Lester Estate Wines’ 2020 Rosé of Syrah is a Summertime Star

Now that we are officially into summer, a chilled Rosé of Syrah is just what you need for warmer weather. And Lester makes a superb one!

Our recent wine tasting at Lester Family Estate was a lovely experience. On one of their shaded outdoor patios, overlooking acres of vineyards, we enjoyed a “Tour of the Vineyard” tasting with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah—adding on the Rosé of Syrah later.

Lester’s fabulous wines result from the luscious grapes they grow and their experienced winemakers. Kudos to John Benedetti for making this gorgeous 2020 estate Rosé of Syrah ($27). Benedetti also makes wine under his Sante Arcangeli Family Wines label—his tasting room is in Aptos Village.

“This lively Rosé expresses a galaxy of fresh flavors on the nose and in the glass,” the Lester folks say. “A beautiful shade of dark-copper salmon, it possesses the substance of Pinot Noir with the freshness of Rosé. Citrus peel, watermelon, rhubarb and tangerine all emerge with a spicy finish that’s also delightfully dry.”

It’s well worth visiting the Lester estate for the Rosé of Syrah alone. But, if you’re interested in getting there in an exciting new way, then Sidecar Tours is your answer. Ed Lane, who runs Sidecar Tours, has a small fleet of motorcycles, complete with days-of-yesteryear sidecars that hold two people. He can whisk you up to the estate, or you can organize a specific outing.
With a glass of Rosé in hand, he took me on an exhilarating spin around the Lester stunning Deer Park Ranch property. We buzzed and bumped along tree-lined roads—I didn’t spill a drop! It was a totally fun experience. Lane’s replica 1941 Ural bikes are like something from WWII—or out of Harry Potter. It brought back memories of my late father’s motorcycle shop in England, Syd Smith Spares, which still exists.

Lester Estate Wines, 2000 Pleasant Valley Road, Aptos, 831-728-3793. deerparkranch.com; sidecartoursinc.com/santa-cruz.

Pacific Cookie Company Has Been a Santa Cruz Institution for Over 40 Years

Cara Pearson has been working at Pacific Cookie Company since she was 13, but never envisioned becoming the business’s president and co-owner. Her parents Larry and Shelly founded the Santa Cruz legend in 1980, and the cookies have been a hit ever since. Meanwhile, Cara, who graduated with an anthropology degree from UCSC, initially had no interest in the family business. When her dad offered her a management position, she had a change of heart. 
PCC bakes at a higher-than-normal temperature, ensuring a crispy exterior with a soft interior. All the cookies are made with sustainable ingredients, and over 50% of those ingredients are locally sourced. Some bestsellers include the classic Chocolate Chip, the triple-chocolate Dr. Midnight and the Almond Joe. PCC’s flagship retail bakery on Pacific Avenue is open every day 10am-10pm (Fridays and Saturdays until midnight). They also have an online store that ships worldwide. Cara recently spoke about having a family cookie business and what it takes to produce high-quality cookies consistently.

What’s it like running the family business?

CARA PEARSON: Growing up, it was like being a local celebrity. Everyone loves cookies, and most people knew about Pacific Cookie Company, so when I was little, I was worried that people only liked me because of our cookies. Now I have two daughters, and they also share the same concern. It’s always meant a lot to me to be a part of the local community because there are so many amazing entrepreneurs. I often connect with, and advocate for, other female-owned businesses like ours, of which they are many, especially downtown. I didn’t always want to run the family business, but now it’s one of the most fulfilling parts of my life.

What makes your cookies so good?

One thing that sets us apart is that we only make cookies. We’ve spent 42 years trying to continuously get better at what we do. Day in and day out, we are obsessed with quality and producing a cookie that’s affordable, has superior taste and a wide variety of flavors. We are constantly baking to ensure freshness, and we are also known for the great smell of our cookies that wafts up and down Pacific Avenue.

Pacific Cookie Company, 1203 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz, 831-429-6905; pacificcookie.com.

Laili Restaurant’s Popularity Thrives on its Fusion of Mediterranean Flavors

When people ask about my favorite local restaurants, the short list always includes downtown’s Laili Restaurant. A consistent kitchen and that atmospheric inner courtyard are among the compelling reasons to make it one of my top dining destinations. And last week simply reinforced my affection for this house of Mediterranean dining with a Middle Eastern inflection.

We started with generous glasses of tempranillo ($9), joined by a fragrant circle of warm naan flatbread. The garlic and herb-infused olive oil that accompanies the bread makes an irresistible dip. After years of roaming Laili’s mouth-watering menu of kabobs, pastas and well-spiced appetizers, we’ve settled on our favorites. Splitting the always-seductive beet salad ($11), we worked our way through a thicket of baby arugula down into a layer of marinated beets in dijon balsamic vinaigrette strewn with goat cheese. This dish is always satisfying, the earthy sweetness of the beets complexified by the tang of feta.

These days, our entrees invariably lean toward some variety of kabob. My companion Jack debated between chicken and lamb before deciding on the Chicken Kabob ($22). It’s easily among the top chicken dishes in town. Tender wedges of chicken breast, perfectly grilled, arrived on a long ceramic rectangle, nestled against a technicolor array of mixed vegetables and abundant saffron rice. On one side of the platter were the piping-hot sauteed tomatoes, broccoli and zucchini (zucchini with actual flavor), and on the other side were a trio of chutneys that are worth a visit to Laili all by themselves—the tomato-based red sauce, another mound of garlicky sour cream and a cilantro green chutney that packs some heat.

My entree platter of perfect filet mignon kabob (done exactly between rare and medium rare, as requested) came with spiced saffron rice infused with raisins, and more of the veggies and chutneys ($32). Dinner in the Laili courtyard, enclosed by high walls covered in emerald vines and flowering plants, made the perfect homecoming dinner after a long flight from Paris.

Laili Restaurant, 101B Cooper St., Santa Cruz. Tuesday-Saturday, 4-8pm. lailirestaurant.com.

On the Margins

If you consider yourself an oeno-adventurer, then make tracks for Soif tomorrow night—Thursday, June 23rd—and join ace local winemaker Megan Bell, who’ll be pouring some of her unexpected varietals under her Margins label. The Margins style involves regions, vineyards and especially varietals one can think of as “under-represented”—stuff you don’t encounter on the average restaurant wine list. Bell will introduce a tasting selection of six different wines on the Soif patio from 5-7pm; $30/$15 for Soif wine club members, purchase tickets online or at the wine shop. Also, consider checking out the upcoming pop-up food events at Soif, with local guest chefs selected by sommelier Dede Eckhardt and wine director Alexis Carr. On July 8 Aaron Robertson of Akira will whip up Japanese items, and on July 23 Full Steam Dumpling will dazzle your tastebuds. The whole pop-up phenomenon is such a smart way of bringing the talent of innovative chefs to the public. Talent can be shared and tasted in a work-around alliance that bypasses the daunting cost of opening a full-on brick-and-mortar store. Soif Wine Bar & Merchants, 105 Walnut Ave, Santa Cruz. Check soifwine.com for future pop-up events.

Looking Forward

On our summer dining horizon, first up is this week’s opening of the new Rio del Mar Venus Spirits Beachside, followed in a few weeks by the Westside’s Namaste Indian Bistro. And fingers crossed that the new Cafe Iveta on Front Street will be opening soon a few doors down from Big Basin Tasting Room. Happy day after Solstice!

Crime Level Stabilizing, According to Scotts Valley PD

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Burglaries nearly doubled in 2020—overall, crime fluctuated heavily during the pandemic, Scotts Valley Police Department Chief Steve Walpole, Jr. told the city council in his annual presentation. The numbers have dropped since, and thankfully, there are still no homicides to report.

“I’ve been really impressed by the morale of the department as a whole,” Walpole said. “Everything seems like it’s running on all cylinders.”

In 2021, officers cited 65% more people than the previous year, initiated 12,965 calls (up from 12,192 in 2020, but still below 2019’s 14,530), arrested 425 people (up from 374 last year, but below the 486 arrests of 2019), and responded to 6,033 calls for service (well below the about 6,400 calls of the prior three years).

“6,000 calls for services are no joke,” Councilmember Derek Timm commented, adding he’s been enjoying meeting all the recruits.

Robberies had jumped to seven in 2020 (up from one in 2019) but were back down at two last year. Arsons also landed at two.

Rape had risen from two in 2019 to seven in 2020; SVPD police investigated six rapes in 2021.

Larceny has been remarkably consistent over the past three years, at 105, 104 and 106 for the years starting with 2019. But auto thefts had risen from eight to 21 in 2020 but were down by almost 50% this year. However, car accidents had dropped in 2020 to 114 but rose more than a third this year to 156. Drug violations continue to decline—from a high of 162 in 2018 to 90 in 2020, down to 79 this year.

Councilmember Jack Dilles noted that the police statistics showed the breakdown of arrests and other enforcement actions by race is in line with Scotts Valley’s population makeup. Walpole said he feels that’s an accurate way to interpret the data.

The chart presented to the council shows that 74 white suspects were taken into custody last year (64% of 112 total), while white people account for 78% of the city’s population (as measured by the 2020 Census). Five Black suspects were taken into custody (4% of the total)—Black people account for 1% of the population. 29 Hispanic suspects were taken into custody (26% of the total)—Hispanic people account for 11% of Scotts Valley’s population.SVPD didn’t take any Asian suspects into custody, although Asian residents account for 7% of the population.

Meanwhile, Black people accounted for 3% of those given verbal warnings; white people accounted for 71%, Hispanic people 19%, Asian people 4% and others 3% (other races make up 3% of the population).

The stats appear to even out when all enforcement actions, including fix-it tickets, notice-to-appears and public service stops, are factored in. Black people accounted for 3% of stops, white people 70%, Hispanic people 21%, Asian people 3% and others 3%.

But there is one substantial demographic disparity: Scotts Valley is home to about the same number of men and women, yet men were stopped by police 1,609 times, compared to women who were stopped 834 times. 

The department is getting its traffic unit and junior police academy up and running again. It’s exciting news, but Walpole said the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas is perpetually on his mind these days, especially while he watched over the recent local graduation ceremony. 

“I think everybody was thinking about Texas,” he said. “It was important for me to be [at the graduation] and assure everyone we had it under control.”

Mayor Donna Lind, a retired SVPD officer, said she’s pleased the community can help train-up neighboring jurisdictions—Scotts Valley was set to play host to hundreds of officers across Northern California for an active-shooter drill.

“It’s so helpful to train with other agencies,” she said. “This training allows you all to get comfortable [working together].”

Councilmember Randy Johnson applauded Walpole—his father previously led the force—for helping rebuild the department after several hiccups.

“You’re fulfilling the same role [as your father] in the best possible way,” Johnson said.

Watsonville City Council to Consider Tax Hike

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The Watsonville City Council looked at a half-cent sales tax which, if approved by voters in the Nov. 8 election, would fund city parks, after-school and anti-gang programs and road repair of city streets.

The council, on June 28, will consider placing the “community investment transaction and use tax” on the ballot. 

It would put the city’s sales tax at the state cap of 9.75% if approved, go into effect immediately after the election and be in place until voters repeal it. The hike would generate an estimated $4 million annually for the city’s general fund. 

The tax would not cover essential purchases such as food and medication. An oversight committee would report to the council. The council did not take action on the information-only item. 

City staff brought the tax forward after a poll of 486 likely voters showed that 68% would support it, said City Manager Pro-Tem Tamara Vides.

That same poll listed roads and essential infrastructure as the top funding priority, with 85% saying they want investment here. Other areas of concern are maintaining the city’s trail system and providing safe places for kids to play, as well as after-school programs, senior programs and parks. 

“Our park system has been underfunded for a number of years,” Vides said. “Some of our parks are starting to show their age, and they are hard to be maintained to a good standard.”

Vides said the idea for the tax comes as Watsonville reels from the Covid-19 pandemic. 

“I can summarize it as a lack of sustainable funding that is available to support services that create a vibrant and resilient community,” Vides said.

Several council members expressed concern that the revenue is spent on what is promised to the voters. Vides said that the specific allocations are up to the council and can be changed with a council vote. 

Councilmember Jimmy Dutra said that, despite the poll, passage of the tax is not a given. He pointed to Santa Cruz’s Measure F, a half-cent sales tax on the June 6 ballot that is behind, with 50.89% voting no.

“That could be an indication of what November is going to be because of the inflation and families really suffering,” he said. “Have we considered this? Are we premature? Is this the right time?”

Administrative Services Department Director Cindy Czerwin acknowledged that new taxes could burden residents in a low-income community but said that Watsonville has fewer services to offer its residents than the City of Santa Cruz. This problem can be eased with the tax. 

“I think it’s worth putting it to the voters to let them decide whether they want more services for our city or they don’t,” she said. “We’re saying that if you want more, this is a way to get there.”

Mayor Pro Tem Eduardo Montesino said that any new tax would face opposition.

“It’s never a good time to raise taxes,” he said. “But this is an opportunity for us to invest in our own community. I think the argument is, why wouldn’t we put this forward to the voters?”

Children’s Day Camps: Attend at Your Own Risk

As summer kicks off, more than a million California children are gearing up for horseback riding, swimming, archery, computer coding, and hip hop day camps. As parents scout out fun activities for their kids, most are likely unaware of the risks.  

Unlike child care facilities and schools, children’s day camps are not required to conduct employee background checks, be licensed by the state, require CPR certification or report injuries or deaths to the state. No state agency conducts inspections for child safety, audits lifeguard certifications or reviews safety plans for activities that include zip-lining, swimming and shooting guns.

Doug Forbes and his late wife Elena Matyas didn’t know this when they dropped their daughter Roxie off at the Summerkids camp in Altadena one morning in June of 2019. 

Less than an hour later they were racing toward the same hospital in Pasadena where Roxie was born. Their daughter had drowned in the camp pool. She was 6 years old.

Only as the couple sought answers about her final minutes of life did they discover the lack of oversight  for children’s day camps in California. They filed an ongoing lawsuit against the camp for wrongful death and began advocating for state officials to mandate regulations. The camp denies that it was negligent. 

“What we found out was that nobody is watching over these camps,” Forbes said. “Millions of children are at operations that are completely unlicensed.”

There are no statistics on how many camps there are or how many children attend each year. There also is no data on how many kids are injured, abused or die at day camps because the camps do not have to report those statistics.

The American Camp Association, a camp membership organization, estimates there are more than 700 day camps in California that enroll more than 1.2 million kids each summer. Day camps run for weeks or months during the summer and sometimes during school breaks. Manys also offer before and after care to accommodate parents’ work schedules.

REGULATIONS PROPOSED

At the end of May, the state Assembly passed Assembly Bill 1737 to create some oversight for day camps — legislation carried by Pasadena Democratic Assemblymember Chris Holden in response to what happened to Roxie. Its fate is now in the Senate.   

California can’t have a group of “children who are susceptible to great bodily injury and potential death,” Holden said. “It would be totally irresponsible for us to continue operating this way as a state knowing what we know and the great harm that has happened to children.”

California is one of about a dozen states that do not regulate day camps, according to Holden’s office. Most states, including New York, have regulations in place and some cities require camp operators to attend city-run orientations and follow extensive rules.

Holden’s bill would require all day camps to register with the state Department of Social Services, conduct background checks for all staff and require staff be trained as “mandated reporters,” people legally required to report suspicions of abuse. It would also require non-government camps with certain activities like ziplining, archery, river rafting and riflery to submit their operational and emergency plans. 

Under the bill, the Department of Social Services would also conduct random, unannounced inspections of all children’s camps annually. The bill exempts government-run camps from most requirements.

Currently, the proposal places oversight responsibility with the California Department of Social Services, which oversees child care throughout California. Originally, oversight of day camps was going to fall under the Department of Public Health but that was changed last week. Holden said neither agency wants to take this on. 

Both agencies refused requests for interviews. In email responses, both departments said they don’t oversee day camps because day camps are not defined in state statute. State law only defines “organized camps,” which are overnight camps where kids stay five nights or more. These fall under the purview of the state Department of Public Health, which leaves oversight to local counties. The state does not require the counties to report anything about the camps.

Originally, Holden’s bill included licensing, regular inspections and a designated health supervisor. Those requirements were removed from the bill after lobbying by camp advocates and organizations representing county officials, as well as after meetings with the state departments of Public Health and Social Services. Now, the bill includes registration, random inspections, background checks for all staff and, depending on the type of activities a camp offers, the submission of operational and emergency plans.

“It’s very complicated trying to find who will be the regulator of this,” Holden said. “Everybody says this needs to happen but no one wants to take hold of it.”

Holden said he intends to try to strengthen the law in future years if this bill is enacted. 

When Roxie drowned, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department reports show that the lifeguards who were poolside didn’t see her until another camp counselor outside the pool area yelled at them that Roxie was floating face down in the shallow end of the pool.

The family’s lawsuit alleges that the camp was negligent and that the camp’s lifeguards were not trained properly.

“We both jumped in the car that morning with her, went to camp, kissed her on the lips, said ‘Goodbye, I love you sweetheart.’ And boom, she’s gone,” Forbes said. “A six-year-old was left in a pool in need of help and nobody helped her.”

In the response to the lawsuit, the camp argues that none of the actions that day were “performed with the requisite malice, oppression, or fraud” for the camp to pay punitive damages.  

While there are no regulations for day camps the state has extensive regulations for child care facilities. At times, the distinction between the two types of businesses is not clear.   

After Roxie’s death, the Department of Social Services received two unrelated complaints that the Summerkids camp was operating as an unlicensed child care facility. The agency inspected the camp, determined it was operating an illegal child care program and cited the owners.

The state attorney general’s office filed a lawsuit against the camp on behalf of Social Services. It alleges the camp fits the definition of a child care and does not fall under any of the regulatory exclusions, which include health care facilities, cooperative agreements between parents, and public recreation programs. Neither Social Services nor the attorney general’s office would comment on the case, which is ongoing.

Despite the lawsuit, Summerkids is still operating and opened this weekfor summer camp. The Department of Social Services had asked a judge to shut it down as part of the ongoing lawsuit, but said its request was rejected.

Summerkids camp owners are declining interviews because of the pending litigation, said attorney Steve Madison, who is representing the owners in the attorney general’s lawsuit. 

“Summerkids very much denies that it was negligent in any way or caused the tragic death of Roxie,” said Madison, who is also a member of the Pasadena city council. He added that the camp maintains it “paid for the appropriate CPR training” for staff. 

He said the camp is not a day care facility and never has been. Madison said day care sites are usually indoors and required to have a certain number of kids per square footage and are staffed by certified teachers. Summerkids is held outdoors and is staffed by college kids and alumni campers, he said.

“There are numerous day camps in California that are not licensed as day care facilities under the statute that the AG has sued on,” Madison said. “They seem to be saying now that to be a recreational day camp you have to become this square peg in a round hold and apply to be a licensed day care facility.”

State law defines child care as providing “nonmedical care to children under 18 years of age in need of personal services, supervision, or assistance essential for sustaining the activities of daily living or for the protection of the individual on less than a 24-hour basis.”

The Department of Social Service would not provide a more detailed description of the differences and whether differences have to do with the age of the children, the activities, the hours of the program or how parents view camps for their children. However, in a video on the agency’s website about understanding licensed and unlicensed care, a narrator explains that one of the exempt groups from child care licensing is “public and non-profit programs designed to provide recreation on a part-time basis.”

Cathy Barankin, executive director of the California Collaboration for Youth, said she believes there is a vast difference between child care and day camps. Her organization represents the American Camp Association, Girl and Boy Scouts, and the Western Association of Independent Camps.

Barankin said child care facilities operate during the school year, focus on child development and taking care of kids while parents are working, and are conducted mainly indoors by teachers. Day camps, she said, usually happen when kids are out of school, emphasize outdoor activities and are led by camp counselors who are usually college students.

Mike Stillson, president of the Western Association of Independent Camps and a camp operator in Los Angeles County, said the differences are also based on the activities of the camp and the duration. 

“Unfortunately, there is not much clarity from the oversight bodies,” he said.

Within weeks of Roxie’s death, her parents started the Meow Meow Foundation, named after Roxie’s favorite stuffed animal. The mission: to increase awareness about drowning prevention and improve day camp safety. 

The foundation recently pulled its support from Holden’s bill because it no longer requires licensing and regular inspections, and allows for the American Camp Association to potentially be involved in how day camps report to the state.   

This is the second time the foundation and the family have withdrawn support for similar proposed regulations — the same thing happened two years ago after a bill was watered down and shelved by its author. 

Forbes encourages parents to be wary of camps and ask questions. Roxie was born with a rare autoimmune disorder that kept her parents vigilant about her safety. So, he said, when they selected Summerkids, they asked a lot of questions about the protocols and workings of the camp — assuming state licensing and oversight was required.

CRITICS OF PROPOSED DAY CAMP REGULATIONS

Some camp operators say they welcome safety regulations but are opposed to the current proposal. 

“We want to be regulated to make sure as an industry that we are able to provide the safest programs for children,” said Stillson, executive director of Valley Trails Summer day camp in Castaic and Tarzana. “Right now anyone who wants to set up a camp and call themselves a camp can do it, and no one is out there to tell them they can’t.”

Even so, Stillson vehemently opposes the bill. He believes the Department of Social Services is not the right agency to oversee day camps, that the bill is too broad and that it should include city- and government-run camps, which serve thousands of children each summer, and that the state should recognize accreditation by the American Camp Association 

The California Collaboration for Youth also opposes the bill, saying it is too broad and onerous.

“Day camps should be narrowly defined and overseen, not open to every single program that services children in the entire state,”  she said.

Instead, Stillson and Barankin say camps belong under the purview of Public Health, which already oversees and inspects “organized camps.”

Forbes is still watching the bill closely. 

His wife, Elena Matyas will not see the work the foundation has been doing lead to meaningful change. In March, she died after a second bout with breast cancer, Forbes said — adding that he  believes his wife was more susceptible to a recurrence because of her intense grief.

So now he lives alone in the home the couple had once been renovating with their daughter in mind. Roxie would be 10 this year.

“I live with ghosts. The silence is deafening,” said Forbes, as the family pool glistened unused beyond double glass sliding doors off the dining room. “What I do every day is a constant reminder of despair, but I have to do this work and I don’t want to.”

Three days after Roxie died, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health  inspected the pool at the camp and found nine violations. It shut the pool down until those violations were fixed. Counties do oversee public pools but do not regulate day camps.

“If (they) would have gone out to inspect Summerkids’ pool before the camp season started, my daughter may be alive right now,” Forbes said. “We must manage each day knowing our little girl’s death could and should have been prevented.”

Madison, Summerkids’ attorney, said that the camp tried to get a county permit after Roxie died, but it is exempt from licensing because it is not considered an organized camp. That may change. 

Last year the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted to create an ordinance that would regulate both day and overnight camps. At the end of June, the board is expected to approve the detailed regulations.

Counties are Forebes’ new focus, given the obstacles to strict statewide legislation. He’s got a list of California counties and he’s working his way through it, starting with the most populous.  

“The camp world is the wild, wild west,” Forbes said. “They want the kids to let loose, but there are consequences.”

calmatters.org (June 16, 2022)

Former Cabrillo Administrator Pleads Guilty to Embezzlement

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A man who was fired last year from his administrative job at Cabrillo College after his previous employer–also a community college–accused him of embezzlement has pled guilty to one of the charges and will avoid jail time.

Paul De La Cerda, 49, was charged with overbilling roughly $1,575 to East Los Angeles College–where he served as a dean–for trips he took between March 2017 and 2019. He was also accused of forging documents he submitted for reimbursement.

De La Cerda was put on administrative leave by the board after he was charged with embezzlement by the Los Angeles County District Attorney. Hired by Cabrillo in June 2021, his employment officially ends June 30.

In a prepared statement, De La Cerda’s attorney David Diamond said that the plea includes two years of probation. The remaining charges will be dismissed.

“It could have taken us the same two years to get to trial, and as such, this avoids the costly burden of a trial and stress on his family with the same result,” Diamond stated. 

He added that De La Cerda submitted receipts for reimbursement, sometimes under-reporting his out-of-pocket expenses. The person responsible for ensuring the numbers were correct, Diamond says, was put on leave. 

“Any inadvertent overpayment for reimbursement will be returned to East LA College,” he said. 

Things To Do in Santa Cruz: June 15-21

ARTS AND MUSIC

XTRA LARGE Free live music returns to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk! The series starts with Santa Cruz County’s favorite Extra Large, a sextet that invites listeners to shake their booties. “It’s our goal to make you whole by doing what we do with the unadulterated soul,” sings frontman Russ Leal. The self-proclaimed “fiesta facilitators” deliver an extra-large serving of funk, Latin, reggae and classic rock—originals and covers—rolled into an extra-large musical burrito. All Boardwalk shows are on the Colonnade Stage, located on the beachside of Neptune’s Kingdom—the dance area is in front of the stage. Free. Thursday, June 16, 8:30pm. The Colonnade at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, 400 Beach St., Santa Cruz. beachboardwalk.com.

JENNY TOLMAN Chaminade’s second “Nashville Nights” concert, in the courtyard overlooking Monterey Bay, Jenny Tolman. “There have always been multiple sides to me,” the singer-songwriter says. “I like to make people laugh, have a good time and be entertaining. But then, I also love to use that personality to get people engaged in listening to the deep stuff.” From humorous to tragic, the country musician has become known for weaving personal stories—highly personal—into her music. It might be a bumpy ride, but it’s always engaging. $25-30. Friday, June 17, 8pm. Chaminade Resort & Spa, 1 Chaminade Lane, Santa Cruz. chaminade.com.

‘THE GOONIES’ There’s nothing like the crashing waves of the Pacific to accompany an outdoor viewing of one of the most seminal cinematic experiences of the ’80s for millions of 40-year-olds. A few pieces of Goonies trivia: Richard Donner’s 1985 flick was shot almost entirely in sequence over five months; the pirate ship was completely real—the shots were all filmed inside the 105-foot-long boat; in the novelization of the movie, Chunk’s parents do “adopt” Sloth, going so far as to throw him a Bar Mitzvah; and in 2017, the film was selected to go into the National Film Registry for being “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant.” Free. Friday, June 17, 9m. The Colonnade at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, 400 Beach St., Santa Cruz. beachboardwalk.com.

WHITE ALBUM ENSEMBLE: RUBBER REVOLVER The White Album Ensemble has been a Beatles phenomenon on the west coast for nearly two decades and continues to expand while keeping their motto intact: “We do the music the Beatles never did live!” The pair of “Rubber Revolver” shows—Rubber Soul, Revolver and singles of the era—will feature special guest James Durbin (of American Idol fame), former members of the Doobie Brothers, the Little River Band, the Tubes and Snail. There’s more: Mind Over Matter Horns and the WAE String Quartet will also be on hand, ensuring a Fab Four wall of sound. (Read story). $30/$45. Friday, June 17 and Saturday, June 18, 8pm. Rio Theatre, 205 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. riotheatre.com.

LIFE: A JOURNEY THROUGH TIME – THE PHOTOGRAPHY OF FRANS LANTING AND THE MUSIC OF PHILIP GLASS The concepts and imagery of distinguished photographer Frans Lanting and the hypnotizing compositions of renowned minimalist maestro Philip Glass will be showcased in the LIFE Symphony, a multimedia orchestral production that “celebrates the splendor of life on Earth.” LIFE interprets the history of nature’s existence on the planet in seven movements, from its earliest beginnings to the present. The unique and unforgettable presentation combines visual and performing arts with earth sciences. (Read story). $47-$121 plus fees. Saturday, June 18, 7:30pm. Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, 307 Church St., Santa Cruz. santacruzsymphony.org.

ESPERANZA DEL VALLE 40TH ANNIVERSARY Celebrate music and dance con todo nuestro amor y pasión! Mexican Folklórico Dance Company of Santa Cruz County will honor the work of master teachers of Mexico and showcase signature dance regions, including Veracruz, Jalisco and Nayarit. The show will also include the original choreodrama, Los Dos Hermanos, and music by Cuatro Con Tres. $16; $13/seniors; $10/students; $8/children. Saturday, June 18, 8pm and Sunday, June 19, 3pm. Henry J. Mello Center, 250 East Beach St., Watsonville. esperanzadelvalle40.event brite.com.

ROBERT EARL KEEN After four decades on the road, the legendary Texas singer-songwriter is making a final curtain call. 2022 Keen’s last tour, dubbed “I’m Comin’ Home: 41 Years on the Road,” says it all. “I’ve been blessed with a lifetime of brilliant, talented, colorful, electrical, magical folks throughout my life,” Keen said in a message he posted online. “This chorus of joy, this parade of passion, this bullrush of creativity, this colony of kindness and generosity are foremost in my thoughts today. It’s with a mysterious concoction of joy and sadness that I want to tell you that as of September 4, 2022, I will no longer tour or perform publicly.” $68.25 plus fees. Monday, June 20, 8pm. Rio Theatre, 205 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. folkyeah.com.

HOT CLUB OF SAN FRANCISCO Hot Club takes listeners away to Paris jazz clubs of the 1930s. The longtime ensemble is a tribute to the music of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli’s Quintette du Hot Club de France. Under the leadership of frontman guitarist Paul Mehling, the San Francisco outfit delivers a fresh and innovative spin on classic arrangements. $36.75/$42; $21/students. Monday, June 20, 7pm. Kuumbwa Jazz, 320-2 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. kuumbwajazz.org.

MARY GAUTHIER WITH JAIMEE HARRIS Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter/author Mary Gauthier’s title track on her recently released Dark Enough to See the Stars is about mourning the loss of mentors John Prine, Nanci Griffith and David Olney. Meanwhile, the other tunes on the record are jubilant and bright, a celebration of new love and inner happiness. In 2021, Gauthier released her first book, Saved by A Song: The Art and Healing Power of Songwriting—Rolling Stone included it in its “Best Music Books of 2021.” $22 plus fees. Tuesday, June 21, 8pm. Felton Music Hall, 6275 Highway 9, Felton. feltonmusichall.com.

DAVE ALVIN AND JIMMIE DALE GILMORE WITH THE GUILTY ONES PLUS DEAD ROCK WEST Legends Dave Alvin and Jimmie Dale Gilmore are touring the country, swapping songs, telling stories and sharing their life experiences. Gilmore, twice named “Country Artist of the Year” by Rolling Stone, and Alvin, one of the founding members of the late ’70s Los Angeles punk group the Blasters, might have initially come from different musical worlds professionally. Still, their musical roots, founded in old-timey blues and folk, align. The pair’s spontaneous setlists move all over the genre wheel, from Merle Haggard’s outlaw country to Sam Cooke’s early soul (Read cover story). $30/$35. Tuesday, June 21, 8pm. Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. (The artist requests attendees show proof of vaccination). moesalley.com.

COMMUNITY

CAPITOLA FOOD TRUCK FRIDAY “Music, beer, friends and food—how can it be better?” Event host UNION serves up a tasty fusion of Asian and Mexican cuisines and is joining all the other amazing Santa Cruz food trucks, adding even more variety to the plethora of choices already available. Free. Friday, June 17, 4:30-7:30pm. Monterey Avenue Park, 688 Monterey Ave., Capitola. 

EL MERCADO FARMERS MARKET The weekly farmers market aims to decrease food insecurity and improve access to health resources for Pajaro Valley families. The goal is to make shopping as easy as possible and offer healthy choices to everyone. Free. Tuesday, June 21, 2-6pm. Pinto Lake City Park, 451 Green Valley Road, Watsonville. pvhealthtrust.org/el-mercado.

GROUPS

WOMENCARE ARM-IN-ARM This cancer support group is for women with advanced, recurrent or metastatic cancer. Meets every Monday on Zoom. Free. Registration required. Monday, June 20, 12:30pm. 831-457-2273. womencaresantacruz.org.

OUTDOORS

SATURDAYS IN THE SOIL Playing in the dirt never gets old—neither does learning about local ecology, native plants and sustainable gardening. It’s all about coming together as a community to steward Tyrrell Park through Santa Cruz’s Adopt-A-Park program. Free. Saturday, June 18, 10am-noon. Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, 1305 East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz. Email vo*******@sa*************.org to RSVP.

FOR FISH AND FLOWERS Help restore the native habitat in Arana Gulch by removing invasive plants. In partnership with AmeriCorps, the California Conservation Corps Watershed Stewards Program is dedicated to improving watershed health by actively engaging in restoration science, civic service and community education while empowering the next generation of environmental stewards. Free. Saturday, June 18 and Sunday, June 19, 8:30am-1pm. Arana Gulch Trail, Agnes Street entrance, Santa Cruz. RSVP tinyurl.com/5m39r6x7.

Santa Cruz Poet Laureate David Sullivan’s ‘Agents of Change’

Two years ago, Cabrillo College literature and film instructor David Sullivan was named the poet laureate of Santa Cruz.

Poet laureates are appointed to represent and engage with their communities, writing original poems and performing them at schools, city council meetings and more. Sullivan says it has been “a great honor” to be Santa Cruz’s poet laureate, despite the fact it has been during the pandemic.

“It’s been interesting to do this right now—a lot more Zoom time,” he says. “But it’s been so nice connecting with everyone. I feel lucky to live in a place so diverse with creative talent.”

When he received the honor, Sullivan was already looking for ways to connect different creative groups in his community. He started up his new art and poetry project, Agents of Change, to do just that.

“I wanted to do something positive and inclusive,” he says. “I wanted to create Agents of Change as a way to make connections between different artistic fields.”

Last week, an Agents of Change exhibition opened at the Downtown Public Library in Santa Cruz. The show features a variety of work, including many different artistic mediums (painting, photography, lithographs and more) and poems. 

Calls for artists and poets were sent out early this year, asking participants to create pieces that represented the subject of change. The broad theme resulted in a diverse pool of work, Sullivan says. 

“It’s been great to see the kind of response and the variety of subjects people have tackled,” he says. “From the wildfires to the pandemic, women’s issues, Black Lives Matter … I really think we are in a tumultuous time, a reassessment of what we value and how we connect in this world.”

Many noted local artists will be showing work, including photographer Shmuel Thaler, Watsonville poet laureate Bob Gomez and Cabrillo College instructor and Hive Poetry Collective member Nikia Chaney. Sullivan says a number of artists and poets have teamed up to create pieces together.

“That was unexpected, but wonderful,” he says. “I’m really looking forward to having people coming by the library this summer and seeing these incredible works.”

Sullivan is a writer himself, with a number of books under his belt, and his English 1B at Cabrillo class puts together the Porter Gulch Review, a literary and arts publication, every year. 

His latest book, Black Butterflies Over Baghdad, was released last year. The book of poetry highlights Iraqi artists, with translations of Iraqi poets. Sullivan says the book grew out of another he wrote a decade ago, Every Seed of the Pomegranate.

“That book was half in the voices of U.S. soldiers and citizens and half in the voice of Iraqi soldiers and citizens,” he says. “This book is all about listening to the Iraqis in their own voices. It tries to listen and understand a different culture, and give a voice to the people.”

Sullivan worked directly with the poets and artists to put Butterflies together.

“They all have tremendous hospitality—every time I meet the Iraqis it’s just been incredible,” he says. “They have such a dark, black humor about them. Which helps them survive through everything. It’s been very moving, their openness and willingness to talk and teach me has been amazing. I feel very privileged.”

Sullivan says he hopes that the Agents of Change show will inspire people to expand their worldview and be more understanding to others.

“We are in a situation where we are so disconnected, not listening to each other,” he says. “Both art and poetry emphasize passionate connection and understanding to those who are different from us. They are vital tools to open us up and make us think outside the box. I would hope something would get stirred in people by some of the pieces. That they investigate and reach out to others that they maybe didn’t talk to before. We must begin to lead with kindness and compassion.”

Agents of Change will run through early September at the Downtown Library, 224 Church St., Santa Cruz. On Saturday, June 18, there will be an Agents of Change poetry workshop from 11am-noon, and an art show and poetry reading from noon-1pm; free. For information, visit bit.ly/3tsOMbM.

The White Album Ensemble is Performing a Pair of Shows at the Rio

For those who’ve felt the last two years of the pandemic have left them feeling like a nowhere man, lost in a Norwegian wood, then it’s time to think for yourself. Look at all the lonely people and say, “Good day, sunshine” because tomorrow never knows. If you’re picking up what we’re putting down then yes, it’s time to be here, there, and everywhere with Santa Cruz’s famous Beatles tribute band, the White Album Ensemble.

“I think the people really need it,” says legendary local musician and unofficial White Album leader, Dale Ockerman (ex-Doobie Brothers/Quicksilver Messenger Service). “We’re really looking forward to it.”

Starting June 17, the WAE will rock a two-day residency at the Rio Theatre, performing one of their most beloved shows, “Rubber Revolver”—the songs of Rubber Soul and Revolver along with the singles from that period.
“In the old days [the Beatles] wouldn’t put the singles on the album,” Ockerman explains. “‘Daytripper’ and ‘We Can Work It Out’ were Number One singles, they weren’t on Rubber Soul. So we include them.” 

This will be the Ensemble’s first show since the 2021 Santa Cruz County Fair; their last five shows were all canceled at the last minute due to Covid.

For their two-night gig the six-piece core group of the White Album Ensemble will be joined by 11 other musicians, including the Mind Over Matter Horn section, the White Album Ensemble String Quartet and American Idol himself James Durbin–performing John Lennon’s vocals. 

“The first time I saw him, my jaw dropped,” Ockerman remembers. 

He and Durbin have worked together for over 15 years, and Ockerman originally brought a young James into the White Album Ensemble in 2007, after the Across the Universe movie release when there was a resurgence of young people discovering the Beatles.

For Ockerman, the White Album Ensemble’s 19 years of success represents just how captivating and ageless the Fab Four’s music truly is. 

“It was really a magical time, and looking back, it’s amazing to see their influence on the world,” he says, then adds with a smile. “When we play shows, the audience is hypnotized. And they’re not even on drugs—just listening to the music and digging it.” 

The White Album Ensemble performs ‘Rubber Revolver’ at 8pm on June 17-18 at the Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. Tickets are $30/$45, available in advance at tix.com or Streetlight Records. 

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Robert Earl Keen, Capitola Food Truck Friday, For Fish and Flowers and more

Santa Cruz Poet Laureate David Sullivan’s ‘Agents of Change’

The all-inclusive amalgamation of the arts showcases a diverse pool of artists working in a vast array of mediums at the Downtown Santa Cruz Library

The White Album Ensemble is Performing a Pair of Shows at the Rio

The beloved Beatles tribute’s ‘Rubber Revolver’ shows will feature a horn section, a string quartet and special guest vocalist James Durbin
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