Page 199 – Good Times

Summer Gets Funner

Dining Reviews

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July 12, 2023

There’s a party over here.
There’s a party over there.
Throw your hands in the air. Shake your derriere.

OK, fair enough. The live music acts headlining three hard-charging foodie-friendly local concert series will not be playing Tag Team’s “Whoomp! (There It Is).”

But now that it’s summer in Santa Cruz, there is a party over here, and a party over there, and another over there, and they’re all free and al fresco for your derriere.

Party number one (in sequential order) is the Crow’s Nest summer beach party, happening 5:30pm until sunset every Thursday through Aug. 31, on the sand next to the storied Santa Cruz Harbor restaurant-entertainment venue.

From the grill leap ribs, tri-tip sandwiches, burgers, prawn skewers and barbecue chicken; from the bar arrives beer, wine, Moscow mules, margaritas, tsunamis and whiskey sours; from the stage come groups like Live Again (July 13), Izzy & The Haze (July 20) and Soulwise (July 27).

Also on Thursdays, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk hosts live music on the Colonnade 8:30-9:30pm through Aug. 10.

Santa Cruda (July 13), Tsunami Band (July 20) and The Deadlies (July 27) are on deck. The arcade and food purveyors like Cruzin’ Crepes and Seaside Fish & Chowder stay open late.

On Fridays, a modest parking lot transforms into a full-on fiesta with Midtown Summer Block Party.

Key draws like local artisans, food trucks and a robust live music lineup curated by Off The Lip Radio Show—upcoming acts include The Rayburn Brothers (July 14), Dirty Cello (July 21) and the Alex Lucero Band (July 28)—pull in as many as 1,000 people per installment.
Yeehaw y’all.

IN ORBIT

Venus Beachside opens as this issue hits newsstands after an aggressive reshaping of its new Rio del Mar spot. The full drink menu features cocktails made with Venus Spirits’ locally distilled whiskey, gin, vodka, rum and agave spirits (which are also available for purchase) to go with lobster rolls, oysters and low country boils. The relocated and reimagined bar merits a pilgrimage by itself. Meanwhile sister spot Venus Pie Trap keeps dishing pizzas, sweet pies, bagels and coffee. venusspirits.com

TASTE BUD TRIP

Sampa Brazilian Kitchen, which gathered a loyal following for its Southern Hemisphere-style snacks at Woodhouse Brewing and Blending, has now opened a full-blown restaurant at the corner of Water Street and North Branciforte Avenue. The refurbished space stars Brazilian street food done with thoughtful and creative tweaks—think coxinha croquettes, carne louca nachos, churrascaria-style grilled meats and traditional feijoada stew—with local wines, 12 beers on tap (yes, starring Woodhouse favorites) and live music on weekends. sampabrazilianfood.com

CENTRAL PLOT

Much-adored downtown Santa Cruz spot Soif hosted a compelling pop-up the other day. It featured veg-forward The Village, one of Big Sur’s most anticipated new restaurants in a while (scheduled for late summer), from Chef Tim Eelman and Beverage Director Matt Peterson, a Big Sur Food and Wine linchpin. The dining room buzzed with joy at the flavors on the plate, and news reopening of the Soif restaurant itself. Chef Santos Majano will debut Hook & Line, featuring locally-sourced seafood, in that space come October. As that happens, the wine bar Soif will get its reboot in a new location. In the meantime, the Wine Retail shop remains open with wines by the glass, flights, small plates and special off-the-menu tastings 5-7pm Thursdays. soif.com

Justin Vineyards and Winery

Vine & Dine

Josie Cowden

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July 12, 2023

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Heading to Paso Robles anytime soon? Then stop at Justin Vineyards & Winery for a tasting of their beautiful wines. The 2022 Rosé ($20), made of mostly Syrah grapes, is dry, aromatic and refreshing—perfect for a summer’s day. It has a lovely salmon color in the glass with notes of Bing cherry, ripe strawberry and with a crisp finish. It comes with a handy-to-open screw cap.

There’s a lot to see and do on the Justin estate. Not only is the setting spectacular, but you can also stay there in world-class accommodations. And their Michelin-starred restaurant showcases the freshest seasonal ingredients sourced from Justin’s on-site garden and from local purveyors.

Justin Vineyards & Winery, 11680 Chimney Rock Road, Paso Robles, 805-591-3224. justinwine.com

Farm to Fork Gala

Wines of the Santa Cruz Mountains will partner with Community Bridges for a Farm to Fork fundraiser to support Pajaro Valley farmers, farmworkers, local wineries and vineyards affected by the 2023 storms and floods. The event will be held in a warehouse on Salinas Road owned by Lester Properties (of Lester Estate Wines) in the heart of the Pajaro community. Chef Brad Briske of HOME restaurant will be “doing his magic.”

For more info and to purchase tickets visit communitybridges.org/events or call 831-688-8840 ext.205. The event is 4-8pm on Sunday, July 30. Tickets are $175.

Taste of Paso

This unique event, to be held in Aptos, features the best wineries from Paso Robles, including Justin Vineyards. The experience features a curated selection of wines accompanied by delightful food pairings. The event is 5-8pm on Thursday, July 20 at Bittersweet Bistro. Tickets are $65 and $85 at the door.

Bittersweet Bistro, 787 Rio Del Mar Blvd., Aptos, 831-662-9799. bittersweetbistroaptos.com

The Sand Bar

Foodie File

Andrew Steingrube

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July 12, 2023

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Beachside Bites and Bevs

Born in Sonora, Mexico and raised in Capitola, Tania Mendez grew up in the restaurant industry where she started working at 16. She has been a bartender/server for four years, saying she loves Capitola’s small town feel and that the place simply “feels like home.”

The physical space is redolent with beachy vibes, accented by calming blues and punctuated by an ocean view patio. The menu is full of elevated pub fare and seafood specialties, with breakfast favorites like crab cake eggs benedict and classic fluffy pancakes.

Go-to lunch items are the coconut prawn tacos and the raved about calamari sandwich. Dinner standards include chicken teriyaki with grilled pineapple and garlic lemon dill salmon, a classic family recipe. Dessert options are chocolate lava cake with vanilla ice cream and cheesecake with raspberry/caramel syrup. Hours are 9am-8pm every day for food, with the bar open later.

How did The Sand Bar survive the extreme weather?

TANIA MENDEZ: Our community was a big part of the support, both emotionally and financially. It’s been an emotional roller coaster. When the storms hit, we all lost our jobs and didn’t know when we would re-open. We were very impacted and sustained a lot of damage, but we’ve done many repairs and renovations to get the restaurant back on point. We finally reopened about a month ago, and we were one of the last places on the Esplanade to do so. It’s so great being back to work.

Tell me about Jeff’s old-school connection to Good Times?

A picture of him and his mother came out on the cover in 1978. She was giving him a piggyback ride and the article was about her being what would now be defined as a “soccer mom.” And now, he has his mom’s back and she works here behind the scenes. It’s a really cool full circle moment, and I think it’s really sweet.

211 Esplanade, Capitola, 831-462-1881; thesandbarcapitola.com

Salvation Army Shelter Facing Closure

Todd Guild

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July 12, 2023

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For years, the Salvation Army in Watsonville has provided temporary shelter for unhoused people. It provided important services such as showers, clothing and laundry at the organization’s Navigation Center. The center serves roughly 120 dinners per day, as well as a light breakfast.

“Sometimes this is the only meal they get,” says Shelter Manager Cesar Leon.

This has been made possible thanks to $830,000 in annual funding from the County of Santa Cruz. That money comes in part from one-time state block grants.

Now, that money is being reallocated to a new homeless housing project.

Salvation Army officials say that could mean the closure of its 24-bed shelter and an end to the services for the people who stay there.

Santa Cruz County spokesman Jason Hoppin says that the funding will go to a community of tiny homes, a joint project between the counties of Monterey and Santa Cruz, the city of Watsonville and Pajaro Regional Flood Management Agency. It is made possible by $8 million in state funding announced in June.

That project, which will initially include 34 tiny homes, has been tentatively slated for the parking lot of Westview Presbyterian Church in Watsonville. The Watsonville City Council will discuss the project at an upcoming meeting.

But initially, that site will be available for the homeless people living along the Pajaro River Levee.

With funding for the Salvation Army’s shelter ending on March 31 of next year, the people who use the shelter—more than 17,000 last year—will be left in the lurch, says Salvation Army Board Chair Trina Coffman-Gomez.

“Where are they going to go,” she says. “We don’t know where there will be a shelter for the clients that we’re currently serving, and there is a waitlist to that as well. We don’t need to shut something down that is working and functioning.”

The organization has been asking for a two-year extension that would allow officials to seek funding to replace its aging modular residential structure. But city and county officials have rejected that request. Now, the organization has four months to develop an exit strategy, Coffman-Gomez says.

“I’m not saying the (tiny homes) project shouldn’t take place,” she says. “I’m saying it shouldn’t shut down another project when we need more help than just specifically the levee residents. My biggest concern is that we are focusing on a specific segment of the population while leaving a greater majority of people that will be left to roam the streets because the county is no longer providing funding for services.”

The County’s Plan

Santa Cruz County Housing for Health Director Robert Ratner says that the new tiny homes project meets state regulations for “low-barrier” shelter programs, and will offer private accommodations with their partners and pets. That’s contrasted by “high-barrier” requirements of other shelters that have curfews and lights-out times.

Leon says that those rules are meant to instill a sense of order in the lives of the residents, many of whom are battling addiction.

“We’re obviously trying to get people housed and in order to get people housed you have to build structure,” he says. “The way we implement structure is by setting these rules.”

Plans for Expansion

While initially serving people living along the levee during the two-year life of the grant, the tiny homes project will eventually be available to other residents.

With some 200 people in Watsonville experiencing homelessness on any night, there is not enough funding to support two shelter sites in Watsonville, Ratner says.

“The new site will be structured to ensure it meets new standards for shelter operations and thus future funding and it will also include the potential for partnerships and future funding linked to Medi-Cal,” he says.

Lt. Nayeli Mercado, who manages the facility at 214 Union St., says the shelter program has a list of 300 people who utilize the services, with roughly 50 people per day stopping by.

Mercado says the Salvation Army has no plans to cease its services entirely. The organization will continue to provide services for low-income people such as a food pantry and a daily meal, she says.

“The Salvation Army was here for a long time, and its only purpose is to serve the community in different areas,” she says.

Cabrillo’s Long Road Ahead

John Koenig

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July 12, 2023

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Choosing a new name for Cabrillo College may prove more difficult than expected, following an emotional community meeting in Watsonville.

Aug. 7 marks the deadline to select a new name for the college after complaints about Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo—a conquistador and exploiter of Native American forced labor.

But at a Cabrillo College Board of Trustees meeting on Monday evening, some trustees raised concerns over the grim fundraising outlook.

According to Trustee Rachael Spencer, the school’s donation campaign had raised $2,500 as of Monday: the name change is expected to cost up to $600,000. With only four weeks until the deadline for picking a new name for the school, trustees shared doubts about moving forward without all the funding secured.

Winning popular support for the new name is also proving a challenge, one with racial undercurrents.

One of five names, Aptos College, Cajastaca College, Costa Vista College, Seacliff College or Santa Cruz Coast College, will be the college’s new name.

Racial Tensions

Achieving a consensus suddenly seemed more difficult at a public discussion held on the Watsonville campus in June. Some 30 community members attended the gathering, hosted by Cabrillo president Matt Wetstein, and Trustees Adam Spickler and Christina Cuevas.

Wetstein presented the naming committee’s five names and attendees were asked to rate their most and least favorites of the five choices.

The first participants were in favor of the name Aptos, citing its Native American roots and translation as “the people.”

As the fourth speaker shared his thoughts, a previously unheard but deeply felt opinion emerged: that the name Aptos is associated with “affluence and racism toward Watsonville.” Speaker after speaker explained how the name Aptos has come to symbolize privilege and exclusion, despite its origins in indigenous language and culture.

A former student of Rolling Hills Middle School admitted that the name conjured feelings of “divisiveness” while reluctantly accepting Aptos as a potential second choice.

Andrea Ponce, 22, a Watsonville native and Cabrillo student, was the youngest person in attendance. Though thankful for the renaming committees’ hard work, she admitted to being “not too thrilled with the outcome.”

Ponce was the most specific in voicing her opposition to Aptos as a choice. She described her memories of Aptos High as a time when her friends segregated themselves to feel comfortable, and where, if you played Latin music, Anglo students would look at you “like you’re weird.”

“The last thing I want,” she said, “is the segregation in any of these three names, Aptos, Santa Cruz, Seacliff.”

Seacliff College was also rejected as representing an affluent enclave.

Cajastaca quickly emerged as the most popular name, despite a debate over how it might be spelled differently to make its proper pronunciation, caya-stah-kah, easier to interpret. Its translation as “place of the jackrabbits” was also called into question.

Costa Vista College received some praise as a Spanish language choice, with criticism that the name is too “Spanglish” refuted by a language teacher in attendance.

Santa Cruz Coast College was universally disliked for its association to the missions, judged by most as tied to colonial oppression and as undesirable as the name Cabrillo.

Chasing the Money

The monetary cost of a new name is one of the biggest criticisms that those opposed to the renaming point to. The Trustees responded with a pledge that the renaming will be paid for by grants and donations, but the amount needed will be high.

A report by the Cabrillo College Name Exploration Subcommittee in 2022 stated that costs associated with a name change could range from $400,000 to $600,000, based on discussions with CEOs from other community colleges.

It’s not just the cost of the college’s signs: the report included the estimated cost of new business cards for 500 existing employees—$25,000. Replacing marketing brochures and other items requiring new names and logos might cost much as $100,000.

Items that the college would normally replace during annual operations are already budgeted and paid for, further reducing costs.

Recent estimates fall within a range of $400,000 to $600,000, and steps to reduce cost include the possibility of having signs 3D-printed in Cabrillo’s Makerspace lab by students and teachers.

Trusting Democracy

The Board of Trustees chose the renaming committee from a pool of volunteers. They stressed diversity in demographics, talents and opinions. Included were participants in the original name-change petition, as well as some who were firmly against the change.

Trustee Adam Spickler said the board consulted with Native American leaders in the local tribal community and indigenous scholars about the renaming options.

Still, consensus remains elusive.

Spickler described the democratic nature of the committee’s process as essential, yet problematic.

“That’s why those names are on the list,” Spickler said. “After a lot of discussion, the task force voted and those names got a majority of the votes.”

He said the unintended harm in the original choice of Cabrillo needs to be remembered going forward.

“Sometimes what the majority wants isn’t really what’s healthiest or best, and we don’t really understand the harm caused until afterwards,” Spickler said.

Understanding that harm was the reason the Trustees rejected keeping the name Cabrillo.
“It’s important to understand the potential for systemic racism in the practice of naming,” said Spickler. “You can’t simply turn to a person of color, harmed historically by colonialism and violence against their people, and say, ‘don’t worry, we don’t mean the person that oppressed you, we mean something different.’”

The new name will become official in July 2024.

The next public forum to discuss a new name for Cabrillo College will be held at 6pm, July 12 at the Felton Library, 6121 Gushee St., Felton.

PVUSD Announces Interim Superintendent

Todd Guild

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July 12, 2023

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The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees on Wednesday will consider approving a contract for former Watsonville High School principal Murry Schekman to be interim superintendent while the district looks for a permanent one.

In addition to WHS, Schekman served as principal at five other schools and was at North Monterey County High as a migrant education counselor when it opened. He also worked as the district’s Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Instruction for five years.

He currently works as adjunct professor at San Jose State University.

If the trustees approve his contract, Schekman will be paid $1,000 per day, plus a $300 vehicle stipend and a $100 cell phone stipend.

PVUSD Board of Trustees Next Meeting:

Where: The Towers, 292 Green Valley Road, Watsonville

When: Wednesday at 7pm

Things to do in Santa Cruz for the Week of July 12 – 17, 2023

Things To Do This Week

GT Staff

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July 11, 2023

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Things to do in Santa Cruz for the Week of July 12 – 17, 2023

MUSIC & ART

Adrea Castiano Presents: Singin’ For Santa Cruz – A Thursday benefit concert for the Santa Cruz County Disaster Fund, supporting those impacted by recent floods and other disasters. The concert features an all-star group of local artists, including Tammi Brown, Taylor Rae, Adrea Castiano, Mak Nova, Trianna Feruza, Alexandra The Author and August Lee Stevens. Show is at Moe’s Alley, Doors: 7pm / Show: 8pm; $20 advance / $25 day of the show (ticket sales donated to the fund)

1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz

CHRIS WEBSTER & NINA GERBER house concert with the Bezhenar sisters from Ukraine Here’s a really special treat. Great local and world musicians in a quiet studio setting. It’s Friday at 8:00pm at Wind River Studios in the Happy Valley area. Chris Webster is a soul singer, whose voice conveys a passion that connects with the longings of her audience. Maria Muldour described Nina Gerber as “the epitome of a perfect musician! It is so Zen the way she perfectly under-girds and complements whatever music is at hand.”Here’s the rub: You have to buy tickets to get the secret address. Link to tickets is on Eventbrite.

It’s Friday at 8pm and $30

ACID KING w/ MAMMATUS If it looks like stoner rock and sounds like stoner rock…wow what a night this will be. (why why why the same night as the last Dead & Co shows? Well, this is cheaper…a bargain for this flight.) Bathed in distortion and baptized in a plume of smoke, Acid King has received widespread critical acclaim.

Mammatus has been conjuring up a heavy blend of riff laden, space trippin, proggy, hazy far out rock and roll for 10 years. They formed in the shadows of the Santa Cruz Mountains in 2005. Their wizard and dragon themed self titled debut LP became a cult classic among the stoner rock crowd. Saturday, Moe’s Alley, Doors: 8:00 pm /Show: 9:00 pm.

1535 Commercial Way. Tickets are $22 in advance and $25 at the door

HUNCHBACK CHAT Cabrillo Theater’s Hunchback of Notre Dame has gotten rave reviews (see our review in this issue!) But on Sunday there’s a real treat for insiders and curious fans. The cast and directors are giving a 45-minute talk after the Sunday matinee from 4:15-5pm. Come ask questions and get the inside scoop. It’s priceless and worth a fortune…but it’s free.

Cabrillo Crocker Theater, 6500 Soquel Drive, Aptos

COMMUNITY

HOP N’ BARLEY Santa Cruz’s only beer festival takes place at Scotts Valley’s Skypark Saturday and Sunday and has something for everyone.

You want beer?

In its 13th year, Hop n’ Barley will feature more than 50 craft breweries, 10 cideries, delicious local eats, live music, lawn games, and more. Hop N’ Barley is kid-friendly and dog-friendly, so the whole family is invited.

There will be classic VWs and two stages of live music. Sunday is called Farmer and Flea and will feature a rogue market where anyone can bring any crafts to sell. Tickets are $51.79 for Saturday drinkers and $12 for designated drivers. Sunday admission is $10. The event is 11am to 5pm both days. Tickets & info at www.hopnbarley.org.

361 Kings Village Rd, Scotts Valley

TALES to TAILS gives kids a fun audience to read to. Yup, dogs. Therapy dogs. Whose brilliant idea was this? Trained therapy dogs will be available at the Capitola Library to be attentive, neutral reading partners for children reading aloud. The dogs are available on an appointment first basis. Each slot is approximately 20 minutes with a 10 minute transition period to the next participant. If you have questions, e-mail ra*****@*********pl.org . Call 831-427-7713 to make an appointment. It’s every other Sunday, including this one, from 12:30pm to 2pm. Free.

2005 Wharf Road

BOAT TOUR OF LOCH LOMOND RESERVOIR gives you a ranger-led tour Sunday from 11am to noon of our most important water resource. Tours are free of charge and available on a first come, first served basis. Sign up for tours in the Park Store.

Loch Lomond Recreation Area,100 Loch Lomond Way, Ben Lomond.

Info:(831) 335-7424

Free Will Astrology

Astrology

Rob Brezsny

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July 11, 2023

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ARIES (March 21-April 19): Many astrologers enjoy meditating on the heavenly body Chiron. With an orbit between Saturn and Uranus, it is an anomalous object that has qualities of both a comet and a minor planet. Its name is derived from a character in ancient Greek myth: the wisest teacher and healer of all the centaurs. Chiron is now in the sign of Aries and will be there for a while. Let’s invoke its symbolic power to inspire two quests in the coming months: 1. Seek a teacher who excites your love of life. 2. Seek a healer who alleviates any hurts that interfere with your love of life.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): It’s high time for some high culture! You are in a phase to get rich benefits from reading Shakespeare, listening to Beethoven and enjoying paintings by Matisse and Picasso. You’d also benefit lavishly from communing with the work of virtuosos like Mozart, Michelangelo and novelist Haruki Murakami. However, I think you would garner even greater emotional treasures from reading Virginia Woolf, listening to Janelle Monáe’s music and enjoying Georgia O’Keeffe’s paintings. For extra credit, get cozy with the books of Simone Weil, listen to Patti Smith’s music and see Frida Kahlo’s art. If you read between the lines here, you understand I’m telling you that the most excellent thing to do for your mental and spiritual health is to commune with brilliant women artists, writers and musicians.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): The French phrase j’ajoute (translated as “I adjust”) is a chess term used when a player is about to adjust their pieces but does not yet intend to make a move. J’ajoute might be an apt motto for you to invoke in the coming days. You are not ready to make major shifts in the way you play the games you’re involved in. But it’s an excellent time to meditate on that prospect. You will gain clarity and refine your perspective if you tinker with and rearrange the overall look and feel of things.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): The Simpsons animated show has been on TV for 34 seasons. Ten-year-old Bart Simpson is one of the stars. He is a mischievous rascal who’s ingenious in defying authority. Sometimes teachers catch him in his rebellious acts and punish him by making him write apologetic affirmations on the classroom blackboard. For example: “I will not strut around like I own the place. I will not obey the voices in my head. I will not express my feelings through chaos. I will not trade pants with others. I will not instigate revolution. I am not deliciously saucy. I cannot absolve sins. Hot dogs are not bookmarks.” In accordance with your unruly astrological omens, Cancerian, I authorize you to do things Bart said he wouldn’t do. You have a license to be deliciously saucy.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Early in her career, Leo actor Lisa Kudrow endured disappointments. She auditioned for the TV show Saturday Night Live but wasn’t chosen. She was cast as a main character in the TV show Frasier but was replaced during the filming of the pilot episode. A few months later, though, she landed a key role in the new TV show Friends. In retrospect, she was glad she got fired from Frasier so she could be available for Friends. Frasier was popular, but Friends was a super hit. Kudrow won numerous awards for her work on the show and rode her fame to a successful film career. Will there be a Frasier moment for you in the coming months, dear Leo? That’s what I suspect. So keep the faith.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): The coming weeks will be a good time to seek helpful clues and guidance from your nightly dreams. Take steps to remember them—maybe keep a pen and notebook next to your bed. Here are a few possible dream scenes and their meanings. 1. A dream of planting a tree means you’re primed to begin a project that will grow for years. 2. A dream of riding in a spaceship suggests you yearn to make your future come more alive in your life. 3. A dream of taking a long trip or standing on a mountaintop may signify you’re ready to come to new conclusions about your life story. (PS: Even if you don’t have these specific dreams, the interpretations I offered are still apt.)

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): In reviewing the life work of neurologist and author Oliver Sacks, critic Patricia Holt said he marveled at how “average people not only adapt to injury and disease but also create something transcendent out of a condition others call disability.” Sacks specialized in collaborating with neurological patients who used their seeming debilitations “to uncover otherwise unknown resources and create lives of originality and innovation.” I bring this up, Libra, because I suspect that in the coming months, you will have extra power to turn your apparent weaknesses or liabilities into assets.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): It’s a mistake to believe we must ration our love as if we only have so much to offer. The fact is, the more love we give, the more we have available to give. As we tap into our deepest source of generosity, we discover we have greater reserves of it than we imagined. What I’ve just said is always true, but it’s especially apropos for you right now. You are in a phase when you can dramatically expand your understanding of how many blessings you have to dole out.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Home computers didn’t become common until the 1980s. During the previous decade, small start-up companies with adventurous experimenters did the grunt work that made the digital revolution possible. Many early adopters worked out of garages in the Silicon Valley area of Northern California. They preferred to devote their modest resources to the actual work rather than to fancy labs. I suspect the coming months will invite you to do something similar, Sagittarius: to be discerning about how you allocate your resources as you plan and implement your vigorous transformations.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): I’m tempted to call this upcoming chapter of your life story “The Partial Conquest of Loneliness.” Other good titles might be “Restoration of Degraded Treasure” or “Turning a Confusing Triumph into a Gratifying One” or “Replacing a Mediocre Kind of Strength with the Right Kind.” Can you guess that I foresee an exciting and productive time for you in the coming weeks? To best prepare, drop as many expectations and assumptions as you can so you will be fully available for the novel and sometimes surprising opportunities. Life will offer you fresh perspectives.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): By 1582, the inexact old Julian calendar used by the Western world for 13 centuries was out of whack because it had no leap years. The spring equinox was occurring too early, on March 10. Pope Gregory commissioned scientists who devised a more accurate way to account for the passage of time. The problem was that the new calendar needed a modification that required the day after October 4 to be October 15. Eleven days went missing—permanently. People were resentful and resistant, though eventually all of Europe made the conversion. In that spirit, Aquarius, I ask you to consider an adjustment that requires a shift in habits. It may be inconvenient at first, but will ultimately be good for you.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Piscean novelist Peter De Vries wrote, “Sometimes I write drunk and revise sober, and sometimes I write sober and revise drunk. But you have to have both elements in creation—the Apollonian and the Dionysian, or spontaneity and restraint, emotion and discipline.” In the coming weeks, you Pisces folks will be skilled at weaving these modes as you practice what you love to do. You’ll be a master of cultivating dynamic balance; a wizard of blending creativity and organization; a productive change-maker who fosters both structure and morale.

Homework: What’s the best gift you could give yourself right now? Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com

Unveiling the 2023 NFL Season: In-depth Analysis of the Latest Team Acquisitions and Key Transactions

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July 11, 2023

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Unveiling the 2023 NFL Season: In-depth Analysis of the Latest Team Acquisitions and Key Transactions

Scrutinizing Significant Signings and Player Movements

The NFL free agency period this season has been a hotbed of noteworthy transactions. One such critical move was the Atlanta Falcons signing former Tennessee Titans and Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker, Bud Dupree, on a one-year contract. This acquisition is more than just adding a player to the roster; it’s a calculated attempt to strengthen their defensive line. With Dupree’s well-documented prowess, the Falcons are surely aiming for a more formidable defense that could potentially tilt the game in their favor.

Turning our focushabia to the offensive side, the Carolina Panthers have successfully brokered a one-year deal with wide receiver DJ Chark. A player renowned for his agility and impressive catch radius, Chark is expected to give a significant boost to the Panthers’ passing game. His addition to the team not only enhances its offensive arsenal but also presents fresh strategic options for the Panthers’ play-calling.

Adding to the list of significant moves, wide receiver Nelson Agholor has been acquired by the Baltimore Ravens on a one-year deal worth $3.25 million. Known for his consistent performance and experienced leadership, Agholor is all set to become a reliable target in the Ravens’ receiving corps. This acquisition underscores the Ravens’ intent to bolster their offensive capability and adds another dimension to their already potent attack.

Delving into the Major Ownership Transition

The 2023 NFL season has also been marked by a significant event off the field—the proposed change in ownership of the Washington Commanders. Josh Harris, a billionaire investor, has reached a substantial agreement to purchase the Washington Commanders from Daniel Snyder. The deal, estimated to be worth a staggering $6.05 billion, symbolizes one of the most significant shifts in NFL ownership in recent years.

Navigating the Landscape of NFL Transactions

For the passionate NFL enthusiasts and analysts, staying abreast of player movements and transactions is a vital aspect of comprehending the ever-evolving dynamics of the league. Platforms like The Football Database and CBSSports.com have become invaluable resources in this regard, offering comprehensive transaction lists for each team. These include critical details like the date of transaction and the player’s position, thereby providing fans with a thorough understanding of their favorite team’s composition and strategy.

Conclusion: The Ever-Evolving Tapestry of the NFL

As the curtain rises on the 2023 NFL season, it’s clear that the narrative is shaped by a multitude of strategic player acquisitions and pivotal ownership transitions. With teams vying to innovate and improve their rosters, the dynamics of the league are in a constant state of flux. The remainder of the season undoubtedly holds a plethora of surprises and promises to be an exhilarating spectacle filled with anticipation. As we continue to navigate through this compelling journey, we invite you to stay tuned to follow the progress of your favorite teams and players throughout the season.