Letters

Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor

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September 10, 2025

PROP 50: A PRINCIPLED RESPONSE

Already, we’re seeing misinformation about Prop 50. Let’s set the record straight. Prop 50 provides an opportunity for Californians to “fight fire with fire” right now and protect our independent redistricting process for the future.

President Trump and Texas Republicans have redrawn their congressional districts to take five additional seats and rig the outcome of the 2026 midterm elections. Prop 50 is a temporary measure that will create a counter-map, adding five seats for Democrats for the 2026 election. This isn’t about gaining a permanent advantage; it’s about neutralizing an anti-democratic power grab from outside our state.

Under Prop 50 our Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission will once again redraw congressional districts in 2031. Proposition 50 also takes a stand for long-term solutions—calling for a nationwide standard of nonpartisan redistricting—a principled response to real threats to our democracy.

Claire Schneeberger | Santa Cruz

WORKERS UNITE

Workers deserve fair pay, safe working conditions, affordable healthcare and the freedom to retire with dignity. We deserve the right to join unions that give workers a voice; an economy that works for all families, not only the wealthy; and a democracy where every voice is heard and every vote counts.

Workers and families deserve fully funded public schools that are safe, welcoming, relevant and engaging, as well as higher education that is accessible, affordable and free from political intrusion.

President Donald Trump campaigned on making life better and more affordable for working families, and I’m sad to say that his administration has not delivered on these promises. Instead, we have seen funding slashed for schools, healthcare, child care and more—while handing tax breaks to the ultra-wealthy.

Our family members and communities will be sicker, hungrier and poorer. We deserve so much better.

Whether it’s peacefully protesting with our neighbors and co-workers in the streets, forming a union at our workplaces, or engaging with elected officials in Congress, let’s work together to fight for the future that all workers deserve.

Daniel Fajardo | Salinas

MORE TRAILBLAZERS

I’d like to nominate Tim Eagan for inclusion in your Trailblazers list. Eagan was a seminal figure in the history of Santa Cruz alternative journalism starting in the 1970s. He contributed illustrations, cartoons and comic strips (including the sublimely anarchistic Subconscious Comics) to the Good Times (way back in the day), Sundaz, the Independent, the Express, the Comic News and more. He ran a memorable satirical campaign (complete with rabbit ears) for Santa Cruz County District Attorney. He volunteered at nonprofit KUSP-FM, producing and starring in the 15-Minute Comedy Hour, a throwback to the golden age of live radio comedy. More recently, he published Head First, a graphic novel. Tim Eagan was a vital part of Santa Cruz’s creative pulse for some 50 years. He passed away just last month and is greatly missed by his family, many friends, collaborators and fans.

Michael S. Gant | Aptos

HELP A SCHOOL OUT

Main St. Elementary School in Soquel is asking for help to raise $1,000 to create a sensory room that will support students, especially those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and ADHD. The space will include calming lights, sensory swings, fidget tools, and other equipment to help children manage stress, self-regulate, and return to learning focused and ready. A GoFundMe has been created to fund these specialized items and ensure all students have access to a safe, supportive environment.

Unfortunately, our budget does not currently allow for the purchase of the specialized sensory equipment we need to make this room a reality. Your donation will go directly toward purchasing sensory tools and furnishings that are proven to support regulation, focus, and emotional well-being in children.gofundme.com/f/support-our-schools-sensory-room-for-all-students

Kristen Mitchell | Soquel

Back to the Land

Wellness

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September 10, 2025

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Twelve years ago, the very first Open Farm Tours event was, quite literally, a washout. Held in early November at the Corralitos Women’s Center, the debut coincided with the heaviest rainstorm of the year. The 4-H animal zoo zone was mired in mud, music was canceled, and even the tomato canning demo had to be scrapped. Still, about 100 intrepid locals showed up, proving there was something special about the idea of opening our farms to the public.

Today, Open Farm Tours has blossomed into a growing annual event that welcomes hundreds of visitors from Santa Cruz, the Bay Area and beyond. Set each year on Indigenous Peoples’ Day weekend (Oct. 11–12), the tours now span two full days and dozens of farms across the county. What started as a hopeful experiment has become a vibrant celebration of agriculture, sustainability and community.

“I really wanted to create something like Open Studios—but for farms,” organizer Penny Ellis explains. “I’ve always loved visiting artists in their studios, and thought, why not farmers? People need to understand where their food comes from, and to see that farming is not just a job—it’s a way of caring for the earth.”

The tours offer more than a glimpse of fields and farm stands. Visitors are invited into the daily rhythms of working farms: pressing apple cider at Live Earth Farm, sampling jam at the Homeless Garden Project, or wandering through rows of dahlias at Beeline Blooms.

Prevedelli Farm will demonstrate apple butter cooking, complete with pie and ice cream, while Swanton Berry Farm will host educational booths highlighting farmworker rights and sustainable agriculture. Other highlights include performances by the Watsonville Taiko Drummers, hands-on U-Pick options, and tastings that bring home the flavor of the local terroir.

This year, to make exploring easier, the event is now divided geographically—South County farms open Saturday, North County farms on Sunday. Grouping farms by region means less time on the road and more time in the fields. Admission is $25 per carload (up to five people), encouraging carpooling and keeping traffic low. “It’s really more fun to visit farms with your family and friends anyway,” Ellis says.

But Open Farm Tours is about more than food and fun. At its heart, it’s a lesson in what the organizers call relational wealth. Unlike material wealth, relational wealth is built on the connections we foster—with each other, with farmers and with the land itself. “We tend to measure everything in terms of profit,” Ellis explains, “but real wealth is about relationships. It’s about community health, emotional wellbeing and caring for the earth. That’s what really defines our quality of life.”

This philosophy runs through every part of the tours. Meeting the people who grow our food brings farming into focus as an act of stewardship. Guests learn about soil microbes, the impact of pesticides, and the critical role sustainable practices play in protecting both ecosystems and human health. Local history comes alive too, from Swanton Berry’s pioneering role as the first organic strawberry farm certified by CCOF, to its early contract with the United Farm Workers.

The event has endured challenges, from the pandemic—when in-person tours switched to online webinars—to climate extremes. But each year, the program adapts and grows, proving that resilience is built into the fabric of local farming.

For families attending for the first time, the advice is simple: don’t try to do it all. “Most people visit six or seven farms in a day, and that’s plenty,” Ellis notes. “It’s not about rushing to check every box. Take time to slow down, enjoy the farm activities, taste the food, and really connect with the experience.”

That spirit of slowing down resonates deeply in today’s fast-paced world. The Open Farm Tours remind us that farming is not just about mass production, but cultivating culture, community and care. Whether you’re sipping fresh cider, chatting with a grower about soil health, or simply watching kids run through an orchard, the event offers a glimpse of a more mindful, grounded way of living.

As Ellis reflects, “I try to lead my life by moving in a positive direction—community-oriented, heart-centered. Open Farm Tours is really about manifesting the change we want to see in the world. Healthier food, stronger relationships and a deeper connection to the land. That’s what it’s all about.”

If You Go: Open Farm Tours

South County tours on Saturday, Oct. 11, 10am–4pm: Dos Aguilas Olive Grove, Prevedelli Farm, Live Earth Farm, Esperanza Community Farms, Thomas Farm & Blossom’s Biodynamic Farm. Luz Del Valle Farm in Aptos serves a BBQ lunch 11–3pm in addition to their tour.

North County tours on Sunday, Oct. 12, Sunday, 10am–4pm: Flip Flop Farm, Beeline Blooms, Pie Ranch, Post Street Farm, Homeless Garden Project, Santa Cruz Permaculture, Swanton Berry Farm & Rodoni Farm. Sea to Sky Farm in Bonny Doon serves a BBQ lunch 11–3pm in addition to their tour. For more info, visit openfarmtours.com.

Elizabeth Borelli is a certified nutrition and wellness coach based in Santa Cruz. She helps clients build sustainable self-care practices. Learn more at elizabethborelli.com.

Free Will Astrology

Astrology

Rob Brezsny

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September 10, 2025

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ARIES March 21-April 19

I can’t speak the Quechua language, which is Indigenous to the Andes Mountains. But I have lifted one of their words to use for our purposes here: munay. It refers to an intensely practical and visionary love that includes far more than sweet feelings and affection. When we practice munay, we offer discerning respect and detailed appreciation to those we adore. We are generously eager to help our allies live their best lives. It takes discipline! And focus! And ingenuity! To be a rigorous and vigorous source of munay, we must cultivate it as a daily practice. In the coming weeks, Aries, I hope you will go a bit wild in your expression of this tender force of nature. Imagine yourself as a gentle whirlwind of love that spreads interesting beauty and bestows useful blessings. Be a relentless dispenser of catalytic gifts.

TAURUS April 20-May 20

The medieval Persian polymath Avicenna believed the soul entered the fetus not with the first heartbeat, but with the first dream. I offer this idea for your poetic consideration, dear Taurus. Let’s imagine that the next beautiful thing you create will not arise from your forceful intention. Rather, it will emerge because you give yourself permission to fantasize, to wander freely in wonder, and to meander with curiosity on the frontiers. Your assignment is not to hustle, but to incubate; not to push forward, but to dwell expectantly in the mystery.

GEMINI May 21-June 20

The bowerbird constructs elaborate ground-based shrines not as nests but as seduction lures. The enticer might gather blue bottle caps, yellow flowers and shiny stones so as to create a scene that piques the attention of a potential mate. These objets d’art are not merely decorative. They are displays that demonstrate discernment, skill and aesthetic intelligence. I authorize you to be like a bowerbird, Gemini. What collection of symbols, words, gestures and curiosities will magnetize the people or opportunities you long to engage with? It’s not about flashiness; it’s about alignment. What you draw into your sphere will reflect the vibes you emanate.

CANCER June 21-July 22

The pearl doesn’t begin as treasure. In its earliest form, it’s an irritation: a grain of sand that’s really a wound inside the oyster. Over time, the creature coats it with layers of nacre, turning discomfort into luminescence. Let’s use that as a metaphor for you, Cancerian. In my view, your task right now is not to escape or shed what’s bugging you, but to expedite the coating process. What is that gritty thing? A memory, injustice or unmet yearning? It’s crucial you don’t reject it and don’t let it fester. I think it’s best to turn it, layer by layer, into a luminous asset, even a treasure. Prediction: The pearl you form will long outlast the wound.

LEO July 23-Aug. 22

Olive trees can thrive in rugged environments, including rocky and nutrient-poor soils. Their root systems are wide, deep and resilient. They are well-adapted to full sun, high temperatures and low water availability. In comparing you to an olive tree, Leo, I’m not implying you will always have to be as hardy as they are. But in the coming weeks, you will be wise to be equally plucky and persevering. Here’s another fact about the olive tree you can and should emulate: Its fruit is valuable and in demand.

VIRGO Aug. 23-Sept. 22

The Basenji is a dog breed that doesn’t bark. Instead, it produces an eerie, melodic yodel called a baroo. This oddity isn’t a flaw or drawback; it’s an interesting uniqueness. In the coming weeks, Virgo, I invite you to express your personal versions of the baroo—your idiosyncratic offerings and singular gifts. Playfully resist the pressure to be more conventional or “on brand.” Be faithful to what yearns to come out of you, which may be raw, radiant and a little weird. Let your authenticity be exactly what it is: a beacon, not a liability.

LIBRA Sept. 23-Oct. 22

Scientists discovered that some caterpillars, while dissolving inside their cocoons, retain memories of their caterpillar lives even after becoming butterflies. In my view, that’s equivalent to us humans remembering details of our previous incarnations: having an all-new body but being able to draw on what our past body learned. According to my analysis of the astrological omens, you will be able to draw on this amazing capacity in the coming weeks. The person you used to be will have key revelations and inspirations for the future you.

SCORPIO Oct. 23-Nov. 21

According to Celtic mythology, Cerridwen is the goddess of inspiration. In her cauldron, she brews magical elixirs that bestow the powers of wisdom, creativity and transformation. The humans most likely to earn her blessings are those who are patient and willing to be changed. Of all the signs in the zodiac, you Scorpios are now at the top of the eligibility list for gifts like these. And the next three weeks will be the most favorable time for you to ask for and receive such blessings. Here’s a clue that will help you get all you deserve: Believe in magic.

SAGITTARIUS Nov. 22-Dec. 21

In ancient Chinese philosophy, ziran means naturalness, spontaneity. It might refer to the way a mountain is purely a mountain, and a wave is a wave without trying to be a wave. I think you Sagittarians are due for an extended engagement with this wild ease and elegant freedom. After weeks of inner labor, your soul wants to breathe in ziran. Your assignment is to let yourself be as natural and unconstrained as you dare—not correct or careful or “optimized.” So I advise you to head in the direction of what’s simple and real and good. Emphasize smoothness over effort. Choose your rhythm, not theirs. You aren’t required to prove your healing. You just have to live it.

CAPRICORN Dec. 22-Jan. 19

“Serendipity” is an English term that refers to beautiful accidents, fortunate interruptions, unexpected opportunities and surprisingly wonderful discoveries (The French equivalent is sérendipité; Italian: serendipità; Japanese: serendipiti.) The word didn’t exist until 1754, when author Horace Walpole coined it. Lovely outbreaks of good luck and uncanny blessings had been happening from time immemorial, of course, even though there wasn’t this precise word for them. Here’s a key point: They are more likely to occur if you believe they’re possible and make yourself alert for their arrival. That’s good advice for you right now.

AQUARIUS Jan. 20-Feb. 18

The placenta is the only organ that the human body creates from scratch and then discards. Let’s pause for a moment to register how remarkable this is: to grow a temporary life-support system and then jettison it once its purpose is fulfilled. Inspired by this miracle, I speculate that you may soon undertake a metaphorical version of it. A situation or experience that has nurtured you is reaching the end of its mission. Though it has served you well, the wise move might be to outgrow it and move on to a new phase of your evolution. At the very least, it’s time to embark on a search for new forms of nourishment.

PISCES Feb. 19-March 20

In Balinese gamelan music, there’s a technique called kotekan. Two instrumentalists play distinct musical parts that together create a seamless, intricately melodic and rhythmic texture. Let’s make this your metaphor to live by in the coming weeks, Pisces. In my astrological opinion, you are not meant to work solo. Your greatest success and most fun will come by generating harmony through collaborative improvisation and shared timing. A small warning: Someone else’s input may at first feel like interference, but it’s actually the missing part of the song. Let yourself blend, bounce, echo and respond. Genius will be born in the spaces between.

Homework: Give yourself a pep talk about how smart you plan to become about love. Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com

Seabright Might

Foodie File

Andrew Steingrube

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September 10, 2025

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At Tramonti, a Seabright dining scene staple since it opened in 2012, front-of-house operations are captained by manager Nicole Bullock. Born and raised in Felton, she worked in fine dining both locally and abroad in Italy and southern France. She has also known co-owner Luca and his wife for many years, witnessing them fall in love while they in turn witnessed her professional glow-up. So, when Bullock approached Luca five years ago and asked to become a part of Tramonti, he said “yes” before she could even finish asking the question.

Bullock defines the restaurant as a blend of fine and casual dining, with paramount focus on excellent service and presentation. The décor is described as eclectic European—vibrant, colorful and warm with black accents, cement floors and a modern coziness. Bullock says the menu’s recipes are a blend of Luca’s northern Italian heritage and co-owner Eric’s French/Corsican background.

Best appetizers include baked prawns wrapped in soppressata and burrata cheese paired with Sicilian-style marinated veggies. Entrée highlights are a baked Mediterranean-sourced branzino, mussels in white wine garlic broth and a short rib ravioli. Desserts track with classic Italian tiramisu and French chocolate mousse, and beverage options are beer, spritz cocktails, mocktails and a European-centric wine list.

Describe your industry education in Europe?

NICOLE BULLOCK: Being very young and working in France at a two Michelin star restaurant, I learned the discipline and teamwork required to provide the utmost level of service. I observed from others about the commitment and drive that it takes to provide the hospitality necessary for an optimal experience. During my second stint in Europe while working in Italy, I learned how to challenge some of those rules with that same drive but with a more relaxed and heart-forward approach. The service here at Tramonti is a product of these values and is well-aligned with my own and our team’s sensibilities.

To what do you attribute Tramonti’s strong local following?

It’s been years and years of many people’s hard work, many of whom have been here since we opened 13 years ago like our chefs José and Fernando. I owe our success to our owners and our incredible and diverse staff who have committed so much time and effort to our operation, as well as our beautiful and supportive Seabright community.

528 Seabright Ave., Santa Cruz, 831-426-7248; tramontisantacruz.com

Shore Thing

Dining Reviews

Mark C. Anderson

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September 10, 2025

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Under the headline “The Strange Journey of La Bahia,” Good Times reported the Santa Cruz City Council had already approved the then-125-room hotel project two years prior, but a long road to completion remained.

That story ran July 19, 2011.

So the fact that La Bahia Hotel & Spa (215 Beach St., Santa Cruz) started welcoming guests on Sept. 8 represents a historic breakthrough.

While it’s a massive upgrade to have a luxury property in the heart of Beach Street fully operational, there is a sweetener: Locals can embrace the new destination without coughing up $450-$950 for a night in one of the more affordable rooms, or upwards of $1,600 for one of the suites.

Executive Chef Fernando Reyes, who helmed the kitchen at Carmel Valley Ranch after time at Maravilla Los Cabos and Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay, oversees La Bahia’s four different epicurean venues.

High Tide rolls in as “the signature restaurant with a quintessential coastal dining experience,” per a Bahia press release.

Sister sit-down spot

Pearl, meanwhile, comes cast as a “lobby champagne lounge taking cues from London’s legendary hotel bars.” And spot #4, Plunge, works as a poolside bar and grill.

“Collectively,” the promotional materials continue, the quadruple offerings “marry the rich flavors of Santa Cruz as an agricultural hub with innovative dishes and immersive, Pacific Rim-inspired offerings.” labahiahotel.com/dine

MORE THAN FAIR

Go get you all the carnival rides, magic shows, live concerts, pro wrestling (!?), percussive dance, livestock, camel rides, FMX-Ramp-Age, pig races, fair food, horse shows, exhibit halls, drone light show in the sky and…do it as a discount. The Santa Cruz County Fair brings a lot to SCC Fairgrounds (2601 E. Lake Ave., Watsonville), but it doesn’t cost a lot. Seniors are only $10 on opening day, Sept. 10, and veterans are free. Kids (12 and under) are free Sept. 11. Kids 5 and under are free every day, as are active military (with ID). Carpoolers with five or more people in their car get free parking, and there are also additional deals and ticket packages up at tickets.santacruzcountyfair.com

BUSTING UP

Sophie Egan composed a fascinating piece in The New York Times titled “10 Nutrition Myths Experts Wish Would Die.” Several stick out among them, including Myth No. 1: “Fresh fruits and vegetables are always healthier than canned, frozen or dried varieties,” No. 2: “All fat is bad,” No. 5: “Plant milk is healthier than dairy milk,” and my favorite, No. 8: “The protein in plants is incomplete.” That reminds me: On Oct. 17 at 1440 Multiversity in Scotts Valley, the Food As Medicine Health Conference cometh, pulling together healthcare professionals, researchers and experts from various fields to explore the latest scientific findings, clinical applications and practical insights related to plant-based diets, foodasmedicinesantacruz.org.

LOTS OF PLOTS

Positively Groundfish has a cool new incubator for clever seafood startups called Catch+Create, designed to support early-stage small businesses in launching West Coast groundfish product ideas into market-ready successes, whether canned seafood, snacks from the sea, prepared meals, frozen items, pet food, or even ways to leverage groundfish byproducts, positivelygroundfish.org/accelerator…The Harlem Globetrotters announced this week their 100th Anniversary World Tour will make a stop at Kaiser Permanente Arena, home of the Santa Cruz Warriors, on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. Tickets will go on sale on Monday, Sept. 22, at 10am and can be purchased at ticketmaster.com…Good readers, start your appetites: National Cheeseburger Day hits Sept. 18…Matthew McConaughey, see us out: “Man who invented the hamburger was smart; man who invented the cheeseburger was a genius.”

Zin and Virtue

Vine & Dine

Josie Cowden

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September 10, 2025

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Fall weather and zinfandel go together like meat and potatoes. As the days get cooler, a hearty glass of zin is just the ticket.

Fresh out of the gate is Frank Family Vineyards’ 2023 Zinfandel ($45). And it’s just what we need for cooler autumnal evenings—full-throttle flavors of dark fruits, and enticing aromas of pepper, cinnamon and spice. Winemaker Todd Graff has added a blending splash of petit sirah for depth, crafting a zin with energy and balance that pairs well with roasts and hearty pasta.

Frank Family is an interesting place to visit—and their 19th-century stone winery is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Frank Family Vineyards, 1091 Larkmead Lane, Calistoga, 707-942-0859. Frankfamilyvineyards.com

Help Out Helping Hands

There is still time to get tickets for Hospice of Santa Cruz County’s fabulous fundraiser, organized by the Friends of Hospice group of volunteers. An Evening With Friends dinner will be held from 3 to 7pm, Sunday, Sept. 21 at Lester Estate Wines in Aptos. For tickets and more details, visit hospicesantacruz.org/ewf.

A Fair to Remember

Not to be missed is the annual Santa Cruz County Fair at the Fairgrounds in Watsonville. My husband and I go every year—first making a beeline to visit the farm animals before heading to the food stands. The peaceful cows, docile sheep and grunting pigs are all adorable, and gentle goats love to nuzzle against your outstretched hand. For many years, I have been one of the judges for the Amateur Wine Competition—and at this year’s competition in August we tasted some excellent vinos. Check them all out on display in the Fairgrounds Heritage Hall, including the double-gold winners.

The fair runs Sept. 10-14 at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds on Highway 152 in Watsonville. For details on entertainment, daily events and a map of the attractions, visit santacruzcountyfair.com.

Magic Hour

Music

DNA

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September 10, 2025

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In these weary, troubled times, many continue to find joy and inspiration in reggae music. So who is it, in 2025, that is carrying the torch, through the darkness, and raising it to the highest? It’s Black Uhuru—who will be appearing at Moe’s Alley on Saturday, Sept. 13.

Black Uhuru (formed in 1972), has always been one of the most scintillating bands in reggae. Following in the legendary footsteps of Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff, Burning Spear and many others, Black Uhuru has carried the tradition of spreading the tenets of Rastafarianism farther and further to a wider audience.

It was in the 1980s that Black Uhuru (with their rotating members) was a supergroup with Derrick “Duckie” Simpson, Puma Jones and Michael Rose. Three iconic personas preaching the way of Jah and upspeaking the path of social justice. Their sounds permeated the fabric of Kingston, Jamaica.

Starting in 1997, Andrew Bees, alongside original member Duckie Simpson, took the microphone and the thunder rumbled once again. Black Uhuru had found another vocal lyricist who could channel the blessings and fiery embellishments the band had become famous for.

Andrew Bees grew up in the rough-and-tumble Waterhouse district of Kingston. Waterhouse was a revolutionary watershed of talent due to King Tubby’s futuristic tinkering. Tubby’s studio created dubplates for innovator Lee “Scratch” Perry, and the first remix, which spawned electronica and EDM. Andrew Bees was steeped and stewed in the culture, philosophies and music of Rastafarianism.

Having spent the last decade in Antioch, California, Bees uses it as a base for his world travels. “Growing up in Waterhouse, was massive all over the world and, you know, the media,” says Bees, whose thick patois has not lessened since his early years.

While Jamaica is glamorized as a reggae hub, it’s also often overlooked that modern-day Jamaica grew out of the slave trade that was brought there in the 16th century. “I grew up in Waterhouse, you know, we’re black and exist, and we’re far more than that media. That’s where we started.”

And yet, the reggae path out of a hardscrabble life was not unwanted or unknown. “It’s so fortunate that when I was a baby born, my father tell me that Andrew’s gonna live in that world,” says Bees.

It’s one thing to front a reggae band, but when you are called upon to stand with the elders of your community, it’s another level. “You know it’s a blessing. Because you know it’s a dynasty and we feel privileged to come and keep the dynasty,” Bees says.

Black Uhuru’s Tiny Desk performance is a master class in controlling the moment. Crowded into a tight space that might be considered a setback, Black Uhuru truly seems to feel the in-the-pocket grooves. Bees is sharp, concise and in step with Duckie’s bigger-than-life presence. Not to be left out, vocalist Elsa Green adds the sweet harmonies.

Compare that intimacy with Black Uhuru’s 2011 performance at Bonnaroo in Tennessee, in front of 85,000 people. How does a performer keep that connection with the music and the audience? “Differently. I just keep focused with the people, you know, the vibration of the people you know is what you know. So I always go with a positive vibration to the people and get grounded with them. And once that energy rise, that’s where I take it, you know,” Bees says.

And while the music is crucial, the message of Rastafarianism is what is being slipped between the mesmerizing trance of the bass and drums. Which is that Haile Selassie, former emperor of Ethiopia, was the fulfillment of Jah’s promise. “He who stands for Africa and he who stands for the countries of the world. He stands for everyone, you know. He was very structured, and very educated, and very determined to see that people understand themselves as human beings. A man who speak for the countries of the world and for every nation. You know? Who would love to see peace, love, harmony and upliftment for all race and no matter where you’re from. Right?”

Black Uhuru plays at 9pm on Sept. 13 at Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $40/adv, $45 door.

Prejudice…and Pride

Performance

Christina Waters

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September 10, 2025

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It takes skill, courage and psychological insight to forge an organic theater piece using only three players and a controversial script. Yet that’s exactly what Santa Cruz Shakespeare’s Rebecca Haley Clark has done with Athol Fugard’s “Master Harold” … and the Boys. Emotional intensity ripples through each line, each exchange, each gesture of this disarming production.

The genius of Fugard, a white South African who grew up amid the injustices of apartheid, is to be able to intensify the shock of racial prejudice by writing it into an intimate rainy afternoon spent by a privileged white teenager and two black employees at his mother’s tearoom. A quick glance at Fugard’s biography shows that the white teenager, called Hally by longtime family employee Sam (Corey Jones), is a surrogate for Fugard himself. Both the character and his creator had handicapped fathers. Fugard’s first name was Harold. And both Hally and Fugard stepped over an invisible line in their youth. Written in 1982, ten years before the end of apartheid, the play is set in 1950s South Africa. Corey Jones is breathtaking.

Especially strong in its middle section, the play is richly textured with the reminiscences of young Hally (a faultless Nick Rossi) and the older black man, Sam. Sam offers help with Hally’s homework essay, and soon the discussions become animated with memories of a joyful day of kite flying with Sam. But fueled by his mother’s intrusive phone calls the tearoom conversation escalates, with Hally’s embarrassment over his alcoholic father’s handicap boiling over into the demand that Sam now call him Master Harold, as Willy (Elliot Sagay) always does.

Here is where Clark shows her gifts for psychological nuance. The bold and frank confessions of all three characters sent shivers through opening night’s audience, who understandably had difficulty with Fugard’s historically accurate use of the “N” word. The play opens with the two black employees setting up the tea room for customers, big band swing music playing in the background. In between setting up tables, glassware and other accessories, Sagay and Jones show off their dancing prowess. Corey Jones is breathtaking. Clark’s actors fill the stage with enough bits of action, movement and fussing around that the space soon bristles with real-world texture. Sagay, who in this season’s repertoire has shown himself capable of just about anything, is a miracle of movement. Subtly, and continuously, he sets up, cleans and then puts away everything in the tearoom’s inventory. His movements create a living tissue of context that gives intensity and credibility to the more dramatic events.

As Hally, Nick Rossi does exactly what he has to in an unsympathetic role. Hally is the repository of centuries of prejudice, oblivious to the legal boundaries that separate his privilege from the lives of Sam and Willy. Rossi manages to stand his ground against the virtuoso presence of Corey Jones as the wise, patient and ultimately defiant Sam. Jones is extraordinary throughout, delivering a towering performance, brilliant and brave. His final moments onstage with Sagay—smartly designed and lit with bravura—were among the most poignant this stage has ever seen. I still get chills.

The central drama between the young white man and the older black employee has been given room to breathe by an enveloping preoccupation with an upcoming ballroom dancing contest. Willy, lacking natural grace, is coached by Sam in a variety of Astaire and Rogers stylistic moves for the upcoming ballroom contest that forms one node of the play’s trajectory. The other involves phone calls between the son and the absent mother from the father’s hospital room, which allows us to watch Hally grapple with his confused emotions about his father.

But between those two poles blooms the deepening tension and finally out and out emotional violence of the complex relationship between Hally and Sam, where the enveloping culture (and bigotry) of segregation has seeped into the white youth’s pores. Seemingly without conscious choice on his part. And that, of course, is Fugard’s point.

Fugard tends to insist upon repetitious lessons in nostalgia, schoolboy homework exercises, and the outrage that has been swallowed for years by the black characters. Some editing might have been welcome, but memorable performances overcome the didactic tendencies. True artistry must push us out of our comfort zones. And this production is worth leaning into. Corey Jones is breathtaking.

Santa Cruz Shakespeare’s “Master Harold” … and the Boys, written by Athol Fugard and directed by Rebecca Haley Clark, runs September 10–14 and 17–20. The show is 90 minutes, without intermission. santacruzshakespeare.org

Things to do in Santa Cruz

Things To Do This Week

GT Staff

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September 10, 2025

1

THURSDAY 9/11

INDIE

37 HOUSES

The pandemic lockdown caused fantastic movies to get lackluster releases, put everyone’s favorite shows on hold, cancelled concerts by great bands and put some real strain on relationships as people were all suddenly sharing more time and close proximity than they’d bargained for. There were good points too. The pets were stoked on having their people around, it was a great chance to watch the entire AFI 100 Years 100 Movies list, and Jeremy Rosenblum and Erin Sydney took that aforementioned relationship strain, formed a band, and recorded an amazing album in their living room. Now that the world is open again, that band is wowing live audiences. KEITH LOWELL JENSEN

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

FRIDAY 9/12

INDIE

REAL ESTATE

Twenty-five years ago three high school friends played music together in a backyard in Ridgewood, New Jersey. As they went off to college and started their lives, they kept getting drawn back to that experience, ending up playing together until eventually they gave in to fate’s obvious plan for them and Real Estate the band was realized. Six albums later, and a few lineup changes, including one of the original three moving on, Real Estate (now based in Brooklyn, New York) is still touring the world performing for their devoted fans. KLJ

INFO: 8pm, Felton Music Hall,
6275 Hwy. 9, Felton. $30. 704-7113.

THEATER

THE WOLVES

Blood, sweat, tears, and high school soccer practice. The Wolves explores the charged world of nine high school girls through a series of pre-game warmups. Peppered with sharp dialogue and teenage angst, this New York Times Critic’s Pick captures the fierce loyalty and brutal honesty of youth. Through conflict-inducing gossip and vulnerable moments, the athletes remind audiences of the scary, complex and hope-filled experience of growing up. Even through many relatable bouts of anxiety, rivalry and athletic aggression, the show reveals a camaraderie built among the girls, with a message of the importance of sticking together through tragedy. Performances go until 9/20. SHELLY NOVO

INFO: 7pm, Santa Cruz Actor’s Theatre,
1001 Center St., Santa Cruz. $27.18. 431-8666.

SATURDAY 9/13

ROCK MUSICAL

KAREN WITH A K: A MUSICAL TEMPER TANTRUM

Laura Strange is more than a local musician; she’s also a brilliant satirist who took an internet meme and made it into a rock musical that has been delighting local audiences since 2023. Presented by the Corralitos Cultural Center and hosted by Kuumbwa, this “musical temper tantrum” follows the titular character through what turns into a very, very bad day. Musical accompaniment is provided by the Strange Bedfellows, featuring Scott Kail, Jojo Fox, Jack Hanson and Orbrad Darbro, plus vocalists Stephanie Madrigal, Bonny June and Judy Appleby. SHARAN STREET

INFO: 7pm, Kuumbwa Jazz Center,
320-2 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. $35.

INDIE

ARCHER OH

From Moreno Valley, California, Archer Oh rides the waves of beachy, garage rock. Originally a solo project created by Arturo “Archer” Medrano in 2015, the band has evolved into a four-piece outfit with echoing guitars, driving drums, and passionate lyrics that tell tales of longing and days of youth. Archer Oh promises to be a somatic sanctuary to let out emotions and a really good time. From humble backyard beginnings, their surf-soaked rock has amassed an impressive cult following with the consistent sentiment, “we just want people to feel something.” SN

INFO: 8pm, Catalyst,
1101 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $19. 713-5492.

FILM

MATTE HEWITT

Continuing Tilt Shift’s conversations of the intersection of anti-capitalism and anti-imperialist struggles with radical cinema, Matte Hewitt will be showing two short documentaries that explore US military technology, Indigenous knowledge systems, and local ecology through the figure of the hummingbird. This small bird guides the viewer through local and natural knowledge alongside its intersection with surveillance and military technology. Matte Hewitt is an interdisciplinary filmmaker, researcher and environmentalist from Philadelphia with over a decade of filmmaking experience. Afterwards, there will be a showing of Harun Farocki’s Eye/Machine II (2002) and Sky Hopinka’s Dislocation Blues (2017), which inspired Hewitt’s works. These films also consider sovereignty, optics and state violence. ISABELLA MARIE SANGALINE

INFO: 7pm, Indexical,
1050 River St., #119, Santa Cruz. $10. 509-627-9491.

SINGER-SONGWRITER

EDWIN MCCAIN

Greenville, S.C., singer-songwriter Edwin McCain started making records as an independent artist in the early 1990s. By 1994 he landed a major-label deal, releasing Honor Among Thieves in 1995. His follow-up, 1997’s Misguided Roses broke him through to the big time. Released as a single, “I’ll Be” climbed to the No. 5 spot on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart. 1999’s Messenger made it into the mid-to-upper reaches of Billboard’s album chart, giving McCain his highest album charting to date. Since then, he has continued in his modest yet heartfelt and wholly authentic way. 2025’s Lucky is his 14th album. BILL KOPP

INFO: 8pm, Rio Theatre,
1205 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. $50. 423-8209.

MONDAY 9/15

JAZZ

KENNY GARRETT

Post-bop jazz multi-instrumentalist Kenny Garrett got his start when (at age 18) he joined the Duke Ellington Orchestra. Six years later he released his first album as band leader, Introducing Kenny Garrett. By 1986, he was a member of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers. His work on his own and as a valued sideman for jazz legends has made Garrett one of the most revered and in-demand players in the jazz world. He has released nearly 20 albums as band leader, and played on sessions for Donald Byrd, Chick Corea, Miles Davis, Roy Haynes, Freddie Hubbard, Marcus Miller and dozens of others. BK

INFO: 7pm, Kuumbwa Jazz Center,
320-2 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. $58. 427-2227.

TUESDAY 9/16

FOLK

KAI & LOLA GUTHRIE

American music (across all genres) has a long-standing tradition of originality and resistance. And possibly no more so than in folk. Before punk, folk music sang against the tyranny of capitalists, the rights of the working class and the common man’s fight to keep America out of the hands of the oligarchs. Probably the most famous of the folk fighters was Woody Guthrie with his “This Machine Kills Fascists” guitar. The man who gave us “This Land is Your Land” passed down his fighting spirit, and musical talent, to his great-granddaughter Lola, who plays the Ugly Mug with her brother Kai. In the time of resistance, there isn’t much more American than this. MAT WEIR

INFO: 7pm, Ugly Mug,
4640 Soquel Dr., Soquel. $15/adv, $20/door. 477-1341.

WEDNESDAY 9/17

LITERARY

ERIN ENTRADA KELLY

Two-time Newbery award winner Erin Entrada Kelly visits Bookshop Santa Cruz for a reading of her new book, The Last Resort. When 12-year-old Lila starts her summer, she only has two goals: to win back her friends who ditched her for being “too dramatic” and to stop being so dramatic. But when her grandpa Clem dies, her summer is thrown for a curve when his ghost visits her to tell her he was murdered. She must help his ghost find peace on top of her normal, teenage problems. This book is also interactive. Kids can use their phones to connect with characters, speak to the book’s ghosts and play games with them. MW

INFO: 4pm, Bookshop Santa Cruz, 1520 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. Free. 423-0900.

Feral Lawns

Panashe Matemba-Mutasa

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September 10, 2025

0

On a quiet corner sits a house with a front lawn that looks more like a meadow than a yard. Tall grasses spill over onto the sidewalk, bees buzz between wildflowers and the sour tang of compost lingers near a row of potted plants. It’s not the conventional lawn one sees on TV. There’s no lush green carpet, no perfectly edged turf. But it is intentional, and it does make a statement.

A quiet revolution is unfolding across California, and the meaning of a “nice yard” is being redefined. With water bills rising each summer, more residents are putting down the hose and embracing a wilder approach to residential landscaping.

These so-called “feral lawns” take many forms. Some are carefully planned native gardens filled with drought-tolerant California flora, while others look like an HOA citation waiting to happen. But one thing is clear: Those who stray from traditional lawn culture often face side glances from neighbors and for their decision to disrupt the suburban status quo.

Many historians argue that the American obsession with manicured lawns didn’t sprout naturally—it was carefully cultivated. As Virginia Scott Jenkins explains in The Lawn: A History of an American Obsession, the aesthetic was inspired by the grand estates of 18th-century England and France, where expansive lawns signaled wealth, order and control. In the United States, this ideal was adopted during the rise of suburbia after World War II.

The postwar housing boom brought mass-produced homes, white picket fences and stretches of uniformly green grass, which became visual markers of respectability. By the 1950s, Jenkins writes, a well-watered, neatly mowed lawn had become not just a matter of aesthetics but of social obligation. “The lawn was a stage for middle-class aspirations,” she writes, “and keeping it trimmed and green was a civic duty.”

This legacy still lingers. Households with more disposable income often hire professional lawn care or have the time to keep their yards pristine themselves. Even in drought-prone California, a messy or “unkempt” yard can trigger social friction and HOA letters. It’s a quiet tug-of-war between personal freedom and neighborhood conformity.

Not everyone sees a wild yard as an improvement. According to a 2021 study by the National Association of Realtors, properties with poor landscaping can lose up to 30% of their value. But there’s a clear difference between intentional wild yards that are cost-effective and eco-friendly, and those that are simply overgrown from neglect. The key to going ethically feral, practitioners say, is low maintenance, not no maintenance.

But with ideals of the “perfect lawn” deeply ingrained by media and tradition, the question of what counts as good versus poor landscaping lies at the heart of this movement. That’s why homeowners receive unwanted opinions from neighbors about how they manage their front yards, even when they follow city guidelines and have never been cited. It’s also why environmental scientists are embracing the movement to educate people about the benefits of native plants and possibly change what it means to have a nice lawn.

Bart O’Brien, co-author of California Native Plants for the Garden and Reimagining the California Lawn, is working to educate people about the beauty and benefits of native plants. O’Brien shares that he’s spoken with many homeowners who initially switch to unconventional lawns to save on water or maintenance costs. Over time, however, these homeowners often develop an appreciation for the additional natural benefits, such as plants that provide food, natural dyes, weaving materials or attract small wildlife that make their yards home.

Aesthetically, O’Brien makes the case for wild gardens by saying that a lawn that is a mosaic of plants can offer more visual interest than the pristine green grass layouts we’re so used to seeing.

“So many people think that’s what they should be doing because everyone else is doing it, but it really is a crazy investment to expect of people,” O’Brien says.

O’Brien wants people to know that with less time, money and water, it’s still possible to have a beautiful yard—one that’s better suited to California’s dry climate and easier to sustain. For those considering going ethically feral, he recommends plants like buckwheats and California fuchsias, which offer vibrant, lasting color well into the summer months, contrasted to common lawn grasses that often turn brown and wither. Many native species, he notes, are not only drought-tolerant but also visually striking, even in the peak of California’s dry season.

In his own yard, O’Brien keeps a bunch of native plants that are currently potted and stowed away while workers do construction. Come winter, he says he wants to plant “literally hundreds of native plants” and looks forward to getting his hands in the soil again.

“So I hope all my construction is done by then,” O’Brien says with a laugh.

NEXT IN HOME AND GARDEN 2025—

Food Canning Revival

Backyard Koi Ponds

Pollinator Gardens

Recycled Lighting

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THURSDAY 9/11

INDIE

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

FRIDAY 9/12

INDIE

INFO: 8pm, Felton Music Hall, 6275 Hwy. 9, Felton. $30. 704-7113.

THEATER

INFO: 7pm, Santa Cruz Actor’s Theatre, 1001 Center St., Santa Cruz. $27.18. 431-8666.

SATURDAY 9/13

ROCK MUSICAL

INFO: 7pm, Kuumbwa Jazz Center, 320-2 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. $35.

INDIE

INFO: 8pm, Catalyst, 1101 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $19. 713-5492.

FILM

INFO: 7pm, Indexical, 1050 River St., #119, Santa Cruz. $10. 509-627-9491.

SINGER-SONGWRITER

INFO: 8pm, Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. $50. 423-8209.

MONDAY 9/15

JAZZ

TUESDAY 9/16

FOLK

INFO: 7pm, Ugly Mug, 4640 Soquel Dr., Soquel. $15/adv, $20/door. 477-1341.

WEDNESDAY 9/17

LITERARY

INFO: 4pm, Bookshop Santa Cruz, 1520 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. Free. 423-0900.

INFO: 8pm, Felton Music Hall,
6275 Hwy. 9, Felton. $30. 704-7113.

INFO: 7pm, Santa Cruz Actor’s Theatre,
1001 Center St., Santa Cruz. $27.18. 431-8666.

INFO: 7pm, Kuumbwa Jazz Center,
320-2 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. $35.

INFO: 8pm, Catalyst,
1101 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $19. 713-5492.

INFO: 7pm, Indexical,
1050 River St., #119, Santa Cruz. $10. 509-627-9491.

INFO: 8pm, Rio Theatre,
1205 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. $50. 423-8209.

INFO: 7pm, Ugly Mug,
4640 Soquel Dr., Soquel. $15/adv, $20/door. 477-1341.