Page 313 | Good Times

Tracking Santa Cruz County’s Best Grilled Cheeses

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January 31, 2023

Tracking Santa Cruz County’s Best Grilled Cheeses

Suddenly I discovered I’m a massive fan of Emma Stone. Not for her Oscar Award-winning turn in La La Land, though that was something, or her intense role in Birdman, which was incredible.

I’m digging her wisdom. Unbeknownst to me, she drops pearls all the time, and I’m just getting wind of it.

They include, “I think a lot of people compare their insides to other people’s outsides” and “Sometimes the smallest step in the right direction ends up being the biggest step of your life.”

Then there’s my favorite mic-dropper full-stopper: “I’m into grilled cheese. Grilled cheese makes me feel beautiful!”

In a word: Word. On her next visit to Santa Cruz, I have her spots preordained. They both do belly-grunt-grade grilled cheese, even though their core competencies are actually something else.

At Far West Fungi, the star attraction is Moss Landing-grown mushrooms—maitake, morel, king trumpet, baby shiitake, shimeji, cordyceps and lion’s mane among the many, all CCOF certified organic, and not just fresh but dried and in powders and tinctures.

They also spawn plugs, liquid culture syringes and take-home mini mushroom farms that empower home growing.

Then there’s the merchandise, ranging from reishi earrings and branded hoodies to packaged goods like white truffle butter and spicy tree oyster mushroom jerky to homemade frozen soups and candy cap cheesecake and books like Mycelium Running and The Mushroom Hunters Kitchen.

I go for the truffle grilled cheese ($15). It’s simultaneously simple and complex, crunchy and soft, oozing and indulgent. The flavor symphony comes summoned by an interplay of blue foot mushroom butter, crimini, shiitake, black truffle tapenade, gruyere and Swiss on sourdough.

Far West Fungi, 224 Laurel St., Ste. A101, Santa Cruz; farwestfungi.com

The rare GC on its level appears in Capitola in an unassuming strip mall spot where the main event isn’t sandwiches, but cheese.

Cheese Shop 831 does a different pair of grilled cheese specials every two weeks (Tuesday-Sunday, 11:30am-2:30pm), starring the superlative inventory drawn from boutique cheesemakers the world over.

A very, very small sample of their treasures includes Beecher’s Flagsheep and Beemster Goat Gouda, Challerhocker and Chablochon, Moosbacher and Moses Sleeper—scores of revelations all told, all ready to be taste tested with guidance by the welcoming and well-schooled staff.

Tons of other crafty gifts appear, too, from locally designed cheese boards to pun-heavy stickers. Here “life is gouda.”

When I last stopped by, I opted for a “Jarlsberg and Bacon” grilled cheese (there was also a “Drunk in Italy” with wine-soaked Ubriaco cheese and provolone) and experienced tastebud liftoff before the sandwich hit my mouth. That happened because, as they prepped it to order, I tried a half dozen yum cheeses like an herb-crusted “alp blossom” and knock-your-eyebrows-off black Italian truffle gouda and promptly blew my budget by buying three to take home.

As I file this column, the current specials (reliably updated on their Instagram) are a “We Both Say Potato!” with an Alpine-style cheese blend, housemaid basil pesto and thinly sliced roasted potatoes ($13) and a “Beet and Goat Cheese” with fresh chèvre, sliced beets and balsamic reduction ($12).

So yes, Emma, I’m not acting when I say, “I’m into these grilled cheeses, and they make me feel beautiful.”

Cheese Shop 831, 3555 Clares St., Ste. V, Capitola; cheeseshop831.com

Beauregard Vineyards’ 2021 Chardonnay is a Screwtop Delight

Josie Cowden

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January 31, 2023

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Beauregard Vineyards’ 2021 Chardonnay is a Screwtop Delight

Winemaker Ryan Beauregard has triumphed again. The result of the taste test: it’s a stunner! When I heard from the Beauregard family about the recent release of the 2021 Chardonnay, I had to get some.

The Beauregard Vineyards Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay is a blend of the historic Regan Vineyard and Bald Mountain Vineyard, farmed by the Bargetto family and Beauregard family, respectively. Beauregard notes that the two families have had a working relationship in the wine industry since the post-prohibition era. With notes of lemon peel, orange blossoms, flinty minerality on the nose and flavors of green apple leading to a long finish, this is a simply gorgeous Chardonnay ($45).

“This is our first Chardonnay wine under screwcap,” Beauregard says. “But the screwcap will preserve the freshness for years to come.”

Beauregard has two spots to taste their wines: The Slow Coast Wine Bar, 450 Hwy 1, Davenport, 831-600-7402; Winery and Tasting Room, 10 Pine Flat Road, Santa Cruz, 831-425-7777; beauregardvineyards.com

CAFÉ SPARROW

After nearly 25 years, Café Sparrow owners Bob and Julie Montague have sold the business to Chef Donnie Suesens and his wife Bailey, the Montagues’ daughter.

“They are my in-laws and partners,” Donnie says. “My wife and I are the next generation. We are phasing Bob and Julie out, so they can enjoy the fruits of their years of labor.”

A recent dinner with family at Café Sparrow exceeded all expectations. The salads were fresh and tasty, all four entrees outstanding—my son-in-law was in hog heaven with his juicy pork chop from Vande Rose Farms in Iowa—and all was right with the world.

Café Sparrow, 8042 Soquel Drive, Aptos, 831-688-6238; cafesparrow.com

Melinda’s Gluten Free Bakery is a Capitola Treat

Andrew Steingrube

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January 31, 2023

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Melinda’s Gluten Free Bakery is a Capitola Treat

Superfan customer Laurel Meissner started working at Melinda’s Gluten Free Bakery seven years ago. The assistant baker was diagnosed with celiac disease at 13, so when she moved to Santa Cruz to attend UCSC, she regularly baked gluten-free cakes in the campus housing kitchen. A passion was sparked. The gluten-free facility is also peanut-free; and every item they sell is scratch made. Meissner’s many recommendations begin with the puff pastries—she calls them the “holy grail” of gluten-free baked goods due to their rarity. The cakes are popular, as well as the oven-baked donuts and red velvet cupcakes. But the bread is the top seller with varieties including white, honey oat and sourdough round. Other offerings include bagels, muffins and cookies.

Hours are Thursdays and Fridays, 7:30am-3pm, and Saturdays and Sundays, 8:30am-3pm. Meissner spoke about Melinda’s origins and why it’s such a special place.

How did you start working at Melinda’s?

LAUREL MEISSNER: I came in as a customer and could not believe the food was actually gluten-free. I tried a donut, and it was pretty embarrassing because I actually cried tears of joy at the front counter. After being a customer for a while, I saw a “help wanted” sign and have worked here ever since.

What is the philosophy at Melinda’s?

What we do here is a labor of love. A lot of our employees are suffering from the same condition as our customers, so we are especially sympathetic to the difficulty of finding safe food. Sharing food with others is a deep emotional need for humans and a core experience.

Melinda’s Gluten Free Bakery, 1420 41st Ave., Capitola, 831-316-5081; melindasbakery.com

UPDATE: Boulder Creek Shooting Suspect in Custody

Local News

Todd Guild

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January 29, 2023

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UPDATE: Boulder Creek Shooting Suspect in Custody

On Sunday, Jan. 29, Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a juvenile suspected in the shooting death of 18-year-old Rowan Parham at a party on Saturday.

Authorities are not releasing any information about the suspect because they are minors.

The identity of the victim is being withheld pending notification of the family.

According to the Sheriff’s office, deputies responded to the 1000 block of Brimblecom Road at about 10pm for multiple reports of a shooting.

When they arrived, they found a single victim suffering from a gunshot wound. The victim died on the scene despite lifesaving measures.

According to Santa Cruz City School Superintendent Kris Munro, Parham was a former Soquel High School student attending a County Office of Education high school program.

“While few details have been released, we are grieving with families, students, staff and community in the wake of this violence—the latest cruelty in an ongoing national epidemic of senseless gun violence,” Munto stated in a letter to families.

This story will be updated.

Santa Cruz Mountains Businesses are Suffering

Local News

Drew Penner

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January 27, 2023

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Santa Cruz Mountains Businesses are Suffering

The fallen branches have been neatly arranged along a rock border next to the La Placa Family Bakery parking lot as the sun streams down through the redwoods to the red translucent awning. Still, along Hwy 9 in Ben Lomond, the storms are anything but a forgotten memory.

After the vital route for mountain folk and Silicon Valley commuters became blocked during the series of atmospheric rivers, a detour from Felton to the community was set up, unintentionally preventing customers from accessing many local businesses.

“It’s becoming unbearable,” says Debora La Placa, the bakery’s manager. “We don’t get business anymore. I tried to call the county, but nobody answered.”

The La Placas and others in the area represent the complexity of moving on after natural disasters. The Small Business Administration has met with business owners across Santa Cruz County as locals pick themselves up after the storms; FEMA recently opened the Felton Disaster Recovery Center. But the community, especially the small businesses, needs more assistance.

La Placa—named “Best Bakery” in this year’s “Best of San Lorenzo Valley”—says they usually sell at least 25 pizzas on a slow day.

Debora La Placa says the road closures after the Hwy 9 landslide have resulted in a massive loss of business at the bakery. PHOTO: Drew Penner

“Yesterday, I sold five,” Debora says. “In the meantime, I still have to pay people to come to work.”

Meanwhile, Casa Nostra Italian Restaurant owner Raffaele Cristallo says the detour has unfairly penalized his business. He notes that the community has been dealing with Hwy 9 closures since Christmas.

“Then, all of a sudden, the mudslide happened, and it ruined everything,” Cristallo says. “This is already a hard time of year.”

He estimates that business has dropped by about 40%.

“I have to take at least two to three people off the schedule every day,” he says. “So, we risk losing these [employees] because they’ll find a job elsewhere. It creates big trouble.”

Cristallo has tried to communicate with Caltrans but hasn’t had any luck.

“They don’t listen,” he says. “They don’t care.”

A sign that Cristallo paid for—sitting near the detour in Ben Lomond—says the restaurant is open.

The Casa Nostra server Alessandro De Luca enjoys a day off—he’s had quite a few of them lately.

“He pretends to work,” Cristallo jokes. “Three days, no schedule,” De Luca says. “Mal. Not good. No money. No good.”

Part of the problem is that bills from recent months—when traffic was still flowing—are just now coming due, Cristallo explains.

Days earlier, a member of the family who owns the Brookdale Lodge—located a few miles north of Ben Lomond, up Hwy 9—attended a packed meeting at the Zayante Fire Hall. Representatives from the county, FEMA, PG&E and the Small Business Administration were among many in attendance.

Brookdale Lodge’s Jason Patel, who works for his parents, says they’re still assessing if it’s worth taking out a loan.

“The restaurant has a brook running through it—that brook is now a river,” Patel says. “It filled in with a lot of debris from the fire from the top of the mountain, so it’s gonna be a lot of work to clear it out.”

The Patels paid about $700 to $800 daily for fuel to keep their generators running when the power was out.

“Like everyone else, we just took hits,” Patel says. “Some people couldn’t evacuate. They were stuck. When you find someone’s staircase in your brook, yeah, that’s a problem.”

Allen Strong, 60, a cleaner at La Placa Bakery, says he saw the devastation the Brookdale Lodge suffered back in 1982 when he owned the Brookdale Country Store.

A culvert became plugged, sending water into the kitchen of the Brook Room, he recalled.

“It leaped like a chocolate monster over the road—like a tidal wave,” he said. “That wall was like paper to it.”

He also remembers the aftermath of the Love Creek Slide that year.

“The whole neighborhood of Woodland Drive came down,” Strong said. “We had to go out there with boats and canoes to cut holes through the roof of my friend’s house.”

Seeing the memorial to the landslide—toys, stuffed animals and crucifixes—means a lot to him and others in the area.

“I was there the day after it happened,” he says. “For the people that survived it—which not many did—it’s really important.”

While the San Lorenzo Valley was pummeled with more rain then, he says the winds were more intense this time.Strong wishes authorities would allow traffic to flow up to Highlands Country Park, where there are multiple turn-around options, to provide relief to businesses like his employer.

Just beyond that park, two large earth movers called “spiders” were perched—for the second day—along the steep hillside above the section of Hwy 9 where more than 100,000 tons of debris slammed into it. While crews had cleared the initial slide, workers were now pulling down additional debris from above to create a stable slope.

“We just follow what Caltrans’ specifics are,” says Dominic Riojas, a safety officer with Watsonville-based Granite Construction, Caltrans’ contractor running the clean-up.

Cristallo says he spoke with a representative from the Small Business Administration at a meeting in Capitola and learned he couldn’t get assistance for revenue loss related to road closures.

County spokesperson Jason Hoppin says he’s unsure what may have led to La Placa feeling like she got the run-around from the municipality’s officials but noted it might have been related to the fact the road is a Caltrans responsibility. He suggests businesses reach out to FEMA for assistance since a natural disaster caused the closure.

After the Press Banner contacted Caltrans about the business owners’ plight, spokesperson Kevin Drabinski said the state agency was committed to seeing what it could do to help them.

“We have notified the superintendent on the project of the concerns raised by the local businesses,” he says, adding the message was communicated that same day. “He will be reaching out to see if we can, in any way, alleviate that situation.”

Less than an hour later, he called back to say the official had spoken with the La Placa family and promised to put up a sign informing customers that the businesses were open.

“We’ll try and put up a portable message sign,” he adds.

However, Drabinski told the Press Banner that from 6-10am and again from 2-7pm, Caltrans would have to continue directing potential customers away from the businesses to keep traffic flowing on Glen Arbor Road.

Scrumptious Fish & Chips Helps Seacliff State Beach Recovery

Local News

Josie Cowden

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January 26, 2023

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Scrumptious Fish & Chips Helps Seacliff State Beach Recovery

Scrumptious Fish & Chips is partnering with Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks to help raise money for the long-term recovery at Seacliff State Beach, badly damaged in the January storms.

$1 will go to the Seacliff State Beach Recovery Fund for every meal purchased this weekend (Feb. 4-5). Scrumptious began serving food at Seacliff on weekends last fall and reopened last weekend after the recent storms halted their food truck operation for weeks.

Meanwhile, Seacliff took a big hit when giant waves tore up many beach areas and picnic tables. Scrumptious owners—husband and wife team Tim and Helen Korinth—say they are beyond happy to be back at the beautiful location, one of everybody’s favorite spots. Now you can dine on their award-winning fish and chips with an ocean view.

“Fish and chips are what we’re famous for,” Helen says. “But we also have beer-battered shrimp and British bangers.”

Additionally, there are three loaded chip dish options: Chicken Tikka Masala Curry, Garlic and Vegan Guac.

Beyond the stellar food, it’s important to the family to assist with the location’s recovery.

Scrumptious will eventually return to their initial spot at the cement ship when the repairs are finished. scrumptiousfishandchips.com

Things to Do in Santa Cruz: Jan. 25-31

GT Staff

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January 25, 2023

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ARTS AND MUSIC

SUNSET LINES WITH HUMAN ERRORS AND TAPES Liz Brooks (vocals/synth) and Paul McCorkle (producer/guitars/synth) decided to start Sunset Lines following the intense collapse of a previous project. Their 2017 debut EP, Slippery Slope, is synth-heavy pop that centers around San Francisco, the joys of moving to a new city and wounds healing from the end of a long-term relationship. The duo has continued to hone Sunset Lines’ sound—Brooks on the writing end and McCorkle on the music production side. The result: ’80s synth-pop with crisp modern-day production and effects, which erupt throughout their latest EP, Home Anywhere. The recently married couple now lives in Santa Cruz, and Sunset Lines’ new chapter includes a tight rhythm section courtesy of Brett Wiltshire (bass) and Adam Soffrin (drums). The synth-pop roots remain intact with a bonus dance-oriented sound that inspires high-energy live shows with an ever-present symbiotic relationship between the band and the audience. $10. Wednesday, Jan. 25, 9pm. The Blue Lagoon, 923 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. thebluelagoon.com

NEIL HAMBURGER WITH MAJOR ENTERTAINER From Madison Square Garden to the Edinburgh Fringe Fest, Gregg Turkington, aka Neil Hamburger, has performed at every venue imaginable. Once, he even did a show in pitch black. The comedian, whose alter-ego echoes with inspiration from the likes of Andy Kaufman, has a growing list of television credits that include “Tim and Eric Awesome Show,” “Tom Green Live” and “Jimmy Kimmel Live.” Jack White produced Hamburger’s Live at Third Man album in Nashville, and one of his earlier records—1992’s Great Phone Calls—was touted by Spin magazine as one of the “40 Greatest Comedy Albums of All Time.” The 2015 feature-length film Entertainment, loosely based on the Hamburger alter ego, co-stars John C. Reilly, Tye Sheridan and Michael Cera. It premiered at Sundance to glowing reviews. Hamburger’s 2019 record, Still Dwelling, features a noteworthy version of “Everything’s Alright” from Jesus Christ Superstar that includes Hamburger crooning alongside Mike Patton and Jack Black. “Twenty years of touring for a normal entertainer would be great,” Hamburger told Impose recently. “But 20 years of touring for me is like 45 or 50 years of touring for anyone else because there are no days off.” $25/$30 plus fees. Thursday, Jan. 26, 8pm. The Catalyst Atrium, 1101 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. catalystclub.com

SMOKE CHASER WITH KING TIDE AND THE NEVER HASBEENS Smoke Chaser, featuring members of the Suborbitals and Monterey singer Malinda DeRouen, is self-described as an “original rock band from Santa Cruz that creates lush, catchy psych-pop soundscapes.” Meanwhile, the Never HasBeens’ We Will Not Be Unheard is a country-punk-alt-rock hybrid intertwined with the fingerprints of Santa Cruz. St. Paul was inspired to pen “Radio Songs,” a catchy indie throwback to early ’90s MTV “Buzz Bands” like the Gin Blossoms, after hearing Wilco’s cover of the Kinks’ “Waterloo Sunset” on KZSC. “Radio songs they came out of my window/ ‘Waterloo Sunset’ covered by Wilco,” St. Paul sings. There’s even a shout-out to the local radio station: “As the radio waves began to rise from the left of the dial/ The ‘Great Eighty-Eight’ still survives.” $10/12 plus fees. Thursday, Jan. 26, 8pm. Felton Music Hall, 6275 Hwy 9, Felton. feltonmusichall.com

CUT CHEMIST WITH MH THE VERB (DJ SET PLUS FULL BAND) A talented turntablist, DJ and producer, Cut Chemist (born Lucas MacFadden) is also a member of underground rap outfit Jurassic 5 and the Los Angeles Latin funk band Ozomatli. His tracks have also appeared on two renowned DJ compilations, Return of the DJ, Vol. 1, and Deep Concentration. Cut Chemist blew up on the scene with his B-side debut “Unified Rebelution” in 1993. “Lesson 4: The Radio” was a tribute to Double D and Steinski’s influential hip-hop collage “Lessons 1-3” and includes homages to Indeep, Bob James, Spoonie Gee and Dan Ackroyd. Cut has remained busy, contributing “Lesson 6” to Jurassic 5’s eponymous EP and producing the record. He’s also a master remixer of work by everyone from DJ Shadow to Liquid Liquid and outside work (scratching for Less Than Jake). Multimedia artist MH the Verb uses afro-futurism, ala Octavia Butler, to build community while blending jazz, funk, hip-hop and electronica. The MC/DJ/producer has created a spacey catalog by mixing live instrumentation and studio production complimented by his bass vocals and poetic activism. $22/24 plus fees. Friday, Jan. 27, 8pm. Felton Music Hall, 6275 Hwy 9, Felton. feltonmusichall.com

GHOST-NOTE WITH DJ WYZE 1 Ghost-Note—headed by Snarky Puppy’s multi-Grammy Award-winning percussive duo Robert Sput Searight and Nate Werth—unearths an eruption of sound. Alongside next-level musicians—representing members of Prince, Snoop Dogg, Erykah Badu, Herbie Hancock, Kendrick Lamar and others—they push funk into the future and build uplifting foundations inspired by the likes of James Brown and Sly & the Family Stone. With Ghost-Note’s 2019 LP, Swagism, their mission is clear: unleash heavy-hitting beats first and foremost, then shape a tapestry of uninhabited, layered music. The record includes a variety of notable guest collaborators, including Kamasi Washington, Karl Denson, Bobby Sparks and Nigel Hall. Swagism is also an example of the band’s astonishing ability to meld and magnify sounds, ultimately bringing together complex alliances. $25/$30 plus fees. Saturday, Jan. 28, 9pm. Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. moesalley.com

JASON MARSALIS QUARTET: IN TRIBUTE TO LIONEL HAMPTON The Jason Marsalis Quartet pays tribute to iconic vibraphonist Lionel Hampton. From a young age, it was clear that Marsalis had what it took to be a jazz great, on par with his father, Ellis Marsalis, and siblings, Wynton, Branford and Delfeayo. The four brothers and their patriarch Ellis comprise “New Orleans’ venerable first family of jazz.” Renowned as both a vibraphonist and a drummer, Jason continues to grow and develop as a composer and performer. His maturity and musical command are evident each time he performs. The Jason Marsalis Quartet will feature clarinetist Joe Goldberg, pianist Kris Tokarski and drummer Gerald Watkins. $42/$47.25; $23.50/students. Monday, Jan. 30, 7pm. Kuumbwa Jazz Center, 320-2 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. kuumbwajazz.org

COMMUNITY

HOUSING MATTERS X COLLECTIVE: H.O.U.S.E. PARTY Eat, drink, shop, dance and laugh the night away as you enjoy live music from the Joint Chiefs, food by Yakitori Toriman, Hindsight Café and A Party For Your Palate, sweets by Laurel Bakes and Bread Boy, drinks by Front & Cooper, live comedy from DNA Comedy Lab and KindPeoples and an interactive scavenger hunt (win a wine tasting at Windy Oaks Estate). There will also be a champagne toast to celebrate the partnerships that have assisted over 1150 people through H.O.U.S.E. Dr. Josh Bamberger, an early adopter of Permanent Supportive Housing will speak. $10. Thursday, Jan. 26, 6-9pm. Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History, 705 Front St., Santa Cruz. housingmatterssc.org

HISTORIC RANCH GROUND TOURS Discover what life was like a century ago on this innovative dairy ranch. This hour-long tour includes the 1896 water-powered machine shop, barns and other historic buildings. Space is limited, and pre-registration is recommended. Masks and social distancing are required. $10 (parking fee). Saturday, Jan. 28, and Sunday, Jan. 29, 1pm. Wilder Ranch State Park, 1401 Coast Road, Santa Cruz. thatsmypark.org

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8 Tens @ 8’s Short Play Festival Returns

Christina Waters

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January 25, 2023

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8 Tens @ 8’s Short Play Festival Returns

Such a treat watching 8 Tens @ 8 at the intimate Center Stage, especially after a few years of on-again, off-again pandemic-challenged live theater. The two suites of eight short plays, Part 1 and Part 2, are performed on alternating nights, running through Feb. 19. (Tempus fugit, so get tickets fast.) Both opening nights showed off the noticeable ramping up of playwriting expertise, and it’s a pleasure to point out a few highlights from this never-boring adventure in live theater.

First, Part I: Kudos to the entire cast of Man’s Best Friend, a bit of comic surrealism with a crisp script, a wild outcome and lots of physical charm. Special praise for Karin Babbitt as the gymnastic canine with strong opinions. Ward Willats and Lee Ann Gray played for broad laughs and a touch of nostalgia in Wonder People, a sweet look at two loners with a thing for “Wonder Woman” comics, television shows and nerdy stats. The delightful premise showed off Willats’ impeccable timing and vocal polish.

I was unprepared for the stunning performance by Manirose Bobisuthi in The Most Precious Thing. An accomplished performer, Bobisuthi plays a young woman in a dead-end job who a mysterious guy suddenly approaches with an intriguing existential proposition. Bobisuthi is spellbinding as she agonizes about her character’s life, her stupid retail career and the possibility of life in hell. I could have been watching a Broadway actor walking away with the show. She was astonishing in impeccable timing, gritty and nuanced vocal work. Tristan Ahn‘s confident support matched her every step of the way. Don’t miss this little gem.

There were a few false steps in the second half, although the fun of watching Ward Willats and Tristan Ahn as two collaborating priests in

Confessions à Deux, with one of the cleverest endings of any of these short pieces, was priceless. The final Part I work, Father Michael’s Doing Mass, paired seasoned actors Karin Babbitt and Karen Schamberg as vintage parishioners reminiscing about how great Father Michael’s masses used to be. These funny and occasionally touching performances gave the first evening’s audience a final treat.

Note: If I don’t mention a performance, it’s probably for the best.

Part 2 continued the prevailing tone of strong playwriting with Everything Happens for a Reason…Right?, a two-hander featuring Mindy Pedlar and Andrew Yabroff as affectionate mother and son with a sudden issue on their hands. Delightful realization of a very crafty script. The following three pieces offered lots to enjoy, and I found myself reeled in by the performances of Scott Kravitz and David Leach in an ingenious tale of undercover cops and con artists in Something Holy in Croatia, neatly directed by Marcus Cato.

Two pieces stood out during the rest of the evening. In Eddy & Edna, playwright Donald Loftus boldly imagines the bittersweet realities of a couple no longer sure of each other’s mental capacities. Performers Steven Capasso and Mindy Pedlar reached through the realm of make believe and convinced us we were watching a genuine encounter between long-marrieds no longer on top of their memory game. The twist at the end was deliciously neat, an absolute stunner. And finally, major kudos to director Wilma Marcus Chandler for her no-holds-barred orchestration of An Adventure in Forms, an absurdist fiesta of moods, mayhem and adventurous acting styles. This piece showed off the non-sequiturs inherent in every bureaucratic setting. The excellent cast, notably Hannah Eckstein, clearly had a lot of fun dispatching this little surrealist bonbon.

One final note: Yelling is not acting.

8 Tens @ 8 Short Play Festival (Part 1 and 2) is produced by the Santa Cruz Actors’ Theatre and runs through Feb. 19 at Center Stage, 1001 Center St., Santa Cruz. santacruzactorstheatre.org

Opinion: 2023 Health and Fitness Issue

Adam Joseph

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January 25, 2023

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EDITOR’S NOTE

adam joseph editor good times santa cruz local news

My predecessor, Steve Palopoli, noted that last year’s Health and Fitness Issue might have been Good Times’ “biggest ever, in terms of reporting on both [health and fitness].” “Biggest ever” I can’t confirm or deny, but I can say with confidence—after sifting through several back issues—that the 2022 Health and Fitness Issue delved deeper into mental health than any previous year, and I commend Palopoli for that. But the emphasis on mental health made the issue stand out. During the pandemic, it seemed like mental health became more prevalent, or maybe people have become more open to discussing it. How to follow that up?
With writers like Liza Monroy, who regularly deliver content loaded with resourceful information coated with generous portions of passion—no matter the subject she covers—any apprehension I had about putting together a compelling Health and Fitness Issue was eased. Monroy’s cover story “Not Your Parents’ School Lunch” centers on the bill Gov. Newsom approved in 2022, which allocates $100 million for improving school food. Last year, when Monroy first reported on this, readers responded with excitement about California becoming the first state to support plant-based meals in schools. As she reports, it’s a complicated issue, and “things stalled—and changed.” While everything isn’t moving according to the initial plan and timeline, positive changes are beginning.
In fitness news, Mark C. Anderson previews Watsonville’s Ramsay Pump Park Track, which opened in 2021. The newish concept first debuted in 2004 in Colorado, and it’s caught fire worldwide. Anderson reports that the 20,000 square feet of meticulously crafted loops, turns and hills can be navigated by just about anything with wheels, from skateboards to scooters to bicycles to wheelchairs. And it’s free to all. Lastly, on the fitness end, Hugh McCormick, whose excitement for, well, everything, gives us a look inside dance instruction at the revamped Palomar Ballroom in downtown Santa Cruz. His elation surrounding these dance lessons is evident in his prose. McCormick notes that the classes have been filling up faster than ever, and it’s a great way to stay fit and have fun—he knows firsthand; his mom is a student.
I hope you get as much out of reading these stories as I have and find some ideas for how to stick to your New Year’s resolution if it involves exercising more.
You have a week to get your votes in for Best of Santa Cruz County. This is your opportunity to show appreciation for everything that makes you love Santa Cruz County. Visit goodtimes.sc through Jan. 31.

ADAM JOSEPH | INTERIM EDITOR

PHOTO CONTEST WINNER

Earl makes a blanket fort for Foggy, a rainy holiday tradition. Photograph by Jamie Schnetzler.

Submit to ph****@*******es.sc. Include information (location, etc.) and your name. Photos may be cropped. Preferably, photos should be 4 inches by 4 inches and minimum 250dpi.

GOOD IDEA

Last week, UC Santa Cruz announced that its new major art space, a 15,000-square-foot building on the Westside, will open its doors this February. The building, which will showcase art at the forefront of social justice, will have three galleries, a screening room and event space. The upcoming exhibitions all incorporate an element of prison abolition, designed to shift the social attachment to prisons through art and education. ias.ucsc.edu

GOOD WORK

If you were strolling West Cliff this blessedly rain-free and sunny weekend, you might have noticed some areas of the sidewalk modified for bikers and pedestrians and blocked off to traffic. The city is implementing temporary restrictions as it assesses damages caused by recent storms and, starting Monday, will be working on an emergency stabilization project to restore the iconic path. Construction activity began Monday, but might continue or change throughout the week, so check all road changes at cityofsantacruz.com/westclifftrafficcontrols

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“The food you eat can be either the safest and most powerful form of medicine or the slowest form of poison.”
—Ann Wigmore

Letter to the Editor: Cut It Out

Cat Johnson

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January 25, 2023

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Currently making its way through the legislative process, SB 396 poses serious risks to California’s environment. It would allow utilities such as PG&E to fell any “Overstrike Tree” along 25,500 miles of power lines in High Threat Fire Districts, any distance outside their right of way, without review by an arborist, and without clear procedures for appeal or compensation for damages. A 200-foot tall redwood tree 199 feet from a power line is an “Overstrike Tree.” By PG&E’s estimates, there are over 10 million “Overstrike Trees” in its service area.

SB 396 legalizes a ‘taking’ of private property and makes utility easements on private property or a public right of way meaningless. Utilities have long had good alternatives to faulty or outdated equipment, such as replacing bare wires with insulated conductors rather than clearcutting trees. Southern California Edison is already doing just that. Sponsored by Senator Brian Dahle, SB 396 permits clearcutting, heightening wildfire risk and climate change. Clearcutting creates wind tunnels that propel flaming brands, quickly spreading wildfire, and produces drier vegetation under power lines, weakening trees once sheltered by the larger trees targeted by PG&E’s Enhanced Vegetation Management (EVM). These trees are more vulnerable to winds and at greater threat of falling.

Disturbingly, SB 396, introduced in 2021 and amended this year, removes previous protections given by Public Resource Code (PRC) 4295, which required utilities to give notice to property owners of tree felling, and did not absolve them from damage liability. SB 396 further states that the CA OEIS is not required to hear landowners’ complaints and fails to identify any redress.

This bill provides no meaningful benefit while undermining the rights of individuals as guaranteed under the California State Constitution, Section 1. Legislators should reject SB 396.

Kristen Sandel, Ben Lomond

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