Page 301 – Good Times

Tanuki Cider’s and Sones Cellars’ Apple-Grape Bubbly, Newton Noir

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June 7, 2022

Tanuki Cider’s and Sones Cellars’ Apple-Grape Bubbly, Newton Noir

Robby Honda of Tanuki Cider and Michael Sones of Sones Cellars—both in Santa Cruz—have made a vibrant apple-grape co-ferment of 71% Newtown Pippin apples and 29% Pinot Noir grapes. The apples and grapes are grown in the Pajaro Valley in Watsonville. They call it Newtown Noir.

The Soquel restaurant Home, where the release party was held in May, carries Newtown Noir, and it’s also available at Sones Cellars.

This sparkling apple-grape wine dares to be different, and it’s good news that Honda and Sones got together to produce this delightfully refreshing “bubbly.” The Newtown Noir is neither wine nor cider but an inviting blend of both!

Sones Cellars is participating in two Friday evening Wine Sails on Sept. 2 and Sept. 16 on the local Chardonnay sailing vessel—an opportunity to try other wines made by the talented Michael Sones. chardonnay.com.

Sones Cellars, 334B Ingalls St., Santa Cruz. 831-420-1552; sonescellars.com.

Tanuki Cider is available at many local markets, restaurants and bars. tanukicider.com.

BlendJet

BlendJets are portable blenders—ideal for travel, camping and more. It’s so easy and handy to make milkshakes, smoothies and adult mixed drinks. Available in many colors, the BlendJet has a leak-proof lid, comes with its own carrying pouch, has a rechargeable base and it’s easy to clean. Also available are Jetpack pouches containing ready-to-blend latte mixes such as Matcha Green Tea; Chai; Vanilla; Caramel; Mocha; and Cinnamon Dolce—all made in California. blendjet.com.

Aptos Natural Foods

I read that this wonderful store had fallen on hard times, so I stopped in and bought a few things. It carries so much produce and other interesting stuff that it’s well worth visiting. aptosnaturalfoods.com.

Rosie McCann’s

Rosie McCann’s recently reopened after a pandemic-related closure. This downtown Santa Cruz restaurant serves up some of the best pub grub. Good news! rosiemccanns.com.

Mozaic Brings Mediterranean Flavors to Santa Cruz

Andrew Steingrube

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June 7, 2022

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Mozaic Brings Mediterranean Flavors to Santa Cruz

Jay Dib’s path to becoming owner and operator of Mozaic has been long and winding. The Lebanese-born chef attended culinary school in Toronto, Canada, then moved to Monterey after graduating, where he lived with relatives. Upon visiting Santa Cruz, Dib noticed the city lacked the food he grew up with. So, he opened Mozaic seven years ago. The décor is rife with drapes, murals, stone pillars and mosaic chandeliers, and the menu draws on influences spanning the Mediterranean. Chicken souvlaki skewers with rice pilaf and salad highlight the Greek offerings. The moussaka, a classic Turkish dish, features layers of potato, eggplant, ground beef and bechamel sauce. Meanwhile, the paella hits Spanish notes, loaded with seafood, chicken and sausage with saffron rice. The pistachio pudding, a Lebanese staple from Dib’s mother’s recipe, is what’s for dessert.
Hours are noon-8:30pm every day (9pm Friday and Saturday). GT recently got the deets from Dib about how locals feel about Mozaic and how the Monterey Bay reminds him of Lebanon.

What do the locals say about Mozaic?

JAY DIB: We notice great appreciation from the locals for our food and what we do. They always say we have the best hummus in town, and guests also love the ambiance and energy. We also have Jeff Pappas, a bartender who has worked in the building for 19 years and has a great following. We are a local’s favorite restaurant, and they really do rave about our cuisine. We pride ourselves on consistency and are grateful for the loyal regulars who kept us going through the pandemic.

How does this area remind you of Lebanon?

The climate and the ocean are very similar. And not only that, but also the food—things like olive oil, tomato, cucumber, greens and olives are all common ingredients between Mediterranean and Californian cuisine. And also, the four seasons here are similar too. When I first came to Canada and had to deal with the snow, it was tough to adapt. But when I came to this area, the climate, cuisine and definitely the welcoming people made it feel like home, and now I am grateful to be part of the local culture.

Mozaic, 110 Church St., Santa Cruz. 831-454-8663; mozaicsantacruz.com.

Scotts Valley’s Skypark is a Food Truck Mecca

Christina Waters

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June 7, 2022

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Scotts Valley’s Skypark is a Food Truck Mecca

Food trucks aren’t just a fun way to enjoy food-to-order. They kept us all going during the long lockdown when restaurants went dark. We’re damn lucky in this area to have such a wealth of culinary talent-on-wheels, especially when a few trucks get together and make it an outdoor party. For example, there’s Taco Tuesday, June 14 from 5-8pm at Scotts Valley’s Skypark. Taquizas Gabriel, Saucey’z and Mattia will be on hand cooking up authentic and highly creative tacos of all varieties. This is compelling food, inexpensive for so much handcrafted pleasure. Stop by and see how they roll. Then mark your calendar for Food Truck Friday on June 24, again 5-8pm. You can expect a major line-up of trucks, serving up your favorites, to the tune of live music, and the refreshing liquids from the beer and wine garden. Yes also at Skypark, 361 Kings Village Road, in Scotts Valley.

Updates

Namaste India Bistro is set to open the first week of July in the old Vasili’s spot on Trescony, just off Mission St. on the Westside, bringing spicy Indian food back to Santa Cruz. This will be the third location for the popular Indian eatery, with others in Monterey and Los Gatos. Also set to debut this summer is the long-awaited Iveta downtown at 545 Pacific Avenue. Tucked into a luxury apartment complex, a few doors down from Big Basin Vineyards new tasting room, the new cafe makes a third outpost (after Delaware Avenue and UCSC) for Iveta entrepreneur John Bilanko. “We’re awaiting delivery of dining room furniture and final inspections from the Building and Health Departments,” Bilanko told me, adding that “staffing is still a challenge.”

On the G-F front. Staff of Life has become the go-to place for all possible gluten-free breads, rolls, bagels and buns, especially a complete line of Canyon Bakehouse products. A great selection.

Spring Porcini is currently available from the Ocean2Table folks, thanks to a successful forage up in Weed, CA forests. Nutty and woodsy, the boletus rex veris gives earthy gravitas to your spring/summer dinners. Another good reason to check out getocean2table.com.

Homespun Wisdom

Readers want to know how we dine at home when we’re not running around to this restaurant or that. Here’s how: We turn leftovers into destination meals. The addition of a sturdy GSM red wine (Big Basin, Lubanzi, Birichino), along with a cheese plate and quince paste, can transform yesterday’s quesadillas or seafood pasta into a born-again experience. The olive spread from Dalmatia, a reliable Croatian group that also makes remarkable fig and orange jam, is so versatile that it can heighten foods from breakfast to after-dinner cheeses. Bulgarian dolmas, Haig’s creamy hummus, Pop Chips puffed potato and sea salt crackers, Wildbrine beet and cabbage organic kraut. Fresh and dried fruit, roasted nuts are always on hand to dress up lunches and entree salads.

We always keep a few cans of hearty Progresso soups on hand—minestrone, chicken tortilla, chicken and wild rice are our favorites. Patak’s Hot Mango Chutney goes on everything except fish. We use it to dress up roast chicken and braised pork tenderloin. Niman Ranch Sweet Italian sausages live in our freezer, waiting for an evening when we’ve run out of time and ideas. We keep cheeses on hand that we can pair with prosciutto for a bohemian no-fix dinner. Scrambled eggs with Canadian bacon. Always have hard boiled eggs on hand and good quality mercury-free, humanely caught tuna. Cannellini beans along with tuna and olive oil equals a quick trip to Rome. Breakfasts are adorned with a variety of jams, from peach amaretto, to Tiptree marmalade, and the fig-orange spread from Dalmatia. More soon!

Community Bridges Worried About Funding Reductions

Local News

Todd Guild

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June 7, 2022

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Community Bridges Worried About Funding Reductions

The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors will consider allocating some $5.8 million to dozens of social services and programs countywide over the next three years.

This includes just over $770,000 for United Way’s Cradle to Career, $436,221 for Meals on Wheels and $241,680 for Second Harvest Food Bank’s Equitable Access to Food and Nutrition program.

But due to the county’s competitive funding process—the Collective of Results and Evidence-based (CORE) Investments—Community Bridges could see an $816,000 reduction in the amount the organization receives typically.

Community Bridges provides dozens of services for children, adults and seniors throughout Santa Cruz County.

This amount has terrified the organization’s service providers as they gauge the impacts it could have. The organization asked anyone concerned to attend the board meeting on Tuesday at 9am to address the supervisors.

Cancino says the organization typically requests–and is granted–between $1 million and $1.4 million annually.

With only $436,221 on the table for a three-year budget cycle, Community Bridges could see a partial closure and reduction in services at all four family resource centers—La Manzana, Nueva Vista, Live Oak and Mountain Community Resources. These serve more than 6,000 families countywide, providing tutoring, lunch programs, CalFresh and MediCal.

There could also be a reduction in services at Elderday, which requested $150,000 and received none.

Because the funding comes in three-year cycles, Community Bridges will have to backfill roughly $2.5 million through 2025, Cancino says.

He adds that the proposed reductions fall hardest in the Watsonville area.

“In this staff proposal, not only can we see directly that the disproportionate burden of the loss of these services has been on low-income South County people of color, but the realignment is heavily laid on the backs of the fastest-growing population, our older adults,” he said.

Community Bridges in 2020 reported More than $17.5 million in revenue and just over $16 million in expenses.

County spokesman Jason Hoppin says that the proposed CORE funding represents an 11% increase from the previous three-year funding cycle, equal to a $545,000 expansion of services.

Hoppin says that, in sending out a request for proposals countywide, the county received 128 applications totaling nearly $16 million in proposals, almost three times the size of the available funds. A total of 36 awards were recommended.

Before the CORE program, the county approved funding for the same local nonprofit organizations for 35 years without a competitive process, Hoppin says.

The new system, he says, ensures a fair and competitive opportunity for all organizations and a standardized selection process.

The recommendations came after five stakeholder meetings and seven public hearings.

The 58-member panel reviewed the applications included community members, subject matter experts, researchers, and city, county and nonprofit staff. The proposals are reviewed and are subject to approval by the County Board of Supervisors and the Santa Cruz City Council.

Also funded under the new proposal is the expansion of the Safe Spaces parking program, expanded learning opportunities for young people, a farming education program and therapy services for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking.

The Supervisors will finalize the contracts on June 28. The changes will take effect within 30 days after they are approved.

The Santa Cruz County Supervisors will meet Tuesday at 9am at 701 Ocean St., Room 525, Santa Cruz. Participants can also attend via Zoom. bit.ly/3NYq8I4.

Rancho San Andrés Castro Adobe Gets a New Roof

Local News

Johanna Miller

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June 6, 2022

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Rancho San Andrés Castro Adobe Gets a New Roof

Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks Friends announced today that Rancho San Andrés Castro Adobe has a new roof, signaling the progression of the ongoing restoration.

Located off of Larkin Valley Road in Watsonville, the historic adobe was initially built in the mid-1800s by Juan Jose Castro, son of Jose Joaquin Castro (of the Juan Bautista de Anza Expedition).

The park’s restoration, and designation as the Pajaro Valley’s first State Historic Park, has been ongoing for decades. The $175,210 roof project is supported through Proposition 68: California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate Coastal Protection and Outdoor Access for All Act, which dedicated nearly $200 million in funding for underserved communities to have equitable access to outdoor recreation facilities.

“We are proud to partner with State Parks to restore and interpret this critical part of Pajaro Valley’s history,” Friends executive director Bonny Hawley said in a press release. “The Castro Adobe provides a hub to share stories from many moments in history, helping visitors better understand and appreciate the generations of people who have called the Pajaro Valley home.”

Since California State Parks acquired the Castro Adobe property from then-owners Edna and Joe Kimbro in 2002, they have worked with Friends to organize volunteers to help with restoration. Everything from earthquake repairs and seismic stabilization to installing an ADA lift and new exhibit features has been included. Community fundraising has backed much of the project.

“California State Parks is very fortunate to have a partner like Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks to collaborate with on this exciting restoration project,” said California State Parks’ senior park and recreation specialist Linda Hitchcock.

Castro Adobe reopened to the public last year after closing for construction in 2019 and then dealing with pandemic challenges. While still an active construction site, it occasionally opens for open house events and school tours.

See the new roof and much more at “Doors Open California at The Castro Adobe.” $20. Saturday, June 11, 10am-4pm. 184 Old Adobe Road, Watsonville. californiapreservation.org/doca.

A Santa Cruz Costume Designer Finds Inspiration Everywhere

Stage

Johanna Miller

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June 3, 2022

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A Santa Cruz Costume Designer Finds Inspiration Everywhere

Costume designer B. Modern has been creating outfits for Bay Area actors for more than three decades. Born in Hollywood, she studied dramatic arts and costuming at UC Berkeley before moving to Santa Cruz and starting her career.

Modern says it was her time at the university that solidified her path.

“I’ve always been fascinated by what people wore,” she says. “Ever since I was a little girl, I made scrapbooks where I cut out pictures of women in beautiful evening gowns. I was always very fortunate to be adept at drawing. And I was always interested in theater. But I never put it all together until college.”

When an English professor, fed up with his poorly fitting costume, complained to his class, Modern was struck with inspiration.

“He hated his costume and felt awful in it,” she recalls. “That’s when the lightbulb went on for me. I thought, ‘Hey, I could do that!’ Knowing what I know now—I always tell actors to talk to me about whether they’re comfortable in their costumes. That’s part of learning how to be a diplomatic and conscientious designer.”

Modern has worked on numerous productions throughout the Bay Area. She first worked with Shakespeare Santa Cruz in 1988 on a production of Titus Andronicus and now continues to work with the newly formed Santa Cruz Shakespeare company.

But her most recent endeavor is with TheatreWorks Silicon Valley on their latest production, Ragtime, which opens Saturday, June 4 in Mountain View.

Based on E.L. Doctorow’s novel, the musical, set in New York City, is a portrait of America at the dawn of the twentieth century. It follows the lives of a Black family, Jewish immigrants and a wealthy white family as they pursue the “American Dream” in a rapidly changing world.

Modern says it has been exciting to work on the production, given her heritage.

“All of my grandparents were immigrants,” she says. “My grandfather was a Jewish immigrant, and my Italian grandmother moved to California. Working on this play has definitely been a special experience.”

It’s also incredibly timely.

“With everything that’s gone on in the past two years, it’s all in this play,” Modern says. “Immigration, Black injustice, white people being oblivious to others’ struggles—people are finally discovering what is going on in the rest of the world and expanding their horizons. It’s really important to honor the people who are brave enough to come to America and work hard no matter who they are.”

Creating and fitting the costumes for so many different actors can be challenging, Modern says, and so is staying true to everyone’s vision.

Modern’s costumes have been used in regional theaters and festivals and opera and dance productions across the U.S., Japan, and Europe—she’s picked up many accolades, including three Dean Goodman Choice Awards. PHOTO: David Allen

“There are the actors, characters, the playwright and director,” she explains. “You have many people to satisfy besides yourself. For every production I do, I do a lot of research. And I try to have hands-on experience with each actor, remembering their names, their measurements.”

Modern says the payoff makes it worth all the effort when everything comes together.

“After an actor gets their costume on at a fitting, and they go, ‘Oh, wow!’” she says, “and they look at themselves in the mirror, and literally start saying their lines in character—that’s special.”

Modern describes the feeling of coming back into theater after the pandemic as “an absolute joy.”

“It’s so glorious to work together again,” she says. “Theater is very collaborative, and it got taken away for two years. It’s a community. People ask me why I still work, why I’m not retiring. But this is part of who I am. Rejoining my community and creating something to see; it’s very rewarding and makes me so happy.”

Ragtime runs through June 26 at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts. For information, visit theatreworks.org. Meanwhile, Santa Cruz Shakespeare kicks off in July.

The Santa Cruz Surf Statue Turns 30

Local News

Erin Malsbury

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June 2, 2022

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The surfer statue along West Cliff Drive has become a Santa Cruz landmark over the past three decades. Last week, community members gathered around the beloved figure for a 30th-anniversary celebration.

The ceremony, hosted by the Santa Cruz Surfing Club Preservation Society and the city of Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation Department, included a live band, historic surfboards and classic woodie wagons.

Renowned surfboard shaper and president of the Santa Cruz Surfing Club Preservation Society Bob Pearson said a few words about the statue and historic boards and introduced an assortment of speakers. Surfing “patriarchs” Bob Rittenhouse Sr. and Harry Mayo—97 and 98 years old, respectively—attended, and Santa Cruz Mayor Sonja Brunner proclaimed May 23 as Santa Cruz Surfing Statue Day.

“It is so symbolic and has become so iconic for Santa Cruz,” said Mayor Brunner. “And I just love watching it throughout the year with the different iterations—pumpkin head, t-shirts…”

The figure donned a Hawaiian lei for the ceremony.

The 18-foot-tall bronze statue was inspired by the members of the 1936 Santa Cruz Surfing Club. Members Bob Rittenhouse and Doug Thorne formed a committee in 1987 to create a statue after the death of club member Bill Lidderdale Jr.

To get the sculpture approved, artists had to engineer it to withstand an 8.0 earthquake and 100 mph winds. Thomas Marsh designed the figure; Bill Curtis designed the base, and Bill Grace and David Steward shaped a replica 11-foot redwood surfboard used for casting.

It was installed in May 1992 with a plaque, “This monument is dedicated to all surfers—past, present and future.”

In-person Voting Guide

Local News

GT Staff

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June 2, 2022

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Voters may cast ballots at any of the following locations:

•Watsonville City Clerk’s Office, 275 Main St., fourth floor

•Temple Beth El, 3055 Porter Gulch Road, Aptos

•Santa Cruz County Clerk/Elections, 701 Ocean St., Room 310, Santa Cruz

•Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office, 5200 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz

•Scotts Valley Community Center, 360 Kings Village Road, Scotts Valley

Several four-day voting centers open June 4:

•Pajaro Valley Community Trust, 85 Nielson St., Watsonville

•La Selva Beach Clubhouse, 314 Estrella Ave., Watsonville

•Lakeview Middle School, 2350 East Lake Ave., Watsonville

•St. John’s Episcopal Church, 125 Canterbury Drive, Aptos

•New Brighton Middle School, 250 Washburn Ave., New Brighton

•Soquel High School, 401 Soquel San Jose Road, Soquel

•Kaiser Permanente Arena, 140 Front St., Santa Cruz

•Masonic Center, 828 N. Branciforte Ave., Santa Cruz

•UCSC Stevenson Event Center, 520 Cowell-Stevenson Road, Santa Cruz

•Scotts Valley High School, 555 Glenwood Drive, Scotts Valley

•Zayante Fire Department, 7700 East Zayante Road, Felton

Voting locations will be open Monday-Friday 8am-5pm; Saturday and Sunday 9am-5pm, and on Election Day (June 7) 7am-8pm. Locations are subject to change.
Check online before you go.

Services at the centers will also include: replacement ballots (the county can void the previously issued ballot when you come in to vote); voting and turning in the ballot mailed to you; using a tablet to vote on an accessible ballot or a ballot in Spanish; and same-day registration and voting.

All locations will adhere to public safety protocols, including face masks, disinfecting, hand sanitizer, physical distancing and frequent hand washing. They will also provide clear guard protections to separate people.

The following resources are also available:

Vote Mobile: Santa Cruz County has a mobile voting trailer used throughout the county.

Drop Boxes: Voters can return their ballot to any in-person voting location or drop it off at any of the 24/7 ballot drop boxes—17 are located throughout the county.

No ballots will be accepted after 8pm on Election Day unless there are voters in line or the time for closing the polls has been extended by court order.

Contact the County Clerk/Elections Department at 831-454-2060 or visit votescount.us for more information.

Local Democratic Organization Questions Dutra Mailer

Local News

Todd Guild

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June 1, 2022

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Local Democratic Organization Questions Dutra Mailer

The Santa Cruz County Democratic Central Committee (SCCDCC) on Wednesday sent a cease and desist letter to Jimmy Dutra, who is running for the Santa Cruz County Fourth District Supervisor seat, after he sent an election mailer bearing the logo of the Democrat party.

The logo, a blue “D” in a blue circle, is a federally registered trademark. The mailer includes a “Democratic Voters Guide,” says SCCDCC President Andrew Goldenkrantz.

The problem, he says, is that including the logo falsely implies Dutra has the endorsement of the party, when candidate Felipe Hernandez has earned that endorsement.

Dutra has not said that he has the endorsement, Goldenkrantz said.

The County Party’s endorsement carries with it endorsements by the California Democratic Party.

Dutra said he is skeptical of the intentions behind the letter.

“When political special interest groups see a risk to their candidate, it is not uncommon for frivolous last minute allegations to be thrown against a wall to see what can stick,” he said. “I have faith in our community to see past these desperate allegations.”

Dutra said he has a wide array of support from all groups in the community, including Democrats.

“I am proud of being the candidate of bringing all of our community members together,” he said. “Special interest groups are upset because they have been purchasing and controlling this county for decades. It is now time to have representation that can bring all of us together to address the challenges in front of us. I am the real voice for the broad and diverse community of the Pajaro Valley.”

Asked about the timing of the letter to Dutra and the SCCDCC outreach to the media—coming as they did less than a week before election day—Goldenkrantz said that the mailer was sent out early this week, and that the organization acted immediately.

“I think Jimmy misrepresented this thing,” he said. “He is clearly intending to show an endorsement that did not happen for him. Politics is an important business, but we expect honesty from our public officials.”

Dutra’s mailer, and the reaction it has garnered, is nearly identical to what happened last month in San Jose, when the Santa Clara County Democratic Party demanded that City Planning Commission Chair Rolando Bonilla, who is running the District 5 seat on the San Jose City Council, stop using Democrat Party logos.