Free Will Astrology

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ARIES March 21-April 19

Before major eruptions, volcanoes may emit harmonic tremors. Lasting for hours or days, they are signals that pressure is building. A similar phenomenon is simmering in your sphere, Aries. Be alert. What rhythmic clues are vibrating through your system? What pressure is mounting that could eventually erupt? Iโ€™m not saying you should interpret them with a worried mind. In fact, they are offering you valuable intelligence about what needs to be released. You can either ignore them and let the eruption surprise you, or you can pay attention and arrange for controlled venting.

TAURUS April 20-May 20

Your heartbeat isnโ€™t regular like a metronome, but slightly irregular. The phenomenon is called heart rate variability and is a sign of health. A perfectly regular heartbeat is actually a warning sign. Your heart knows something your mind might not believe: Perfect consistency is pathological. Variation is vitality. The rhythm of life includes the beautiful irregularity of a system thatโ€™s alive enough to respond and adapt. Keep these truths uppermost in mind during 2026, Taurus. You will thrive on changeability and fluctuation.

GEMINI May 21-June 20

The Greenland shark waits for animals to fall asleep, then eats them while theyโ€™re unconscious. Since itโ€™s too slow to chase anything, it has evolved a patient approach to hunting. It acts on the understanding that everything eventually lets its guard down. I suggest you cultivate similar patience in 2026, Gemini. Thereโ€™s no need to rush toward what you want. Position yourself correctly and wait for moments of opportunity. Youโ€™re playing a long game.

CANCER June 21-July 22

Atmospheric rivers are massive moisture highways in the sky. Meteorologists have been documenting newly identified patterns in how these marvels work. Theyโ€™ve learned that tiny changes in ocean temperature can redirect thousands of miles of incoming rain. This will be an excellent metaphor for you in 2026, dear Cancerian. Youโ€™ll be in atmospheric-river mode. Small shifts in perspective and slight recalibrations of intention will send your momentum flowing in different and better directions. No drama required! Simple micro-adjustments will reroute larger currents. Attend devotedly and zestfully to the subtleties.

LEO July 23-Aug. 22

Certain fungi can break down pollutants like pesticides and plastics into less toxic substances. These mushrooms digest whatโ€™s considered indigestible, transforming poison into nutrients. I suspect you will have a metaphorically comparable capacity in 2026, dear Leo: a superpower that enables you to metabolize blight and taint. I predict you will exult as you eliminate stuff thatโ€™s useless and harmful. Please indulge your unusual talent to the max!

VIRGO Aug. 23-Sept. 22

The US Library of Congress adds 60,000 items to its collection every week but only catalogs a fraction of them immediately. So vast amounts of knowledge sit there, acquired but not yet processed, waiting for librarians to create the finding aids that make them accessible. Youโ€™re in a similar situation, Virgo. Youโ€™ve accumulated extraordinary amounts of information, experience and skill. But how much of it is cataloged? How much is accessible when you need it? In the coming months, I hope you wonโ€™t acquire more. Instead, you will spend time with your archives and process what you have already gathered. What do you know that youโ€™ve forgotten you know? What experiences hold wisdom youโ€™ve never extracted?

LIBRA Sept. 23-Oct. 22

Vault doors often require two keys, turned simultaneously, to open. Why? Such a practice furthers risk reduction and fraud prevention. Letโ€™s make this a potent metaphor for you in 2026, Libra. It will symbolize cooperation and balance as well as an enhancement of your security. The treasures youโ€™ll be trying to access will require dual input. One key is yours: intellect, agility, charm, initiative. The second must come from a collaborator, mentor, friend, an unexpected stranger, or even a spirit guide. Just assume that the vault wonโ€™t open through brilliance alone. It will require synchronization.

SCORPIO Oct. 23-Nov. 21

In December 1968, US astronaut Bill Anders was orbiting the moon inside the Apollo 8 spacecraft. He snapped a photo that showed the Earth as a blue-and-white sphere rising over the gray lunar surface against the blackness of space. This iconic image helped fuel the environmental movement and transformed how humans visualized their home. Youโ€™re at a comparable pivot, Scorpio. In 2026, you will see familiar situations from new angles, and this will reorganize your understanding of how life works. Thatโ€™s a good thing! Be alert for watershed moments that bring revolutionary blessings.

SAGITTARIUS Nov. 22-Dec. 21

The Giantโ€™s Causeway in Northern Ireland is made of 40,000 interlocking basalt columns formed when ancient lava cooled and contracted. Legend says a giant built it as a bridge to Scotland. Both stories are true, one geologically and the other mythologically. Your life in the coming months will remind you that multiple explanations can coexist without canceling each other. The scientific story of lava cooling doesnโ€™t make the giant story less meaningful. The giant story doesnโ€™t make the geology less accurate. Conclusion: You donโ€™t have to choose between competing narratives about your life as if only one can be true. What if both are? The practical explanation and mythic explanation describe the same phenomenon from different angles. You can be both the cooling lava and the giant building the bridge.

CAPRICORN Dec. 22-Jan. 19

Computer scientist Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web. He helped ensure its core technologies were released to the world without patents or royalties. Universal, open access mattered more to him than personal profit. That single decision was a profound gift to the world. Billions benefited. In his generous spirit, dear Capricorn, Iโ€™ll ask whether there are any ideas, knowledge, or resources youโ€™re holding in reserve that could multiply through sharing. In 2026, I invite you to be like Berners-Lee: a magnanimous strategist who understands that things may gain value through distribution, not restriction. Your intelligence will be worth more unleashed than protected. Your innovations will need the crowd to fulfill their purpose.

AQUARIUS Jan. 20-Feb. 18

In the myths of Maliโ€™s Dogon people, Nommo is an amphibious, telepathic being who brought language, rhythm and balance to Earthโ€”and then departed. If things fall out of harmony, itโ€™s believed, Nommo will return, speaking the lost syllables that realign the cosmos. Youโ€™re a bit like Nommo these days, Aquarius. Parts of your world may be in disarray, and your sacred task is to listen for the lost syllables. Whatโ€™s missing in the dialogue? What notes arenโ€™t being sung? If you seek gently and speak truly, restoration will follow.

PISCES Feb. 19-March 20

The longest chess game theoretically possible is 5,949 moves, but most games end in under 40. Chess masters donโ€™t win by seeing every possibility. Instead, they recognize patterns and anticipate which paths are worth exploring. Letโ€™s apply this as a useful metaphor, Pisces. In 2016, itโ€™s crucial that you donโ€™t waste energy by considering improbable scenarios that will never materialize. You should be determined not to miss emerging themes because youโ€™re too busy calculating unlikely variations. According to my prognosis, you donโ€™t need to see further; you need to see more precisely and accurately. The chess masterโ€™s advantage isnโ€™t exhaustive analysis; itโ€™s knowing what to ignore. Ninety percent of your options donโ€™t matter. Ten percent do.

Homework: Whatโ€™s the best gift you can promise yourself in 2026? Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com

ยฉ Copyright 2025, 2026 Rob Brezsny

The Editor’s Desk

Santa Cruz California editor of good times news media print and web
Brad Kava | Good Times Editor

This past year has been marked by the horns of dilemma.

2025 has been a year of debate with locals looking at two sides of issues that have split our community and hold no easy answers.

First, the giant buildings that have sprouted up in downtown Santa Cruz like mushrooms. If you havenโ€™t been down there in a while, itโ€™s shocking to see what looks like a big-city skyline along the San Lorenzo River, with apartments lit up, replacing a street of low-lying, humble structures.

There was a time when Santa Cruz kept buildings smaller because of earthquakes and small-town aesthetics, staying more like Carmel than San Jose. We were our own little Mayberry.

But we constantly heard complaints about not enough housing, particularly not enough affordable housing, and we wanted government to do something about it.

And it did.

Combined with big developers, they reshaped the city, adding thousands of apartments, not all with parking (but thatโ€™s another story). They also added housing on top of a new library and are turning our once cute small town into a not-so-small town. Mushroom buildings are cropping up around the county, also.

There are those who hate it and want to keep things how they were. There are always those people, no matter what changes are made.

They also worry that we donโ€™t have the services to increase our county population of around 270,000: not enough water, roadways or hospitals.

Then, there are those who say this is great progress, bringing in more places to live, more people to shop downtown, making a walkable city and, presumably, adding affordable housing for teachers, police officers, firefighters, single-income families, students and retail workers.

Is that what we are getting, or are these luxury second homes for Silicon Valley workers? That remains to be seen.

Then thereโ€™s another big split about what is green and what is dangerous.

The state is on a path to shape a future of renewable energy, using solar and wind to replace burning fossil fuels. It makes sense and sounds perfect.

Until you realize that you need to store that energy somewhere, in giant batteries that keep power flowing when wind or sun isnโ€™t.

And thereโ€™s the rub, as we learned at the beginning of this year. When those lithium-ion batteries catch fire, thereโ€™s no way to put them out. Last Januaryโ€™s fire at Moss Landing released 55 tons of toxic metals into the fields and waterways around the plant and ignited much debate.

Plans to build more battery plants, including one on the books for Watsonville, near homes, schools and farms, have divided the community again.

Is cutting down on burning hazardous fuels worth the risks of burning battery chemicals? That debate will reach a climax in the coming year, presumably, and tensions are high over it.

Take a look back at our year in review cover story and see how it stacks up with your thoughts on the year.

Thanks for reading.

Brad Kava/Editor


PHOTO CONTEST

A black bird stands on a grassy hill overlooking the UCSC fields, with Santa Cruz and the Pacific Ocean visible in the distance.

SCHOOL WITH A VIEW This flying fowl looks like it owns the place up here at the UCSC fields. Photograph by Jo Koumouitzes


GOOD IDEA

U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.) pushed the Trump Administration to reverse its shortsighted staff cuts and harmful reductions to critical weather forecasting services and snowpack surveys at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). With an atmospheric river struck on California, which caused severe flooding in Redding, the senators raised the alarm that these dangerous cuts will restrict Californiaโ€™s preparation for dangerous storms and floodsโ€”threatening public safety, property and agricultureโ€”while damaging the stateโ€™s water supply.

GOOD WORK

A landmark of Santa Cruzโ€™s dance community is coming back to life. The building formerly occupied by Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre, long cherished as the training ground for generations of local dancers, is reopening this January as the new home of Agape Dance Academy and Santa Cruz Dance Theater, marking a pivotal turning point for concert dance in the area.

Starting in February, the facility is poised to once again pulse with daily training, creation and performance preparation. But this time, the vision extends far beyond restoring a familiar space at 2800 S Rodeo Gulch Rd, Suite C.

SCDT Artistic Director Conrad Useldinger hopes to make the building a launchpad for a boom in professional concert dance in Santa Cruz.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

โ€˜How does it change us as a nation to witness countless acts of cruelty by our government?โ€™

โ€”Erwin Chemerinsky
Dean of UC Berkeley School of Law

Things to do in Santa Cruz

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FRIDAY

ROCK

MOONALICE

Formed in 2007 by former members of the Flying Other Brothers, Moonalice combines psychedelic soul and Americana. The large (ten-piece) ensemble features luminaries from the musical scene, including Lester Chambers (Chambers Brothers) and son Dylan, Pete Sears (Jefferson Starship, Hot Tuna), John Molo (Bruce Hornsby and the Range) and others, led by musician and venture capitalist Roger McNamee. The group has released five albums to date; 2023โ€™s Light Side of the Moonalice: An Acoustic Adventure is their latest. The groupโ€™s ethos is summed up in their best-known tune, โ€œItโ€™s 4:20 Somewhere.โ€ BILL KOPP

INFO: 8pm, Felton Music Hall, 6275 Highway 9, Felton. $22. 704-7113.

FRIDAY

CIRCUS

THE BRIDGE

Flynn Creek Circus features contortionists, trapeze artists, jugglers, acrobats and of course a clown or two. The circus has evolved, but itโ€™s still the greatest show on earth for children of all ages now with more fantasy, fairytale and myth informing a plot that creates a throughline as each amazing act inspires and amazes audiences with just what incredible creatures human beings really are. In Flynn Creek Circusโ€™ latest offering, The Bridge, the Trollโ€™s goat and his stubborn shadow serve as narrators on the journey through a story inspired by Nordic legend. And note, there are special shows that are not for children of all ages, but rather those over 21. Goes through Sunday. KEITH LOWELL JENSEN

INFO: 7pm, Capitola Mall, 1855 41st Ave, Capitola. $23-$190. 476-9616.

FRIDAY

ROCK

NOISE POLLUTION

Australiaโ€™s AC/DC would have to be on any Mount Rushmore of great and iconic hard rock bands, and for over a decade now Noise Pollution have helped fans celebrate the beloved Aussie rockers, playing the songs of the Young brothers, Angus and Malcolm, and beloved vocalists Bon Scott and Brian Johnson. Vocalist Syd (Brian) Ross and lead guitarist Nick (Angus) Torri front the band as they play the hits, fan faves and some deep cuts in chronological order, tracing the careers of these rock โ€™nโ€™ roll giants. KLJ

INFO: 9pm, Moeโ€™s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $25/adv, $30/door. 479-1854.

SATURDAY

AMERICANA

JOSH SKELLY

New year, new music. Just in case 2026 is just another chance for the universe to open a maelstrom of hellish new cycles, take this moment to at least start it off right. Josh Skellyโ€™s bluesy Americana rock is the perfect thing to celebrate new beginnings and take oneโ€™s mind off the outside world. Even if just for a little bit. Hailing from Sunnyvale, Skelly plays with an old soul that conjures up images of the old days of traveling troubadour musicians, telling stories through song instead of just trying to write formulaic, generic pop disguised as introspective art. Plus itโ€™s a free show at a great breweryโ€”sounds like a no-brainer! MAT WEIR

INFO: 3pm, Discretion Brewing, 2703 41st Ave., Suite A, Soquel. Free. 316-0662.

SATURDAY

Musician Richard Tripps sings into a microphone while playing an electric guitar onstage in a black-and-white photo.
LO-FI WARMTH Richard Tripps performs Saturday at the Crepe Place. PHOTO: Athena Peterson

INDIE

RICHARD TRIPPS

Cozy and nostalgic, Richard Tripps straddles introspection and breezy coastal mysticism to craft indie rock textured with lo-fi warmth. His self-titled debut channels the spirit of The Velvet Underground and Leonard Cohen by way of jangly guitar and ethereal vocals. Part of the charm is his love of analog recording. Whether on four-track tape or recorded in a former Catholic Church, his dreamy psychedelic lyrics explore memory, loss and Saturnโ€™s returns. His follow-up, captured in a Big Sur tent cabin along the river, leans further into analog authenticity. These contemplations on Californiaโ€™s natural landscape feel haunted, but hopeful. SHELLY NOVO

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

SATURDAY

REGGAE

MARLON ASHER

Marlon Asher slow-cooks traditional roots reggae with contemporary ganja jams to create Rastafarian anthems. Emerging from Trinidad, Asherโ€™s smoky, laid-back delivery celebrates herb culture. His breakout hit, โ€œGanja Farmer,โ€ blends agricultural pride with Rastafarian spirituality, and although it sparked some controversy, itโ€™s unapologetically conscious of farmersโ€™ struggles. Meditative tracks drift into conscious reflections carried by Asherโ€™s weathered crooning. Incorporating modern dancehall and classic reggae basslines, his catalog documents everyday struggles while maintaining reggaeโ€™s spirit of gratitude and peace. SN

INFO: 9pm, Moeโ€™s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way. $25/adv., $30/door. 479-1854.

SATURDAY

LITERATURE

SHADOWS OF GAZA

Across the ocean and on a different continent, people living in Palestine face genocide. Stories about Gaza are on the news every day, but it is hard to imagine the lived experiences of the people who are actually there. This book captures the stories of the people, the hardship, the tragedy, the hopes and the dreams of those whom author and photographer Salem Medhat Alaydi knew and met as they all faced fear, bombings, hunger and displacement. Though the author is still in Palestine, two localsโ€”Unhae Langis and Dr. Rolla Alaydi (a relative of the author)โ€”will read from the book and host a discussion afterwards. Copies of the book will be available to purchase. ISABELLA MARIE SANGALINE

INFO: 2pm, Capitola Branch Library, 2005 Wharf Road, Capitola. Free. 427-7705.

WEDNESDAY

FOLK

SUMMONING CIRCLE

For some of us, itโ€™s a yearly tradition to watch The Lord of the Rings during the holiday season. Thereโ€™s something about elves and magic and a time with no running water that really just screams โ€œwinter.โ€ For those who are in agreement, this Wednesdayโ€™s show at the Crepe Place is the perfect soundtrack. Self-described as โ€œDungeon folk forged in the Santa Cruz Mountains,โ€ Summoning Circle plays traditional western folk that utilizes a quiver of instruments like guitar, dulcimer and violin to create music that is appropriately as enchanted as their name. Check out their debut recording, Spell Book, Vol. 1, but donโ€™t be surprised if some mischievous fae appears for some trickery. MW

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

WEDNESDAY

OLDTIME/BLUEGRASS

NORA BROWN

Brooklyn-born roots musician Nora Brown is all of 19 years old, but sheโ€™s already a major sensation. This popular fixture on the festival circuit also gave a TED talk, appeared on NPRโ€™s Tiny Desk Concert, and is an in-demand instructor. Brown, a multi-instrumentalist whose instrument of choice is the fretless, nylon-stringed banjo, has also released four solo albums plus an EP, 2023โ€™s Lady of the Lake with master old-time fiddler Stephanie Coleman. This run of dates takes place during Brownโ€™s college semester break, and features her in performance with longtime collaborator Coleman as well. BK

INFO: 7pm, Kuumbwa Jazz Center, 320-2 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. $29-$32. 427-2227.

Painting the Town

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In the modern world ruled by likes, streams and views, a lot of artists like to say their music canโ€™t be classified under any single genre. More often than not, itโ€™s usually a nice story they like to tell themselves in order to feel they stand out from the rest of the DIY artists across the endless sea of the internet.

However, once in a while, with enough searching and digging, a band comes along so explosively original they truly canโ€™t be contained. Theyโ€™re loud when they should be low. They change up timing, tempo and styles often within the same song. And theyโ€™re not afraid to make sure everyone knows they take their music seriously, especially when not taking themselves seriously.

Enter Red 40, the new(ish) four-piece experimental rock act that has been igniting the local scene. This week, theyโ€™ll make their Crepe Place debut with psych metal trio Supernaut and hard rockers Dead Engine.

โ€œAll the content surrounding our songsโ€”like the lyrics, the titles and the overall vibe that we haveโ€”is cooked up between us when weโ€™re sitting in a room together, trying to think of the most funny, ridiculous shit we can,โ€ guitar player Christian Stewart says. โ€œItโ€™s about having a good time.โ€

Itโ€™s a sentiment that pumps through the musicโ€™s veins. The closest thing I can think of to describe them is the avant garde Mr. Bungle hanging out with Herbie Hancock at Hunter Thompsonโ€™s house. Red 40 incorporates elements of jazz, funk, hardcore and metal, garnished with the carnival portion of Tom Waitsโ€™ brain. They arenโ€™t afraid of pushing their music into new territory, no matter how weird it gets.

Thatโ€™s probably partly due to three of the four members having backgrounds in science at UC Santa Cruz.

โ€œWeโ€™re friends of the scientific method in Red 40,โ€ drummer Will Davies says, laughing.

It was Davies and Stewart who founded the band in 2024 after they met in class and realized they both had a passion for music. They decided to combine Stewartโ€™s metal background with Daviesโ€™ love for jazz and practiced in a jam room at Stevenson College. Soon after, Davies brought in bassist Sam Kaplan and the initial incarnation of Red 40 was born.

โ€œI was trying to keep up,โ€ Kaplan says of that first practice.

However, according to Stewart and Davies, Kaplan wasnโ€™t just keeping up but forging new territory.

โ€œAt that point we had one songโ€”โ€˜Devil Wingsโ€™โ€”and started writing โ€˜Mr. Lee,โ€™ Stewart remembers. โ€œI showed [Kaplan] the riffs I had and he busted out with the bass line that still is the part.โ€

Red 40 remained a trio for almost a year and played numerous shows around town, often at backyard parties and house shows.

โ€œThe thing about the college scene is that it was easy for us to play in front of people who were open to weird, instrumental music,โ€ Davies says.

However, at the beginning of 2025 the band would expand to include singer Taylor Posey whoโ€”at the timeโ€”was playing with the now-defunct local punk outfit S.A.M. but was looking for something different.

โ€œI saw an Instagram ad saying they were looking for a vocalist,โ€ Posey remembers. He sent them a message and after a little back-and-forth communication, they sent him a demo tape.

โ€œIt was 40 minutes long with a 15-minute conversation of them talking about selling a one-of-one Red 40 hat,โ€ Posey laughs. โ€œI listened to the whole thing because it was so fucking funny!โ€

Since then they have operated as a quartet, playing an array of different shows, including in-between bouts at indie wrestling matches and a mini West Coast tour earlier this year with fellow local act Rosewood.

This past August they released their debut EP, Isle of Red 40, which expands the musical spectrum while still remaining focused enough to deliver catchy earworms that have no problem pulling an RFK and making themselves home. From the chaotic โ€œGreaseballโ€ to the rolling โ€œDevil Wings,โ€ Isle of Red 40 is a case study in what makes music interesting.

So imagine my happiness when they said one of their main focal points in the next year will be putting out a full-length for the world to love and fear.

But what does the science say?

โ€œOur hypothesis for the new year is: Red 40 busting out the wazoo in 2026,โ€ Kaplan says, laughing.

Looks like weโ€™ll have to give it the olโ€™ college try and find out for ourselves.

Red 40 plays at 8pm on Jan. 2 at The Crepe Place, 1134 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. $10. 429-6994.

Level-Up Liquids

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Other Brother Beer Co. has something special brewing for the holidays. The independent craft beer outfit has debuted its second location in Aptos Village as of last week (10 Parade St Suite B, Aptos).

The new outpost sits next to Cat & Cloud Coffee Co. and brings Other Brotherโ€™s lively brewery presence north from its Seaside home.

At around 1,400 square feetโ€”a micro to its macro 6,000-square-foot OG brewpub-production spaceโ€”this satellite taproom enjoys its own opportunities, #1 being the proximity of Forest of Nisene Marks State Park and a bunch of other fun food-and-drink destinations.

The fleet of 22 rotating taps mirrors headquartersโ€™ lineup, with a strong roster of craft sours, IPAs, lagers and collaborative brews listed on chalkboard tiles above, plus on-tap wines.

The vibe reflects the originalโ€™s community- and dog-friendly atmosphere, albeit scaled to the village setting.

OBBC Executive Chef Josie Lewis guides kitchen operations at both locations, importing popular Seaside items, while introducing new sandwiches, salads, and a chicken Parmesan, with pop-up nights anticipated to add variety.

Brand Manager and Creative Director Evan Loewy knows that the approachable food and excellent beers will continue to drive intrigue, but prioritizes a complementary element.

โ€œWhy we wanted to start this business in the first place was to have a venue to offer music, art shows, as much creativity as possible, you name it,โ€ he says. โ€œAll these things.โ€ otherbrotherbeer.com

SWIRLING DEVELOPMENT

Raise a glass as high as the hills: The Santa Cruz Mountains Wine Improvement District, which will be known as the Santa Cruz Mountains Heritage District, is now a thing. That means more than 70 wineries and nearly 300 small growers across Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and San Mateo countiesโ€”producing wines shaped by the elevation and the oceanโ€™s cooling influenceโ€”now have fresh resources to market the AVA.

Santa Cruz Mountains Winegrowers Association Executive Director Keikilani McKay provides a little context. โ€œThe district ensures a coordinated, consistent presence for the Santa Cruz Mountains wine region in a way that no single winery could achieve alone,โ€ she says. โ€œIn short, every winery benefits from a stronger regional brand and collective marketing that attracts more visitors and consumers to Santa Cruz Mountains wines.

It is also important to note that the assessment fee revenue model represents a stable source of funding in this economy and is meant to offer a lifeline amid rising operating costs, declining sales, and tariff concerns.โ€ The district is the fifth in the state; the assessment fee applies to wine sales occurring within the state (including wine club shipments); and kicks in Jan. 1; winesofthesantacruzmountain.com.

STAY UP

As 2025 kicks, here comes a closing look back at some noteworthy additions from the months gone by: Insomnia Cookies (1010 Pacific Ave., Suites C&D, Santa Cruz), Cliffside Coffee Bar (Pleasure Point Park, East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz), The Foodlab + The Landing (7990 Highway 1, Moss Landing), Vin Vivant (115 San Jose Ave. #G, Capitola), Gabrielita Tamaleria (Pacific Ave. near Lincoln St., Santa Cruz), Emilie and the Frenchies (7564 Soquel Dr., Aptos), Mad Yolks #2 (830 41st Ave., Santa Cruz), Salty Otter Sports Grill (110 Walnut Ave., Santa Cruz), Fusion Fare Restaurant (1003 Cedar St., Santa Cruz), Silver Spur #2 (1040 E Lake Ave., Watsonville), D20 Pizza (1520 Mission St., Santa Cruz), Mane Kitchen & Cocktails (1222 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz), and Home Away (4901 Soquel Drive, Soquel)โ€ฆGandalf, via J.R.R. Tolkien and The Fellowship of the Ring, give us some wisdom to conclude an eventful year: โ€œAll we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.โ€

Family Affair

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A pillar of the Watsonville dining scene, Imura has been in Jee Kajiharaโ€™s family since she started working there 33 years ago, eventually becoming the general manager in 2004. Born in Korea and raised in Salinas, she got a degree in hospitality with a minor in business and worked in high-end hotels, catering and sales before ultimately returning to Imura. She credits the rest of her family and the incredible staff for the restaurantโ€™s sparkling reputation, describing the ambiance as warm, inviting, open and bright.

The menu is a combination of traditional Japanese and Korean cuisines, evolved over time based on customer feedback. Korean favorites include bibimbap, served in a hot stone bowl with mixed rice, steamed vegetables, sunny-side-up egg and choice of protein, as well as a marinated, thin-sliced spicy pork dish. Another cultural favorite is duk mandu guk, a meat dumpling rice cake soup served traditionally in Korea on New Yearโ€™s Day.

Canโ€™t-miss Japanese items include fresh sushi with generous portions and custom rollsโ€”such as Spicy Heaven, with albacore, salmon, jalapeรฑo, almonds and sauces. The build-your-own bento boxes are also popular, with assorted mix-and-match proteins and vegetables. Local ice cream with tempura option headlines desserts, and beverages include complimentary green tea.

How has being born in Korea shaped you?

JEE KAJIHARA: Although I was very young when I came here, I was the oldest child so I had to translate and help my parents adjust to American culture. So even now, the way I think and do things is a lot like my parents: family-oriented, hard-working and committed to success. Iโ€™ve worked multiple jobs most of my life, staying very close-knit with my family, and I try to take care of my employees as if they are family too.

What makes Imura so successful?

I think itโ€™s the personal touch that we provide here with our food and service, and how much we appreciate and give back to our wonderful Watsonville community. In Korean and Japanese cultures, we give back but do it quietly and from the goodness of our hearts. We would not have been here for this long without such great local support. We have seen our customers transition from children to adults bringing in their own children years later. There is nothing more beautiful than that, and I hope this story continues.

1994 Main St., Watsonville, 831-761-8799; imurasushi.com

Letters

THANKS FOR THE WORDS

Thank you for the wonderful article on youth poetry, by Addie Mahmassani. I am deeply moved both by the poetry and the entire project beautifully profiled in the article. It is a great antidote to discouragement in destructive times. And to the youth who might not think their poetry is a big gift to the world, I want to add my voice: It is!

Michael Levy/Santa Cruz

ONLINE COMMENTS

PASSION FOR POETRY

I was on the Watsonville City Personnel Commission for three years before I ran for election as trustee for Cabrillo College. It helped me greatly.

As to poetry, it is just another form of music, which opens the mind to creativity and self-discovery. Thank you, Faris Sabbah, for realizing this and making it policy for our county public schools.

Steve Trujillo | Goodtimes.sc

BIG AG WELFARE QUEENS

I see Jimmy Panetta wasted no time in working to correct the faux pax of the Trump administration in omitting the wine industry from the Big Ag $12 billion Tariff Relief Act. He cosponsored a new act to provide welfare funding for the cute people in the wine industry. So the rest of us slobs get to pay for the price increases caused by the tariffs as well as the billions given to the biggest welfare queens in the country: Big Ag. Itโ€™s time for Jimmy, who is in the hip pocket of Big Ag, to get primaried by someone truly progressive. How about a firebrand Latina from Watsontown, for instance?

Pat Gill/Goodtimes.sc

12 BITES OF CHRISTMAS

The food at Fusion Fare is some of the better Chinese food in our area!

Mad Yolks #2 is a welcome addition to the food zone of lower 41st Avenue. (Hello, Zameen!!)

The Salty Otter gets no love from me due to severely inconsistent open hours. (It is super tough to run a food biz that wayโ€ฆ)

About Mane K&Cโ€”curious that they do not give menu info on their website. Iโ€™m not really willing to brave the parking/construction/raving transients downtown without that pertinent infoโ€”just meโ€ฆ

Dee/Goodtimes.sc

For the Record

In the Dec. 17 issue of Good Times, Alicia Gibson should have been identified as Charles Pasternakโ€™s co-director in Santa Cruz Shakespeareโ€™s production of A Christmas Carol.

In the Dec. 3 issue, credits were inadvertently omitted for photographer Crystal Birns on two striking images of the Holiday Parade (page 1 and page 18). Our apologies to Birns and the Downtown Association of Santa Cruz.

The Wednesday Lifeline

Compassion. That was the first word I heard when I asked a volunteer, Zoe Davidson, to describe the Veterans Meal and Pantry Program (VMPP). Zoe moves through the room like an angelโ€”touching shoulders, really seeing people, stopping to listen and connect. We could all learn from Zoe. It is the right word: compassion.

While the building itself is owned by Santa Cruz County, with oversight from Parks and Recreation, the VMPP operates entirely under the umbrella of the United Veterans Council, a separate nonprofit led by President Hutch Collier and managed by Dawn Collier. The program exists solely on volunteers and donations, independent of the countyโ€™s building budget. This cross-pollinated modelโ€”where community funding ensures vital services exist outside government supportโ€”is the backbone of what may be one of the most quietly heroic programs in our county.

I have lived in Santa Cruz for more than 20 years and I have rarely seen a local effort so consistent, so stubbornly human, and so built from the ground up by people who refuse to let their community slip through the cracks. Every week, the VMPP does something radical. It shows up. No matter what else is going on. No matter the politics. Wednesday is sacred.

How It Works

The program runs entirely on volunteers and donationsโ€”no government grants, no federal safety net. Dawn and Hutch Collier of the United Veterans Council coordinate a countywide alliance that keeps both the Wednesday Santa Cruz program and the Tuesday Watsonville pantry alive. โ€œThese programs are 100 percent supported by volunteers and donations,โ€ Dawn says. โ€œThe community must never forget that.โ€

Wednesday is just the visible day. Behind it runs a seven-day operation. A dedicated cook team and support team secure donations from business partners like Safeway, Costco and others to help sustain the program. One weekโ€™s cacciatore alone required 25 chickens, all prepped the day before. The stocked pantry tables required constant coordination throughout the week. What veterans see when the doors open at 10am is the culmination of work that never stops. Ashley, the programโ€™s bright star with the warm smile, is there early prepping silverware and plates and all sorts of things, making sure every detail is ready.

Service begins the moment the doors open. The room feels warm and inviting. You can feel the laughter and love. More than a hundred warm meals are served each week. A veteran praised the kitchen crew: they absolutely never miss when it comes to the salads, he said, and he always loves the entrees. The chicken cacciatore I saw disappear off trays would be considered comfort food in any home. For many who arrive cold and exhausted, it is their first real meal in days, as Gary Poland told me early on.

Keeping that meal warm, steady, and ready takes a crew as dedicated as the veterans they serve.

The heartbeat of the kitchen is a two-man crew: Scott Hamm and Danny Perel. Scott, a former Air Force officer, has volunteered for many years and also handles Sunday donation pickups. Danny was recruited over two years ago by the former head chef and quickly became essential. They arrive at 7 AM every Wednesday, working in quiet sync as they prep, roast, and keep everything hot. Dawn and Hutch call them the steady engine of the programโ€”the reason the room smells warm, the plates stay full, and the meal feels like it came from someoneโ€™s home kitchen.

By the time the doors open at 10 AM, Scott and Danny have already put in hours of work to make sure the day starts with dignity.

Pantry distribution runs at the same time. Veterans now draw numbers and wait until calledโ€”a system that replaced the long, shaming lines that once dominated the room. When their number comes up, they shop through long tables of produce, canned goods, and essentials. Craig Johnson, an Army veteran and longtime volunteer, praised the change for eliminating arguments and restoring dignity. There is no screening. No prying into housing status or income. The only qualification is service.

At the center of it all are Joyce and Stan Stanhope, known as the originals. Stan is an Army veteran. Joyce is the quiet force who keeps the room warm even when spirits are low. She puts great care into managing the clothing donations, organizing them with intention, constantly making herself useful and solving problems for people. Between them, they have kept this program steady for 12 to 14 years, long enough to anchor the community around their table. Stan has the easy warmth of someone who could be a greeter at Disneyland, welcoming everyone who walks through the door. The volunteers live by a simple motto: โ€œStill serving America.โ€

Robert and Judy Balzer round out the core volunteer team, longtime originals whose steady presence helps anchor the program week after week.

Local veteran Gary Poland stands beside a Veterans Service Day sign outside the Santa Cruz Veterans Memorial Building.
STILL SERVING Local veteran Gary Poland volunteers regularly with VMPP. PHOTO: Contributed

The Voices of Service

The Vets Hall is a living gauge of the modern veteran experience, where trauma and triumph sit side by side.

The scale of the mission is immense. There are over 9,100 veterans in Santa Cruz County, and the vulnerability is staggering. The California Association of Veteran Service Agencies report shows the Santa Cruz-Watsonville region has one of the highest rates of unsheltered homeless veterans in California.

Trevor Hutchison, operations coordinator for Dawn and Hutch, was the Meal Program Manager when the United Veterans Council first took over the program in early 2024. He views the VMPP as โ€œa comprehensive operation requiring coordination across multiple programs and sites.โ€ Trevorโ€™s early tenure came with enormous growing pains. The VMPP and the separate Armory Meal Programโ€”which Trevor manages through People First funding, preparing two meals daily for homeless veterans encamped at the DeLaveaga Armoryโ€”created simultaneous demands that required careful coordination.

Dawnโ€™s arrival in October 2024 stabilized operations, allowing Trevor to introduce improvements like the outside hot meal service and expanded pantry variety. Her leadership freed him to help open the crucial Veterans Food Pantry in Watsonville, which now provides groceries to over 200 family members every Tuesday. He gives credit to two other members of the community: United Veterans Council leaders LoisRae Guin, still very active at 97 years of age and serving as senior vice commander of VFW Post 10110, and James Dailey, a Marine veteran and junior vice commander of the same post. He notes the current leadership of Doc Garza and his wife, Violet, who run the Watsonville program today.

Competence and crisis exist in the same person, often in the same week.

Trudy Leigh Heise served as an Army flight nurse on Huey helicopters over Vietnam. She faced danger in the air with iron calm. Today she avoids elevators and buses. Trauma changes shape but never disappears.

Thomas Hamilton, a Navy veteran, excelled as honor man in a notoriously difficult hydraulics school. In Da Nang, during a rocket attack, he was accidentally shot in the leg by his own assistant. He also shared a little-known truth: large amounts of unused ordnance were routinely dumped over Laos, an undeclared war zone, because planes could not land with it in Thailand.

Craig Johnson, an Army veteran and VMPP โ€œoriginal,โ€ now faces losing his home to downtown development. After years of serving the unhoused, he finds himself at the edge of displacement too.

Kevin Buchanan, an Air Force veteran and former Cisco software engineer, came to the VMPP after a business collapse and the stress-induced mini-stroke that followed. Heโ€™s sharp, articulate and quick to connect dots others miss; it is easy to see why engineering teams wanted him in the room. He gave talks to students in Silicon Valley and continues building security-related technology, standing by his ideas even as circumstances shifted. Kevinโ€™s story breaks the lazy stereotype of the veteran in needโ€”here is someone who briefed executives, mentors engineers, builds security tech.

Sef Gallardo, the quick-witted Vietnam veteran I served food alongside, delivers the kind of Tommy Chong-style humor that lets people breathe for a minute. His last name means โ€œgallantโ€โ€”also the name of a Lamborghini model, he will tell youโ€”and his civilian career as a director of global business operations seems a world away from his time as an airborne paratrooper. โ€œI volunteered for the draft. I volunteered for the infantry. I volunteered for the Rangers. I volunteered for airborne training. I just volunteered every chance I got.โ€ The reason was simple: โ€œNobody else wants to go.โ€ Years ago he owned bikini shops in San Diego. Now he brings levity to Wednesday mornings. That laughter matters.

Zoe Davidson, stylish and steady, shows up because her son served in Afghanistan. She summed up the programโ€™s beating heart in one sentence: โ€œPeople need connection. Real connection.โ€

This struggle spans generations. While the room is often filled with Vietnam veterans, you will also find a charismatic young man, barely in his twenties, who is unhoused. He works on cutting-edge AI projects and has a LinkedIn profile to prove it, clearing his mind through juggling and flow arts. He proudly described his meticulously organized tented setupโ€”living out in nature, a necessary adaptation to instability. The older veterans recognize him, approach him, include him. The program bridges generations, offering non-judgmental community for those dealing with fresh, often invisible, wounds.

Santiago Calderon, a Vietnam Navy veteran who now runs the weekly door prize raffle of donated items, was home alone one day, overwhelmed by โ€œdark, bad, evil thoughts,โ€ when someone suggested he visit the Wednesday program. The community pulled him back. โ€œI look forward to Wednesday,โ€ he said. โ€œWednesday is my favorite day of the week.โ€

How to Invest in Stability

Dave Ramos, the managing director of the Santa Cruz County Veterans Memorial Building, has spent more than 13 years embedded in the veterans community. He worked in the Veteran Services Office during his time at Cabrillo College, interned under his predecessor at CSUMB, and even served on the buildingโ€™s Board of Trustees before the pandemic. To him, the VMPP is โ€œmore than a programโ€”it is a multifaceted mission with many layers of support and direction.โ€

Ramos hopes to scale the operation into a true weekly resource hub, filling the auditorium with service tables, outreach groups and education kiosks. โ€œIt is a prime opportunity to do outreach, education, and service provision,โ€ he said. With more than 9,100 veterans in Santa Cruz County, many of whom are unaware of or unable to access existing programs, his goal is simple: โ€œI want direct interaction with every single one of them.โ€

Trevor emphasizes that the programโ€™s impact comes from countless volunteers whose names rarely appear in articles. The Wednesday program connects to a broader Santa Cruz food security networkโ€”Grey Bears, Holy Cross, Second Harvest, St. Francis Soup Kitchenโ€”creating a spiderweb of support that keeps the least amount of food from hitting the landfill while the maximum number of people are fed.

Before I left one afternoon, Gary Poland pressed a gold medallion into my hand after learning my nephew is currently serving in the Army. It was a final reminder of everything this program embodies: veterans who have endured the hardest experiences still finding ways to lift the next generation in uniform.

Note: Some full names and ranks have been withheld for privacy.

How to Help

The Santa Cruz County Veterans Memorial Building is located at 846 Front St., Santa Cruz. To volunteer with the Veterans Meal and Pantry Program, contact Dawn Collier at 831-345-2426 or db*********@***il.com. Donations can be mailed to UVC VMPP, PO Box 1063, Santa Cruz, CA 95061.

Watsonville Veterans Memorial Building is located at 215 E. Beach St., Watsonville. To volunteer or donate at the Watsonville Veteran Pantry, contact Roland โ€œDocโ€ Garza at 760-807-8326 or do********@*ol.com.

Needed investments:

Furniture: 100 to 120 new sturdy lifetime chairs and replacement tables

Dignified Tools: Higher-quality kitchen tools that are easy to use for those with arthritic hands or limited grip strength

Technology and Outreach: New desktop computers, new Wi-Fi mesh units, improved cell-phone learning stations, and continued support for the long-running clothing program

Ending With Intention

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The end of the year has a way of sneaking up on us. One minute weโ€™re making summer plans, the next weโ€™re standing in line at the grocery store wondering how December disappeared, and why we feel both relieved and exhausted. While the culture pushes us toward frantic celebration or rigid goal-setting, thereโ€™s another option: ending the year with intention.

Here are ten grounded, doable ways to close the year feeling clearer, calmer and more connectedโ€”to yourself and the life youโ€™re actually living.

1. Create a retrospective inventory list

Before rushing into New Yearโ€™s resolutions, pause. Ask yourself what truly worked this year, and what didnโ€™t. No judgment required. A simple list of โ€œmore of thisโ€ and โ€œless of thatโ€ can be far more revealing than a lofty vision board. For example, leaning into local Meetups was a great way to meet people. Dating apps, maybe not.

Gym membership underused? Instead of vowing to become a regular this year, identify the activities youโ€™re drawn to, whether thatโ€™s salsa at the Palomar or Dance Church at the Tannery. Resolve to pursue the things youโ€™re most drawn to for more sustainable results. When youโ€™re clear on what to let go of, you free yourself up to focus on the things you want to commit to.

2. Clear One Physical Space

You donโ€™t need to Marie Kondo your entire house. Choose one areaโ€”your desk, pantry or even one half of your closet (less daunting!)โ€”and resolve to clear some space. Physical clutter is a sneaky path to distraction, like when you have to spend 20 minutes looking for the scissors. Who knows, maybe one clearing space will naturally lead to the next step in what psychologists call a virtuous cycle.

3. Take a Year-End Walk

Thereโ€™s something illuminating about moving your body without a destination. Walk West Cliff at sunset. Wander a redwood trail. Let your thoughts unfold. Movement helps us process what words often canโ€™t. You may be surprised by your insight.

4. Name the Hard Things (and the Wins)

Not every year is worthy of a photo album, and thatโ€™s okay. Acknowledge what was difficult without minimizing it. Then, just as intentionally, name what you survived, learned or grew through. Both deserve airtime. Journals are built for moments like this.

5. Revisit Your Relationship with Rest

If the year taught us anything, itโ€™s that exhaustion isnโ€™t a badge of honor. During winterโ€™s shorter days, give yourself permission to slow down. Earlier bedtimes, quieter mornings, fewer commitments. Rest is not quitting, itโ€™s recalibrating. Your mind and body will thank you.

6. Cook One Mindful Meal

Choose a recipe that feels nourishing rather than challenging. Maybe itโ€™s soup that simmers all afternoon or a simple pasta shared with friends. Mindful meal preparation can be a ritual of self-care, a way to savor the sensory experience and feed the soul.

7. Write a Letter Youโ€™ll Never Send

To a past version of yourself. To someone who changed you. To a year that surprised you. To someone who disappointed you. Writing privately allows for honesty without performance. You donโ€™t need closure, just expression.

8. Reconnect with Your Senses

This is an underrated reset. Light a candle. Make a cup of your favorite herbal tea. Put on some music that uplifts you. Step outside and notice the filtered light of winter, the way the air smells after it rains. Sensory moments bring us back into the present, where real healing happens.

9. Choose a Word, Not a Resolution

Instead of a list of things to fix, choose a word that feels supportive, steady, spacious, curious, grounded. Let it guide your decisions gently, without pressure. A word can be a companion rather than a command. Write it down. Find an image and caption it with your word. For years, mine has been โ€œbreathe.โ€ It may sound irrational, but like all things in our environment, it gradually seeps in.

10. Celebrate Quietly

Not every ending needs fireworks. Sometimes celebration looks like an early night, a good book or a deep exhale. Honor what feels true for you, even if it doesnโ€™t match the highlight reel.

As the year comes to a close, remember: you donโ€™t need to become a new person overnight. Youโ€™re allowed to carry forward whatโ€™s working, release what isnโ€™t, and step into the next chapter with humility and hope.

Ending the year well isnโ€™t about perfection, itโ€™s about presence. And that, thankfully, is always available.

Join Elizabeth Borelli for a sensory reset weekend retreat at Mount Madonna Center in Watsonville this January. Learn more at ElizabethBorelli.com.

Strong Finish

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‘The fruit in this wine is out of this world,โ€ says Steve Storrs. And heโ€™s absolutely right. Rich and elegant, the handcrafted 2021 Zinfandel ($38) is filled with โ€œvibrant flavors of blackberry, boysenberry and olallieberry.โ€ It comes with luscious notes of vanillaโ€”and with a delightful lingering finish.

Grapes were harvested from Lion Oaks Vineyard on the eastern slopes of Mt. Madonna, and then aged in 10% American oak barrels and 90% French oak. Itโ€™s traditionally punched down by hand, and great care is taken during the whole process of making this delicious wine.

Stephen Storrs and wife Pamela Bianchini-Storrs have been in the wine business for decadesโ€”first honing their skills at UC Davis. Along the way, they have won numerous awards, including Best of Show at the California State Fair.

As well as their downtown tasting room, they opened another one on a gorgeous piece of property they acquired in Corralitos, where you might catch sight of their flock of babydoll sheep. These sweet-faced creatures control the weeds in Storrs Wineryโ€™s estate vineyards. And, as they say, itโ€™s a win-win situation.

The wines this husband and wife duo make are truly wonderful, and it is well worth a visit to try them.

Storrs Winery & Vineyards, 1560 Pleasant Valley Road, Aptos, 831-742-5030; 303 Potrero St., Suite 35, Santa Cruz, 831-458-5030.

Aรฑejo Nuevo

Calling all tequila lovers: the newly launched Pantera De Oro is fabulous. Itโ€™s silky and smooth with cinnamon and light agave notes, framed by coconut and toasted hazelnuts. Brandy and cognac notes on the palate add to the intricate flavors. Itโ€™s what the makers call โ€œa layered, luxurious tequila experience for true connoisseurs.โ€ The brand was founded by Bay Area native Scott Baird, known for his involvement with Tequila Ocho and Ancho Reyes. panteradeorotequila.com

Free Will Astrology

Astrology, Horoscope, Stars, Zodiac Signs
ARIES March 21-April 19 Before major eruptions, volcanoes may emit harmonic tremors. Lasting for hours or days, they are signals that pressure is building. A similar phenomenon is simmering in your sphere, Aries. Be alert. What rhythmic clues are vibrating through your system? What pressure is mounting that could eventually erupt? Iโ€™m not saying you should interpret them with a...

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Thank you for the wonderful article on youth poetry, by Addie Mahmassani. I am deeply moved both by the poetry and the entire project...

The Wednesday Lifeline

Volunteers prepare and serve meals inside the Santa Cruz Veterans Memorial Building during the weekly Veterans Meal and Pantry Program.
The Veterans Meal and Pantry Program operates entirely on volunteers and donations, providing food and connection to veterans every Wednesday without government funding.

Ending With Intention

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โ€œEnding the year well isnโ€™t about perfection, itโ€™s about presence.โ€

Strong Finish

A bottle of Storrs Winery 2021 Zinfandel alongside a vineyard scene from Lion Oaks Vineyard on the slopes of Mt. Madonna.
โ€œRich and elegant, Storrs' handcrafted 2021 Zinfandel is filled with vibrant flavors of blackberry, boysenberry and olallieberry.โ€
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