Rob Brezsny’s Astrology: Aug. 10-16

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Tips to get the most out of the coming weeks: 1. Exercise your willpower at random moments just to keep it limber. 2. Be adept at fulfilling your own hype. 3. Argue for fun. Be playful and frisky as you banter. Disagree for the sport of it, without feeling attached to being right or needing the last word. 4. Be unable to understand how anyone can resist you or not find you alluring. 5. Declare yourself President of Everything, then stage a coup d’état. 6. Smile often when you have no reason to. 7. If you come upon a “square peg, round hole” situation, change the shape of the hole.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): If I had to choose a mythic deity to be your symbolic helper, I would pick Venus. The planet Venus is ruler of your sign, and the goddess Venus is the maven of beauty and love, which are key to your happiness. But I would also assign Hephaestus to you Tauruses. He was the Greek god of the metalworking forge. He created Zeus’s thunderbolts, Hermes’ winged helmet, Aphrodite’s magic bra, Achilles’ armor, Eros’ bow and arrows and the thrones for all the deities in Olympus. The things he made were elegant and useful. I nominate him to be your spirit guide during the next ten months. May he inspire you to be a generous source of practical beauty.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): To be a true Gemini, you must yearn for knowledge—whether it’s about coral reefs, ancient maps of Sumer, sex among jellyfish, mini-black holes, your friends’ secrets or celebrity gossip. You need to be an eternal student who craves education. Are some things more important to learn than others? Of course, but that gauge is not always apparent in the present. A seemingly minor clue or trick you glean today may become unexpectedly helpful a month from now. With that perspective in mind, I encourage you to be promiscuous in your lust for new information and teachings in the coming weeks. 

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Cancerian drummer Ringo Starr is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Though he has received less acclaim than his fellow Beatles, many critics recognize him as a skillful and original drummer. How did he get started? At age 13, he contracted tuberculosis and lived in a sanatorium for two years. The medical staff encouraged him to join the hospital band, hoping it would stimulate his motor skills and alleviate boredom. Ringo used a makeshift mallet to bang the cabinet near his bed. Good practice! That’s how his misfortune led to his joy and success. Is there an equivalent story in your life, Cancerian? The coming months will be a good time to take that story to its next level.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): One of the inspiring experiments I hope you will attempt in the coming months is to work on loving another person as wildly and deeply and smartly as you love yourself. In urging you to try this exercise, I don’t mean to imply that I have a problem with you loving yourself wildly and deeply and smartly. I endorse your efforts to keep increasing the intensity and ingenuity with which you adore and care for yourself. But here’s a secret: Learning to summon a monumental passion for another soul may have the magic power of enhancing your love for yourself.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Musician Viv Albertine has recorded four albums and played guitar for the Slits, a famous punk band. She has also written two books and worked as a TV director for 20 years. Her accomplishments are impressive. Yet she also acknowledges that she has spent a lot of time in bed for many reasons: needing to rest, seeking refuge to think and meditate, recovering from illness, feeling overwhelmed or lonely or sad. She admiringly cites other creative people who, like her, have worked in their beds: Emily Dickinson, Patti Smith, Edith Sitwell and Frida Kahlo. I mention this, Virgo, because the coming days will be an excellent time for you to seek sanctuary and healing and creativity in bed.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Libran author Katherine Mansfield wrote, “The mind I love must have wild places, a tangled orchard where dark damsons drop in the heavy grass, an overgrown little wood, the chance of a snake or two and a pool that nobody’s fathomed the depth of.” Be inspired by her in the coming weeks, Libra. I suspect you will flourish if you give yourself the luxury of exploring your untamed side. The time is ripe to wander in nature and commune with exciting influences outside your comfort zone. What uncharted frontier would you enjoy visiting?

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): When you are functioning at your best, you Scorpios crave only the finest, top-quality highs. You embrace joys and pleasures that generate epiphanies and vitalizing transformations. Mediocre varieties of fun don’t interest you. You avoid debilitating indulgences that provide brief excitement but spawn long-term problems. In the coming weeks, dear Scorpio, I hope you will embody these descriptions. It’s crucial that you seek gratifications and delectations that uplift you, ennoble you and bless your future.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): “Wish on everything,” advises Sagittarian author Francesca Lia Block. “Pink cars are good, especially old ones. And first stars and shooting stars. Planes will do if they are the first light in the sky and look like stars. Wish in tunnels, holding your breath and lifting your feet off the ground. Birthday candles. Baby teeth.” Your homework during the next two weeks, Sagittarius, is to build a list of further marvels that you will wish on. It’s the Magic Wish season of the year for you: a time when you’re more likely than usual to encounter and generate miracles. Be proactive! Oh, and very important: What are your three top wishes?

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Author Aldous Huxley wrote, “That people do not learn much from the lessons of history is the most important lesson that history has to teach.” While his observation is true much of the time, I don’t think it will be so for you in the coming weeks. I suspect you will triumph over past patterns that have repeated and repeated themselves. You will study your life story and figure out what you must do to graduate from lessons you have finally, completely learned.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): In the film I Origins, a scientist says this to a lover: “When the Big Bang happened, all the atoms in the universe were smashed together into one little dot that exploded outward. So my atoms and your atoms were together then . . . my atoms have always known your atoms.” Although this sounds poetic, it’s true in a literal sense: The atoms that compose you and me and everyone else were originally all squeezed together in a tiny space. We knew each other intimately! The coming days will be an excellent time to celebrate your fundamental link with the rest of the universe. You’ll be extra receptive to feeling connection. You’ll be especially adept at fitting your energy together with others’. You’ll love the sensation of being united, merged, blended.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): My Piscean friend Luna sent me a message that sums up how I feel about you these days. I’ll repeat it here in the hope it will inspire you to be perfectly yourself. Luna said, “Every time I meet someone who was born within like two weeks of my birthday, I end up with the impression that they are the loopiest and wisest person I’ve met in a long time. They are totally ridiculous and worthy of profound respect. They are unhinged and brilliantly focused. They are fuzzy-headed dreamers who couldn’t possibly ever get anything practical accomplished and they are lyrical thinkers who charm me with their attunement to the world’s beauty and impress me with their understanding of how the world works. Hahahahaha. Luckily for me, I know the fool is sacred.” 

Homework: Imagine what you will be doing exactly one year from today. Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com.

The Paring’s 2020 Sauvignon Blanc Erupts with Complexity

The Paring is churning out some good wines in Lompoc at very reasonable prices. The 2020 Sauvignon Blanc is a deal at $25.

In addition to Sauvignon Blanc, The Paring makes Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Rosé of Pinot Noir and a robust Red Blend.

I enjoyed a glass while cooking dinner—and a couple more later. The Sauvignon Blanc has a good level of complexity with a deliciously exotic nose. Flavors of melon, white peach and lemon leap out of the glass.

The Paring wines are sold all over and online. The owners say, “The Paring was born in 2006 out of a desire to explore, experiment and excite—without rules.” Sounds good to me! theparing.com; in**@*******ng.com; 805-564-8581.

Regan Vineyards Winery

John Bargetto is the director of winemaking for Bargetto Winery and now also for Regan Vineyards Winery, which is open for wine tasting until the end of summer. This prime piece of property up Green Valley Road in Corralitos is gorgeous. Vines run as far as the eye can see—heavy with fruit at harvest time. Regan Vineyards’ grape varieties include Pinot Noir, Merlot, Dolcetto, Refosco and Nebbiolo, Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio. Book a tour or a tasting at reganwinery.com.

Dream Inn Launches “Iron Chef”

Modeled after the hit TV show Iron Chef, the Dream Inn’s new Iron Chef competition allows small groups (six to 20 people) to showcase their culinary expertise and compete for the coveted Iron Chef title. Each group is given an hour to prepare a unique and flavorful dish worthy of an Iron Chef. These fun events will be held in the Jack O’Neill Restaurant and Lounge, and staples like flour and eggs are supplied.

Dream Inn Santa Cruz and Jack O’Neill Restaurant and Lounge, 175 West Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz. 831-740-8069; dreaminnsantacruz.com; jackoneillrestaurant.com.

The Farm Bakery & Café Rocks Stellar Pastries

The Farm Bakery & Café co-owner Rolo Igno started working in restaurants at a young age before joining the military. Then Igno went into law enforcement and executive protection, which offers security to wealthy clients. But when he and his wife were offered ownership of the Farm Bakery & Café, they jumped at the opportunity. Igno would have more time with his family and something to pass down to his children. It’s also a way for him to give back to the community that he loves—in a much different way from his years in law enforcement.
He says the Farm takes pride in customer service and has a homey feel. The “crown jewel” of the menu is the fruit tart with a shortbread/graham cracker crust, with a homemade blend of sweet cream cheeses and an artfully arranged assortment of fruit. Their extensive breakfast and lunch menus feature a variety of pastries and coffee and espresso drinks.
Hours are every day from 8am-4pm (5pm Thursday-Saturday). Igno dished about what sets their fruit tart apart and how his background prepared him to become a restaurant owner. 

Why are the fruit tarts so popular?

ROLO IGNO: We are known for them, and they really are our flagship offering. It’s not just the way they look, but the way they taste that sets them apart. People have grown up eating our tarts, they are well-loved and people often have them at their weddings, birthdays and other special occasions instead of a traditional cake. People come from all over the state just to get them, from places like the Central Valley and Sacramento, and even Santa Barbara. 

How do your previous careers help you now?

My background in law enforcement and executive protection has given me the ability to anticipate what others will need and provide that for them. This, along with my military background, has helped me to become more flexible and more understanding of other people’s needs. I’ve worn many hats; I thrive in environments where no two workdays are the same. My background has also made me detail-oriented and able to work well in high-stress situations, which definitely helps in the restaurant industry. 

The Farm Bakery & Café, 6790 Soquel Drive, Aptos, 831-684-0266; thefarmbakerycafe.com.

Calling All Syrah Lovers

A rare wine event next week: a flight of 2013 Single Vineyard Syrahs from Big Basin Vineyards tasted and discussed with BBV founder Bradley Brown.  The quartet of great Syrahs from 2013 hails from the Gabilan Mountains to multiple blocks of the Estate Vineyard. Same vintage year, but intriguing differences in character.

“Wines undergo a transformation as they age,” the winemaker reminded me last week, “and with well-made wines, these changes can delight. Tannins and flavors melt together building silky texture and extending the finish in the wines. 2013 still stands out as one of my favorite vintages of that decade, so we are really looking forward to sharing these four different bottlings of Syrah from that year.” 

Wine Enthusiast gave the 2013 Old Corral Syrah (Estate) 92 points, and comments that the estate bottling “showed elegant aromas of black currant and violet on the nose. The palate is extremely well integrated and seamless, with dense black fruits lifted by kicks of purple flowers. Quite beautiful.” Aficionado and expert Wilfred Wong said of the 2013 Rattlesnake Rock Syrah: “This wine is deep, dense and long, with aroma and flavors of red and black fruits.”

Several years ago, Matt Kettmann of Wine Enthusiast gave the 2013 Coastview Vineyard Syrah 91 points, admiring the wine’s “dense core of floral fragrance as well as cola and black olive touches on the nose … Bright and pure purple fruit meets lilac flavors on the palate, its density buoyed by balanced acidity. Over time, touches of herb and spice emerge.”

And finally, Brown will be pouring the almost impossible to find 2013 Frenchie’s Ranch Syrah. Full-bodied and complex, this powerhouse of a wine is loaded with black pepper, olive and dark fruits. Amazing that it just keeps on giving, even after nine years. A rare wine and a rare opportunity to taste.

The winemaker told me more. The four wines include a Syrah from Coastview Vineyard, as well as two different single vineyard estate Syrahs. “This diversity of expressions of a single grape varietal will allow a deeper understanding of how that single thread of the vintage impacts across the three vineyards,” he says.

Brown will also be tasting the Frenchie’s Ranch Syrah made with a very different barrel program, having spent over three years in primarily new French oak Hogshead barrels. “The extended aging leads to a more decadent expression of the fruit,” he says. Sounds exciting! 

If you haven’t yet had the luxurious pleasure of sitting out on the patio, in front of the firepit (if the fog has crept in), or enjoying the sun while you sip at the new tasting headquarters, this Syrah-a-thon is the perfect occasion. The chic new tasting grounds for the handiwork of Big Basin Vineyards’ founder as well as the current winemaker Blake Yarger is definitely a scene.

From the glass-enclosed interior that manages to suggest Santa Monica and Steamer Lane at the same time, to the open-air terrace with incredibly attractive seating options, this is one stylish place to sample your new favorite Big Basin wines.

The infrastructure at this tasting room keeps unfolding and fine tuning. In one week, the BBV staff will welcome new tasting room manager Reed Cormier—described by Brown as “awesome”—a veteran wine merchant and former assistant tasting room manager at BR Cohn in Napa.

Syrah Horizontal Night with Bradley Brown will be presented on Thursday, Aug. 18, 4-9 pm at the Santa Cruz Tasting Room, 525 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $45 per flight. Club members receive 50% off flight. Reservations can be made for parties of 1-8 at bigbasinvineyards.com; parties of 6 or more require a $25 deposit per person.

Capitola Artist Crafts Colossal Shark Sculpture

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Capitola artist Jim Herbert wheeled out his 17-foot metal sculpture of a female great white shark to a prominent area in Pleasure Point last weekend. He let his art sit as hordes of people fixated on the elaborate creation. 

“Everything I make is about ten times stronger than most metalwork,” Herbert said. “Most people these days use thin metal or have the money for machines to build for them. I have none of that. Everything is hand built.”

Herbert had just finished the shark when he brought it out for the first time during the Pleasure Point Street Fair in June. And this weekend, he was invited to temporarily situate the piece in front of the Opal Cliffs Auto Service Center.

“It’s been really fun,” Herbert said. “Lots of people have been stopping by to see it. I think people like how it’s pretty close to the same size as an actual female great white.”

Herbert first created a slightly smaller, 10-foot version of the shark that includes an electric motor, allowing you to drive it short distances. 

“Someone saw that one and [says], too bad it’s not a bit bigger,” he said. “And people wanted to see one with teeth. Well, that did it. I went on to make a bigger one with teeth. I tried to get as close as possible to what [great white sharks] really look like–a full-on real great white.”

Herbert grew up in Santa Cruz in the 1960s and eventually opened his own auto collision repair business, where he learned about the process of metal work and welding. After retirement, he continued the craft in a different, more artistic capacity. 

Over the years, Herbert has entered numerous local and international sculpture contests, winning awards for his creations. His passion for surfing and the ocean inspired his studio, Jim’s Waves of Steel.

As for his new shark, Herbert says he is still searching for a permanent home.

“I’m not sure where it’s going to end up,” he says. “The main thing is, I want it to go to a place where everyone can enjoy it.”

For information on Herbert and his sculpture, visit wavesofsteel.net.

Community Foundation Donors Help Close Gap for Hospital Purchase

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Earlier this year, Santa Cruz County was tasked with raising $67 million to purchase and save Watsonville Community Hospital (WCH).

Since the February 2022 formation of the Pajaro Valley Health Care District (PVHCD)—an organization aiming to advocate for community-led, nonprofit health care services by purchasing the hospital—hundreds of donations of varying amounts have been made. Donations have come from government agencies, businesses and organizations, as well as several local families and individuals.

On May 22, Community Foundation Santa Cruz County formed the Watsonville Community Hospital Fund following Driscoll’s announcement of its own $1.75 million matching gift. And now, thanks to donors who recently contributed more than $5 million to the Community Foundation’s fund, PVHCD is $6 million away from reaching its fundraising goal and completing the purchase of the hospital.

“This entire project is an extraordinary testimony to the generosity of our community and the strength of our region’s leaders,” said Susan True, CEO of the Community Foundation. “From Senator John Laird’s heroic work on Senate Bill 418 to establish the new health care district to County Administrative Officer Carlos Palacios pulling together a team and resources, to Salud Para La Gente CEO Dori Rose Inda’s ongoing work to keep all the pieces together, to Steven Salyer’s work to run the hospital and so many more. It has taken many hands.” 

PVHCD has until Aug. 31 to complete the purchase of the hospital.

WCH has been called a “safety net hospital” by local health providers for its ability to offer care to patients regardless of their ability to pay. Donor and Community Foundation board member Kirk Schmidt highlighted the importance of the South County hospital, which provides a range of services to roughly 70,000 residents in the Pajaro Valley and delivers more babies than any other hospital in the county.

“Everyone knows that a community the size of the Pajaro Valley needs a full-service hospital,” Schmidt said. “With a new nonprofit structure, exceptionally competent management and a local board of directors, we will be able to have a successful hospital for many years to come.”

Fellow board member and donor Janet Heien agreed.

“A hospital is such a vital part of any community,” Hein said. “I was born and raised in Watsonville, and the hospital has a lot of good and sad memories for me from when my own family members and friends were patients. As an employer, it’s a critical part of the life of your employees and their families to meet their needs for healthcare and well-being.”

Donate to the Community Foundation’s Watsonville Community Hospital Fund at cfscc.org/PajaroValleyHealth. Learn more about PVHCD at pvhcd.org

Watsonville Event Brings Mental Health Resources to Youth

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On Aug. 12, United Way of Santa Cruz County’s Youth Action Network and Jóvenes SANOS will host a pop-up event in Watsonville to connect youth with mental health resources in their community.

The event is part of Youth Action Network’s ongoing pop-up series, which has had the group working with local partners to hold events across the county throughout the Spring and Summer. The organization has so far held events in Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley, Live Oak and Watsonville.

“We’ve been hosting lots of events across Santa Cruz County this year,” says Amanda Gamban, a coordinator for Youth Action Network. “This last one in Watsonville is important … it will focus on mental health.”

Youth Action Network is a local initiative aimed at providing opportunities for local youth in community-based research, civic engagement, and leadership development. Jóvenes SANOS focuses on increasing healthy eating and active living—and, recently, the group has been shifting its focus to address mental health.

Lizabeth Garcia Lopez, a junior at Watsonville High School and member of Jóvenes SANOS, said that mental health support is vital to her and her peers’ well-being. 

“A lot of high schools don’t teach about mental health,” Lopez says. “It’s hard for people to talk about. But they have to learn about it sooner or later, and it’s better to know at an early age. This will be a fun activity to engage students, teach them more about mental health, like ways to cope with stress at school.”

Hosting the event in Watsonville is especially important, she says. 

“Being raised here in Watsonville, I didn’t have these types of resources,” she says. “They were not spoken about, in school or with my family. Mental health is not really spoken about in Hispanic culture. But I think it’s important to teach people that to be healthy, you must have good mental health. I want younger generations to have that support.”

Community impact coordinator Pamela Velazquez said that the organization has benefited from its partnerships with the Youth Center, where they have held events many times. She also highlighted Jóvenes SANOS’ work in organizing the upcoming pop-up.

“Throughout the summer, we held planning meetings with local youth to decide what this event was going to be,” she said. “We asked our partners to identify what their programming offers and what is still needed in the community.”

Several local organizations will be on hand at the Aug. 12 pop-up, including Big Brothers Big Sisters, Community Action Board’s Luna y Sol Family Center, County Park Friends, Digital NEST, Envision Fitness, Friday Night Live, Food What?!, Monarch Services, Youth Center Yoga for All Movement and many more.

The event will include a raffle, games and activities, a community mural painting, food and live music.

“With Covid, we’ve been stuck at home for so long,” Gamban says. “We hope this will be a good reason for them to get out and connect. It’s just going to be a safe space for students to come and find help and get connected with each other.”

The Watsonville pop-up event happens Friday, Aug. 12, 4-7pm. Gene Hoularis and Waldo Rodriguez Youth Center, 30 Maple Ave., Watsonville. sccyan.org. Learn more about Jóvenes SANOS at unitedwaysc.org/jovenes-sanos.

Scotts Valley Library to Reopen Saturday

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It’s happening a few months later than initially hoped, but now, literacy fans and community boosters can rejoice—the Scotts Valley Branch Library is coming back to life.

The grand reopening will go from 10am-2pm on Saturday at its 251 Kings Village Road location. But former borrowers may find it unrecognizable.

“I know the community is excited,” says Yolande Wilburn, the Santa Cruz County Public Libraries director. “We’ve heard from the community members about how much they use the library and how much they depend on it.”

The event will feature guest speakers, a refreshment café hosted by the Friends of the Scotts Valley Library, storytime for children with Librarian Kari and craft-making.

The library even tapped magician James Chan—a teenager—to help unveil the space.

It’s the result of a June 2016 countywide initiative approved by voters called Measure S that secured approval for $67 million in financing to update branches system-wide.

Felton’s library rework was completed in February 2020 (although most of the community didn’t experience it until after coronavirus restrictions were loosened).

Boulder Creek’s branch reopened in May, and Wilburn urges people to have a peek up there when they can.

“If you have not been to see it, I highly recommend you go,” she says, highlighting the uniqueness of its children’s room. “It’s almost like you’re in a treehouse.”

On Wednesday, landscapers were planting the final ornamental grasses at the Scotts Valley site.

Narissa Karthy-Dundas, a library aide, and Paul Williams, a library assistant, emptied the outside return bin of titles such as The Shamans of Prehistory and Dylan Thomas: The Collected Stories.

Some shelves remained empty. But they’d already stocked most of them.

“I just started a couple weeks ago,” Karthy-Dundas says. “It’s very exciting to be able to bring the resources that the community needs back to them.”

Interim Branch Manager Heather Pereira, who’s working here since her Aptos branch is under construction, says she appreciates the retro aesthetic that serves as a throw-back to the building’s roller rink days.

Resident Helen Youmans says she’s happy to see plans coming to fruition after months of construction.

“My daughter uses the online version a lot,” she says. “We used it a lot when the kids were little.”

Her parents, who live in the U.K., even purchased a brick in honor of her daughter during an earlier library promotional drive years ago.

“I’m excited it’s reopening,” she says.

RTC Moves Forward with Rail Study

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On Thursday, the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission unanimously agreed to release a request for proposals (RFP) for an engineering study of the county’s rail line, the first step in what will be a multiple-year project to establish a passenger rail system.

The study, estimated to cost $17 million, will give the RTC a picture of what a light electric rail system would look like, including the number of stops and frequency of trips, as well as what it would take to get the 32-mile system of track, trestles, and bridges ready.

It would also include an environmental impact report for segments of the track between Rio del Mar Boulevard and Lee Road and between Beach Street and the Pajaro Junction.

The study will cover the 22-mile stretch between Pajaro Junction in north Monterey County and Natural Bridges Drive in the City of Santa Cruz. 

The cost of the study would be paid partly from the competitive State Rail Assistance Program. However, that funding will likely require a 20% local match, said RTC Senior Transportation Engineer Sarah Christensen.

The move is the first major step since the landslide defeat in June of Measure D, the initiative that would have signaled to the RTC to end plans to create a rail/trail system and required the county to focus on a trail-only model.

Christensen said that the study would allow the organization to do much of the “heavy lifting” before beginning the rail project.

“We really want to focus on this first step,” she said.

In 2021, the RTC identified electric passenger rail as the locally preferred alternative.

RTC officials have said it could cost as much as $60 million to make the needed improvements on the track, even before a rail system can be considered.

Getting Capitola trestle operational is estimated to cost between $15 and $30 million, Christensen said. 

Several people addressed the commission, most speaking in favor of the RFP.

Sally Arnold said that the defeat of Measure D—79% of voters rejected it—gave the clearest message yet that the time is right to move forward.

“We’re really pleased to see that the RTC staff have clearly been working hard on this over the summer,” she said.

But Brian Peoples of Trail Now—one of the organizations that supported Measure D—says that the California Coastal Commission and California Transportation Commission have rules that would prohibit a new fixed-rail system along the Santa Cruz Coastal Corridor. Those organizations also restrict funding for such projects, Peoples says.

“These California policies clearly show that the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission will not be eligible to receive state funding for a new fixed rail system that travels along the Santa Cruz Coastal Corridor,” he said.

Peoples also rejects the notion that the Measure D results signal a local desire for a passenger rail system. Instead, he says, the county should explore a “transit and trail” solution.

“We need timely and cost-effective investment in building the Santa Cruz Coastal Trail, and this RFP is more delay in constructing the trail,” he said. 

Commissioner Mike Rotkin called the June 7 vote a “watershed moment” in the storied history of the controversial project.

“I am so excited about what your staff has brought us today,” he said. “I am so pleased about what we have in front of us.”

Commissioner Greg Caput agreed. 

“We’ve done 2-3 years of talking, and now we’re actually deciding,” he said. “The only way to go forward is to approve this proposal.”

Commissioner Manu Koenig, who had been an outspoken skeptic of plans for a rail system and publicly touted Measure D, doubled down on that doubt but said he would vote to approve it because it was the will of his constituents.

He added that he would be “overjoyed” if proven wrong.

“I want nothing more than to see carbon-free effective transport in this county,” he said. 

RTC staff is expected to present its recommendation from the RFP in the fall.

The Brothers Comatose to Play Three Nights at Moe’s Alley

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A lot of people call it bluegrass, but it’s not traditional bluegrass,” says Ben Morrison, multi-instrumental co-founder of the Brothers Comatose. “It’s folk and bluegrass with a little bit of rock and roll thrown in there too.”

Since 2009, Petaluma-born brothers Ben and Alex Morrison (vocals, guitar and banjo) and their classically trained buddy Philip Brezina (violin) have been touring nonstop. These guys don’t phone it in; their shows, which do incorporate all the aforementioned musical genres, are sweaty singalong romps that often last more than two hours.

In addition to the notoriously high-energy live performances, BC’s slew of original tunes has helped build a worldwide fanbase that continues to grow. Since the early years, their material comes straight from their hearts and never holds back. “Scout” is an unapologetic portrait of the Morrisons’ grandfather.


“[My grandfather] was a great guy, but he had that mean streak to him,” Ben explains. “I didn’t even mean it to come out like that, but I guess the song somehow took that turn in the middle. My family knows what it’s about and can relate to it too.”

Meanwhile, “Morning Time” is a gentle ballad—the album version of the song features Nicki Bluhm on vocals. Other musicians, just like fans, gravitate to BC’s music.

Meanwhile, the grind of the working musician doesn’t get easier, no matter how long you’ve been at it.

“Doing business and art is a struggle,” Ben says. “You have to be a business guy, and you have to be artistic minded too. You’re working two different sides of your brain, but you must force yourself to do it because that’s how bands do it these days. No one’s going to come along and do it for you. You must book shows, keep track of everything and do call-backs and emails, and it’s not about the money. We do okay when we’re out on the road, but we all haven’t quit our day jobs just yet. We are getting a little closer, so that’s cool. You must love what you do and love the people you’re doing it with.”

After going nonstop for more than a decade, the pandemic was like a reset for the band.

“We didn’t know what we were going to do moving forward,” says Ben, who recently became a father. “But it turns out when it all falls apart, you figure your shit out, and you find a new path.”

The Brothers Comatose’s sixth record, aptly titled When It All Falls Apart, was released in the spring of 2022. After that much-needed “reset,” the band is back on the road and following a new path with a couple of new members, Steve Height and Greg Fleischut.

The outfit is experimenting with different forms of media and looking forward to more unexpected collaborators. They are also planning on releasing a live album sometime this year from a three-night run that will be recorded during their Moe’s Alley shows, kicking off on Thursday, Aug. 11.

Check out one of the band’s new songs, “Hole in My Pocket.”

The Brothers Comatose perform Thursday, Aug. 11, 8pm; Friday, Aug. 12 and Saturday, Aug. 13, 9pm Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $30/$35 plus fees. moesalley.com.

Openers:

Thursday: Wolf Jett

Friday: The Sam Chase

Saturday: The Good Bad

Rob Brezsny’s Astrology: Aug. 10-16

Astrology, Horoscope, Stars, Zodiac Signs
Free will astrology for the week of Aug. 10

The Paring’s 2020 Sauvignon Blanc Erupts with Complexity

Since 2006, the Lompoc winery has been churning out Pinot Noirs, chards, red blends and more

The Farm Bakery & Café Rocks Stellar Pastries

The Aptos breakfast and lunch spot’s homemade fruit tart is the menu’s ‘crown jewel’

Calling All Syrah Lovers

Big Basin Vineyards’ founder Bradley Brown discusses 2013 Syrahs. Plus, an unusual Syrah tasting.

Capitola Artist Crafts Colossal Shark Sculpture

Jim Herbert built a 17-foot great white shark out of scrap metal

Community Foundation Donors Help Close Gap for Hospital Purchase

$6 million is still needed to purchase Watsonville Community Hospital before the fast-approaching closing date

Watsonville Event Brings Mental Health Resources to Youth

South County gathering is Youth Action Network’s final event of countywide pop-up series

Scotts Valley Library to Reopen Saturday

The third North Santa Cruz County library renovation has been completed thanks to Measure S

RTC Moves Forward with Rail Study

Commission’s unanimous decision is first step for project following Measure D defeat

The Brothers Comatose to Play Three Nights at Moe’s Alley

The San Francisco fivesome’s mini-Santa Cruz residency will culminate in a live record
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