Page 293 – Good Times

Scotts Valley’s Finances Soar Past Estimates

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March 25, 2022

Scotts Valley’s Finances Soar Past Estimates

As visitors return to hotels, residents hit the shops again and developers move ahead with projects, Scotts Valley has found itself in the fortunate position of beating its own financial forecast—in some ways by a lot.

The city now says it will likely bring in $1.7 million in revenue this year, which is 12% over what it originally expected.

The revelations were in the 2021-22 Mid-Year Financial Review, which looks at Scotts Valley’s books through Dec. 31.

Staff cautioned that this picture is colored by $1.4 million in one-time funding, however, the review proved the community’s pandemic rebound is real.

Because, while utility and property tax revenues were stable, staff now budgets accommodation providers will ultimately hand over $170,000 more than first thought. That’s a 12% jump.

“This is the result of better-than-anticipated occupancy levels as the region eases into a recovery from the pandemic with business and leisure travel slowly starting to return to pre-pandemic levels,” staff reported.

And Community Development Fee revenue has done quite well, thanks to new commercial and residential projects. These revenues have already sailed past the $686,300 the city was expecting for the entire year. Now it pegs the final figure closer to $1.4 million.

A highlight of the report was the sales tax revenues that seem to be coming in $745,000 over the $5.7 million budget.

Looking ahead, staff predicts long-term revenues will grow by about 2% in the fiscal year 2021-22.

Meanwhile, the city says it will spend $800,000 (6%) less than it thought it would have to in order to keep the community’s gears turning.

“This is primarily the result of staffing vacancies and challenges with undertaking projects in several different departments throughout the city,” staff reported.

And it got high marks from a third-party analyst for how it handled last year’s ledgers.

“The city’s financial outlook remains sound despite the Covid-19 pandemic,” stated external auditor Badawi & Associates.

Administrative Services Director Casey Estorga said the audited annual report, up to the end of June 30, 2021, showed the city had $549,000 less in actual expenditures than it had budgeted for.

Estorga reported the city had expected to bring in $12.53 million in revenue, last year, but actually generated $15.2 million—so $2.67 million more than originally anticipated.

“We were over budget in revenues and under budgets in expenditures,” he said. “Looking at the general fund, that calculates to a net impact of roughly $3 million.”

That budget reflects a city deep in the throes of the coronavirus crisis.

“Some services were put on pause, and so you see some of our expenses were cut, because we didn’t have the same staffing expenditures,” he said. “Also, there were challenges with working with our partners—whether that’s a vendor or consultant—to provide services, because the pandemic was sincerely global.”

Councilman Jack Dilles said it was a relief to hear the good news.

“I know we still have lots of issues, but it’s great to have some real positive trends here,” he said. “It gives us a little bit of breathing room.”

Councilman Randy Johnson said in the background of the financial update is the reality that Target is opening a location in town, meaning additional sales tax money is likely on its way. And nonprofit conference center 1440 Multiversity’s recent deal with tech company Salesforce should result in a hefty chunk of hotel-tax change, he added.

“Are you going to project additional funds?” Johnson asked of staff.

So far the city has stuck with “very conservative” estimates, Estorga said.

Community Meetings Aim to Help Rebuilding County Residents

Christina Wise

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March 25, 2022

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Community Meetings Aim to Help Rebuilding County Residents

Living in a tight-knit community like the San Lorenzo Valley has its advantages. When a neighbor needs assistance or a business is in trouble, locals rally to help. And when hundreds of residents lose their homes in a devastating wildfire and are in desperate need of resources, local agencies combine forces to provide support.

Hallie Greene, district manager of the Boulder Creek Recreation and Park District, understands the issue from both sides. Greene, who lost her Boulder Creek home to the CZU Lightning Complex in 2020, has found herself operating as the nexus between residents who need help, and those organizations that are willing to provide it: enter the Santa Cruz Long Term Recovery Group (SCLTRG), which has provided support for CZU survivors since its inception in 2021.

“About a month or so after the fire, I started to collaborate with nonprofits; United Policy Holder took on the role of helping with the recovery process, and we brought connected county and national assistance groups into the fold,” Greene said. “Ultimately, we formed a long-term recovery group; we’re not so much an entity as [much] a consortium of nonprofits and county organizations.”

This weekend, the group is hosting community meetings for residents who need assistance weaving their way through the rebuilding process. The first meeting is set for March 26 at noon at the Boulder Creek Recreation and Park office (13333 Middleton Ave.) behind the Boulder Creek Volunteer Fire Department Station 1. The second is slated for March 27 at 1pm at Bonny Doon Elementary School (1492 Pine Flat Road).

Residents from either area are welcome to attend any of the meetings. In addition, the Boulder Creek Fire Protection District will participate in the question and answer periods to answer post-CZU rebuild questions.

Both meetings will be live-streamed on Facebook: facebook.com/SCLTRG.

As the only fire survivor on the committee, Greene liaises between agencies with the personal insight that comes from the daunting experience of losing everything in a catastrophe.

The intent of the group was to vet out projects, grant funds and look for solutions when issues arose in the process of planning a rebuild. The group, which has been meeting monthly since the fire swept through the area, took on a major role in last year’s recovery projects at the Bear Creek Community Center. Greene says the county has supplied a grant to help maintain outreach and training for case managers to help survivors.

“Case management is picking up more and more, now that people are in the phase of recognizing their needs to move forward,” she said.

Greene said there are three primary agencies that are taking the lead on providing that assistance. Catholic Charities got the state grant to run case management, Community Bridges obtained separate grants to directly help fire victims and the Davenport Resource Center, which is run by the Community Action Board of Santa Cruz County, is available to help those in the Bonny Doon area.

She points out that the case managers at Catholic Charities have taken the lead in providing monetary assistance.

“They’ve been working throughout this last year to help people with specific needs to get pre-clearance payments done, or other specifics regarding rebuilding. In addition to helping homeowners, they’ve provided assistance to renters too, or people who lost a vehicle or place to live,” Greene said.

Greene explained that she has recently been working in more detail on bulk purchasing—the more people that reach out and identify their needs, the better able the group is to provide those items. Greene notes that the Community Foundation is holding fire funds, and planning to provide assistance for upcoming projects. Case managers are so important in this venue, says Greene.

“So many fire victims thought that the case managers were only available for people who lost everything, or for those who were low income or had no insurance. In reality, there’s help for everyone, and there might be resources, however small, that are available to those in need,” Greene said.

One of those entities providing resources and support is Mountain Community Resources in Felton, which is operated under the Community Bridges umbrella. Jayme Ackemann, a spokesperson for Community Bridges, said the satellite location in the Santa Cruz Mountains helped organize evacuations, shelter and personal necessities for families during the fire.

“We worked closely with more than 125 fire families in the years since to coordinate additional support including relocation funding, identifying permanent housing if needed and providing grants to cover unexpected costs like first and last month’s rent and security deposits where needed,” Ackemann said. “We’ve also worked to help navigate the unique challenges that are keeping fire families from being able to return to their properties, including identifying grant funding for unique needs like new wells, fire hydrants, septic systems and other services needed to allow someone to safely live on their property.”

Ackemann says the nonprofit’s current efforts are focused on helping identify eligible candidates for the Mennonite home rebuilding program.

“Through this event, we plan to collect information from participants to determine if others may be eligible to apply for assistance with the cost of rebuilding their home,” Ackemann said. “Mountain Community Resources is serving as the local liaison to help connect eligible community members with this assistance.”

Boulder Creek Fire Protection District Chief Mark Bingham said he joined the recovery group to “try something new and see if attending the community rebuild meetings would help CZU survivors.”

“The thing is at the end of the day, people still don’t have the right information a lot of the time and, more importantly, they don’t have their homes rebuilt yet,” he said. “It weighs on me.”

Bingham said Boulder Creek Fire is working with the 4leaf, the Pleasanton-based consulting company the county brought in to set up and manage a Recovery Permit Center under its watch in hopes of streamlining the permitting process.

“The offer for 4leaf to assist the Fire District was extended and we jumped on it,” Bingham said. “Frankly, we just don’t have the manpower to quickly and efficiently review and process the estimated volume of permits that could come our way from CZU survivors. I am pleased with how our relationship is working with 4leaf and am thankful to the county for making the connection. People need to know we are here for them, we are in this together. The Fire District’s No. 1 priority is the safety of our public and we take great pride in providing that service.”

Santa Cruz County 5th District Supervisor Bruce McPherson said the SCLTRG “has played an instrumental role in helping our community recover from the CZU Fire.”

“I have been impressed by the outreach the team has made to survivors and the cooperative role they have played in partnership with the County to address people’s needs,” he said.

For information about the meetings, visit facebook.com/SCLTRG.

As Pajaro Valley Business Expo Returns, South County Shares Optimism

Johanna Miller

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March 25, 2022

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As Pajaro Valley Business Expo Returns, South County Shares Optimism

On April 7, businesses from across the region will come together for the first time in three years at the Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture’s annual Business Expo and Job Fair.

This year’s theme is “Spring Fling,” celebrating the return of not only the spring season but the event itself after Covid-19 shut it down in 2020 and 2021. Chamber CEO Shaz Roth reported that businesses and organizations are “very excited” for the expo to return.

“We’ve got a great turnout,” Roth said. “We have businesses this year from across the tri-county area. We have some from Hollister, several from Santa Cruz, Felton, a number of North County threshold industries … along with, of course, a ton of Watsonville-based businesses. Everyone is eager for meeting in person, having that interaction. I think people appreciate getting together like this more now than they ever have.”

Roth says that her favorite part of the expo is getting to know local business owners better, as well seeing connections being made between them and their customers.

“Every year we’ve held it we get feedback from businesses saying ‘I got new business from your expo, I met new customers,’” Roth said. “It’s a great place for people looking for new businesses, for jobs, and businesses looking for great employees.”

Blackout Bingo, one of the event’s most popular activities, is also returning. Guests can pick up a card that gives them a layout of the event. Each business they visit will sign the card, and once complete guests can enter into a prize drawing. This year the Chamber is giving away four season passes to Roaring Camp Railroads.

“We try and market this event for the entire community,” Roth said. “We really want to emphasize that this is free and open for everyone to come out and enjoy.”

The pandemic has not been easy on local businesses. From extended closures, customer uncertainty about the virus and workforce shortages to ever-changing health mandates, many businesses have struggled to stay afloat.

“To be honest, it’s always hard to do business in South County,” said Clark Codiga, managing partner with Oaktree Property Company, which oversees the East Lake Shopping Center, East Fifth Plaza and other commercial properties around town. “In any climate, a good or bad economy … There’s always challenges, drawing people to Watsonville and getting them to shop locally. And definitely, the pandemic made it even harder. We worked with all our businesses and tenants to help make it through the past couple of years … Everyone had to give a little.”

The ongoing labor shortage continues to be tough on businesses, despite the economy improving.

“It’s been hard to get people to want to take on these jobs,” Codiga said. “I know a lot of businesses have struggled to maintain service due to lack of employees. But it is improving. Employment is trending upward. There are some really good jobs out there right now. It’s a great time for someone looking for work to get out there and take advantage.”

Added Roth: “The labor shortage does continue. The majority of businesses participating in the expo will be hiring, looking for new employees. But things are looking up. Businesses are beginning to increase their customer base once again. There is a lot going on … including the new development on Main Street. And everything happening at East Lake Village. The parking lot is always full.”

East Lake Village has seen a renaissance in recent years. Coffeeville, Sushi Q, Fruition Brewing, Ferrari Florist, Ace Hardware and others have moved in. Staff of Life Natural Foods, the Santa Cruz-based grocer, will be celebrating its first anniversary in the center on Wednesday.

“We couldn’t be more grateful for our partnership with Staff of Life,” Codiga said. “They are truly an independent, organically-grown business that hires local and supports local farmers. To go into a grocery store to buy lettuce or strawberries grown in the same town, that’s very unique. They’re really thriving. It’s obviously been a tough time for them to start and ‘take a chance’ on Watsonville. But they did. It’s a great store.”

Staff of Life will be hosting an anniversary party at the store Wednesday from 4-7pm. The event will include wine and beer tasting, beauty product and food samples, house-made bakery items, barbecue and more. Proceeds will support the Chamber.

“That store has brought a new excitement to that part of town,” Roth said. “The center is once again a destination.”

Codiga also highlighted Ace Hardware, which he dubbed a “pivotal change” for East Lake Village and Watsonville in general.

“They’re a fantastic locally-owned business,” he said. “The Rodrigues brothers provide great service with great employees. For them to continually give back to the community is really great. I think they’ve done a lot more for Watsonville than people realize.”

Roth and Codiga were both positive about the business scene in Watsonville and encouraged locals from all ends of the county to take advantage of what it has to offer.

“The business climate here is definitely improving,” Codiga said. “The energy, excitement of the community is increasing. We want to keep moving things forward.”

The Business Expo and Job Fair will be held April 7 from 4-7pm inside the J.J. Crosetti Hall at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, 2601 East Lake Ave., Watsonville. For information visit pajarovalleychamber.com.

Santa Cruz City Council Alters Housing Rules, Restricts Street Vending

Aiyana Moya

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March 24, 2022

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Santa Cruz City Council Alters Housing Rules, Restricts Street Vending

The Santa Cruz City Council hopes more small housing units are on the horizon, after relaxing rules for smaller housing units at Tuesday’s council meeting.

The council moved to change “small ownership units” (SOUs) to “flexible density units” (FDUs), with the goal of incentivizing developers to build more small units. In the past 15 years, only three SOU projects have been developed, according to the city.

Developers forgo building SOUs is because of the restrictions that units must adhere to, the city says.

By allowing small units to be mixed with other types of structures, and be rented or sold, the new set of rules addresses developers’ key concerns, the city says. Building height restrictions, parking minimums, open space requirements and inclusionary unit requirements will not change.

Councilmembers Justin Cummings and Sandy Brown voted against the measure, saying that without increasing the inclusionary elements to mandate more affordable units, there would be no guarantee that these smaller units would lead to more affordable housing.

“If the rationale is that reducing the unit size will make them affordable, this isn’t supported, especially when we see studios going for $2,800 a month,” said Cummings. “It would be in the best interest of the community to address preserving and increasing affordability if we’re going to consider moving in this direction. If not, then we’ll be driving up the cost of housing by setting market rate standards for very small living conditions.”

City staff said that the only way to guarantee cheaper rent is with deed restriction, but that changing the requirements for smaller units is one tool the city has that will help keep housing production up, especially ahead of the new state-mandated housing goals that are expected to triple. This, in turn, limits projects that qualify under Senate Bill 35, the bill that requires cities to streamline the approval process of some projects, said staff.

“I fail to understand how building less helps those who need housing the most,” said Councilmember Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson. “I fail to understand how building less doesn’t increase competition for the existing units that we have here. This is about building housing for everybody … for our kids, our parents, for that city worker.”

Street vending times, locations slashed

The council also approved a new permit system for vendors on sidewalks and beaches in a 4-3 vote.

Last summer, the city awarded six permits to sidewalk vendors in the Cowell Beach area based on a lottery system. According to the city’s reporting, upwards of 50 unpermitted vendors crowded Beach Street, Main Beach and the surrounding areas, and led to associated costs totaling around $650,000 for the police department, parks and recreation and the department of health combined.

Under the new permit system, the city is restricting the locations and the months during which vendors can sell on sidewalks.

For example, no vendors will be allowed from April to October on Beach Street from Third Street and the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf. The annual permit fee will be $30 for vendors to sell on city sidewalks and beaches, and vendors might need additional permits depending on what is being sold and where (for example, a food permit, or a permit from parks and recreation if a vendor wants to sell in a city park).

Councilmembers Brown and Cummings and Mayor Sonja Brunner voted against the item, instead supporting an alternate proposal that would have allowed limited year-round vending on Beach Street.

Rental assistance

Ahead of April 1, when the state’s rental assistance program ends, the city will continue to support tenant resources for legal support, mediation and housing assistance.

The city is unable to extend an eviction moratorium, City Attorney Toni Condotti said at Tuesday’s meeting.According to the state’s dashboard, 3,400 county residents have applied for rental assistance, and 1,465 applications have received payment.

Supervisors Tackle Tobacco, Vacation Rentals, Pretrial Services Issues

Todd Guild

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March 24, 2022

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Supervisors Tackle Tobacco, Vacation Rentals, Pretrial Services Issues

In a busy but brisk Tuesday morning session, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors approved several items which could change the county’s Transient Occupancy Tax and the rules regarding the sale of flavored tobacco.

The board also heard the first reading of a new ordinance that governs how the County Sheriff’s Office procures and uses military equipment, as well as a first reading of a plan to reshape the county’s pretrial services department.

Transient Occupancy Tax

Collected from hotels and vacation rentals, this tax is a significant source of revenue for the county that among other things funds wildfire prevention and response, street repair and public health services.

The new changes, which the supervisors will consider for approval on April 12, would allow the county to place a lien on properties whose owners have not remitted tax payments within three years of an audit, and to collect attorneys fees associated with the actions.

Retail tobacco

The county in 2019 aligned with state law that bans the sale of flavored tobacco products, as a way to counter companies’ efforts to market their products to young people.

But the state continues to see increased use of tobacco products, particularly e-cigarettes, by young people who manage to circumnavigate the laws.

The draft ordinance would prohibit the spouse, domestic partner or business partner of a violator whose license to sell tobacco has been suspended from applying for a new one. It also specifies the causes for license suspensions and revocations and removes the deadline for hearings to be scheduled.

The rules would also increase the penalties for violations from a one-day suspension and $1,000 fine to a five-day suspension and a $5,000 fine for a first offense.

Second violations would increase from $5,000 to $10,000 along with a 10-day suspension.

The ordinance will return on April 12 for a second reading and approval.

Use of military equipment

Under Assembly Bill 481, which became law on Jan. 1, law enforcement agencies must get approval from their governing bodies before acquiring military equipment.

Police departments must also create military equipment use policies to be approved by local leaders and posted on their website. To see the policy, click here and scroll to page 512.

The supervisors on Tuesday heard the first reading of the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s policy, which outlines the military equipment the department has, and when deputies are authorized to use it. For a full report, click here.

The policy will return to the board for a second reading and approval on April 12.

New Pretrial Services department

The supervisors approved a plan to form a new Pretrial Services Division within the Probation Department—which will work hand-in-hand with Santa Cruz County Superior Court—and to fund two full-time Deputy Probation Officers and one full-time Division Director.

The change will include expanded hours and days.

Probation Chief Fernando Geraldo says the move will streamline pretrial services and help keep nonviolent offenders out of jail as they await trial. That’s important as lawmakers increasingly favor policies that lower jail populations.

Those efforts by the county have been successful, Gerardo says, reducing the number of people held in jail from 10,000 in 2016 to 7,200 last year.

But that, along with increased numbers of people kept out of custody thanks to the Covid-19 crisis, have led to a drastic increase of people that fall under the supervision of Pretrial Services.

According to Gerardo, cases went from 37 in 2013 to 193 in 2021.

“They have a big responsibility and do a lot of work keeping our community safe,” he said of his staff.

The expansion is made possible by a $494,797 infusion from Senate Bill 129, also known as the Budget Act of 2021, which was signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom in July 2021. Among other things, that law provides funding for expanded pretrial services in all 58 counties.

New Watsonville City Clerk is Homegrown

Tony Nuñez

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March 24, 2022

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The Watsonville City Council promoted longtime Assistant City Clerk Irwin Ortiz to the municipality’s top clerical position at Tuesday night’s meeting.

Ortiz has been with the City of Watsonville since 2010. He started as an intern for the city manager’s office before moving into the city clerk’s office in 2012 to serve as an assistant under Beatriz Vasquez Flores.

Vasquez Flores retired on March 11 after more than four decades of service with the city. Multiple city council members said Ortiz was the clear choice for the position because of his ties to the community, his years of experience, his vast knowledge of city government and his work ethic.

He beat out a handful of other qualified candidates, City Councilwoman Rebecca Garcia said. Garcia was on the hiring sub-committee with Mayor Ari Parker and Councilman Eduardo Montesino.

“The interview reflected his work ethic, and his style that I have experienced as a city council member,” Garcia said. “Whenever I have needed any kind of assistance, Irwin was there for me.”

Ortiz is a Watsonville native who attended local schools and graduated from Watsonville High School. He holds a radio, television and film degree from San Jose State University. He also attended Cabrillo College.

Ortiz, filling in as acting city clerk, conducted the roll call for the council’s unanimous decision to name him city clerk. A unified clap from the elected leaders and people in attendance followed the vote. In a brief statement, he thanked the city council for the opportunity, and his family and peers for support.

“It’s a big endeavor for me to take on. I’m happy to do it,” Ortiz said. “I’m proud of my city. I was born and raised here. I worked a variety of jobs throughout my life. I worked my way through college … I’m homegrown, I really am. Hard work really pays off.”

Ortiz also gave a special thanks to his wife, Maria Elena Ortiz, who is also employed by the city. She often takes care of their three young daughters during late-night council meetings, Irwin Ortiz said.

“I do what I can to keep a balance with my life,” he said. “I try as much as I can to be a father, a son, a worker, a role model, a good supervisor. I do what I can.”

He will soon add another job to his growing list of responsibilities: Ortiz announced that he committed to serve as clerk for the Pajaro Valley Health Care District Board of Directors’ meetings.

“I’m continuing to do things for this community and I will continue to do them in the future,” Ortiz said.

He will be paid an annual base salary of $125,082, and be subject to an employee review in April 2023. He serves at the will of the council, meaning they could terminate his contract at any time.

A city clerk, among other things, maintains city documents and records, runs local elections and provides overall support to the city council.

His appointment means the city is one step closer to filling three key executive positions that have opened up in the past three months. Samantha Zutler was named the new city attorney late last year, taking over the role after the retirement of Alan Smith.

Watsonville is still in search of a new city manager after Matt Huffaker’s departure to Santa Cruz in December.

The city council conducted interviews with candidates over two closed sessions of Tuesday’s meeting. Initially, the city had scheduled a meeting for Wednesday to discuss the appointment of a city manager, but that gathering was canceled hours before it was set to begin.

Mayor Parker said the meeting was canceled because of scheduling issues. The council plans to meet next week to discuss the matter, she said.

County Frees Up $500K to Curb Possible Mass Evictions

Todd Guild

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March 24, 2022

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County Frees Up $500K to Curb Possible Mass Evictions

On Tuesday, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the use of $500,000 in emergency rental assistance funds to help county renters facing eviction pay back rent.

The funds from the Planning and the Housing for Health departments and the Health Services Agency could also cover legal assistance and mediation, flexible financial assistance, tenant rights education and counseling and case management services.

The item came to the board one week before the statewide eviction moratorium ends on March 31.

And with time running out for that assistance, Housing for Health Division Director Robert Ratner says it’s “critical” that anyone who needs the help apply for it immediately.

The county is part of the statewide Housing is Key program, which allowed officials to leverage state funding to help pay back rent during the statewide moratorium.

According to Ratner, 3,531 households within the county have applied for more than $55.6 million in assistance as of March 10, which makes up about 10% of the county’s renters. Of these applications,1,392 have been granted roughly $15.1 million.

Some $16 million has been paid to landlords for rent owed due to pandemic-related job or income losses, with an average award exceeding $10,000, county spokesman Jason Hoppin said.

Under the 2019 Tenant Protection Act (AB 1482), additional protections are possible, which requires “just cause” evictions and limits annual rent increases. And it appears that protections have been working. Local evictions remain low, with just 23 cases filed during the first two months of 2022, according to Hoppin.

Ratner said that, in addition to helping renters catch up with what they owe, they also need additional support to ensure they can remain in their rentals.

“I think our services really need to be geared towards helping people sustain housing, not just paying the back rent,” he said.

Tenants can apply for the COVID-19 Rent Relieve program at housingiskey.com, or visit the Self-Help Center in Santa Cruz County Superior Court.

Things To Do in Santa Cruz: March 23-29

GT Staff

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March 23, 2022

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A weekly guide to what’s happening.

ARTS AND MUSIC

ART TWISTORY: MERRY WIDOWS Art Twistory’s debut event in its new space is a presentation in honor of Women’s History Month. “Merry Widow” may sound familiar—you may have heard of her, which has likely affected your life, but do you know why and how? The “historical and hysterical pictorial presentation will uncover (pun intended) who she is and how she has shaped art, sex, politics and religion. She’s probably in your bedroom right now.” Free with RSVP to lo**@ar********.com. Friday, March 25, 7-8:30pm. Arting Ways, 240 Westgate Drive, Watsonville. artingways.com.

THE BLASTERS The longtime Los Angeles-based group formed by brothers Phil Alvin (vocals and guitar) and Dave Alvin (guitar), was born out of LA’s early ‘80s punk rock scene under the guidance of T-Bone Walker and Big Joe Turner. After a few decades, the band has become an influence on countless other groups worldwide. It all began with their full-length debut, American Music, a fresh mashup of blues, rockabilly, country, R&B and rock. Henry Rollins writes in his memoir of the Blasters: “In my mind, they were a great band that not enough people found out about. Bill Bateman is one of the best drummers there is, and then, of course, there are the Alvin brothers. A lot of talent for one band.” $30/$35. Proof of vaccination or negative Covid test required. Friday, March 25, 7:30pm. Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. moesalley.com.

‘ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST’ Two years after the pandemic lockdown, the dedicated actors and crew were ready to do it all over again—and the long delay had an unexpected side effect of bringing them closer together. “This cast really bonded over the last two years, and for a cast of 16 to stick together for so long is amazing. It’s unfinished business, and we are determined to complete what we started,” says director Miguel Reyna. (See March 2 story). $20/$17 students and seniors. Friday, March 25-Saturday, March 26, 8pm and Sunday, March 27, 2pm. Park Hall, 9400 Mill St., Ben Lomond. Mctshows.org.

SEAN HAYES AND NELS ANDREWS Sean Hayes’ accompanying acoustic fingerpicking is rough, outside the lines and alive with his folk music philosophy: “Folk music for me is uneducated outsider [art],” he explains. “It’s raw and primal and simple.” The singer-songwriter’s Before We Turn to Dust was written and recorded the same year his first son was born. The resulting record is saturated with the experience of new overwhelming love—and the internal conflicts that come with fatherhood. $26/$30 plus fees. Proof of vaccination or negative Covid test required. Saturday, March 26. 8pm. Felton Music Hall, 6275 CA-9, Felton. feltonmusichall.com.

SANTA CRUZ SYMPHONY FAMILY CONCERT: THE ORCHESTRA SWINGS Swing is a distinctive rhythmic feel, the big band era of jazz, a style of dance born alongside the musical style of the same name and that indefinable vibe that emits from musicians in sync with each other. $15/$10 (children 3-17) plus fees. Proof of vaccination or negative Covid test required. Sunday, March 27, 2pm. Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, 307 Church St., Santa Cruz. santacruzsymphony.org.

PAULA WEST The American jazz/cabaret singer’s dynamic contralto voice is captivating, especially when applied to her extensive song selections, ranging from reinterpretations of songs by Dylan, Bowie and Cash to the Great American songbook. The New York Times raved, “[West’s] thickly textured voice has ripened into a driving expressive force.” West is praised for re-imagining the standards with innovation, and weaving unexpected tunes into her shows—songs traditionally not found in a jazz/cabaret repertoire. Adam Shulman will accompany her on piano, Aaron German on bass and Sylvia Cuenca on drums. $36.75/$42. Proof of vaccination or negative Covid test required. Monday, March 28, 7pm. Kuumbwa Jazz, 320 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. kuumbwajazz.org.

HALF ALIVE AND DAISY THE GREAT The Long Beach alt-rock trio’s 2019 single, “Arrow,” was named one of the best songs of the week by Time magazine, writing that “the song is filled with small surprises, like mini drum breaks and a groovy synth sequence that break it up into an unexpected composition that pulses with fresh energy.” Meanwhile, the Brooklyn-based outfit Daisy the Great, formed by Kelley Nicole Dugan and Mina Walker, is a smattering of indie rock, pop and folk. $25/$30. Proof of vaccination or negative Covid test required. Tuesday, March 29, 8pm. The Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. catalystclub.com.

COMMUNITY

SANTA CRUZ WARRIORS VS. IOWA WOLVES The most talented basketball players outside the NBA battle on the court. $27-280. Proof of vaccination or negative Covid test required. Wednesday, March 23 and Friday, March 25, 7pm. Kaiser Permanente Arena, 140 Front St., Santa Cruz. santacruz.gleague.nba.com.

MAH POP UP! Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History’s outdoor community plaza and market, located in the heart of Downtown Santa Cruz, boasts eight unique restaurants and bars surrounded by a 10,000 square-foot outdoor community plaza. Sounds worth checking out! Free. Thursday, March 24, 12:30-3:30pm. Abbott Square, 725 Front St., Santa Cruz.

2022 COMMUNITY AWARDS GALA The Santa Cruz County Chamber will award individuals, businesses and organizations of the year and Legacy/Lifetime Achievement Awards to outstanding members of the Santa Cruz County community. The gala will be hosted outdoors at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Colonnade with a view of the setting sun. Enjoy fire pits, networking, dinner and celebrating everyone who makes the community incredible. Attendee tickets include apps, champagne toast and dinner. $155 (additional packages available). Thursday, March 24, 4-7pm. Cocoanut Grove, 400 Beach St., Santa Cruz. web.santacruzchamber.org.

DAVENPORT DAY! CELEBRATING ART, HISTORY AND COMMUNITY Inspired by the “Out of the Ashes” exhibition currently on view at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History, Davenport Day will showcase the resilience and artistry of an exceptional community. Some of the participating vendors include: Sam Clarkson, Todd LeJeune, Tessa Hope, Farm & Studio, Whale City Bakery and Santa Cruz Cider Co. Free. Saturday, March 26, noon-4pm. 450 Highway 1, Davenport. santacruzmah.org/events.

GROUPS

GANJA YOGA SANTA CRUZ Cannabis, yoga and community come together to relax and elevate your soul. Javi’s classes blend slow vinyasa flow, chill vibes, grounded spirituality and a touch of Latino spice. All levels welcome, weed welcome (vapes only), masks optional. Free (first class). Thursday, March 24, 6pm. Green Magic Yoga, 738 Chestnut St., Santa Cruz. greenmagicyoga.com/ganja-yoga-santa-cruz.

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, March 28, 12:30pm. 831-457-2273. womencaresantacruz.org.

OUTDOORS

COASTAL BIRDING WALK The 2.5-mile hike will include stops to view all the various birds, plants, and scenery. Help each other spot and identify those birds and plants. If you have binoculars, bring them along. Comfortable shoes are recommended. Rain cancels. Meet next to the park map in Wilder Ranch’s main parking lot. $10 vehicle day-use fee. Friday, March 25, 9-11am. Wilder Ranch State Park, 1401 Coast Road, Santa Cruz. Register at santacruzstateparks.as.me.

HANDS-ON WITH HONEYBEES Emily Bondor of the Santa Cruz Bee Company will lead a “Hive Dive.” Attendees will get up close and personal with honeybee beehives and experience first-hand how to handle honeybees. There will also be a hive inspection demo and a Q&A session. $40 (10% discount for Friends of the Farm & Garden). Saturday, March 26, 11am-1pm. UCSC Farm, 1156 High St., Santa Cruz. calendar.ucsc.edu.

Santa Cruz Chorale Performs Ukraine Benefit Concert

Christina Waters

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March 23, 2022

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Santa Cruz Chorale Performs Ukraine Benefit Concert

Christian Grube knows firsthand the terrors of wartime. As the current crisis in Ukraine escalated, it brought back the conductor and artistic director of Santa Cruz Chorale’s childhood memories of living through World War II in Germany.

Grube and his wife Karen knew they had to act, and quickly made plans for the Chorale’s upcoming Ukraine Benefit Concert for the children of Ukraine. Grube has guided the Chorale, along with guest orchestras and soloists, through memorable performances in Santa Cruz for the past 16 years—and that was after his retirement as a full-time choral director in Berlin. He is also no stranger to creating benefit concerts. Along with Karen—a Bay Area native who met her future husband while at school in Germany, and is a soprano with the Chorale—Grube has a long history of organizing benefits that also succeeded as diplomatic exchanges during his years as a professor of music and choral conducting at the Berlin University of the Arts. Founding the university’s Chamber Choir, Grube toured the world with precedent-setting performances that brought his choral groups to Eastern Europe.

“The first benefit concert we did,” the maestro recalls, “was in Moscow for victims of the Armenian earthquake.” It was the beginning of the era of cultural exchanges between East and West, allowing Grube’s choral groups to forge close relationships with other music groups “desperate to have a taste of freedom.” When the Berlin Wall came down, many of Grube’s singers and their colleagues in East Germany were able to once again sing together. Because of the diplomatic influence of his strategic benefit performances Grube was awarded in 1995 Germany’s highest civilian honor, the National Medal for Distinguished Service.

The Ukraine crisis comes at an especially poignant moment for the Grubes, who lost their home and all their belongings in the CZU fire of 2020.

“We are experiencing the impact of that loss on a daily basis,” he admits. “Watching images on TV of the unbelievable tragedy unfolding in Ukraine made us all feel absolutely helpless.”

But against all odds, and in the midst of rehearsals for a challenging May concert, Grube and his Chorale quickly added the Ukraine benefit to their schedule. Knowing that there would be little time to rehearse, Grube chose music familiar to most of the Chorale singers.

“With music, we are not helpless—and the entire Chorale wholeheartedly agreed. Our concert will give the community an opportunity to support the Ukrainian cause with generous financial donations, while the healing power of music will hopefully help lift our own spirits,” he says.

An uncompromising conductor, Grube knows that a concert of powerful and inspiring music is capable of moving both singers and listeners alike. “Music has healing power, absolutely. It can lead us into a peaceful feeling. Music, even stronger and deeper than the words themselves, goes straight to the soul.” By taking part in this musical invocation of peace and hope, “we are doing what we can for those so desperate for freedom,” he says.

Known as a programming perfectionist, Grube has chosen exquisite prayers for peace from centuries past, including the Gregorian “Da Pacem Domine”; well-loved psalms from “Elijah,” by Mendelssohn; “Shalom Aleichem,” by Aldema; the breath-taking “Kyrie” and “Agnus Dei” by Josquin; “Call to Remembrance,” by Farrant; and others to fill the 45-minute performance. The audience will be invited to add their voices at the end of the concert, singing the familiar round, “Dona Nobis Pacem—“give us peace.”

Santa Cruz Chorale will perform a concert in support of Ukraine on Sunday, March 27, at 4pm at Holy Cross Church in Santa Cruz. Masks and proof of vaccination are required. Admission is by donation, with all proceeds going directly to Save the Children to support their current humanitarian efforts in Ukraine. Donations can also be made at the Santa Cruz Chorale website santacruzchorale.org—when entering donation details, click “add a special message” and enter “Ukraine Benefit.”

Letter to the Editor: Unhappy Camper

Letters to the Editor

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March 23, 2022

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The Roaring Camp website presents a letter that says that passing [the] Greenway initiative on the June ballot would be the end of the line for their business. I trust them to know their business. I’ll be voting against Greenway, and to preserve Roaring Camp.

Greenway isn’t about building a bike trail. We are already building a trail. Greenway is about ending passenger rail in Santa Cruz County. Greenway doesn’t oppose Roaring Camp, but their ballot measure is flawed and needs to be rewritten. If you support Greenway, you should vote no on this measure and wait for a chance to pass an improved Greenway measure next election.

Ultimately, I’d like the pro-rail and anti-rail sides to compromise on a plan that achieves local and regional passenger rail service on the branch line and a great bicycle-pedestrian path as soon as possible without any increase in local taxes. Roaring Camp must be onboard with any plan we design to move forward.

Neil Waldhauer

Santa Cruz

This letter does not necessarily reflect the views of Good Times.To submit a letter to the editor of Good Times: Letters should be originals—not copies of letters sent to other publications. Please include your name and email address to help us verify your submission (email address will not be published). Please be brief. Letters may be edited for length, clarity and to correct factual inaccuracies known to us. Send letters to le*****@go*******.sc.

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