Page 211 – Good Times

How Santa Cruz County is Caring for Storm Evacuee Pets

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January 17, 2023

How Santa Cruz County is Caring for Storm Evacuee Pets

Despite her name, Mayhem—a charismatic 2-month-old “Great Pyrenees” puppy—brings a moment of respite from the storm for many at the Santa Cruz Fairgrounds temporary evacuation shelter. Most grateful for her calming presence is her owner, Rory Stanton of Santa Cruz. His gray hoodie and large rain boots shroud him, and his eyes shift around nervously. But he lights up whenever Mayhem is mentioned.

“If she wasn’t allowed, I wouldn’t be here,” he says as the puppy pulls at his sweatshirt strings. “She’s my everything.”

The inseparable pair have spent the last two days hunkering down at the temporary shelter serving as a haven for people and their pets displaced by storm evacuations. Santa

Cruz County Animal Shelter has been working with temporary shelters to keep pets with their owners and out of animal shelters during the storms. “Our approach is different compared to fire evacuations,” SCCAS attorney Cara Townsend says. “It’s less stressful for people and pets.”

The animal shelter’s team has worked with the Fairgrounds shelter, run by the Red Cross, to host animals alongside people. The shelter asks all non-service animals to come with crates, but they are ready to dole out pet food, dishes and necessities, says Jenny Arrieta from the Red Cross communications team. Unlike other shelters, pets are welcome to join people indoors by their cots. Technically, all pets must be kept in crates, but most seem alright if that rule is overlooked.

“I was afraid,” Karla Villalobos, who evacuated her home in Pajaro, says. “I wasn’t sure who would take care of them.” She flips through photos of Shadow and Bandit, her 1-year-old husky and border collie mix, and her 1-year-old pomsky—a Siberian husky and Pomeranian mix—who wait in their crates by her cot.

“It’s just nice to be able to have them with me,” she says as she smiles at their photos.

Some, like Stanton, wouldn’t have gone to a shelter if pets weren’t allowed, and, believe it or not, some left their pets at home with no idea of when they’d be returning—this was seen during the CZU Lightning Complex fire, as Good Times reported. Rescue teams regularly found abandoned pets. Villalobos was nervous that she might go to work one day and be unable to return home due to the storms. She worried she wouldn’t know where to find her dogs if someone came to save them.

Cabrillo College’s Santa Cruz shelter also accepts pets, but they’re asking them to be kept in owners’ cars in the parking garage and may be walked on the main roadway off campus, according to a volunteer at the shelter.

SCCAS urges people to have an evacuation plan for their pets. Additionally, owners should have a week’s supply of food, water, medication (if needed), a crate and a litter box with litter. If your pets can’t join you and friends or family can’t assist, the shelter will house and care for your animal(s) for free. While the SCCAS is happy to have your dog, cat, horse, tortoise or any other pet during tumultuous times, their ultimate hope is that pets and their people can stay together.

Like Stanton says, not having Mayhem is a dealbreaker. He might not know what will come next for him after the storms, but he knows his best pal will be with him.

Visit scanimalshelter.org for more info.

From Lochs to Levees: Flooding Terms Defined

Erin Malsbury

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January 17, 2023

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From Lochs to Levees: Flooding Terms Defined

Spillways, levees, reservoirs … the list of water management-related jargon goes on. To help keep your head above water, we’ve spelled out some common terms with local context. First up, we have Loch Lomond Reservoir and some much-needed good news.

The City of Santa Cruz depends on local rainfall for most of its water supply. This dependency makes prolonged droughts extra concerning, but the recent rains drowned out worries about this year’s reserve.

Loch Lomond Reservoir, located a couple of miles from Ben Lomond in the Santa Cruz Mountains, holds 2.8 billion gallons of water—about one year’s supply for city residents.

“The reservoir was designed in the late 1950s to ‘fill and spill’ each year, ensuring that there would be enough water in the reservoir to provide drinking water to Santa Cruz throughout the dry summer months,” notes the City of Santa Cruz Water Department. “However, the reservoir has only filled five out of the past ten years, leaving city residents vulnerable to water shortages.”

Loch Lomond is the city’s only drinking water reservoir. Levels had dropped significantly after the past few years of drought. But the recent storms filled the reservoir for the first time since February of 2019, and water now spills onto the Newell Creek Dam spillway.

Loch Lomond is a manufactured reservoir rather than a natural lake. The defining factor of a reservoir is a dam. Dams control water levels and allow for the storage of water.

When reservoirs fill—as Loch Lomond has—spillways, also sometimes called overflow channels, direct excess water from the tops of dams downstream.

Newell Creek Spillway directs stormwater downstream to Newell Creek, which feeds into the San Lorenzo River in Ben Lomond.

Rivers naturally overflow into floodplains, but development near waterways means natural flooding can turn disastrous.

In attempts to prevent overflowing, communities often build levees along riverbanks. Also called dikes, embankments, floodbanks or stopbanks, levees are ridges meant to keep rivers from changing course or flooding nearby low-lying areas. They can be permanent and made of earth or concrete or temporary emergency structures made of sandbags.

The Pajaro River levee in Watsonville has drawn attention during the recent storms as it showed signs of potential failure earlier this month. Santa Cruz County began making emergency repairs last week, but these solutions are temporary.

The levee was built in 1949 and broken by flooding as soon as 1955. In 1963, the Army Corps of Engineers declared the levee inadequate, but the project languished for decades without funding or agreements on improving it.

The levee has failed four times, and in 1995 the flooding killed two people.

Finally, the state allocated several million dollars to the Pajaro River Flood Risk Management Project in 2022. The project is expected to cost $400 million and draw additional funding from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill. Construction will likely not begin before 2025.

Rob Brezsny’s Astrology: Jan. 18-24

Rob Brezsny

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January 17, 2023

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ARIES (March 21-April 19): Good news, Aries! During the next episode in the age-old struggle between the Impulsive You and the Farsighted You, I predict the latter will achieve a ringing victory. Hallelujah! I also foresee you overcoming the temptation to quit a project prematurely, and instead pushing on to complete it. There’s more! You will refrain from knocking your head against an obstacle in the vain hope of toppling it. Instead, you will round up helpers to help you wield a battering ram that will produce the desired toppling.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You may not have a clear picture of where you’ll be going in the next five years. The detailed master plan that your higher self devised for you before you were born might even be obscure. But I’m here to tell you that in the coming weeks, a new lucidity can be yours. You can summon an acute instinct about which way is forward, if only you will recognize the subtle ways it’s speaking to you. In fact, I believe you will regularly know what move you should make next so as to expedite your long-term evolution. Life will be rewarding you with mysterious step-by-step guidance. Now please write a short statement affirming your intention to love, honor and obey your intuition.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Do you believe in the existence of guardian angels and spirit guides and ancestors who can intervene in your behalf from the other side of the veil? Do you wonder if maybe your invisible friends from childhood show up in your vicinity now and then to offer you support and kindness? Or how about the animals you loved earlier in your life but who have since passed away? Is it possible their souls have never left you, but are available if you need their affection? Even if your rational mind tells you that none of these possibilities are authentic, Gemini, I suspect you will nevertheless be the beneficiary of their assistance in the coming weeks and months. Their influence will be even more potent if you proceed as if they are real.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Among your potential strengths as a human being are empathy, sensitivity and emotional intelligence. You may or may not choose to develop these natural gifts. But if you do, they can be instrumental in helping you achieve the only kind of success that’s really meaningful for you—which is success that your heart and soul love as much as your head and your ego. According to my astrological analysis, you are moving into a phase of your cycle when you will have extra power to ripen your empathy, sensitivity and emotional intelligence—and thereby enhance your ability to achieve the kind of success that’s meaningful for you.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): “Dear Rob the Astrologer: The computer firewall at my youth hostel is blocking your website. I am being told you practice ‘Illegal Folklore and Insurrectionary Fairy Tales.’ What the hell? Can you do anything at your end to get me access to your wonderful horoscopes? Maybe cut back a bit on your Illegal Folklore and Insurrectionary Fairy Tales? Haha. Just kidding. I love that crazy stuff. —Deprived Leo in Ireland.” Dear Deprived: Many of you Leos have lately had problems getting all the Illegal Folklore and Insurrectionary Fairy Tales you need. I hope you will push hard to compensate. In my estimation, you currently have a strong need for dreamy stories that appeal to the Wild Child in you. They’re essential to your mental and spiritual health.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): In his book A Million Miles in a Thousand Years: What I Learned While Editing My Life, Donald Miller acknowledges that fear can be a “guide to keep us safe.” Being afraid may indeed have its uses and benefits. But Miller adds that it’s also “a manipulative emotion that can trick us into living a boring life.” In my astrological opinion, Virgo, fear will be of service to you—a guide to keep you safe—about nine percent of the time in 2023. Around 83 percent of the time, it will be a manipulative emotion not worth acting on. For the other eight percent, it will be neither. Please plan accordingly.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Select two sticky situations in your world that you would love to reinvent. Let other annoyances and glitches just slide for now. Then cultivate a focused desire to do everything in your power to transform the two awkward or messy circumstances. Proceed as if you will have to do all the work yourself—that nothing will change for the better unless you take full responsibility. If you’re absolutely sure this involves other people altering their behavior, consider the possibility that maybe your behavior needs to shift as well.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Three out of four toxic waste dumps in the US are located in predominantly African American or Latino communities. Two million tons of radioactive uranium tailings have been dumped on Native American lands. Three hundred thousand Latino farm workers in the US suffer from pesticide-related sicknesses every year. These travesties make me furious. More importantly, my rage motivates me to mitigate these travesties, like by educating my readers about them and donating money to groups crusading to fix the problems. In the coming weeks, Scorpio, I hope you will take advantage of your astrological potentials by using your anger constructively, too. Now is a favorable time for you to fight fiercely and tenderly for what’s right.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): I predict that love will bring you many AHA! moments in 2023. You can’t fully prepare yourself for them—and that’s a good thing! The epiphanies will be brighter and deeper if they are unexpected. Your motivation to learn the available lessons will be wilder and stronger if you enjoy being surprised. So be ready for lots of entertaining rumbles and reverberations, Sagittarius. The adjustments you will be asked to make will often be strenuous and fun. The inspirations you will be invited to harvest will require you to outgrow some of your previous beliefs about the nature of intimacy and togetherness.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Some insects are helpful to humans. For example, ladybugs devour aphids, which are highly destructive to crops. Damsel bugs eat the pests called leafhoppers, and lacewings feed on the pernicious nuisances known as mealybugs. I also remind you that some bugs are beautiful, like butterflies, dragonflies and jeweled beetles. Keep these thoughts in mind, Capricorn, as you contemplate my counsel. Metaphorically speaking, you will have experiences with bugs in the next three weeks. But this won’t be a problem if you ally yourself with the good, helpful and beautiful bugs.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): What are “brain orgasms”? Can you seek them out and make them happen, or do you have to wait patiently for them to arrive in their own sweet time? When they occur, what should you do? Surrender into them with all your welcome fully unleashed? Or should you question whether they’re real, be suspicious of their blessings or dismiss them as irrelevant flukes? I encourage you to meditate on questions like these. That will raise your receptivity to the stream of brain orgasms that life will offer you in the coming weeks.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): My Piscean pagan friend Valie says God is stealthy yet blatant, like a green chameleon perched on a green leaf. After analyzing the astrological omens, I conclude that this is a helpful, all-purpose metaphor for you to use in the coming weeks. I encourage you to be alert for beauty that is hidden in plain sight. See if you can spy the miracles embedded within the ordinary. Ask life to pleasantly blow your mind over and over again. Here’s your phrase of power: open secret.

Homework: Ask life to bring you an insight that will help you ameliorate a long-running dilemma. newsletter.freewillastrology.com

Watsonville Drips With Historic Spots Big on Character and Value

Mark C. Anderson

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January 17, 2023

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Watsonville Drips With Historic Spots Big on Character and Value

There’s something about old-school spots that speak to my soul and hold together a community.

Three of my favorite examples—a hot dog stand, a Mexican counter joint and a tamale house—sit within a couple of blocks of historic Watsonville.

None are big, though all present big values. Each does signature dishes with time-tested consistency. Collectively they’ve made downtown Watsonville one of my favorite districts to explore for eats and drinks.

The most old-school among them is Taylor Brothers Hot Dogs. The last time I went, the cheerful young attendants told me they thought I was reporting to work.

The reason for that sat on my head: a bright red Taylor Brothers ball cap that all staffers wear and one I couldn’t resist buying on my previous visit.

But there is only one reason for non-employees to visit: chili dogs. Basic drinks, chips and candy aside, it’s the only item on the menu.

Each enjoys a knowing combination of relish, onion, mustard and secret-recipe chili for $2.15, best eaten standing up beneath the weathered neon sign or in the adjacent city plaza.

A key note for true dog dawgs: no ketchup. When I heard another customer ask for it, the gentle response was: “Sorry, we don’t carry ketchup.” Amen.

Taylor Bros came to Watsonville in the mid-1950s. Third-generation owner Matthew Taylor says his favorite part of the business is hearing scores of stories from customers whose families have been stopping by for decades.

Nothing lasts forever, but here’s hoping this place comes close.

Just around the corner sits The Tamal Factory. Like Taylor, its priority is one item, namely fresh, moist and cohesive hand-made tamales that make it feel like the holidays year-round.

Maybe 50 steps from TTF, an unassuming strip mall tucks in a triple dose of worthy spots.

Pizzamia represents Watsonville’s pizza-by-the-slice pioneers. (Thank you for building on that, Slice Project.) They do whole pies in all sorts of permutations, each with fluffy medium-thick crusts, but the slices only come in pepperoni. ‘Mia also does calzones.

It neighbors Tutti Fruiti Neverîa, a Latinx-leaning ice cream spot with mashup elements beyond frozen treats, like boba and Tostilocos.

The estrella, though, is throwback cafe La Fondita. Tall stools sit along a counter where Nayarit-born matriarch Eva Quintero attends to customers against a backdrop of vintage regional imagery.

Stuffed Micheladas ride shotgun with spot-on enchiladas, sopes and tacos assembled in combos and specialties like chilaquiles, pozole and bistec ranchero.

Watsonville’s center is experiencing a renaissance in a lot of ways. But it’s this type of time-tested outpost that provides the foundation.

DOWNTOWN GODSEND

While we’re here, one of the cooler epicurean stories coming in 2023 is happening right across the street from The Tamal Factory on Watsonville’s Main Street. Presbyterian minister Rev. Robbie Olson and his team are currently reimagining the one-time Stevie G’s Meats—and its more than 6,000 square feet—as a working brewery plus taproom plus beer garden under the name Watsonville Public House. Rotating trucks and, yes, neighboring tamal HQ will help on the food front. Best of all, the brewery’s nonprofit structure will direct a chunk of revenues into good area causes. Olson eyes mid-summer as a realistic opening date but acknowledges construction delays have run rampant. Whatever the case, this project is worth an enthusiastic toast.

Aptos Vineyard’s 2021 Rosé of Pinot Noir Glows

Josie Cowden

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January 17, 2023

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Aptos Vineyard’s 2021 Rosé of Pinot Noir Glows

Aptos Vineyard’s owners say their 2021 Rosé of Pinot Noir “livens up the party with a light palate and a bright finish.”

“This vintage is special,” they add.

It is a 50% direct-pressed whole cluster from DaLarDi Vineyard, with supplemental Saignée, which involves “bleeding” off a portion of red wine juice—after two to six hours of skin contact from DaLarDi, Lester and Saveria vineyards.

It’s Rosé for any occasion—the rose-gold wine is a refreshing sip with red fruits, honeydew and vanilla.

When top-notch grapes from respected Santa Cruz Mountains vineyards are paired with a talented vintner like John Benedetti, the result is magical. This beautiful Rosé of Pinot ($28) is available at Shopper’s Corner, New Leaf, Staff of Life and other local spots. It’s also carried in several area restaurants. Pick up a bottle of the 2020 vintage Rosé of Pinot for $15—if there’s any left! aptosvineyard.com

Scrumptious is the Word

I had some fabulous Scrumptious Fish and Chips recently. As a native Brit, I can testify that this local company’s traditional British grub is yummy. The chips are terrific, and the fish is fresh and tender with light and fluffy batter. Check scrumptiousfc.com for their food truck’s whereabouts. I am spreading the word to my British group—and everybody else on the planet.

Sailing on the Chardonnay

The Chardonnay sailing vessel has a special offer until Jan. 31: Buy three gift certificates and receive the fourth free—there is no expiration date. Enjoy local beer, wine and food while sailing along the majestic Santa Cruz coastline. Check out the variety of cruises offered at chardonnay.com

The Fish House Bar and Grill Explodes with Flavor

Andrew Steingrube

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January 17, 2023

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The Fish House Bar and Grill Explodes with Flavor

Xavier Zavala’s father first opened a breakfast spot in Aptos before moving into fine dining in 2013. Xavier dedicated himself to being a restaurateur at Watsonville’s Fish House Bar and Grill. He dove in headfirst and learned everything he could about the biz. From cooking and bartending to front-of-the-house—he even took etiquette classes on the art of service.

The Fish House serves classic American seafood with Italian flare; it’s upscale yet casual enough for families. And hospitality is always a priority. After nearly a decade, the open-flame oak grill has become the go-to for halibut, salmon, tuna, octopus, Castroville artichokes and just about everything else. They are also known for their pasta dishes like the crab ravioli with bay shrimp and rosé sauce, classic cioppino and chicken piccata. Dessert offerings include carrot cake and tiramisu—they plan to bring back their popular tableside banana flambé soon, too.

There’s indoor and outdoor seating, a full bar and live music. The Fish House also caters special events. GT spoke to Xavier about his cooking technique and culture.

Why the oak grill?

XAVIER ZAVALA: The flavors that the grill imparts on the food provide a unique element to the components of our dishes and a rustic char that marries well with the other flavors. The flame helps extract more savory qualities from the ingredients while maintaining their integrity.

What makes your customer service so special?

Whether it is our guests or staff, we treat everyone like family. We view this building as our house, and anyone who comes through our doors is provided the kindness and courtesy we show to our loved ones.

The Fish House Bar and Grill, 972 Main St., Watsonville, 831-728-3333; watsonvillefishhouse.com

Biden Declares Emergency, Frees Up Federal Aid

Todd Guild

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January 16, 2023

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Biden Declares Emergency, Frees Up Federal Aid

President Joe Biden on Saturday declared a disaster for the storm-damaged parts of California, freeing up federal aid to help state and local recovery efforts in Merced, Sacramento and Santa Cruz counties.

Biden’s declaration came hours after Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Deanne Criswell and CalOES Chief Deputy Lisa Mangat visited Santa Cruz County to tour the damages.

The tour began in Bay Village around the Atri Park area and moved to Holohan and College roads, which were under flood waters at the time. The tour also included the Seacliff area and Capitola Village before ending with a presentation and discussion at the County Emergency Operations Command office.

“The need for disaster relief is clear and present in all the affected areas in the district, and I hope FEMA will expedite its process,” Supervisor Felipe Hernandez said during the presentation.

Hernandez added that the most important message for residents with flood damage is to document everything: keep receipts, take pictures and videos of all the damages, and track any work done or expenses incurred due to flooding.

Watsonville City Councilwoman Ari Parker, whose District 6 in Watsonville sustained most of the flood damages, stressed that many in her district are on a fixed income and that federal recovery is desperately needed.

FEMA assistance includes grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help residents and business owners recover.

Funds are also available to local governments and nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work in the affected counties.

Damage assessments are continuing, and additional areas may be designated for assistance after the assessments are fully completed.

Residents and business owners who suffered losses visit disasterassistance.gov or call 800-621-3362. Or fill out a FEMA application.

Emergency Declaration Ratified, More Storms Approach

Todd Guild

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January 11, 2023

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Emergency Declaration Ratified, More Storms Approach

Beginning a little more than a week ago, a series of weather calamities hit the Central Coast, bringing torrential rain that flooded several neighborhoods and destroyed multiple homes. The powerful storms and coastal swell decimated the wharf at Seacliff State Beach and rendered much of Capitola’s beachside village uninhabitable.

In response to these disastrous storms, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously ratified an emergency declaration allowing the county to receive state and federal disaster assistance. The move comes ahead of another week of storms and amidst residents and business owners still reeling from evacuations and destruction.

On Tuesday, Nov. 10, Gov. Gavin Newsom visited Capitola following the recent weather events. He said the next round of rain would include a coastal swell even more potent than the one that tore the seaside city’s iconic pier in two last Thursday.

The Supervisors’ declaration followed similar ones made last week by Capitola and Santa Cruz.

Dave Reid, who runs Santa Cruz County’s Office of Response, Recovery & Resilience, called the storm damage “unprecedented.”

Roughly 150 people were staying in a temporary evacuation center at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds on Monday night, one of eight local shelters for evacuees.

Rains flooded the San Lorenzo River and Soquel Creek for the first time in more than 40 years. County officials have so far responded to mudslides in the Santa Cruz Mountains that pulverized homes and vehicles and caused an estimated $21 million in damage to 27 roadways. 16 parks and three coastal sites sustained $6.8 million in damages, while the San Lorenzo Valley Water District saw $1.2 million.

Reid says the total financial toll of the storms is still undetermined, but it will be a high number.

Meanwhile, 45 roads were closed during the storms, including Redwood Road, which collapsed and trapped residents, Public Works Director Matt Machado says.

Monterey County Supervisor Luis Alejo said that though Pajaro has been under mandatory evacuation orders, cutting back on traffic flow will keep roadways open in case of flooding. PHOTO: Tarmo Hannula

Crews of 11 emergency contractors have been working nonstop since New Year’s Eve to clear fallen trees, maintain drainage and sanitation systems and conduct levee inspections; they’re pretty much ensuring the county’s infrastructure doesn’t crumble to pieces.

Building inspectors have issued 132 yellow tags at damaged homes so far, meaning they have limited use, but residents can still stay. They have also given eight red tags (the structures are uninhabitable). Both numbers are expected to increase.

Machado says that the County will have to decide which projects it takes on first.

“The magnitude of them is such that we won’t be able to fix them all at once, and so similar to 2017 storms, we have to prioritize and do the worst first for various reasons,” he says.

A rain gauge recorded 23 inches in 10 days, a number that doesn’t match 2017—yet. The same gauge showed more than 50 inches in six weeks back then. But smaller storms can have a more significant impact since the streams and rivers are already full, and the ground is so saturated.

“This [storm] is unprecedented but not unfamiliar territory; we’re not out of the woods,” Reid says. “And we’re certainly not [expecting] 2023 to be better than 2017; it could be worse.”

Gov. Newsom Visits Santa Cruz

Aiyana Moya

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January 11, 2023

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As winds whipped across Zelda’s on the Beach’s barren deck Tuesday afternoon, California Gov. Gavin Newsom promised crowds that financial assistance would come down the pipeline just as soon as all the damages from the storms had been assessed.

“As soon as all the damage assessments are collected—then we’ll be able to make a much sounder judgment and assessment of what we actually will deliver and how, and under what circumstances in terms of timelines,” Newsom said.

After ducking in and out of the empty restaurants and meeting with several small business owners who have shops along the Esplanade, Newsom echoed a similar statement regarding aid for small businesses, again pointing to the need for assessments before making any financial promises.

“We’ll do our best,” Newsom said. “I don’t want to over-promise you, but this will be assessed, and obviously, the state’s intention, as is the federal government’s, is to help in the short run and the long run.”

Newsom’s visit came as Santa Cruz entered its second week of disastrous storms—and the state faces more atmospheric rivers. As of Tuesday, there have been 17 confirmed deaths related to weather conditions across the state, Newsom said: more than have died in the past two years related to wildfires, according to his count. 163,000 people are without power, and over 48,000 Californians are under evacuation orders, according to his count.

“These conditions are serious, and they’re deadly,” Newsom said.

On Sunday evening, in response to the statewide weather conditions, President Joe Biden approved an emergency declaration for California, which authorizes the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate all disaster relief efforts.

On Tuesday morning, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors approved their own slew of local emergency proclamations at their first meeting of the year. The county estimated that as of Jan. 9, damages in unincorporated county regions were over $29 million, including more than $21 million in road damages.

Just hours before arriving in Santa Cruz, Newsom presented the state’s budget, which he referenced in front of the crowd in Capitola. His budget includes a two-year, $135 million general fund allocation to reduce local urban flood risk. It also has $8.6 billion earmarked for local water infrastructure efforts.

“The days are getting a lot drier in the last three years, and the wets are getting a lot wetter,” Newsom said. “This weather whiplash is the new reality.”

He stressed the importance of staying vigilant until the storm passes.

“This place is soaked,” he said. “And now, just a modest amount of precipitation can have an equal or greater impact in terms of the conditions on the ground, and that’s why it’s incredibly important that everybody is mindful to take seriously the orders or recommendations that come from law enforcement—don’t tempt fate.”

Things to Do in Santa Cruz: Jan. 11-17

GT Staff

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January 11, 2023

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ARTS AND MUSIC

JUDY COLLINS Judy Collins’ voice has been entrenched in the framework of this country since she arose out of the early ’60s folk revival alongside notables, including Joan Baez. The Grammy Award winner’s graceful vibrato on her 1967 cover of Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides, Now” resonates with millions of fans. But Collins’ 2022 release Spellbound features not one cover—it’s the icon’s first record of all original tunes. It’s also Collins’ 55th album. You read correctly. 55. “Making art is finding something that has to do with everything that happens: the good, the bad, the happy, the sad, the angry, the depressed,” Collins told me before a 2016 show in Monterey. “All those things filter into whatever the artist is creating in order to get through the day. The dark and the light go together.” $35/$50 plus fees. Wednesday, Jan. 11, 8pm. Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. riotheatre.com

DIRTY LOOKS: ‘CITY OF LOST SOULS’ Described as “Hedwig and the Angry Inch in reverse,” the 1983 trans punk musical is considered the “instant cult classic you’ve never seen.” It’s like lost footage of a John Waters movie never made. The pseudo-documentary follows the devious performances of trans punk star Jayne County (in her only starring role) and Angie Stardust, who runs a boarding house and the ground-floor restaurant, “Burger Queen,” where her lodgers earn their keep: Tron Von Hollywood, Tara O’Hara, Joaquín la Habana, Judith Flex and Gary—Divine would have fit in perfectly. Experimental filmmaker Rosa von Praunheim focused their attention on the trans and gender-defying Americans who found sanctuary in Berlin’s club scene of the ’80s, where he caught some of the most candid and startlingly prophetic intergenerational discussions about trans life ever. $10; $8/members. Saturday, Jan. 14, 8:30pm. Indexical, 1050 River St., #119, Santa Cruz. indexical.org

JEFF ROSENSTOCK WITH CHEEKFACE Jeff Rosenstock’s 2020 solo album No Dream has been dubbed an “accidentally universal record for a damaged, difficult time.” “I thought I had just made a record for no one,” Rosenstock says. “What’s the point of feeling this way? Does it help to vocalize it?” In addition to releasing the well-received, 13-track solo record, the eclectic rocker behind the Arrogant Sons of Bitches and DIY Bomb the Music Industry! performed with Mikey Erg, recorded and toured with the Bruce Lee Band, released a Neil Young covers record with Laura Stevenson, reissued two of his early out-of-print albums, amassed a live album and 76-page photo book and scored more than 80 episodes of “Craig of the Creek” for the Cartoon Network. “I didn’t expect to be doing well in my life, ever,” Rosenstock notes. Los Angeles indie rock trio Cheekface opens. $20 plus fees. Saturday, Jan. 14, 7pm. Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. riotheatre.com

SAM GRISMAN PROJECT PRESENTS GARCIA/GRISMAN Mandolinist extraordinaire David “Dawg” Grisman, and Jerry Garcia, like the Grateful Dead as a band, finished each other’s musical sentences, which subsequently led to lots of collaborations. David’s son Sam explains his project: “The music that my father and his close friend [Garcia] made in the early ’90s in the house that I grew up in is not only some of the most timeless acoustic music ever recorded. It is also impressive how deeply they get beneath their favorite songs—originals, covers or traditional/old-time tunes—and how expertly that material was curated. My goal in starting the Sam Grisman Project is to build a platform for my friends and me to showcase our genuine passion and appreciation for the legacy of Dawg and Jerry’s music. By playing some of their beloved repertoire and sharing the original music that our collective has to offer, we will also show the impact that this music has had on our musical voices. Ultimately, there is nothing that makes me happier than playing great songs with my best friends, and I hope to share that happiness with audiences all over!” $20/$25 plus fees. Sunday, Jan. 15, 8pm. Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. moesalley.com

MONTEREY JAZZ FESTIVAL ON TOUR: CELEBRATING 65 YEARS Fronted by Dee Dee Bridgewater and Kurt Elling on vocals with musical director Christian Sands on piano, the sextet also features Lakecia Benjamin on alto saxophone, Yasushi Nakamura on bass and Clarence Penn on drums. The combo of jazz superstars and up-and-comers embodies the “artistry, spirit and fun of the Monterey Jazz Festival,” the longest continuous jazz festival in the world. “We unveiled our new MJF on Tour this year at the Monterey Jazz Festival to a standing ovation and wild cheers,” MJF’s artistic director Tim Jackson says. “It’s an amazing, cross-generational band of very accomplished artists that have special meaning to the Monterey Jazz Festival by the sheer force of their virtuosity and deep soul. Plus, this band is a whole lot of fun!” $68.25/$63; $34/students. Tuesday, Jan. 17, 7pm; 9pm show ($47.25/$52.50; $26.25/students). Kuumbwa Jazz Center, 320-2 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. kuumbwajazz.org

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SANTA CRUZ WARRIORS VS. SIOUX FALLS SKYFORCE You might not get the same dazzling show that you’d expect from a Golden State game amongst 18,000 riled-up fans cheering on Stephen and Draymond at the Chase Center. But the Santa Cruz Warriors—and whoever they play—are far from where the not-quite-good-enough-for-the-NBA players are sent to die. This season, nearly 50% of the NBA is made up of former G leaguers. It wasn’t long ago that Jordan Poole was suiting up for games at the Kaiser Permanente Arena. Now, he’s considered one of the top guards in the NBA. $27.20-$275. Thursday, Jan. 12, 7pm. Kaiser Permanente Arena, 140 Front St., Santa Cruz. santacruz.gleague.nba.com

(POSTPONED) CRUZHACKS 2023 UCSC’s largest hackathon, CruzHacks, is a three-day event where you can work with others on new software and/or hardware projects. Who knows? It might be ground zero for the next Jobs, Gates or Zuckerberg. You’ll be able to build your ideas, network and show off your talent. Ideas can be formed through teams or individually. There are hundreds of students, mentors, sponsors and judges that can help push your vision forward. The event also includes workshops for students of all levels to learn and improve their technical skills. Free (for students, mentors, judges and volunteers). Friday, Jan. 13-Sunday, Jan. 15. UCSC Stevenson Event Center, 1156 High St., Santa Cruz. cruzhacks.com

(POSTPONED) MLK MARCH FOR THE DREAM The march will begin at Pacific Avenue and end at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, where there will be a commemoration of the accomplishments of the past and acknowledgment of the “fierce urgency of now” in forming a more just America. Cosponsors are Temple Beth El Jewish Community Center and the Resource Center for Nonviolence. “Radically building the beloved community. Uplift. Heal. Empower.” Free (with registration). Monday, Jan. 16, 10am-1pm. Pacific Avenue and Cathcart Street, Santa Cruz. (Youth Day has been rescheduled for Saturday, Jan. 28). naacpsantacruz.com

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