to an exciting city where you will exult in high culture? I like that alternative, too. Maybe you will consider doing both.

SCORPIO Oct. 23-Nov. 21

An Instagrammer named sketchesbyboze advises us, “Re-enchant your life by making the mundane exciting. You are not ‘going to the drugstore.’ You are visiting the apothecary to buy potions. You are not ‘running an errand.’ You are undertaking an unpredictable adventure. You are not ‘feeding the birds.’ You are making an alliance with the crow queen.” I endorse this counsel for your use, Scorpio. You now have the right and duty to infuse your daily rhythm with magic and fantasy. To attract life’s best blessings, you should be epic and majestic. Treat your life as a mythic quest.

SAGITTARIUS Nov. 22-Dec. 21

I invite you to invite new muses into your life in the coming months. Give them auditions. Interview them. Figure out which are most likely to boost your creativity, stimulate your imagination, and rouse your inspiration in every area of your life, not just your art form. Tell them you’re ready to deal with unpredictable departures from the routine as long as these alternate paths lead to rich teachings. And what form might these muses take? Could be actual humans. Could be animals or spirits. Might be ancestral voices, exciting teachings, or pilgrimages to sacred sanctuaries. Expand your concept of what a muse might be so you can get as much muse-like input as possible.

CAPRICORN Dec. 22-Jan. 19

The Japanese have a word for a problem that plagues other countries as well as theirs: karoshi, or death from working too hard and too much. No matter how high-minded our motivations might be, no matter how interesting our jobs are, most of us cannot safely devote long hours to intense labor week after week, month after month. It’s too stressful on the mind and body. I will ask you to monitor yourself for such proclivities in the coming months. You can accomplish wonders as long as you work diligently but don’t overwork. (PS: You won’t literally expire if you relentlessly push yourself with nonstop hard exertion, but you will risk compromising your mental health. So don’t do it!)

AQUARIUS Jan. 20-Feb. 18

Typically, human fertility is strongest when the temperature is 64 degrees Fahrenheit. But I suspect you will be an exception to the rule in the coming months. Whether it’s 10 below or 90 in the shade, your fertility will be extra robust—literally as well as psychologically and spiritually. If you are a heterosexual who would rather make great art or business than new babies, be very attentive to your birth control measures. No matter what your gender or sexual preference is, I advise you to formulate very clear intentions about how you want to direct all that lush fecundity. Identify which creative outlets are most likely to serve your long-term health and happiness.

PISCES Feb. 19-March 20

Here’s a key assignment in the coming months: Enjoy fantasizing about your dream home. Imagine the comfortable sanctuary that would inspire you to feel utterly at home in your body, your life, and the world. Even if you can’t afford to buy this ultimate haven, you will benefit from visualizing it. As you do, your subconscious mind will suggest ways you can enhance your security and stability. You may also attract influences and resources that will eventually help you live in your dream home.

Homework: What would you most like help with? Ask for it very directly. Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com

Mountain Faves

Foodie File

Andrew Steingrube

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May 29, 2024

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A chef for over 20 years, Mo L’Esperance cut her teeth in the San Francisco restaurant scene before settling in Ben Lomond. A little over a year ago she bought Coffee 9. “I still get my creativity out and also be done by 2pm,” says L’Esperance. Coffee 9 is set in an older building with wood accents and a clean, modern rustic interior. The menu is made-from-scratch baked goods and savories.

The filled croissants have options like ham/cheddar and turkey/Swiss, and a raspberry/chocolate on the sweeter side. Other pastries include the bacon, cheddar and green onion scones, as well as seasonal fruit scones, sweetbreads like pumpkin, banana and lemon blueberry. Four varieties of quiche, breakfast sandwiches and burritos, and a standard breakfast plate with eggs, meat and toast. Lunch highlights include sandwiches like the half-pound pastrami and The General with chicken, blue cheese and avocado. Mon-Thurs 5:30am-2pm and Fri-Sun 6am-4pm.

Describe your culinary come-up?

MO L’ESPERANCE: I trained for years in The City under a handful of mentor chefs. I’m self-taught, I didn’t go to culinary school, but instead worked my way up from prep cook to executive chef, doing everything in between. Along the way, I found a secondary passion with the James Beard Foundation in food advocacy. This includes fighting for the betterment of our food system, such as school lunches, fair farm worker rights, anti-pesticide, sustainable fisheries and many other worthy causes. My past experiences help shape the type and quality of food I now serve.

Tell me about Supper Club at Coffee 9?

ML: It’s a once-a-month prix fixe menu based on seasonal ingredients, with tickets available on our website. The menu is always a choice between two salads, three entrées and two desserts, and there are always vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. It’s often sold out, our patrons like having something different to do in the Valley. It also gives me a chance to reconnect with my fine dining past and share that with our guests.

9505 Highway 9, Ben Lomond, 831-336-4521; coffeenine.com

Flavor Forward

Dining Reviews

Mark C. Anderson

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May 29, 2024

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We are the champions…again.

The Santa Cruz Warriors were just named the 2023-24 National Basketball G League Franchise of the Year, for the fourth time, and for the third since 2020.

It’s a nice nod, because it involves a lot more than winning on the floor (where the Dubs had the third best record in the league).

The Wave City Ws also accumulated league-leading ticket sales, record partnership revenue, an 18-game sellout streak to close the season, 1,200+ volunteer hours from SeaDubs players, coaches and front office folks, with $94,300 raised for local nonprofits and 60,830 meals extended to Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Cruz County through the Swishes for Dishes program.

“This award is a celebration of our collective effort, dedication and synergy as a team, and we are honored to share this recognition with the entire Santa Cruz community,” says SCW President Chris Murphy.

The team’s playbook also involves a roster of restaurant partners like Pono Hawaiian Grill (120 Union St.and 3744 Capitola Road, Santa Cruz), Poké House (1543 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz), Mad Yolks (1411 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz) and Woodstock Pizza (710 Front St, Santa Cruz).

Another partner enjoys big signage at SCW games, but sits more tucked away on the backside of a business park-like complex in Scotts Valley. Laughing Monk Brewing (262 Mt. Hermon Road, Unit 103), isn’t the kind of place you stumble across, but it is worth a pilgrimage.

It does a brisk bit of business by way of craft drafts, a full bar, a solid menu with signature salads, bourbon burgers, and IPA onion rings stacked almost as tall as SeaDubs point guard Kendric Davis, who made 2023-24’s G League All-Rookie Team.

But it’s the roundup of daily promotions that best reflect a spirit of community shared with the Warriors.

Martini Monday means $5 St. George cocktails shaken or stirred 5-7pm; Taco Tuesday slangs $2 street tacos and $10 margaritas; Thirsty Thursday splashes $12 beer flights and $2 off pints; Prime Rib Friday dishes $25 plates with two sides; Saturday pulls in live music and weekends translate to brunch with $25 bottomless mimosas. Meanwhile the noon-4pm happy hour knocks $2 off house cocktails and pints, with $12 flights too, to go with deals on small plates like wings, curds and beer can nachos.

Game on. scottsvalley.laughingmonkbrewing.com.

POURING IT ON

Wines of the Santa Cruz Mountains won’t quit with the events, which is helpful because savvy swirlers can’t quit them. Next up: Surf City Wine Walk 1-4pm Sunday, June 9, along Swift Street in Santa Cruz. Wristband, glasses and a map ($55 day of) await at pouring locations Big Basin Vineyards, Bottle Jack Winery, David Bruce Winery, Equinox Wines, Madson Wines, Margins Wine, Rexford Winery, Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyards, Silver Mountain Vineyards, Sones Cellars, Stockwell Cellars, Wrights Station Vineyard & Winery. Full belly start and post-stroll dinner in neighborhood recommended, winesofthesantacruzmountains.com/events/surfcityww/

QUICK DISHES

The Santa Cruzer has roared back to life with $1 rides from downtown Santa Cruz to the wharf weekends and holidays noon to 8pm through Labor Day, with stops at Del Mar Theatre (1124 Pacific Ave #4415), Locust Street Garage (124 Locust St.) and Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center (35 Pacific Ave.)…The Pig Roast for Whiskey Folks at Venus Spirits (200 High Road, Santa Cruz) is back for its second installment on June 8, $40 per, venusspirits.com…Bonny Doon Vineyard is the first U.S. company to use a recyclable paperboard bottle, and its Carbon…Nay! Provençal-style blend is selling quickly in Whole Foods outposts…The coolest idea from the world of food and drink I’ve seen this week—maybe this year—comes from Wilmington, North Carolina: Ruff Draft combines a dog park with craft beer bar…Happy World Otter Day!

Farm to Bottle

Wellness

Elizabeth Borelli

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May 29, 2024

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What is it with Santa Cruz and kombucha? The fizzy, fermented tea that seems to have transcended from hippie style beverage into hip way of life. Walk into any local cafe, yoga studio, or farmer’s market, and you’ll likely see shelves lined with colorful bottles, or served up pint-sized on draft.

For starters, our commitment to organic, sustainable living aligns perfectly with the ethos of kombucha. With an abundance of organic farms, co-ops, and farmers markets, Santa Cruz provides the perfect environment for sourcing the high-quality, organic ingredients needed to brew the perfect batch of kombucha.

Does the dream live up to the reality? Is kombucha all it’s cracked up to be? The answer, as I recently learned, depends upon your goals.

First, a bit of background on the drink in question. Thought to originate in China or Japan, kombucha is made by adding specific strains of bacteria, yeast and sugar to black or green tea and then allowing it to ferment for a week or more.

The eventual result is a liquid containing health compounds like vinegar, B vitamins and many other types of acids, including amino acids.

So far so good, but a conversation with Sophie Slosberg from Living Swell Kombucha—the local brewer honored in Good Times’ Best of Santa Cruz County issue multiple years running—reveals that there’s more to the story. Living Swell is a small-batch “farm to bottle” company founded in 2021 by Slosberg and partner Summer Torrez, two Santa Cruz moms with previous careers in occupational therapy and law.

This shift from the office to a garage-based home brewery sounds stark, but the pandemic created a powerful craving for connection and community that was hard to ignore.

The co-founders, who are also neighbors, launched the business “in the hopes of bringing people together through a delicious and nourishing beverage, literally strengthening our community from the inside out.”

I caught up with Slosberg recently at the Pleasure Point Sip and Stroll, where she was pouring Living Swell’s Blue Crush Blend, flavored with Santa Rosa plum, blueberries and lavender. It was light and refreshing, less sweet than some of the commercial brands. Curious, I got right to the point: What makes Living Swell so good?

Without throwing anyone under the bus, I learned how local ingredients, fresh fruit and herbs make for a far different taste than “store bought” brands. And more surprisingly, most larger producers use an average of 5% to 20% real kombucha, which is then mixed with sweet tea, sugar or juice.

Living Swell, on the other hand, is made with 100% kombucha—an important difference for those seeking the health benefits this drink is known for.

In their quest to source local produce, Slosberg and Torrez get a chance to work with farmers directly.

With so many kombucha brands on the market, it’s hard to stand out. As a regular presence at Live Oak and Cabrillo farmers markets, Living Swell helps customers make the connection between local growers and the blends they serve up fresh from the tap as part of their commitment to low-waste, sustainable business practices.

For Slosberg and Torrez, the farmers markets are a constant source of creativity. They say the fun is in shooting ideas back and forth, making test batches for family and friends, and then finagling the recipe until it tastes great.

They stay inspired based on the seasons, and the produce. As we part ways, Slosberg wonders out loud about a root veggie at peak flavor right now: “Carrots, what can we do with carrots?” No doubt another visit to Living Swell at the weekend market will supply the answer to that question.

Learn more at livingswellkombucha.com.

Big Moth Forever

Music

Mat Weir

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May 29, 2024

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On Feb. 19, 2023, local musician Daniel Lamothe died while training with CalFire at an obstacle course in Ben Lomond.

“Every single day my heart breaks,” writes Dan’s mother, Kathy Lamothe, in a text message.

“He was extraordinary. My everything. My world.”

To honor Lamothe—who was the upright bass player for defunct local horror punk band Stellar Corpses and also played with a number of acts on and off like Diggin’ Trails and Dark Ride—his friends have organized what they hope to be the first of many benefit shows.

The first annual Mothfest takes place on May 31 at Moe’s Alley and features Dog Party, Dark Ride and Blitzkid, three bands near and dear to Lamothe’s heart.

“It was just an obvious thing,” explains Emilio Menze, one of the Mothfest organizers, friend and bandmate with Lamothe. “To honor him each year with something he would like. And it seemed like a natural fit to have it be for charity with different themes each year.”

This year’s charity is still being decided by the family but will go to benefit local youth musicians.

“He was the best thing that ever happened to me,” Dan’s girlfriend, Cheryl Lindsey, says through tears. “I will live forever with a piece of my heart missing.”

Dan Lamothe was born at Dominican Hospital on May 28, 1984. An only child, he lived in Santa Cruz his whole life and was a very loved member of the local community. Along with being an active player in the music scene, Lamothe was a talented barber by trade. His own personal, clean-cut style made him a favorite around town.

However, with the 2020 pandemic lockdowns, Lamothe grew restless with hair cutting after seeing how a business like that could be quickly shut down. He decided to pursue fire training, hoping to give back to a community that had given him so much.

“The day before he passed away he came home and was just so proud of himself,” Lindsey remembers.

Lamothe’s official cause of death listed on the autopsy report is “Sudden unexplained death during blinded training exercise involving a confined space and self-contained breathing apparatus.” The forensic pathologist declared the manner undetermined and noted Lamothe did not sustain any significant trauma, had no prior heart problems and had just completed a pre-employment physical and cardiac stress test a few months before his death.

Now, 15 months after Lamothe’s death, questions surrounding his death remain and the pain his family and friends feel is still raw. A National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health report on Lamothe’s death released earlier this year listed several recommendations fire training facilities should take in the future to avoid more fatalities.

Fire officials declined to comment after several attempts to get answers.

However, Kathy Lamothe says there has been no accountability for what happened to her son.

“Everyone’s so afraid to talk,” she says. “He’s my son and I can’t get any answers.”

Kathy and her husband, Lane Bennett, have also had a hard time finding any lawyers to help them with their case.

“They can’t get enough information because of the protections the fire department has,” she says. “And the length of time it would take with how much it would cost and no guarantee…nobody wants to take on the fire department.”

“It’s a fucking nightmare,” states Menze. “The worst things happen to the best people.”

For now, Lamothe’s friends and family are focusing on what they can do while they continue to search for answers, one benefit at a time.

“I cannot say how grateful I am [for Mothfest],” Kathy says. “It keeps the spirit of Dan alive.”

MOTHFEST 2024, May 31: Tribute to Dan Lamothe ft. Blitzkid, Dark Ride & Dog Party, Friday, 8pm show; $15/$20. Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz, moesalley.com

Blues Notes

Music

Bill Kopp

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May 29, 2024

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When guitarist Coco Montoya takes the stage at the Redwood Mountain Faire in Felton on June 1, the respected blues guitarist can draw on nearly three decades as a solo artist, with a deep catalog and a well-earned reputation as a compelling live performer.

His first release hit big, winning a W.C. Handy Award in 1996.

Today Montoya remains grateful for that award, but he shakes his head and laughs when the subject is brought up. “Believe me, I’m appreciative,” he says. “But I won for ‘Best Newcomer’!”

That album was his solo debut, but he had already been on the road as a musician for nearly 25 years. “I had been hanging out with B.B. King, Albert King, Jeff Beck, Mick Taylor and Johnny Otis,” he says. “So I thought ‘Best Newcomer’ was kind of hilarious.”

Now a respected figure in the blues world, he learned a lot by working with two towering blues figures in particular. And he hasn’t forgotten where he came from, or the lessons he’s learned along the way.

Keeping the Beat

Montoya did more than hang out with famous names in the rock and blues world. A self-trained multi-instrumentalist from an early age, the Santa Monica-born Montoya was working as a bartender in a Culver City joint and playing drums in a local band. “I was 19,” he recalls, “playing a Chicano circuit.”

One day, the bar owner asked blues legend Albert Collins to play a matinee gig. Without asking Montoya, he offered Collins and his band the use of Montoya’s drums, which were already set up onstage.

At first, Montoya was pretty pissed off about it, but once he met Collins, he was so taken by his warm and friendly manner that he enthusiastically went along.

At the time, Montoya had zero experience as a pro musician, but Collins saw something in him. When Collins heard him play drums, he invited Montoya to join his touring band.

Though he would only stay with Collins’ group for a few years, Montoya says that he learned important lessons from his mentor. “He set me on a quest in my mind to find that inner power that I saw work for him,” he says.

Day in and day out, he witnessed Collins’ perseverance and dedication. “He would drive hours and hours to a gig,” Montoya recalls, “and then have to deal with somebody treating him in a bad way because of his skin color.” “Or a cop would pull us over and give him grief.”

But even after enduring those kinds of insults, Collins would take to the stage with grace and enthusiasm. “It was amazing to watch him play after that,” Montoya says. “He’d get the crowd so excited that we’d have to do an encore. He would do all that, carrying us on his back.”

Breaking Blues

John Mayall is widely hailed as the “godfather of British blues.” Leading the Bluesbreakers, he employed a staggering succession of musicians including Eric Clapton, Peter Green, Mick Taylor, Jack Bruce, Mick Fleetwood, Harvey Mandel and many others. And the lead guitarist with the second-longest tenure in the group would be Coco Montoya.

Montoya didn’t even seek out that spot. “I was out of the business,” he emphasizes. “I had a bartending gig, making steady money, and I didn’t have to put up with any bullshit from club owners.” But he still played guitar. One evening in the early 1980s, he took part in a jam session at the Viper Room in West Hollywood. “Unbeknownst to me,” he recalls, “John Mayall came in, celebrating one of his birthdays.” When it was Montoya’s turn to play, he did what he describes as “a bastardized version” of the Otis Rush blues classic, “All Your Love (I Miss Love).”

A few months later, Montoya’s phone rang. “It was this English guy saying he was John Mayall, and that he was rebuilding the Bluesbreakers since Mick Taylor had left to play with Bob Dylan,” Montoya explains. Thinking it was a prank pulled by the British owner of the pub where he tended bar, Montoya hung up on the caller.

Mayall called back. “Don’t hang up,” he insisted. He offered Montoya the co-lead guitar spot in his band. Montoya joined, and spent nearly a decade with Mayall, playing alongside Kal David and then Walter Trout. His work would be featured on six Bluesbreakers albums.

Montoya learned a great deal during his years with Mayall, but one lesson was particularly important. “Early on, John took me out on the carpet,” he recalls. “Coco, I need to tell you something,” Mayall said. “I see what you’re doing, and that’s not what I need. You’re trying to be Mick Taylor on this song, and you’re trying to be Eric Clapton on this song. I want you to play you.”

Montoya took the advice; he quit trying to copy the work of the guitarists who came before him. From that point forward, he applied his own personal guitar style to the Bluesbreakers.

And when Montoya went solo, he continued to follow that path. Drawing on his wide array of inspirations, he charted his own way through a successful career that endures to this day. His 11th and most recent release, 2023’s Writing on the Wall, is more than a guitar showcase; Montoya writes actual songs. Still steeped in the blues, his work moves seamlessly beyond that framework to take in many other styles. “Genres didn’t matter to me as a kid,” he says today. “And they still don’t.”

Coco Montoya plays at 4:55pm on June 1 at the Redwood Mountain Faire, taking place June 1-2 at Roaring Camp in Felton. redwoodmountainfaire.com

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/an-evening-with-coco-montoya-tickets-822148798187

Bud or Booze?

Cannabis

Dan Mitchell

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May 29, 2024

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The headlines were filled last week with the news that, for the first time, more Americans are using weed on a daily or near-daily basis than are drinking alcohol with similar frequency, according to a new study. Besides being fodder for obvious jokes from late-night hosts, the study was heralded as good news for advocates of cannabis reform. And in a way, it is. But in other ways, it isn’t. Or at least it’s more complicated than the headlines had it.

Comparing booze and weed can be a fraught undertaking. One huge difference is especially problematic: you can drink with no intention of getting drunk, but if you use cannabis that contains THC you’re using it to get high (unless it’s strictly for medical use, and even then you usually get high).

Many “social drinkers” get a buzz whether that’s their intent or not. But many have a single drink or glass of wine, or two, or even three, and feel nothing at all, just as they intended. “Daily drinking” can mean that, or it can mean downing a quart of Jack Daniels every day.

Similarly, eating a 5-milligram gummy after work every day is very different from ripping three bong hits every waking hour. But, while being super-stoned all day is generally not a great idea, it’s still way better than being drunk out of your mind. Comparing the rates of “daily use” of the two substances doesn’t shed much light on the personal and social impacts.

That doesn’t mean the research is meaningless. The study, from Jonathan Caulkins, a professor who specializes in drug policy for Carnegie Mellon University, shows just how normalized cannabis has become, despite still being illegal in a bunch of states and at the federal level, so it’s good news for the cannabis industry and for advocates for legal reform. But what does it tell us otherwise?

In very general terms, if people are drinking less, that’s good, and if they’re replacing their alcohol intake with weed, it’s not necessarily bad (the study didn’t look at this question). If they’re opting to get high rather than straight-up drunk, it’s very good indeed: just for starters, they’ll be way less likely to wrap their cars around trees or hurl small appliances at their spouses.

Alcohol is still way more popular than cannabis in general. The study, published by the journal Addiction, counted only daily or near-daily use of cannabis, which Caulkins says has increased by 1,500% since 1992, and alcohol. Caulkins got his data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, which is published annually by the federal government.

Caveats abound, as Caulkins acknowledges. The survey comes from self-reports, which are always problematic. Furthermore, several methodologies for the federal survey have changed over the years, such as sampling methods and the fact that participants are now paid $30. While the overall trends are clear enough, the results can’t help but be skewed when comparing the older surveys to the newer ones.

Perhaps the biggest thing that has changed since 1992 is that “daily use” back then generally meant smoking, often whole joints or bowlfuls. Now, “daily use” might mean the aforementioned gummy or a tiny hit off a vape. Nevertheless, Caulkins says that, because high-THC products are far more available now, average THC ingestion among daily users has skyrocketed, from 5 milligrams per day to about 300, an astonishing increase, and perhaps even troubling. But to whatever degree heavy drinkers are opting instead to be heavy pot users, it could be seen as a net positive.

But the study didn’t look at that question (the federal survey counts people who have “one or more drinks” daily, meaning that people who drink a glass of wine with dinner are counted the same as people who drink 14 shots of Wild Turkey every night). It was really a study of the habits of daily pot users, but it was sold (at least by the media) as being about how pot has eclipsed alcohol. That’s not true in general, and it’s not even really true just in terms of daily use, given the differences in how the substances can be consumed.

Things to do in Santa Cruz

Things To Do This Week

GT Staff

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May 29, 2024

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THURSDAY 5/30

METAL

MUSEUM OF LIGHT

Based in Seattle, Museum of Light has secured its place on the doom metal scene through several exciting records and some seriously hard touring over the past few years. Their debut album, Horizon,came out in June 2022, and fans instantly took to their massive, totally face-melting sound. In the hands of guitarist Ted Alvarez, gritty riffs take on cinematic proportions while post-metal ambient washes immerse listeners in cathartic moments to breathe in. When the heavy drums in songs like “Waves” and “How Everybody Dies” hit, the Crepe Place will be transformed. ADDIE MAHMASSANI

INFO: 8pm, Crepe Place, 1134 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. $10. 429-6994.

FOLK

THE BILLS
Canada has given us so much: brilliant musicians, all the best SNL comedians, Tim Hortons Coffee—and hockey, of course. The Bills fall into the category of brilliant musicians from Canada, and their fiddles fly during songs about chickens that sound straight from the Old Country. Everyone in the band plays a string instrument, from guitar to viola and fiddle, and their members are classical music nerds (ask them how they feel about Beethoven) who also love Irish jigs and owe much of their influence to Appalachian folk music. Imagine five northern foresters in flannel who harmonize around a stand-up bass: that’s the Bills! JESSICA IRISH

INFO: 7pm, Ugly Mug, 4640 Soquel Dr., Soquel. $30. 477-1341.

INDIE

**Bug Seance** Photo: Adam kocka-Patchik

BUG SÉANCE

Bug Séance provides a raw musical experience spanning multiple genres. They pull inspiration from emo, shoegaze, metal and rock, blending soundscapes that draw the audience into the music. Shifting from distorted guitars to soft vocals, then from fast drum solos into an ethereal mélange of melodies and tones, the listener soars on a diverse journey. With such unwavering sincerity, the music is just as much an emotional release as it is a thought-provoking experience. ISABELLA MARIE SANGALINE

INFO: 5pm, SubRosa, 703 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $10. 426-5242.

FRIDAY 5/31

FOLK

JUNEBUG BAYER

One of Santa Cruz’s own, Junebug Bayer has spent time as a busker in NYC, has been a “sailing lunch lady” and currently identifies as a performance artist. Her songs include originals aimed at healing Mother Earth (woe betide any plastic bag that gets caught in a tree above Bayer!) as well as covers of classics like “Don’t Fence Me In” and “Season of the Witch.” Her songs are playful, lighthearted and confessional, with a peculiar, undeniable charm. Anyone who’s a sucker for a good, fingerpicked-folk song will delight in Bayer’s set; there might even be some harmonica to sweeten the deal. JI

INFO: 5:30pm, Discretion Brewing, 2703 41st Ave. Ste A, Soquel. Free. 316-0662.

PUNK

**In Memorium, Dan Lamothe** Photo: Alan Snodgrass

MOTHFEST: TRIBUTE TO DAN LAMOTHE

When Mr. Rogers was a child and afraid of things he saw in the news, his mother would tell him to “look for the helpers.” When tragedy strikes, there’s always a choice to do something or do nothing, and the first annual Mothfest was created by helpers who wanted to do something. Featuring Dog Party, Dark Ride and horror punk heavyweights Blitzkid, Mothfest honors the memory of Santa Cruzan Daniel Lamothe, a local musician, friend and son who died tragically last year while training to be a firefighter. The Mothfest bands had a personal relationship with Lamothe, as did so many people throughout Santa Cruz County and—literally—the world. It’s a punk lineup Dan would’ve loved. MAT WEIR

INFO: 8pm, Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $15/adv, $20/door. 479-1854.

SATURDAY 6/1

FESTIVAL

REDWOOD MOUNTAIN FAIRE

The Redwood Mountain Faire is Santa Cruz’s hidden gem of a festival. What began in 2010 as a single-day event has grown to become an all-out, 26-band, three stages, and a two-day celebration of music and community. This year’s acts include local favorites like the Coffis Brothers, Taylor Rae and Diggin’ Trails, and national headliners like blues man Coco Montoya and hip-hop poet Lyrics Born. Along with featuring local musicians and highlighting the beautiful Roaring Camp Railroad grounds in the forest, proceeds for the Redwood Mountain Faire have benefited over a dozen local charities and non-profits since its inception. MW

INFO: 11am, Roaring Camp, 5401 Graham Hill Rd., Felton. $50-$90. 335-4484.

ROCK

TERRA

Local masters of alt-metal Terra take the Catalyst Atrium stage this Saturday night with lead guitarist and singer Drake Finch at the helm. They’ve been gathering fans around town with lots of local house shows and the release of several memorable singles, including the hard-hitting “Down The Path” and the punk-infused “Lie.” Their sound is a genre-defying blend of hardcore, metal and shoegaze that manages to be heavy and light at once. More Santa Cruz area bands on the rise join the bill, including Grad Nite, Casino Youth and Asilomar. AM

INFO: 8pm, Catalyst, 1101 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $15/adv, $17/door. 713-5492.

TUESDAY 6/4

AUTHOR EVENT

WHEN A WOMAN TELLS THE TRUTH

Wilma Marcus Chandler and Dena Taylor, two superstars in the local firmament of theater, poetry and literary hell-raising, have assembled a powerful anthology of creative writing by women over 80. Seriously. Yes, there are plenty of tales to tell by those who weren’t born yesterday. When a Woman Tells the Truth is a carefully curated collection of rich, sobering and delightful stories from all over the country, filled with the real stuff—as in, not for chickenshits. To celebrate the launch, the editors will be on hand to regale and challenge readers and truth-seekers of all ages. It should be eye-opening, at the very least. CHRISTINA WATERS

INFO: 7pm, Bookshop Santa Cruz, 1520 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. Free. 423-0900.

WEDNESDAY 6/5

ROCK

SLACK STEEL & SONG

In April, noted slack key guitarist Stephen Inglis played with keyboardist Rob Barraco on his opening set for Dark Star Orchestra at the Hawaii Theatre in Honolulu. Inglis and Barraco will reunite on Wednesday night. Joining them is their friend Barry Sless, who doubles on six-string and pedal steel guitar and toured with Bob Weir & Wolf Bros, among others. Barraco’s credits include gigging with Phil Lesh and Friends, the Dead and Dark Star Orchestra. At Felton, the trio will play tunes by the Grateful Dead and Bob Dylan, along with traditional Hawaiian music and originals. DAN EMERSON

INFO: 8pm, Felton Music Hall, 6275 Highway 9, Felton. $27/adv, $32/door. 704-7113.

The Editor’s Desk

Letters to the Editor

Brad Kava

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May 29, 2024

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

I can’t believe it’s been a year since the last Pride celebration, which not only marks the 49th year of a great parade and weekend but my year anniversary with Good Times. I was only going to be here a short time but here I am.

It’s gone in the blink of an eye mostly because of being a part of a fast-moving progressive and inclusive community. There is no better way to know what’s going on around you than to be part of a newspaper and website whose whole business is to cover what’s going on around us.

I hope you get the same gratitude reading us as we do bringing you the people who make a difference.

A year ago I asked for suggestions and we got plenty and started new features. We brought the Street Talk feature back, with John Koenig getting local voices into print; we made Elizabeth Borelli’s Wellness column a regular feature.

We hired bilingual reporter and editor Josue Monroy, a native Santa Cruzan who has covered the Pajaro community in depth and reports on underrepresented communities from here to Hollister.

We’ve also added award-winning investigative reporter and editor Alexandria Bordas, who was selected California regional journalist of the year from the Society of Professional Journalists for a series that uncovered unscrupulous practices in Sonoma County politics.

And we’ve hired Sharan Street, a longtime journalist and editor who started at UCSC and has worked in San Jose and Los Angeles.

Longtime writer Christina Waters has quit eating so much in order to focus on the arts. Her stories on the symphony, theater and art have clued readers into events they wouldn’t have known about and boosted attendance to them big time.

Mark C. Anderson and Andrew Steingrube have doubled up on the food beat, letting you know where and where not to eat. They are the best. As is Josie Cowden, who manages to sample wines of all kinds and leaves a trail of tastings for you to follow.

For an example of what we do best, check out Rob Darrow’s coverage of the upcoming Pride weekend in our cover stories. He isn’t just a source—he’s the director of the parade and festival and knows more about the history of the 49-year-old event than anyone.

Also, check out Mat Weir’s piece on Mothfest. Mat is a music maven who knows it all from thrash to sludge to genres yet to be invented.

There’s more, there’s more, I know, and you can see them all here in the weeks ahead. Drop me a line with your suggestions, because as you can see, we listen and try to take your advice.

Thanks for reading.

Brad Kava

Editor

DECK(S) CHAIR Installed on a stump beneath towering high-power lines crossing a Soquel ridge, this throne offers an expansive view of bucolic farmland to the west. Photograph by Guy Lasnier

GOOD IDEA

Santa Cruz Shakespeare is offering a new summer Shakespeare intensive program for high school students, ages 14–18, Monday, July 8–Friday, July 12, 9am–3pm. Students will be guided through practical exercises to prepare them to take center stage in an abridged version of As You Like It to be performed Saturday, July 13 at Santa Cruz Shakespeare’s Audrey Stanley Grove at DeLaveaga Park.

The summer program will include workshops with Shakespeare experts.

Cost is $1,000 and includes access for one student and one adult ticket to the professional performance of As You Like It on July 13, as well as a souvenir sweatshirt. Scholarships and payment plans available. Learn more at https://santacruzshakespeare.org/educators/intensive.

GOOD WORK

After increasing routes and hours, Santa Cruz Metro appears to be heading in the right direction.

Ridership surged by an impressive 23% last quarter over a year ago. Riders to UCSC, Cabrillo College, and K-12 ridership escalated by 27.1%, 26.8%, and 147.6%. Changes included buses every 15 minutes to UCSC; using Highway 1 between Aptos and Watsonville; direct route from San Lorenzo Valley to downtown and running Watsonville buses every 30 minutes.Some routes now run until midnight.Details \can be found at scmetro.org/reimagine.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“Hope will never be silent.”
— Harvey Milk —

LETTERS

Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor

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May 29, 2024

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LEADERSHIP SANTA CRUZ OPENINGS

LSCC is a nearly 40 year old institution dedicated to educating, connecting and training leaders for our community. I’m convinced that if we identify and support 50 leaders a year for a decade, the results will be transformative.
Applications are now open for our 38th class. If you or someone you know are in a leadership role and would benefit from developing skills, connecting with others and learning about our county, I’m hoping that you/they will apply.

LSCC participants must commit to 9 Fridays and a two-day retreat from August through June. There is a detailed description of the program and topics at leadershipsantacruzcounty.org/apply. The deadline is May 31st. Scholarships are available. We are committed to ensuring that the class reflects the diversity of our county in every way.

We’ve heard from so many people that participating in LSCC changed their lives. They made a connection that was critical to their career or now understand our community in a deeper way. Join us!
Ryan Coonerty, Executive Director

LAW ENFORCEMENT PRIDE

I write this letter not in anger, but in disappointment that our association is being denied the opportunity to build stronger connections with our community and by an organization that claims to want to do exactly that, no less! I hope that these words will lead to some introspection among Pride members and supporters and generate a constructive public conversation about inclusivity and how this term, by definition, invites participation from people of all walks of life. Even cops.
In the meantime, the Santa Cruz Deputy Sheriffs Association will continue its partnership with, and participation in, the greater Santa Cruz community. Perhaps we will be able to see uniformed law enforcement personnel marching in the 50th Anniversary Pride Parade next year in 2025. Perhaps not. Regardless, we stand ready to march when the time comes.

Ethan Rumrill, President of the Deputy Sheriff’s Association

SHOW YOUR FACE

Dear Brad:
I so appreciate the Good Times and your work.
Was especially moved by your account of encounters with the government in the 1970s.
That said, may I respectfully request that your photo on the editorial page be changed to show us your whole face, without sunglasses? That would increase my perception of your trustworthiness (which is not at all in question).
Suzanne G Semmes

Dear Suzanne:

Trust me, you aren’t missing much. I’ve got a face made for radio. But I sure appreciate your comment.

Brad Kava

Good TimesGood Times

Good TimesGood Times

Another Moss Landing Fire

Driving Hope

World Wide Waves

Guitar Greats Gather Saturday

Street Talk

The Editor’s Desk

Heirloom Tortillas

Oracles Unleashed

Free Will Astrology

Mountain Faves

Flavor Forward

Farm to Bottle

Big Moth Forever

Blues Notes

Bud or Booze?

Things to do in Santa Cruz

The Editor’s Desk

GOOD IDEA

GOOD WORK

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“Hope will never be silent.”
— Harvey Milk —

LETTERS

Free Will Astrology

Mountain Faves

Flavor Forward

Farm to Bottle

Big Moth Forever

Blues Notes

Bud or Booze?

Things to do in Santa Cruz

The Editor’s Desk

LETTERS

Good TimesGood Times

Good TimesGood Times

GOOD IDEA

GOOD WORK

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“Hope will never be silent.” — Harvey Milk —

“Hope will never be silent.”
— Harvey Milk —