Page 251 – Good Times

How Watsonville’s Thriving Arts Scene Came Together

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September 6, 2022

How Watsonville’s Thriving Arts Scene Came Together

On Aug. 20, the historic Porter Building in downtown Watsonville came alive for the first time in more than seven years.

Pajaro Valley Arts (PVA), a nonprofit formed in 1984 to promote and host cultural events in South Santa Cruz County, invited the community to visit during the city’s annual Wine, Beer & Art Walk. The organization had finalized its purchase of the building less than three weeks prior.

“This building, it’s stunning,” says PVA’s Judy Stabile. “The artists were looking around going, ‘look at the brick walls, look at all the hanging space, all the light!’ Even without any major modifications to the building, it’s a beautiful space.”

The Porter Building, designed by famed architect William Weeks and constructed in 1903, has been vacant since 2015 after Ceiba College Prep Academy moved out. In 2019, the City of Watsonville released a request for proposals for its sale or long-term lease.

Local artist Ana Muñoz and PV Arts Executive Director Valéria Miranda at Arte del Corozan’s Frida Kahlo-inspired art market in July. PHOTO: Johanna Miller

PVA plans to use the first floor of the building as a visual arts gallery and a small performing venue, and push out one of the walls to create an outdoor patio space. Upstairs will include artist studios, offices and workshop spaces and more.

“Every room has an incredible view of our town, the Fox Theater, the mountains,” Stabile said. “Imagine an artist working in one of these rooms, painting—it’s going to be incredible.”

PVA’s procurement of the Porter Building is one of many ongoing projects contributing to the ever-increasing momentum of art in downtown Watsonville. For decades, artists have been looking for space, funding and general support from the city, county and beyond. Longstanding dance groups had no secure place to practice. Performing venues and exhibition space was limited. And money to fund events was scarce.

But now, after years of work by local advocates, Watsonville is finally making progress. From small, independent art studios to new venues and opportunities for local artists, the arts scene is thriving like never before.

“This didn’t start now,” says PVA director Valeria Miranda. “It’s important to remember that this is the culmination of many hard-working people over a very long time. And now it’s finally blooming.”

Big Changes

Judy Gittelsohn is a local artist who opened her own gallery, Studio Judy G, on Watsonville’s Main Street last year. She says she’s seen big changes happening in the short time she’s been in the community.

“The energy downtown right now is really good,” says Gittelsohn. “Watsonville is a place with so many creative people doing amazing things.”

Gittelsohn’s gallery has so far presented a handful of small art shows and concerts, and hosts weekly art classes. Gittelsohn says that the growth of PVA and other groups has allowed her to be independent.

Artist Judy Gittelsohn installs watercolor paintings by the late Christopher Arnold at her art studio in Watsonville. PHOTO: Johanna Miller

“I’m in a rare position,” she says. “While PVA is increasingly highlighting more local artists, working with schools, I’m given the freedom to do what I want. I hope this movement continues, with artists seeing more opportunities downtown. This could really become a unique arts district.”

Public events are also increasing. In 2019, local teaching artist Monica Galvan founded Arte del Corazón, a group bringing open-air art markets to various locations throughout the city.

“I’m seeing a lot more happening in Watsonville,” Galvan says. “It’s gone from having something to do once every month to every week. It’s really cool.”

Galvan says she started Arte del Corazón after noticing a lack of diversity in the arts scene. She and other artists joined together to create the first art market at Romo Park across from Watsonville Plaza. The markets continue to gain in popularity, and Arte del Corazón now partners with other local organizations and businesses.

“There wasn’t a huge representation of artists of color,” she says. “There were a lot of artists here, but we didn’t know each other because there was no way for us to meet. We started the markets in a way to ensure that everyone had access, everyone knew about them. Now, people reach out to us.”

Galvan is also part of Arts Council Santa Cruz County’s (ACSC) Watsonville Stewardship Committee for the Arts (WSCA), a group of nonprofit organizers, artists and more who come together regularly to discuss the state of the arts in Watsonville.

“At first, it was just about making one big center,” she said. “But why can’t Watsonville as a whole be a center? I don’t even know how many museums, galleries, theaters there are in Santa Cruz. In Watsonville, we barely have any. I for one don’t ever want to leave Watsonville, so I want to make sure it’s a place for people who want to make art.”

Finding a Home

Two blocks north from the Porter Building, another new arts hub is now up and running. Watsonville Center for the Arts (WCA), located on the corner of Main and West Beach streets, opened this summer. The center acts as a home base for a number of longstanding performing arts groups, education programs, Arts Council offices and more. They have also started to rent out the space for events.

“This is part of the movement for the arts that’s been building in momentum for some years now,” said Mireya Gomez-Contreras, deputy director of ACSC, which will manage the space. “The arts in general, especially here, have been way underfunded, and there’s been little by way of resources. So we’re hoping this can be a hub that brings together artists, and makes visible what the arts truly are for this community.”

WCA has started out as a collective of established dance, music and theater groups. Some have been active in the community for decades but never had a permanent practice space.

“We’ve been in the community for over 40 years without a home,” says Janet Johns, founder and director of folklorico group Esperanza de Valle. “It’s time. Thanks to the Arts Council and Mireya’s leadership, it’s happening.”

Stephanie Dieguez, secretary and board of directors liaison for the White Hawk Indian Council for Children, agrees. The Whitehawk Dancers have also been performing in the community for more than four decades.

“We’ve bounced around town so many times,” Dieguez says. “From school parking lots, cafeterias, the Vets Hall. It’s been tough. When the Arts Council came to us with this idea, it was the biggest blessing ever. To be able to be planted here, in the heart of Watsonville, it’s really exciting.”

Film Fellowship

The Watsonville Film Festival (WFF) organization, while still searching for a permanent space to present its annual festival, is also experiencing major growth. Working with local groups such as Digital NEST and PVA, they have transformed into a year-round organization that not only presents films but also supports local filmmakers and students aspiring to study the craft.

Last year, WFF launched Cine se Puede, a fellowship that supports cohorts of local up-and-coming filmmakers, assisting with funding of up to $1,000 per project. Participants learn to pitch stories and projects, improve proposals, budgets, marketing and more.

Alba, who now also acts as board chair for the Arts Council, says the fellowship has so far been a success.

Watsonville Film Festival staff (including founder Consuelo Alba, third from left in front row) with the first cohort of Cine Se Puede fellows at the 10th annual festival in March. PHOTO: Courtesy of Watsonville Film Festival

“It’s really been happening organically,” Alba says. “Our cohorts are a tight-knit group of talented people who support each other, personally and professionally.”

Alba says that programs like Cine se Puede are vital to keeping talented artists in the community. Many filmmakers, she says, tend to move to big cities where there are more opportunities.

“My dream is that we realize the full potential we have in Watsonville,” she says. “I have lived here for 25 years and I have always seen it. But I’ve also always seen the obstacles, from access to funding to finding spaces. I see a big shift now. We need to keep working, pushing and supporting the arts for the long term. We’re just at the starting line.”

Funding Search

Convincing local governments, businesses and residents to invest in the arts has always been a challenge, said Miranda, who is also vice chair at ACSC. But things are shifting in Santa Cruz County, especially in its southernmost city.

“The Arts Council has taken a very thoughtful and serious look at what we need to do to really make sure that we’re being inclusive,” Miranda says. “When we looked at the grant making for the whole county, it had been unfairly heavy with Santa Cruz-based groups, who already have access and connections. This is not only about redistributing money, but also creating resources, like making grant applications less complicated. There are so many barriers we need to address.”

Recently, ACSC invested in an Americans for the Arts survey in order to study the economic impact of nonprofit arts and culture organizations and their audiences, both countywide and in South County specifically. The Arts & Economic Prosperity study is still ongoing, but Alba said they expect the results to be illuminating.

“This is huge,” Alba says. “Even though Santa Cruz County is a known place for the arts, we haven’t been able to invest in it the way we should.”

Both Alba and Miranda highlighted the importance of treating the arts as a crucial economic sector.

“It’s mind-boggling when you see the amount of money that the arts generate,” Miranda says. “It’s time for governments to stop thinking about the arts as a frill, something nice to have but not necessary. This is why this study is so important.”

Other support in South County includes the City of Watsonville’s Percentage for the Arts, a fee requiring developers to pay 0.75% of their estimated total construction costs, with proceeds going into a Cultural Fund the city will use to create a public art.

The city has also supported PVA for years by leasing the organization its current home on Sudden Street for just $1 per year.

“We’ve been incredibly honored by the partnership with the city,” Miranda says. “It’s a big commitment that’s made a world of difference.”

Arts on the Ballot

Arts education funding in Watsonville may also be getting support, as a statewide proposition that will be on the ballot this November could have a major effect on arts in public schools.

Proposition 28, or Californians for Arts and Music in Schools, dedicates $1 billion annually from the state’s general fund to arts and music education in public institutions, without raising taxes. 70% of the funding will be allocated to every public school based on enrollment, and the remaining 30% will be given to schools serving economically disadvantaged students and communities, such as Watsonville.

“It’s so exciting that this might go through,” says Sarah Brothers, arts education director at ACSC. “Arts have historically been underfunded in California schools, especially in districts like PVUSD. They typically don’t receive equitable opportunities.”

Brothers says that Prop. 28 is unique in that it has built-in accountability measures to make sure schools use the funding correctly.

“In the past, schools would be getting a certain amount for the arts, but could still shift things around,” she says. “With this measure, they are required to report how they spend the funding.”

If passed, Prop 28 would be the largest investment in arts education in the country.

“Studies have shown that students, especially those who are disadvantaged, benefit from arts curriculum,” Brothers says. “They are more likely to graduate, not drop out and pursue a degree. The importance of the arts is extremely apparent.”

Drawing an Audience

While adequate funding and resources are vital to supporting the arts in South County, there is also a simple way that residents can help grow and sustain it for the long term.

“People need to come here,” Miranda says. “We need everybody in the county to participate. That is how we can grow sustainability. A lot of people in this county just don’t visit Watsonville. I would be remiss if I didn’t say that sometimes, it goes along color lines. There is definitely racism in this county. But I also hear people say it’s ‘inconvenient,’ which I don’t understand. They will drive to San Francisco to see an exhibit, but they can’t drive 20 minutes to South County on a Sunday? It makes no sense.”

Miranda encourages residents of all areas of the county to get out of their comfort zone.

“You might go to the ballet every year, so why not check out folklorico?” she says. “Try something you’ve never tried before. I guarantee you’re going to be amazed.”

Katherine Blunt on California Wildfires and PG&E Failures

Drew Penner

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September 6, 2022

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Katherine Blunt on California Wildfires and PG&E Failures

On the day that I spoke with Katherine Blunt, the author of California Burning: The Fall of Pacific Gas and Electric—And What It Means for America’s Power Grid, firefighters attacked a 1.1-acre blaze that had broken out the day before north of Boulder Creek.

The Hartman Fire devoured a single residential structure; it would take at least six different agencies nearly 24 hours to put it out. There was no immediate indication that electrical wires were to blame, but it was a stark reminder of the risks utilities face as part of their business.

Nor was PG&E at fault for the CZU Lightning Complex that destroyed more than 900 local homes in 2020, but its equipment has sparked many others in recent years. In tracing this trail of controversies in California Burning, Blunt has merged an exhaustive corporate compendium, criminal procedural and courtroom drama into a single narrative.

Blunt, a San Francisco journalist, covers renewable energy and utilities for The Wall Street Journal, and her team’s reporting on PG&E has won a Barlett & Steele award for business investigative journalism, the Thomas L. Stokes award for energy and environmental reporting and also been named a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. She says she is particularly pleased that PG&E has said her book will be required reading internally.

“It’s nice to feel that it could have that kind of value, you know?” says Blunt. “PG&E’s response has been very gracious.”

California Burning is also likely to strike a chord with locals, who are increasingly concerned with both wildfire prevention and power-company transparency amid PG&E’s acknowledgement of failure to communicate with its customers. Blunt has deftly laid out the delicate balance PG&E is now trying to strike in attempting to protect lives and wilderness while delivering electricity. She spoke to GT about the book in advance of her event at Bookshop Santa Cruz on Thursday, Sept. 8. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Your book is a methodical look into the web of decisions made over the previous century, as we’ve figured out how to bring gas and electricity into our homes. Why did you feel it was necessary to go that granular for the reader to be able to understand PG&E’s history?

KATHERINE BLUNT: I think it’s reflective of my style and the way that I think about things. But I also think it is important to spell out how complicated the story is. I mean, when PG&E evokes such ire right across the state of California, it’s lost the trust of a lot of people. And, you know, people might say, “This company has been putting profits over safety for years.” In some ways, that is true. But it is much more complicated than that statement conveys. And I wanted to explain what that actually means in practice for a company like this, and how you can see that sort of systemic breakdown. It’s not the fault of any individual. But by the same token, it’s the responsibility and the fault of all individuals. I think it’s really important, so that you can truly understand what it means for this company to have failed.

A lot of people in this area have been touched by fires. What do you hope that California residents can get out of your book?

Well, a few things. I hope it does justice to the really challenging elements of this story. A lot of people lost homes. They lost loved ones. The loss was really devastating. I think telling that story is important, to remind everyone of the consequences of this sort of failure. That’s one thing. But, I suppose, like with everyone, I hope it helps them develop a more nuanced understanding of PG&E and why it failed. These people feel very victimized, sort of like, the company did this knowingly and intentionally. And that’s sort of true, as we’ve seen with the criminal charges. But it is a company that’s full of hard-working people who don’t mean any harm. And then they are trying to do better going forward. So, it’s doing justice to the stories—the victims—and maybe helping introduce some new elements into the conversation about PG&E.

One of the most frustrating moments in the book is after PG&E is convicted for the first time, in the San Bruno gas explosion case where eight people died. And then suddenly the prosecution drops its ask from half a billion dollars to $3 million. How should we make sense of this?

Basically, the way to make sense of it is: the Penal Code is written for people. It’s not written for corporations. So the statutory maximum fines for a lot of the crimes that a corporation has the capacity to commit, as it turns out, they’re meant to be significant fines for individual people. But if you’ve got a multibillion-dollar corporation, $3 million really doesn’t mean anything. And trying to impose an alternative fine can be really hard. Because you basically have to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, how much the company’s misdeeds cost the public. And that’s tough. I’d like to look into whether or not there has been much success on this front in terms of prosecuting other companies and imposing alternative fines. But in this case, it was tough. I think that’s why they dropped it. So ultimately, the statutory maximum fines for the crime ended up being just a few million dollars. And it didn’t have much of an effect on the company.

There have been several instances of power outages throughout the Santa Cruz Mountains that, according to PG&E, are a result of new equipment that puts customers’ safety above all else. I’m wondering how you think about the balance that not just PG&E needs to strike, but also other utility companies.

What is remarkable is that after the major fires of 2017 and 2018, PG&E really began employing a new strategy at scale in which, as you say, it preemptively would cut power if big, strong winds picked up and increased the risk of its line sparking. And this strategy in and of itself is a tacit admission that the company cannot provide electricity safely and reliably all the time. Historically, that has been the expectation of all of our utility companies: to provide safe and reliable power at the same time, constantly. And so, you’re beginning to see that relationship break down. I think that there may be a future in which we do have to accept some of these inconveniences for safety, but I don’t think it should be used at scale. I don’t think it should be used with great frequency, because I just don’t think it’s sustainable long term. I think that customers are going to expect more, and rightfully so. I think the challenge here is finding solutions that eliminate—or at least substantially reduce—the need to employ that strategy.

One of the things that PG&E is doing right now is working to underground a large section or swath of IT system—10,000 miles of distribution wire that would really change the risk profile. It would basically eliminate fire risk on the circuits, and make it so that, when the wind picked up, they wouldn’t have to shut off power to those that were running underground. Whether they still need to do public safety power shutoffs elsewhere remains to be seen. They probably will. But yes, I think it’s going to be incumbent upon PG&E and other utilities to really minimize the use of this strategy going forward, to the best of their ability.

The book is, to some extent, a character drama. Tell me about some of your favorite characters.

Well, yeah, they’re all really interesting. I really enjoyed talking to James Haggerty, who helped lead the federal investigation of a big natural gas pipeline explosion south of San Bruno. It was really personal to him, you know? It happened on his birthday, right in his childhood neighborhood. And just the amount of passion with which he approached his undertaking was really kind of inspiring, and helped me understand the consequences of the case in a way that I might not have otherwise.

I certainly enjoyed talking to Nick Stavropoulos, who helped rehabilitate the gas division after San Bruno. He’s a colorful guy, he’s a lot of fun to talk to. And I think he’s really proud of his work. And it’s a nice reminder that the companies can make progress on improving issues throughout their systems—if they have the right leadership in place, and the right strategy.

I liked that you went through the history of California governors, including the role that Arnold Schwarzenegger played in putting climate change at the forefront. Do you still have hope that California can lead the way into a green energy future?

There’s a lot of near-term challenges. Managing the pace of the transition has proven to be difficult. Just managing the retirement of certain plants, notably Diablo Canyon, with the addition of wind and solar farms and batteries to store the output for use when production declines. We’re at a period right now, this kind of inflationary, challenging environment with supply-chain problems that’s made it so it’s been harder to bring some of that new generation online quickly enough to make sure that supply and demand are always in balance. I think the next few years are going to be tough to navigate. But I think some of these challenges will ease with time. And I do think that there’s certainly a longer-term story of hope for California.

Katherine Blunt will discuss “California Burning: The Fall of Pacific Gas and Electric—and What It Means for America’s Power Grid” in conversation with Nikki Silva at 7pm on Thursday, Sept. 8, at Bookshop Santa Cruz, 1520 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. The event, co-sponsored by the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History and Santa Cruz Public Libraries, is free. Register at bookshopsantacruz.com.

Objective Standards for Multifamily Housing Proposal Faces Pushback

Tony Nuñez

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September 6, 2022

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Objective Standards for Multifamily Housing Proposal Faces Pushback

Three years ago, the Santa Cruz City Council made the decision to scrap some four years of work by the city’s staff when it tossed out the so-called Corridors Plan, a proposal that would have aligned the city’s zoning rules with the community’s vision outlined in the 2030 General Plan. Among other things, the plan would have opened up various properties along the city’s major transportation routes—Water Street, Soquel Avenue, Mission Street and Ocean Street—to be redeveloped into mixed-use developments featuring shops and restaurants on the ground floor, with high-density housing on top.

At the time, some Santa Cruz residents, in an effort spearheaded by a group called Save Santa Cruz, pressured the city council to terminate the plan and send staff back to the drawing board to lower the impact on their neighborhoods.

History seems to be repeating itself.

The Objective Standards proposal, a spiritual successor to the Corridors Plan, is now facing the same pushback. Whether it’s the fact that some parcels would be rezoned to allow up to six-story developments, or that gridlock traffic and scant parking would worsen, residents are calling for the council to once again stop the city’s efforts.

Staff came to the council with a two-hour presentation on the plan at its Aug. 23 meeting. The council could have then accepted it, but instead chose to continue the review at its upcoming Sept. 13 meeting. And, according to city staff, the council will likely kick the plan down the road to mid-November at next week’s meeting.

“Our intent is to use the brief delay to connect with those who provided comments, address various misunderstandings and accept comments for future evaluation,” says the city’s Director of Planning and Community Development Lee Butler. “The two months will provide us with an opportunity to conduct some final engagement work, after which time we will be recommending that the council take action on Nov. 15.”

Best Laid Plans

The proposal currently before the council is not only a way for the city to sync up its zoning laws with the 2030 General Plan approved in 2012, but also for it to also come into compliance with various state laws regarding housing design reviews. No longer can cities use subjective review standards that have allowed both staff and elected leaders to deny projects based on “community character” and the like. But what municipalities can do is lay out specific checklists—including standards for, among other things, lighting, roofs, landscaping and building materials—that developers must follow in order to receive approval from staff. The Objective Standards plan is that checklist, and without it things get messy, says Santa Cruz Senior Planner Sarah Neuse.

She highlights the recent troubles with the 145-unit 831 Water St. development that the city council first denied, only to reverse course when it realized it could not do so under state law. Had the city had its objective standards in place, Neuse says, the development could have looked much different—and some of the impacts on the adjacent suburban neighborhoods off North Branciforte could have been reduced.

“For instance, the project might have been less blocky and more articulated, incorporated more varied roof forms, included more private balconies for residents and provided different landscaping,” she says.

And while height and the number of units would likely not have changed, the review process would’ve gone much smoother for everyone involved, Neuse says.

“One of the biggest issues with the 831 Water St. project was that people were surprised by how much could be built. The rezonings will create greater transparency in how much can be built,” she says, emphasizing that the proposal “does not add any additional residential capacity than what is currently allowed.”

In the Aug. 23 proposal, various parcels on Soquel Avenue between Ocean View Avenue and Morrissey Boulevard were slated to be rezoned for Mixed Use High Density, which would allow for five-story developments. On Ocean, between Glenwood Avenue and Barson Street, some properties could be zoned up to six stories, though the majority called for a maximum of four or fewer. And on Mission Street between Fair Avenue and Laurel Street, four-story, mixed-use projects would be allowed.

Public Demand

Early in her Aug. 23 presentation to the council, Neuse presented two color-coded maps of Santa Cruz. The first showed the different zoning standards—single family, multiple family, mixed-use, etc.—from neighborhood to neighborhood. The second was the first map overlaid with 2010 census data of where people of different ethnic backgrounds live. White residents demarcated by blue dots dominated the areas of the city zoned for single-family homes. Hispanic residents, demarcated by orange dots, were largely concentrated in areas of the city zoned for multiple-family homes.

“That shows both that Hispanic communities are highly concentrated—they live in dense housing—and they are also limited to certain neighborhoods,” Neuse said. “You can see how having patterns like this, where there’s highly concentrated pockets of certain races, can create inequities between communities and challenges for households.”

Gary Patton, one of the co-chairs of Save Santa Cruz, took issue with Neuse’s insinuation that Santa Cruz’s decision makers have used zoning rules to keep minorities out of certain communities. The former Santa Cruz County Supervisor and current Eastside resident says that the coastal city doesn’t have “a historic record of trying to exclude people,” and that his group is not against housing construction—even if the group’s mission statement is to “stop overbuilding Santa Cruz.”

“Save Santa Cruz is not like, ‘Don’t let anybody else come here.’ Save Santa Cruz is very pro-affordable housing,” he says.

However, Patton also says that East Side residents do feel that the Objective Standards disproportionately impact their neighborhoods, and he adds that the council should identify alternative areas of the city to rezone that “might be better for some,” and “may be worse for others.”

But his main gripe with the plan is that staff proposed to remove the public hearing process for projects that meet all of the city’s objective standards. Neuse says although it is rare for projects to meet all standards and not require a public hearing, staff will indeed come back to the city council with an option to have every project undergo a public hearing—whether it meets the standards or not.

When asked about where he thinks the council will go from here, Patton says that he expects the elected leaders to make staff show what the possible impacts are for every rezoned parcel. Save Santa Cruz submitted a letter after the Aug. 23 meeting saying that the city needs to conduct a California Environmental Quality Act review before moving forward with the project—a tactic that researchers have identified as a key tool in litigious Not-in-My-Back-Yarders’ anti-development war chest.

Patton was one of a dozen or so people who spoke in opposition to the proposal during the Aug. 23 city council meeting. In addition, more than 100 people submitted written public comments opposing the plan. Many in opposition urged the council to preserve the “quality of life” and “character” of their suburban neighborhoods.

Housing Santa Cruz County Director Elaine Johnson says that she understands these concerns. Johnson grew up in public housing in the Bronx, and when she tells people that, they often think it’s a bad thing.

“And it’s not,” Johnson says. “Once these people know who I am and how I show up in the world, they see, ‘Oh, housing projects aren’t bad.’”

But changing the narrative around high-density housing, Johnson admits, takes time and patience. Presenting data on the demoralizing rental rates in Santa Cruz County—it was recently ranked as the second least affordable rental market in the U.S.—only goes so far. To truly destigmatize housing development, she says, people need to listen to one another—and leave their agendas at the door.

It is these missing conversations, Johnson says, that HSCC hopes to lead.

“There’s no, ‘I’m right, you’re wrong, you’re wrong, I’m right.’ With that, you just get more wrong and right. That doesn’t move the needle,” Johnson says. “What moves the needle are healthy conversations.”

Michael’s on Main Closed for Repair After Fire

Tarmo Hannula

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September 6, 2022

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Michael’s on Main Closed for Repair After Fire

An early morning fire tore through a section of the popular Soquel restaurant Michael’s on Main on Thursday, Sept. 1.

Central Fire’s Fire Marshal Mike DeMars says the flames broke out around 4:30am and caused heavy damage to several rooms and smoke damage through most of the eatery that is perched on Soquel Creek at 2591 Main St.

Michael Harrison, who has owned Michael’s on Main for the past six years, said he got a call just past 4:30am, and that when he arrived a short while later he saw flames barreling out the roof.

“We’ll rebuild—yes we will,” he said as he toured one of the dining rooms with charred debris strewn about, heavy smoke damage and broken glass. “I think it might take about a year to reopen.”

DeMars says the blaze most likely started in a prep area beside the kitchen, but added that it was still under investigation.

Harrison said that he was fortunate that about 50 prized pieces of Grateful Dead memorabilia survived the fire, including an early poster from 1966. The restaurant is widely known for its “Grateful Sundays” which feature Dead cover bands—sometimes a member of the band’s extended family—and dancing.

Following the fire, about a dozen friends showed up later that morning to help Harrison rescue artwork and other goods from the charred building. A GoFundMe to help the venue (gofundme.com/f/help-michaels-on-main-rise-from-the-ashes) had raised nearly $10,000 as of Tuesday morning.

Rob Brezsny’s Astrology: Sept. 7-13

Rob Brezsny

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September 6, 2022

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ARIES (March 21-April 19): Aries-born Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was one of the greatest basketball players ever. He excelled at most aspects of the game. Some experts say his rebounding was only average for a player his size—seven feet, two inches. But he is still the third-best rebounder in National Basketball Association history. And he played for 20 years, until age 40. What tips might Abdul-Jabbar have for you now? Here’s a suggestion from him that aligns with your current astrological omens: “Work on those parts of your game that are fundamentally weak.” The implication is that you have a lot of strengths, and now it’s time to raise up the rest of your skill set.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): As a Taurus, you are always wise to be reverent toward your five senses. They are your glorious treasures, your marvelous superpowers, your sublime assets. In the coming weeks, they will serve you even better than usual. As you deploy them with all your amazement and appreciation unfurled, they will boost your intelligence. They will heighten your intuition in ways that guide you to good decisions. You will tune into interesting truths that had previously been hidden from you. I suspect your sensory apparatus will be so sharp and clear that it will work almost as extrasensory powers.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): When you Geminis are at your best, you don’t merely tolerate dualities. You enjoy and embrace them. You work with them eagerly. While many non-Geminis regard oppositions and paradoxes as at best inconvenient and at worst obstructive, you often find how the apparent polarities are woven together and complementary. That’s why so many of you are connoisseurs of love that’s both tough and tender. You can be effective in seemingly contradictory situations that confuse and immobilize others. All these skills of yours should come in handy during the coming weeks. Use them to the hilt.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Author Jean Frémon says Cancerian naturalist Henry David Thoreau “always had two notebooks—one for facts, and the other for poetry. But Thoreau had a hard time keeping them apart, as he often found facts more poetic than his poems.” Judging from your current astrological omens, Cancerian, I suspect you are entering a time when facts will be even more poetic than usual. If you open yourself to the magic of reality, the mundane details of everyday life will delight you and appeal to your sense of wonder. Routine events will veer toward the marvelous. Can you bear to experience so much lyrical grace? I think so.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): “What good is it if you read Plato but never clean your toilet?” writes author Alice Munro. To which I add, “What good is it if you have brilliant breakthroughs and intriguing insights but never translate them into practical changes in your daily rhythm?” I’m not saying you are guilty of these sins, Leo. But I want to ensure that you won’t be guilty of these sins in the coming weeks. It’s crucial to your long-term future that you devote quality time to being earthy and grounded and pragmatic. Be as effective as you are smart.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): “To love oneself is hard work,” declares Virgo author Hanif Abdurraqib. He adds, “But I think it becomes harder when you realize that you’re actually required to love multiple versions of yourself that show up without warning throughout a day, throughout a week, throughout a month, throughout a life.” Let’s make that your inspirational strategy, Virgo. The coming weeks will be a favorable time to refine, deepen, and invigorate your love for all your selves. It may be hard work, but I bet it will also be fun and exhilarating.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): How to be the best Libra you can be in the next three weeks: 1. Make sure your cool attention to detail never gets chilly. Warm it up now and then. Invite your heart to add its counsel to your head’s observations. Tenderize your objectivity. 2. Always be willing to be puzzled. Always be entertained and educated by your puzzlement. Proceed on the theory that nothing ever changes unless somebody is puzzled. 3. Practice, practice, practice the art of moderation. Do so with the intention of using it as a flexible skill rather than an unthinking habit. 4. Applying the Goldilocks principle will be essential. Everything must be just right: neither too much nor too little; neither overly grand nor overly modest.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): There are blessings in every abyss. You, of all the signs in the zodiac, have the greatest capacity to find those blessings and make them yours. Likewise, there is an abyss in each blessing. You, of all the signs, have the most power to make sure your experiences in the abyss don’t detract from but enhance the blessing. In the coming weeks, dear Scorpio, take maximum advantage of these superpowers of yours. Be a master of zeroing in on the opportunities seeded in the dilemmas. Show everyone how to home in on and enjoy the delights in the darkness. Be an inspirational role model as you extract redemption from the messes.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): One of my favorite Sagittarians is practical mystic Caroline Myss, who was born with sun and Mercury and ascendant in Sagittarius. In accordance with current astrological omens, I’ve gathered six of her quotes to serve your current needs. 1. There isn’t anything in your life that cannot be changed. 2. When you do not seek or need approval, you are at your most powerful. 3. Healing comes from gathering wisdom from past actions and letting go of the pain that the education cost you. 4. The soul always knows what to do to heal itself. 5. What serves your spirit enhances your body. What diminishes your spirit diminishes your body. 6. What is in you is stronger than what is out there to defeat you.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): I have always felt you Capricorns are wise to commune with rocks, dirt, mud, sand, and clay. I think you should regularly touch the actual earth with your hands and bare feet. If I’m out hiking with a Capricorn friend, I might urge them to sniff blooming mushrooms and lean down to kiss the exposed roots of trees. Direct encounters with natural wonders are like magic potions and miracle medicine for you. Moreover, you flourish when you nurture close personal relationships with anything that might be described as foundational. This is always true, but will be extra true for you in the coming weeks. Your words of power are kernel, core, gist, marrow, and keystone.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): The coming weeks will be a favorable time to dream up creative solutions to problems that haven’t fully materialized yet. Then you can apply your discoveries as you address problems that already exist. In other words, dear Aquarius, I’m telling you that your uncanny facility for glimpsing the future can be useful in enhancing your life in the present. Your almost psychic capacity to foretell the coming trends will be instrumental as you fix glitches in the here and now.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): In the coming weeks, logic may be of only partial use to you. Information acquired through your senses might prove less than fully adequate, as well. On the other hand, your talents for feeling deeply and tapping into your intuition can provide you with highly accurate intelligence. Here’s a further tip to help you maximize your ability to understand reality: Visit a river or creek or lake. Converse with the fish and frogs and turtles and beavers. Study the ways of the crabs and crayfish and eels. Sing songs to the dragonflies and whirligig beetles and lacewings.

Homework: Which of your past mistakes provided you with the most valuable lessons? Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com.

Ram’s Gate Winery’s 2021 Rosé Gleams with Character

Josie Cowden

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September 6, 2022

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Ram’s Gate Winery’s 2021 Rosé Gleams with Character

Ram’s Gate’s stunning Sonoma property features a tasting room as impressive as its wines, and their 2021 Sonoma Coast Rosé is one of its best. Ram’s Gate says its wines are inspired by love of food and community.
“They are an expression of varietal character and the joy of our favorite meals and celebrations.” Fresh and compelling, this is an ideal wine to have on hand as we move into fall. The 2021 Rosé ($38) is a blend of Grenache and Pinot Noir, which gives it a delightful pink hue. With its flavors of melon, strawberry and white peach, winemaker Joe Nielson describes it as a “restrained fruit salad.” Balanced and truly delicious, this Rosé is gorgeous. I invite you to experience it through rose-colored glasses!
Ram’s Gate Winery, 28700 Arnold Drive, Sonoma, 707-721-8700; ramsgatewinery.com.

An Evening with Friends

An Evening with Friends is a shout-out to all the wineries that donated to the upcoming Hospice of Santa Cruz County fundraiser. Silver Mountain is always a huge supporter, along with Alfaro, Stockwell Cellars, Ser Winery, Pelican Ranch, Sarah’s Vineyard, and Equinox.
Sunday, Sept. 18, 5-8pm at Seascape Golf Club, 610 Clubhouse Dr, Aptos. Email ev****************@ho**************.org for tickets.

Greek Festival

Opa! The Greek Festival returns, celebrating all things Hellenic, including Greek cuisine, music and dancing.
Friday, Sept. 9 and Saturday, Sept. 10, Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church, 223 Church St., Santa Cruz. Free; livelikeagreek.com.

Santa Cruz County Fair

First, make a beeline for the well-groomed sheep, pigs, cows and goats. Wine and beer are available, and the variety of food, including the not-to-be-missed deep-fried artichokes, is immense.
Wednesday, Sept.14-Sunday, Sept. 18 at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, 2601 E. Lake Ave., Watsonville; santacruzcountyfair.com.

Riva Delivers Updated Seafood Classics with an Ocean View

Andrew Steingrube

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September 6, 2022

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Riva Delivers Updated Seafood Classics with an Ocean View

Ryan Koehler’s background varies in the restaurant industry and geographically. He was born into a military family in Maryland and moved around a lot, living not only across the country in states including Alaska, Hawaii and Colorado but also overseas in Korea. He eventually moved to Santa Cruz to live close to family and six years ago became the general manager of Riva on the Santa Cruz Wharf. And he has over 25 years of experience in restaurants, having worked his way up the ladder from serving to bartending to management in small mom-and-pop joints, fine dining, hotels and everything in between. Koehler takes pride in breathing life into an established business, defining the atmosphere as “pleasant with enthusiastic service,” the ambiance accentuated with wood tones and panoramic windows to optimize the view.
The menu specializes in seafood with Italian and Mexican influences, and they also offer vegetarian options and a few meat items. The surf ’n’ turf steak and shrimp taco are hits, as are the cioppino and calamari, and they are also known for their broiled oysters with red diablo, Verde and guacamole sauce options. Dessert choices are highlighted by gelato, which Koehler says even Italians love. He spoke to GT recently about his upbringing and what sets Riva apart.

How has your past influenced your hospitality career?

RYAN KOEHLER: Living—not just vacationing—in so many different places has really given me an appreciation for many diverse cultures. It’s added to my care and concern for people, which is a critical component of hospitality and is very genuine for me—and growing up in a military background ingrained in me a relentless work ethic, which is also critical in restaurants. I’ve found that food really has that kitchen table effect, bringing people together and allowing for human connection.

What makes Riva a cut above?

It’s a lot of little things that add up to make a sizable difference. Not only do we have world-class views, it’s also the warm and comfortable atmosphere that is highlighted by the work of talented local artists that adorn the walls and that we curate ourselves. We also have uniquely delicious food served in big portions for very reasonable prices. And our service staff loves working here and is genuinely excited to have our guests in front of them.

Riva Fish House, 31 Municipal Wharf, Santa Cruz, 831-429-1223; rivafishhouse.com.

Top Chefs on the Move Around Santa Cruz County

Christina Waters

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September 6, 2022

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Top Chefs on the Move Around Santa Cruz County

Thanks to the intrepid fisherguys of Ocean2Table, you can whip up some dreamy mahi-mahi tacos at home. The rich and delicious fish is now going for $25/lb, and all you need to do is pop on over to the getocean2table.com page and begin shopping. California halibut, starry flounder, dorado (aka mahi-mahi), are among the fresh catches now available. But of course, there’s much more on this appetizing site. Check it out.

Bread Prophecy

The outstanding bakery devised by wünder-baker Avery Ruzicka and chef David Kinch is planning to open a new location in Santa Cruz this autumn on the Westside. That’s all we know for now, but if you’ve ever stopped by the mothership in Los Gatos, or swooned over the beautiful pastries from Manresa that regularly stock the displays at Verve coffee shops, you know to stay poised and ready!

More New News

Turns out that Katherine Stern, longtime chef at La Posta, and current chef at Bad Animal, will be leaving in mid-September to take her expertise to her own dining room (something many of us have fantasized about her doing for several years) next door to the Rio Theater. Where once there was Oyunaa’s Mongolian Cuisine, there will now be a new dinner house featuring Stern’s vibrant stylings. Meanwhile, going into Bad Animal will be a new Thai cookery called Hanloh. Could this be the restaurant revitalization we’ve all been waiting for? Hope so.

Venus Pie Trap

Yes, it is a clever play on the name of that carnivorous plant we all used to tinker with in junior high botany classes. But it’s about to become much much more. I’m convinced that distiller and hospitality entrepreneur Sean Venus stays up nights dreaming up new extensions to his delicious empire, because now there’s one more reason to thank Venus, and that’s the new pie, coffee and pizza place right next door to the still brand-new Venus Beachside, the posh saloon and dining place facing the beach at Rio del Mar. Venus Pie Trap is deeply interested in pies, pies as in the sort with sweet and savory fillings; pies as in pizza pies, especially the New Haven-style pizza Sean Venus recalls from his Connecticut childhood days. So that means we’ll be able to sample such New Haven pies (I still need to check out the exact definition of “New Haven” pie) as the clam and garlic variety, and many others. The new beachfront Pie Trap will source pies from Oakland’s Edith’s Pie (so we don’t have to make the oft-challenging drive up to Oakland), pastries from the awesome Manresa Bread and bagels from Holey Roller. Coffees will come from Santa Cruz fave 11th Hour. So essentially you can make a single all-day stop at Rio del Mar. Arrive in the morning for coffee and pastries, lunch on a New Haven pizza slice and then slide on over to the Venus cocktail outlet right next door for drinks and some aquatic theme dining. Thank you Sean.

Venus Pie Trap, Tuesday-Sunday, 7am-3pm; 113 Esplanade, Aptos. venuspietrap.com.

Big Basin Grenache

I love Grenache. Love the grape, love the color, love the gorgeous flavor. And Big Basin Vineyards founding winemaker Bradley Brown makes as good a Grenache as you’ll find. So you’ve got plenty of reasons to stop by the glamorous downtown tasting room, at the foot of Pacific & Cooper for a vertical flight of these lovely wines. $45 flight. Club members receive 50% off flight.

Thursday, Sept. 15, 4-9pm. 525 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. bigbasinvineyards.com.

New CZU Fire Book Aims for ‘Hope and Healing’

California News

Christina Wise

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September 5, 2022

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New CZU Fire Book Aims for ‘Hope and Healing’

Two years ago, the CZU Lightning Complex fires erupted, leaving 86,500 acres charred between the Santa Cruz Mountains and San Mateo County. More than 1,490 structures were lost, and more than 900 homes in Santa Cruz County burned. In Big Basin, 97% of the 18,000-acre forest burned, and thousands were forced to flee their homes with whatever they could grab. Some folks had go-bags packed and ready; others were caught by surprise and escaped with just the clothing they had on their backs.

The trauma of the event touched every resident of the Santa Cruz Mountains and Scotts Valley as homes were evacuated, businesses were closed and the start of school was delayed—all of it during a pandemic that raged across the country.

Jo Romaniello is a marriage and family therapist who lived near Big Basin in the Forest Springs neighborhood, also known as The Acorns. Romaniello says a third of homes in his neighborhood were torched, and their water system was severely damaged.

“We didn’t return home for almost six months due to the state refusing to lift the no-use order for our water,” Romaniello says.

After the danger subsided, Romaniello created a Facebook group, “Boulder Creek and the CZU Fire Book Project.” Locals impacted by the fire were welcomed to share their stories, and the fledgling idea grew into a book that just dropped in August.

The People Not the Fire: Stories of Resilience is the result of a collaborative effort between Romaniello, co-editors Taylor Kimble and Lisa Manak-Brown, and story and photo submissions from locals throughout the San Lorenzo Valley. Every story is gripping, and each photo captures the tragic scenes cemented in the victims’ memories.

“We wanted to avoid any controversy and create a book for hope and healing,” says Romaniello. “I decided that we needed something for healing, so I invited people to contribute their stories.

Romaniello says that the participation on the page “mushroomed” a few weeks into the process.

“I found that a lot of folks wanted to participate. Taylor contacted me and wanted to support the project, so she and I worked together to communicate with residents,” Romaniello says. “Some wanted to be interviewed and have their stories written down by others; some wanted to write their stories themselves, and we welcomed them all. About a year into it, Lisa joined in, so for the last year, the three of us worked on the project.”

Kimble is a writer and freelance editor and knew she wanted to contribute to the project.

“I was training to be an editor at the time and felt I could help support Jo’s idea,” says Kimble. “As we were collecting the stories, there was such a range of feelings—some of them were funny, some were heartbreaking and some were inspirational.”

Kimble’s home on China Grade was spared, but many of her neighbors lost theirs. Kimble reached out to Manak-Brown to join the team.

“I’m a middle school teacher by trade, and I’ve always been eager to go on a new adventure with my writing,” says Manak-Brown. “I saw the Facebook group page and wondered how I could support the project. I ran into Taylor, and she said she was part of the book creation and invited me to join in.

“It was wonderful to participate in the project, not just because I wrote my own story, but since all the proceeds are going to our local volunteer fire departments, it’s benefitting others. Plus, it’s helping others heal by writing their stories and sharing them. I’m now looking for a new life in writing.”

Of all the stories in the book, Manak-Brown says the most compelling and impactful one was from Gemma Locatelli.

“I couldn’t imagine what she had gone through, losing her property,” says Manak-Brown through tears. “People do not understand the danger she was in—hearing a man scream while trying to move horses from her property, abandoning her vehicles and met with a wall of flames as she tried to escape. The horror she endured is unimaginable.”

While residents shared their stories, a local business went a step further. HeartMath LLC, a Boulder Creek-based company that focuses on personal wellness through “heart intelligence,” not only provided training and respite for firefighters during the CZU blaze but also paid for participants in the book to receive a copy.

“Their generosity was overwhelming, and we’re so grateful for their support,” says Romaniello.

Ultimately, says Kimble, the book is one of hope.

“Out of all of the turmoil people have endured, each story had something hopeful to share, whether it’s the regrowth of plants or preparing for next time or bonding with strangers. Community is a huge part of this book,” says Kimble. “There are so many situations that can destroy a community, but it was a relief to see how the opposite happened—the fire brought people together in a unique and valuable way.”

‘The People Not the Fire: Stories of Resilience’ is available on Amazon. All proceeds go to the Santa Cruz Mountains’ volunteer fire departments.

Watsonville High Students Challenge Dress Code

Local News

Todd Guild

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September 5, 2022

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Watsonville High Students Challenge Dress Code

In the coming weeks, Watsonville High School students will join forces with administrators, teachers and parents to hammer out a new dress code that will promote campus safety and encourage a modicum of decorum while allowing students to express themselves through fashion.

But the school year did not start on such a cooperative note.

Instead, on the Friday before school started students found that a new dress code had already been created for them—without their input—and contained rules, they found unnecessary.

The students banded together, circulating a petition among their peers, talking to school administrators and addressing the Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees.

The school listened.

The new rules—more restrictive and specific than previous ones, students say—seemed to focus on what female students could wear, says junior Bella Umeki-Martinez. Some rules included limiting shorts and skirts to a minimum of 5 inches and banning sheer tops, underwear worn as outerwear, strapless shirts and shirts that show midriffs.

“It was mostly targeting women and the female body,” Umeki-Martinez says.

The code also banned baggy pants and belts hanging below the shirt hem. In addition, hats with red or blue made the list, as did black, red or blue rosaries.

Law enforcement officials say that criminal street gangs are known to identify with those colors, but the students say such a rule is misguided since most gang activity doesn’t occur on campus.

“We felt a bit that it was criminalizing our students,” Umeki-Martinez says. “I understand they want to keep us safe, but the only problem was that it wasn’t communicated effectively. We know we live in an area where there is more gang activity than other schools, but it felt that they were saying any student who wears red or blue must be affiliated. That’s how it came off to us.”

Alvaro Felix, 16, agreed and added that the policy against rosaries appeared to attack the Latinx and religious community.

“We thought targeting religion was inappropriate, considering this is America,” he says.

Indeed, federal courts have ruled that banning students from wearing rosaries infringes on their First Amendment rights to express their religion.

Several local high schools, including Soquel, Aptos and Pajaro Valley, also feel that preventing students from wearing colors associated with criminal gangs helps curb potential violence. However, there is little empirical evidence supporting such a notion.

“I don’t think it’s ever been a school problem,” Felix says. “It doesn’t involve colors. It never has.”

Morielle Mamaril, 17, the school’s associated student body co-president, says that policies going after what students wear do not address the fundamental problem surrounding gangs in schools. Instead, she says, the school should dig deeper, offering expanded counseling services and other help.

Worries about the particulars of the dress code aside, Felix says that students’ main concern was that they were not included in the creation process.

“More inclusivity is exactly what we needed,” he says. “There’s only one way to really fix this issue—and that’s with the student body and the parents and the community. The fact that they are taking student input, we deeply appreciate that.”

Senior Fernanda Jordan says that many students felt they were being treated like children, particularly the admonition in the code prohibiting bare feet.

“Because at the end of the day, we are young adults, and we know not to come to school without shoes,” she says.

Watsonville High Principal Clara Fernandez says that the new rules will be more student-centered while focusing on keeping them safe.

“Ultimately the goal is to have a dress code that is appropriate, and that does not discriminate against any particular viewpoint or result in any disproportionate application based on student gender or sexual orientation,” she says. “Hopefully, we can come together and create an equitable and well-implemented dress code where students feel that they have the right to self-expression while keeping safety at the core, because that’s really what the intent is.”

While the controversy was growing in the first days of school, Assistant Principal Jeff Daucher added fuel to the fire with comments about the dress code he made to the students.

In a recording made by a student posted to social media, Daucher could be heard asking what message female students send to their male counterparts with what they wear.

He also says in the recording that girls who wear clothes showing their midriff should first have “abs,” Umeki-Martinez says.

That reaction from a school official disturbed many students.

“When he sees a girl wearing an outfit like that, it’s like an invitation for boys and him to make advances,” she says. “It was the message behind the dress code which the students were upset by.”

PVUSD officials are not commenting on the matter since it involves personnel issues. In a letter sent to parents, district officials say that Daucher’s statement “was not aligned with our community beliefs.”

“I have spoken to the individual to ensure they understand the impact of the statement, and we are committed to ensuring that we continue to address comments that could disrupt the learning environment,” the letter read.

In advance of the upcoming talks, students are invited to fill out an online survey to help participants shape the new policy.

“Now we can move forward and create better change in the future,” Umeki-Martinez says, adding that she hopes the new model of creating school-wide policy could inspire other schools to do the same. “We could see a very positive change collectively.”

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Your book is a methodical look into the web of decisions made over the previous century, as we’ve figured out how to bring gas and electricity into our homes. Why did you feel it was necessary to go that granular for the reader to be able to understand PG&E’s history?

A lot of people in this area have been touched by fires. What do you hope that California residents can get out of your book?

One of the most frustrating moments in the book is after PG&E is convicted for the first time, in the San Bruno gas explosion case where eight people died. And then suddenly the prosecution drops its ask from half a billion dollars to $3 million. How should we make sense of this?

The book is, to some extent, a character drama. Tell me about some of your favorite characters.

I liked that you went through the history of California governors, including the role that Arnold Schwarzenegger played in putting climate change at the forefront. Do you still have hope that California can lead the way into a green energy future?

Best Laid Plans

Public Demand

An Evening with Friends

Greek Festival

Santa Cruz County Fair

How has your past influenced your hospitality career?

What makes Riva a cut above?

Bread Prophecy

More New News

Venus Pie Trap

Big Basin Grenache