Page 343 – Good Times

Vaccines Coming for 5-to 11-year-olds with Final CDC Recommendation

Todd Guild

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November 4, 2021

Vaccines Coming for 5-to 11-year-olds with Final CDC Recommendation

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday voted to recommend the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine for children 5-11, a move that came four days after the Food and Drug Administration approved a smaller dose for young people.

The unanimous vote by the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices—a 15-member group of doctors and other medical professionals—put a final stamp on countywide plans to vaccinate nearly 20,000 elementary-age children.

Beginning next week, every school site will offer the inoculation. The local vaccination efforts will also include drive-thru clinics.

According to the California Department of Public Health, 565,915 million children 5-17 have contracted Covid-19 statewide, and 26 have died as of Oct. 27.

According to Santa Cruz County Superintendent of Schools Faris Sabbah, the county is partnering with Inspire Diagnostics to provide the vaccines. The same organization is providing school-based Covid-19 testing countywide.

Under the plan, schools will schedule five teams of three people to provide the vaccine. This includes a technician to register the students, a nurse to give the vaccine and an EMT to monitor the students after the vaccine is given.

This process—bringing mobile teams to school sites—is a concern for Aptos resident Kristin Hurley, who hosts Mama Bear’s Radio Show on KSCO radio and is part of the group Guardians of Youth. That group of roughly 700 members was created to fight vaccine mandates.

Such a process, she says, does not allow for parents to fully understand the vaccine.

“You can’t tell me that they are properly informing parents of the risks to their children, and that concerns me,” she says.

Sabbah says that the county’s Department of Public Health has already ordered enough of the vaccine to go around. County officials are hoping to give it to 8,000 students—40% of the total—by the end of the year.

Such efforts are likely to garner opposition from a small but vocal population of parents who are skeptical of the vaccine, and who mistakenly believe that schools have mandated it. This is not true, Sabbah says.

“This is a voluntary effort,” he said.

A group of about 75 people demonstrated against what they believed to be vaccine mandates outside the County Office of Education during an Oct. 21 board meeting. Sabbah says the meeting was briefly forced to recess after a smaller group entered the offices looking for board members.

The COE supports public comment and freedom of speech, Sabbah says, but he added that storming the building was “inappropriate and counterproductive.”

“This is especially true because the policies this group was demonstrating against would be set at the state level, not by the Board of Education or local school leaders,” he stated in a social media post. “This was an unfortunate decision made by a group of demonstrators who were otherwise civil in expressing their views through public comment and peaceful assembly.”

A vaccine mandate could come to pass next year. On Oct. 1, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that he planned to add the Covid-19 shot to the list of vaccines required for young people to attend school, once the FDA grants full approval—it is currently approved under an Emergency Use Authorization. If that happens, it would make California the first state to require the vaccine.

That is what worries Hurley.

“It has to be a matter of personal choice,” she says.

Hurley also worries that the process of approval—normally a years-long process—moved too quickly for anyone to be sure the vaccine is safe.

“They’re really expediting this whole process, out of interests other than public health,” she said. “They are putting the interests of the pharmaceutical industry ahead of the best interests of the American people in terms of safety and efficacy studies.”

In a statement in July, Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock, M.D. said that the approval process met the agency’s “rigorous, scientific standards for emergency use authorization.”

Hurley says she and other activists have met with Assemblymember Mark Stone and State Senator John Laird to ask for their help in the matter.

Hurley says that young people in Santa Cruz County have been hospitalized after receiving the Covid-19 vaccine, an assertion county spokesman Jason Hoppin says is untrue.

“County Public Health meets with hospitals twice a week, and we’ve never heard of any youth being hospitalized due to an adverse reaction to the Covid vaccine,” he stated in an email.

Sabbah says his message to concerned parents is simple: “Talk to your pediatrician. Get information from reliable sources. Make your decisions based on what is best for your child.”

Pajaro Valley Unified School District spokeswoman Alicia Jimenez says the district will provide the vaccine to all families who want it.

For information, and to complete authorization forms and sign up, visit sccoe.link/getvax.

Watsonville Opens Search for New City Manager

Tony Nuñez

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November 4, 2021

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Watsonville Opens Search for New City Manager

WATSONVILLE—At a special meeting on Tuesday night, Watsonville City Council directed staff to search for two companies that will spearhead the city’s efforts to find a new chief executive.

One company will be in charge of finding a permanent replacement for outgoing city manager Matt Huffaker, and the other will be responsible for identifying a person to fill the position in the interim.

Watsonville Mayor Jimmy Dutra said that the item will return to the City Council at its Nov. 9 meeting. At that time, the City Council is expected to make a final decision on the matter.

That same day Huffaker will likely be appointed by the Santa Cruz City Council as that municipality’s city manager. If approved, he would take the position on Jan. 3, 2022.

The meeting was a relatively short one. It started at 5:30pm and wrapped up just before 7pm after a four-person City Council—council members Ari Parker and Lowell Hurst were absent—finished up its closed session meeting.

Before city attorney Alan Smith read off the report from the closed session, Mayor Dutra asked the half-dozen people still in the City Council chambers for a “civil” response to the news.

There were some 15 people in the chambers as the meeting got underway, most of them were high-ranking city employees that, during public comment, lauded Huffaker’s three-year stint as city manager and recommended that Assistant City Manager Tamara Vides take the job in the interim.

Those who vouched for Vides included interim police chief Tom Sims and fire chief Rudy Lopez and the directors of the parks, development and finance departments. Watsonville Airport Director Rayvon Williams also said that Vides, who has been with the city for 23 years, would be a fine selection.

“In teams, in groups, I’ve worked with, there’s always been that person who is the heart of the group, and I can tell you that Tamara is the heart of the executive team,” Williams said. “Not so much for the ra-ra, but because it’s clear to us every time she speaks to the executive team [that] she’s concerned for the city. She clearly has a heart for the city.”

Two people spoke in opposition of Vides’ appointment, including Andrea Padilla-Curtis, an executive assistant for the city. She said that Vides did not have the qualifications or temperament to hold the position.

Though Padilla-Curtis was the lone city employee who publicly voiced their concerns to the City Council about Vides taking over, she said that other employees have done so in private.

“[The city manager] should be a positive role model, a leader, supportive, empathetic, motivating, a team builder, this person will be the face of the city and must demonstrate accountability, responsibility and professionalism,” Padilla-Curtis said. “These are qualities I, along with many others who chose to stay anonymous, do not feel that Mrs. Vides possesses. Therefore, we do not feel she is a qualified candidate for city manager.”

The 6th Annual Capitola Plein Air Competition in Photos

GT Staff and Tarmo Hannula

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November 4, 2021

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The 6th Annual Capitola Plein Air Competition in Photos

From Nov. 1-6, more than 30 artists can be spotted around Capitola through rain or shine. Umbrellas and easels can be seen on sidewalks and beaches; some artists posted in areas not so obvious, tucked away in alcoves or planted as far away as Pleasure Point.

Using oil, acrylic, pastel, charcoal, gouache or whatever they choose as their means of expression, the culmination of all the work will be on display 11am-4pm, Nov. 7 at New Brighton Middle School Auditorium. Several awards will be given out, including “Peoples’ Choice” and “Artists’ Choice” accolades. Some pieces will be selected to become part of Capitola’s art collection.

For more information, visit capitolapleinair.com.

Overwhelming Support Leads to Approval of Santa Cruz’s Measure A

Aiyana Moya

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November 3, 2021

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Overwhelming Support Leads to Approval of Santa Cruz’s Measure A

Cheers rang in the news at a Measure A watch party after polls closed on election night: Santa Cruz voters overwhelmingly supported more cannabis tax revenues going to children’s programs.

For the Nov. 2 election, voters filled in the bubble for the only item on their ballot: Measure A. The measure would establish a permanent Children’s Fund for the city of Santa Cruz, and increase the percentage of revenues from the city’s cannabis business tax headed to the fund from 12.5% to 20%.

The city projects to bring in an estimated $1.7 million in cannabis revenue for 2022. The measure will increase the amount given to children’s programs from $212,000 to $340,000, the city says. The remainder of the revenue from the tax goes to Santa Cruz city’s general fund, which funds city and public works expenses.

As of Nov. 5, 10,933 votes have been counted: 9,030 votes support approving Measure A, and 1,887 votes oppose its approval. It is unclear when the county’s election department will have the official results.

Bringing this measure to the voters cost the city between $141,804 to $177,255, based on estimates from the County Elections Department. But it wasn’t supposed to be the only item on the ballot. It was initially proposed alongside a half-cent sales tax increase that would have brought in an estimated $6 million each year for the city. That measure was blocked by city council member Sandy Brown at a council meeting earlier this year. Brown cited, among other things, the city’s reluctance to give its underpaid low-level employees needed raises in her decision.

Valerie Corral, a local medicinal marijuana activist who supports the measure, says Measure A is an important step toward providing reparations for underprivileged and minority children whose families might have been criminalized for possession of marijuana.

“We need to effect change, and utilize tax money in the best way possible to provide reparations,” says Corral.

The measure ran officially unopposed, and was supported by all Santa Cruz City Council members. At the watch party at the West End Tap Room attended by supporters and sponsors of the measure, the atmosphere was cautiously optimistic as polls came to a close.

Santa Cruz City Council members Martine Watkins, Renee Golder and Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson, along with Mayor Donna Meyers, all attended the watch party. They embraced upon hearing the initial results of the election.

“Investing in our children is what cities should be doing,” Meyers says after hearing the news. “Our youth is what makes our future.”

Things To Do in Santa Cruz: Nov. 3-9

GT Staff

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November 3, 2021

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A weekly guide to what’s happening

ARTS AND MUSIC

13TH ANNUAL SANTA CRUZ SEA GLASS & OCEAN ART FESTIVAL The 13th annual festival celebrating authentic sea glass and coastal art of all kinds. Over 50 talented artists are bringing their boutique works to the Cocoanut Grove and Sunroom on the historic Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. You’ll find one-of-a-kind pieces, including ceramics, soaps, sea salts, photography, fabric arts and stunning sea glass jewelry. $5 admission, kids free. Saturday, Nov. 6, 10am-5pm. Sunday, Nov. 7, 10am-5pm. Cocoanut Grove, 400 Beach St., Santa Cruz.

CELTIC TEEN BAND PROGRAM Teenage musicians ages 12-19 play in an ensemble, developing musicianship, flexibility, and musical creativity. Participants work on music from Ireland, Scotland, Brittany, Norway, Sweden, and the United States, in addition to modern and more quirky pieces. Instruments welcomed include fiddle, viola, flute, tin whistle, pipes, cello, upright bass, guitar, mandolin, banjo, dulcimer, autoharp, ukulele, Celtic harp, accordion and percussion. Students must have at least two years experience on their instrument, and must be able to read sheet music and chord symbols. The group meets twice a month Wednesday afternoons from 3:30-5pm at the London Nelson Center with fiddle teacher John Weed. Cost is $0-$10 per session on a sliding scale. Potential students are welcome to come for a session and see if they like it—no obligation! More information and registration at CommunityMusicSchool.org/teenband. Wednesday, Nov. 3, 3:30pm. Louden Nelson Community Center, 301 Center St., Santa Cruz.

EDGE OF THE WEST PLAYS THE MUSIC OF GRAM PARSONS Honky tonkin’ jam band Edge of the West plays a special tribute show to their musical hero Gram Parsons. In the wild and wooly ‘70s Gram Parsons was enormously influential in both country and rock music, being one of the first to blend the two to the point that they became indistinguishable from each other. His work with The Byrds, the Flying Burrito Brothers, and his solo records and classic duet singing with his young protege Emmylou Harris have proven to be seminal and lasting influences in the evolution of country, rock, alt-country and Americana. Parsons died of a heroin overdose in 1973 at the age of 27 and was cremated in Joshua Tree National Park as per his last wishes. While not achieving mainstream stardom during his lifetime, Gram’s legend has lived on to inspire millions and the echoes of his sounds are still heard today. As his friend Keith Richards wrote, “This is why we’re talking about him now.” Saturday, Nov. 6, 8pm. Michael’s on Main, 2591 S Main St., Soquel.

OUTDOOR COMEDY CORRALITOS Come join this comedy extravaganza with host Richard Stockton and comedians Keith Lowell Jensen, Vaco! and Jim Joseph with special guest bluesman Preacher Boy. Tickets $15 available at eventbrite.com/e/outdoor-comedy-corralitos-tickets-187925599527. Saturday, Nov. 6, 3pm. El Vaquero Winery, 2901 Freedom Blvd., Watsonville.

WAVES & WILDLIFE 2021 VIRTUAL AWARDS CEREMONY & CELEBRATION Each year Save Our Shores hosts Waves & Wildlife, an amateur photo and video contest, to highlight the beauty and biodiversity of our region’s spectacular marine protected areas while raising awareness about the role they play in safeguarding and regenerating our ocean and climate. We hope you can join us for our November 5th Virtual Awards Ceremony & Celebration to celebrate this year’s winners while learning more about the importance of MPA’s and how our annual Waves & Wildlife Contest helps to raise awareness. RSVP for the celebration at eventbrite.com/e/waves-wildlife-2021-virtual-awards-ceremony-celebration-tickets-168641171283 To learn more and enter your favorite photos and videos, visit saveourshores.org/wavesandwildlife/. Friday, Nov. 5, 9am-noon.

COMMUNITY

COMMUNITY PILATES MAT CLASS Come build strength with us. This very popular in-person community Pilates Mat Class in the big auditorium at Temple Beth El in Aptos is in session once again. Please bring your own mat, small Pilates ball and theraband if you have one. You must be vaccinated for this indoor class. Suggested donation of $10/class is welcome. Thursday, Nov. 4, 10am. Tuesday, Nov. 9, 10am. Temple Beth El, 3055 Porter Gulch Road, Aptos.

CUÉNTAME UN CUENTO Acompáñanos para una hora de cuentos, actividades y canciones en español. Este programa es para niños de 0-8 y sus familias. La hora será miércoles a las 4:30pm. Nos reuniremos en el porche exterior. Cuéntame un Cuento se llevará a cabo en Capitola durante el período de construcción de Live Oak. En caso de mal clima, se cancelará la hora de cuentos. Join us for Spanish Storytime, activities, and music! This program is best suited for kids ages 0-8 and their families. Storytime takes place on Wednesday at 4:30pm. We will meet on the outside porch. Storytime will take place at Capitola during Live Oak’s construction period. In the event of bad weather, storytime will be cancelled. Wednesday, Nov. 3, 4:30pm. Capitola Library A Santa Cruz City County Public Library Branch, 2005 Wharf Road, Capitola.

EDUCATOR MAH MIXER The MAH is very excited to kick off our new MAH Mixer series during LGBTQ history month with a focus on educators. This community event offers educators a chance to meet with local organizations that provide educational programs that uplift and support our LGBTQ+ students and community. This is a free event for participants and includes access to the Queer Santa Cruz exhibit currently on view as well as all other MAH exhibits. Register now as this event will fill fast! This is an indoor masked event. Friday, Nov. 5, 4pm. Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History (MAH), 705 Front St., Santa Cruz.

FELTON TODDLER TIME Join Librarian Julie on our beautiful Felton patio for Toddler Time. Toddler Time is a weekly early literacy program for families with children ages 0-3 years old. Music, movement, stories, fingerplays, rhymes, and songs are a fun way for your child to learn. Let’s play and learn together! Make sure to bring something to sit on. We ask that adults please wear a mask. Repeats weekly. Wednesday, Nov. 3, 11am. Felton Branch Library, 6121 Gushee St., Felton.

GREY BEARS BROWN BAG LINE Grey Bears are looking for help with their brown bag production line on Thursday and Friday mornings. Volunteers will receive breakfast and a bag of food if wanted. Be at the warehouse with a mask and gloves at 7am. Call ahead for more information: 831-479-1055, greybears.org. Thursday, Nov. 4, 7am. California Grey Bears, 2710 Chanticleer Ave., Santa Cruz.

KNITTING AT THE FELTON LIBRARY Join us every Monday afternoon at the Felton Branch for a knitting party. All you need to do is bring some yarn and knitting needles. All ages are welcome. Monday, Nov. 8, 12:30pm. Felton Branch Library (NEW), 6121 Gushee St., Felton.

LA SELVA BEACH PRESCHOOL STORYTIME Join us for a fun interactive storytime. We’ll read books, sing songs and use rhythm and movement. This event is suitable for children ages 3-6 years. There will be an arts and crafts project to take home. This event will be held outside on the back patio. Please bring something to sit on and dress for the weather. Masks will be required. Repeats weekly Tuesday, Nov. 9, 11am. La Selva Beach Branch Library, 316 Estrella Ave., La Selva Beach.

PRESCHOOL STORYTIME IN THE SECRET GARDEN Join us in the Secret Garden in Abbott Square at the MAH for storytime! We’ll share stories, songs and rhymes in a safe environment! This 30-40 minute program is intended for children aged 2-6. Do it yourself craft kits will be provided every week. Every other week we will feature STEM-related stories and concepts. Tuesday, Nov. 9, 11am. Abbott Square, 118 Cooper St., Santa Cruz.

R.E.A.D.: REACH EVERY AMAZING DETAIL R.E.A.D. is one-on-one reading comprehension instruction for readers second-12th grade. Instructors are California credentialed teachers. Sessions are 25 minutes long. By appointment only. Contact SCPL Telephone Information if you have any questions: 831-427-7713. Wednesday, Nov. 3, 3pm. Capitola Library A Santa Cruz City County Public Library Branch, 2005 Wharf Road, Capitola.

R.E.A.D.: REACH EVERY AMAZING DETAIL @ DOWNTOWN R.E.A.D. is one-on-one reading comprehension instruction for readers second-12th grade. Instructors are California credentialed teachers. Sessions are 25 minutes long. By appointment only. Contact SCPL Telephone Information if you have any questions: 831-427-7713. Thursday, Nov. 4, 3pm. Santa Cruz Public Libraries – downtown, 240 Church St., Santa Cruz.

R.E.A.D.: REACH EVERY AMAZING DETAIL @ LA SELVA BEACH R.E.A.D. is one-on-one reading comprehension instruction for readers second-12th grade. Instructors are California credentialed teachers. Sessions are 25 minutes long. By appointment only. Contact SCPL Telephone Information if you have any questions: 831-427-7713. Wednesday, Nov. 3, 3pm. La Selva Beach Branch Library, 316 Estrella Ave., La Selva Beach.

ROCKIN’ POP-UP: THE MOTIONS OF THE OCEANS AND THE ATMOSPHERE What do rocks have to do with the ocean and the atmosphere? Well, quite a lot it turns out! Join the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History for our next Rockin’ Pop-Up where the Geology Gents will simplify the complexities of these important earth systems. About the series: join the Geology Gents, Gavin Piccione and Graham Edwards, for monthly conversations about rocks live on Facebook. Each month we’ll explore a different geologic topic, from Santa Cruz formations to tips for being a more effective rockhound. Note: you do not need to have a Facebook account to be able to watch the program live. Wednesday, Nov. 3, Noon-12:30pm.

SOLIDARITY ECONOMICS: OUR MOVEMENT, OUR ECONOMY Join us for an event with prominent national policy advocates and social movement leaders in conversation with Chris Benner and Manuel Pastor on their forthcoming book “Solidarity Economics: Why Mutuality and Movements Matter.” Register for this free event at: solidarityeconomics.org. Solidarity Economics is an economic frame that recognizes that people are not just individuals, but also members of broader social groups and communities; that people are motivated not just by self-interest, but also by caring for others and a desire for belonging; and that we can and should build our economy not on an embrace of individuality and competition, but rather on a sense of the commons and our shared destiny. This conversation delves deeply into the concept of Solidarity Economics, its meaning and how to enact change that is real in terms of policy and power. It also discusses how we can expand the notion of Solidarity Economics in our movements and how Solidarity Economics can provide a useful framework to change the narrative of OUR economy. Thursday, Nov. 4, 4pm.

WINE & ROSES Community Health Trust is once again hosting its signature annual celebratory event supporting better health and wellbeing for all in Pajaro Valley, Wine & Roses! We are back in-person and celebrating outdoors. There will be plenty of everything we love about the event. Stroll with your glass of wine, beer, or other beverage of choice in the beauty of Paddy Smith Park. Wander through the Fine Arts Hall to bid on fun and exciting auction items. Dance to a lively performance from the versatile and exciting band: The Joint Chiefs! Saturday, Nov. 6, 3-6pm. Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, 2601 E. Lake, Watsonville.

GROUPS

ENTRE NOSOTRAS GRUPO DE APOYO Entre Nosotras support group for Spanish speaking women with a cancer diagnosis. Meets twice monthly. Registration required, please call Entre Nosotras 831-761-3973. Friday, Nov. 5, 6pm. WomenCARE, 2901 Park Ave., Suite A1, Soquel.

FAMILY SANGHA MONTHLY MEDITATION Come help create a family meditation cooperative community! Parents will meet in the main room for about 40 minutes of silent meditation, followed by 10-15 minutes of discussion about life and mindful parenting. Kids will be in a separate volunteer-led room, playing and exploring mindfulness through games and stories. Parents may need to help with the kids for a portion of the hour, depending on volunteer turnout. All ages of children are welcome. Please bring toys to share. Quiet babies are welcome in the parents’ room. Donations (dana) are encouraged; there is no fee for the event. Sunday, Nov. 7, 10:30am-noon. Insight Santa Cruz, 740 Front St. #240, Santa Cruz.

S+LAA MENS’ MEETING Having trouble with compulsive sexual or emotional behavior? Recovery is possible. Our small 12-step group meets Saturday evenings. Enter through the front entrance, go straight down the hallway to the last door on the right. Thursday, Nov. 4, 6pm. Sutter Maternity & Surgery Center, 2900 Chanticleer Ave., Santa Cruz.

WOMENCARE ARM-IN-ARM WomenCARE Arm-in-Arm Cancer support group for women with advanced, recurrent, or metastatic cancer. Meets every Monday, currently on Zoom. Registration is required, call WomenCARE at 831-457-2273. All services are free. For more information visit womencaresantacruz.org. Monday, Nov. 8, 12:30pm. WomenCARE, 2901 Park Ave., Suite A1, Soquel.

WOMENCARE TUESDAY SUPPORT GROUP WomenCARE Tuesday Cancer support group for women newly diagnosed and through their treatment. Meets every Tuesday currently on Zoom. Registration required, call WomenCARE 831-457-2273. Tuesday, Nov. 9, 12:30-2pm. WomenCARE, 2901 Park Ave., Suite A1, Soquel.

WOMENCARE: LAUGHTER YOGA Laughter yoga for women with a cancer diagnosis. Meets every Wednesday, currently via Zoom. Registration is required, please call WomenCARE at 831-457-2273. Wednesday, Nov. 3, 3:30-4:30pm. WomenCARE, 2901 Park Ave., Suite A1, Soquel.

OUTDOOR

CASFS FARMSTAND Organic vegetables, fruit, herbs and flowers are sold weekly at the CASFS Farmstand, starting June 15 and continuing through Nov. 23. Proceeds support experiential education programs at the UCSC Center for Agroecology & Sustainable Food Systems. Friday, Nov. 5, Noon-6pm. Tuesday, Nov. 9, Noon-6pm. Cowell Ranch Historic Hay Barn, Ranch View Road, Santa Cruz.

FREE GUIDED TOUR OF THE UCSC FARM Take a free tour of the 33-acre organic UCSC Farm. Visitors can enjoy touring the organically managed greenhouses, hand-worked garden beds, orchards, row crop fields, and children’s garden, while learning about the history of the site and the basic concepts of organic farming and gardening. Perched on a meadow near the campus entrance, the farm also offers spectacular views of the Monterey Bay. Meet at the Cowell Ranch Hay Barn before walking up to the farm. Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring a hat and/or sunscreen. Visitors should submit a Covid-19 symptom check questionnaire within 24 hours before arriving on campus (visit slugstrong.ucsc.edu/returning-to-campus/checking-for-symptoms/). For more information visit casfs.ucsc.edu. Sunday, Nov. 7, 1-2:30pm. Cowell Ranch Historic Hay Barn, Ranch View Road, Santa Cruz.

HISTORIC RANCH GROUND TOUR 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. The vehicle day-use fee is $10. For more information, call 831-426-0505. Spaces are limited and early pre-registration is recommended. Attendees are required to self-screen for Covid-19 symptoms when pre-registering. Masks and social distancing are also required at all programs.Saturday, Nov. 6, 1-2pm. Sunday, Nov. 7, 1-2pm. Wilder Ranch State Park, 1401 Coast Road, Santa Cruz.

SUNSET BEACH BOWLS Experience the tranquility, peace and calmness as the ocean waves harmonize with the sound of crystal bowls raising vibration and energy levels. Every Tuesday one hour before sunset at Moran Lake Beach. Call 831-333-6736 for more details. Tuesday, Nov. 9, 6:30-7:30pm. Moran Lake Park & Beach, East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz.

Massive Mosaic Project ‘Watsonville Brillante’ Showcases South County

Johanna Miller

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November 3, 2021

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Massive Mosaic Project ‘Watsonville Brillante’ Showcases South County

Kathleen Crocetti had just returned from traveling in Europe when inspiration struck.

Crocetti had already been looking to bring more public art to South Santa Cruz County. But after 10 days of touring Barcelona with her husband Bill Lucas, soaking up the work of Antoni Gaudí, she was more invested than ever.

“I was thinking, I really would like to do a monumental piece,” Crocetti says. “I had lots of small projects scattered downtown. But not one big one.”

Crocetti, a recipient of the Rydell Visual Arts Fellowship Program, formed a plan for what would become Watsonville Brillante: a massive, five-year mosaic project at the Civic Plaza Building in downtown Watsonville.

The project, headed by Crocetti’s nonprofit Community Arts Empowerment (CAE), would span 12,500 square feet on the parking garage, with four large mosaics by one established artist and 185 smaller, horizontal panels of the garage by various local artists. The art would aim to reflect the diverse community of the Pajaro Valley—from its indigenous history through to present day immigrants.

Estimating the project would cost about $1.5 million, Crocetti began looking for donors. The first was Rinaldi Tile & Marble of Pajaro, who agreed to donate their time for installation. Crocetti worked with Susanne Brubeck, a lead project engineer at Rinaldi who runs the estimation department.

“She helped me stop losing money,” Crocetti says. “Prior, we were always making these [mosaics] and losing money. Now we’re breaking even. If it weren’t for [Rinaldi], this project wouldn’t have even gotten off the ground.”

Fireclay Tile of Aromas also came on board, with founder and Chief Ceramicist Paul Burns offering to be the sole tile provider—free of cost. Crocetti’s parents helped as well, becoming her first of six “angel donors” donating $20,000.

Finally, in February 2019, Watsonville Brillante was approved by the City Council. They also approved an agreement allowing Crocetti to lease the Muzzio Park Community Center, now the Muzzio Mosaic Art Center, for $1 a year. In return, she would develop a program to bring students and other volunteers to the center to create mosaics.

Selection Process

Artist Juan Fuentes was selected as the primary artist for Watsonville Brillante. A series of his pieces were released for voting by the community, with the top four being chosen for the vertical slots.

Fuentes, who owns Pajaro Editions studio in San Francisco, usually works in woodblock or linoleum, and admits he was unsure how his work would be transformed into an entirely new medium.

“I did not understand how this could be possible when I was first approached by Kathleen,” he says. “It has been a great opportunity for me to see my prints metamorphosize into something new.”

Fuentes was born in New Mexico before his family moved to Monterey County in the early 1950s. He was raised in Las Lomas, attending public elementary schools and Watsonville High School.

Brillante is Fuentes’ largest public work project. He said he was proud to have it happen in the town he grew up in.

“The many years that my family spent working in those agricultural fields and canneries have given rise to these mosaics,” he says. “I hope that the murals inspire everyone, especially the youth, that they see themselves reflected in the past and present and continue to struggle for a more just society.”

Fuentes called working with Kathleen and the other Muzzio volunteers “inspiring.”

“The few times that I have had the opportunity to visit and work on the mosaic along with other community volunteers and students has been wonderful and humbling,” he says.

Community involvement

Volunteers of all ages have been involved in the fabrication of Watsonville Brillante. High school youth looking to earn community service hours helped with “The Strawberry Picker,” which depicts a Mexican farmworker harvesting berries. The piece was installed in June 2020 after six months of work, plus a couple months of pandemic-related delays.

During the shutdown, volunteers would take shifts at the Muzzio to work on “The Apple Picker,” including eight students who participated in a summer camp at the center.

“In reality … about 16 people in total finished ‘The Apple Picker,’ in the same amount of time that 186 had finished ‘The Strawberry Picker,’” Crocetti says. “It was amazing.”

Such strong student involvement prompted Crocetti and CAE board president George Ow to kickoff a campaign for donors to give $25,000 each to pay youth interns.

“If they’re dedicated, we’ll hire them,” she says. “We now have two paid youth interns. We have funding to do three more. Five per year. We’re really excited to offer that opportunity.”

“Hermanita” was installed in October 2021. It depicts an indigenous woman, and is twice as big as the other pieces. Crocetti said that it took about a year to complete. In addition to center volunteers, Crocetti has created a mobile mosaic station that she takes with her to farmers markets, events and homeless centers.

“A bunch of ‘Hermanita’ was created out in the community,” Crocetti says.

Work has begun on the final mural, “The Flower Grower,” which depicts an Asian-American floral worker, as well as the horizontal sections.

Anyone interested in helping fabricate should visit communityartsempowerment.org/hours.

Musician Kaethe Hostetter’s New Solo Show is Informed by Ethiopian Culture

Aaron Carnes

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November 3, 2021

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Musician Kaethe Hostetter’s New Solo Show is Informed by Ethiopian Culture

For over a decade, local violinist Kaethe Hostetter lived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. While there, she absorbed as much of the music as she could. She did this by meeting—and playing with—several local musicians. On one occasion, she met Asnakech Worku, a national treasure both as a master of the krar (Ethiopian harp) and for her passionate vocals. But she hadn’t sung in 20 years. Worku’s niece, a filmmaker, took Hostetter to meet the famous musician, who was bedridden and chain-smoking. Hostetter played the violin for her.

As Worku lay there, she suddenly sang along to Hostetter’s playing. This is a particularly special memory for Hostetter, which she commemorated with her song “Alemiye.” With just a violin, pedals and looping technology, she created a dark minor key tune—a celebratory musical scale in Ethiopia— and combined a plucking loop to resemble the krar sound, with a hoarse melody on a low string, to resemble Worku’s smoky voice that day.

The song is a mixture of all these different Ethiopian elements, filtered through Hostetter’s lens as a longtime Santa Cruz violinist—a truly unique composition.

“Alemiye” will be featured on her upcoming solo album. Though there is no release date yet, she will be performing songs from the record at her upcoming performance at Indexical’s space at the Tannery Arts Center on Nov. 6^. The show, which she’s calling “GUZO,” will also have a multimedia element with fabric patterns, field recordings, textiles and video she recorded in Addis Ababa.

Her solo violin project began at the onset of the pandemic last year. She returned to Santa Cruz amidst the chaos of Covid for a variety of personal reasons. Before this went down, she had anticipated a big U.S. 2020 tour with her group QWANQWA, which is made up of herself and several virtuosic Ethiopian string players. Since that tour was canceled, and she was suddenly without a band, she threw herself into playing solo tunes at local farmers markets.

“I would have been on tour with my band, so I funneled that energy into a solo project,” Hostetter says.

In Ethiopia, she rarely performed solo gigs. The few times she did, she would play her own renditions of popular Ethiopian tunes as background music. She devoted a lot more time to jamming with other musicians and learning the nuances of the music around here.

But playing a lot of those same songs here in Santa Cruz got a totally different response. A lot of passers-by were mesmerized by the scales and musical styles she’d picked up in Addis Ababa. They’d never heard anything like what she played.

“I tried to keep it as free as possible,” Hostetter says. “It was just improvising in certain styles and adding loops. I didn’t have to create such a sharp form. Just take the elements that I developed and float around using them.”

Before the pandemic, QWANQWA was her life. And while her big tour is rescheduled for 2023, writing and recording a solo album has at least temporarily overtaken her creative focus. As she’s recorded these songs, they’ve also functioned to unpack and process her time in Ethiopia. Some are loosely based on songs she heard once on the radio in Addis Ababa, others take chants, riffs, popular songs, specific techniques and get filtered through her lens as a violinist with a looping pedal. It’s both musically adventurous and emotional as the songs trigger lots of memories for her. The title of her show, “GUZO,” translates to “heavy journey.”

“Every tune has tons of meaning. It’s very layered. There’s techniques of me emulating either the voice or the masenqo —the one string fiddle—but there’s also the way that they layer and group tones, harmonies and stuff,” Hostetter says. “It’s drenched in meaning.”

Kaethe Hostetter performs at 8pm on Saturday, Nov. 6 at Indexical in the Tannery Arts Center, 1050 River St., #119, $18. 831-621-6226.

Letter to the Editor: Master of Sunshine

Letters to the Editor

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November 3, 2021

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Letter to the Editor: Master of Sunshine

Re: “Hitch of the Mountains” (GT, 10/27): The story which tells how Alfred Hitchcock chose Scotts Valley to live, but questions why he did reminds us that in Rich Merrill’s legendary Horticulture class at Cabrillo in the ’80s, he told us that Hitchcock moved to Scotts Valley because “it has more sunny days than any other place in California.”

Sam Earnshaw

Watsonville

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

Letter to the Editor: ‘Special Ballot Measure’ Not So Special

Letters to the Editor

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November 3, 2021

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Letter to the Editor: ‘Special Ballot Measure’ Not So Special

Re: “Puff, Puff, Pass” (GT, Oct 27): Thanks to the Good Times for shining journalistic light onto the darkness of the Santa Cruz City Council majority’s decision-making. Thank you for exposing the “$141,804-$177,255” cost of an election that does not have to be. The taxpayers are getting bamboozled once again and who is to blame?

This past month we all received a long and mostly blank ballot, except for that one question: should 20% of the Cannabis tax that is collected be set aside permanently for children’s programs? Who could be opposed to that? Frankly, very few in this community. As a member of the city council, I supported the original 12.5% set-aside and would support 20% now, but why a “special ballot measure” to make the tax permanent? Because there’s political king- and queen-making afoot.

Wasting up to $177k of taxpayer funds for a measure that could just as easily have been added to next year’s June primary or to the Nov. 2022 regular election is a costly rookie mistake. City Councilmember Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson is running for 3rd District supervisor and needs something for her political resume. She could’ve stopped this “special election ballot” because it was not an emergency. Arguably, the 1/2 cent sales tax measure referenced in the article was needed, but a cold-hearted council majority refused Councilmember Sandy Brown’s entreaty that city leaders first demonstrate a commitment to spending the new revenues responsibly, to address the low pay of frontline city workers, as well as homelessness response and affordable housing. That was mistake number two by Kalantari-Johnson, who expects the supervisor nod from city voters while padding her political resume with manufactured issues like passing this tax now. The council this year could have, and would have, voted for the 20% to go to children’s programming and placed the measure before voters next November. It’s just that the supervisor election comes in March. Thank you Good Times, for exposing this $170k politically manufactured tax-payer campaign contribution. Given this smoke and mirrors ballot placement, let the voters decide now, and in June.

Chris Krohn

Santa Cruz

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

Opinion: Revisiting Past GT Cover Subjects

GT Staff

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November 3, 2021

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Opinion: Revisiting Past GT Cover Subjects

EDITOR’S NOTE

This week is all about revisiting issues that have graced the covers of Good Times past. First, there’s Jacob Pierce’s cover story about the 10th anniversary of the Gibbs Report. If you’re like, “The what now?,” well, maybe you don’t exactly remember the 2011 report by retail consultant Bob Gibbs—but if you’ve lived in Santa Cruz for a while, you are certainly familiar with the debate it sparked over this city’s future. His suggestion that Pacific Avenue should be redesigned for two-way traffic through all of downtown was probably the best-known (and for a lot of locals, the most hated) recommendation. But more significantly, his general thesis that attracting shoppers’ car traffic was more important than holding on to Santa Cruz’s legacy of a pedestrian mall—and definitely more important than moving toward more bike-friendly streets—became the impetus for a big pushback against a car-focused downtown. The cover story explores that history, and where we might go from here. (Personally, I wonder what would have happened when the pandemic hit, if the city had followed Gibbs’ recommendations. Would restaurants even have had the space for the parklets that basically saved our dining scene?)

Also in this issue is a follow-up on our former cover-story subject Kaethe Hostetter, who last time we wrote about her had returned to Santa Cruz from Ethiopia, after the pandemic wrecked her plans for a world tour with her ensemble QWANQWA. Now, Aaron Carnes catches up with her as she performs a multimedia solo show at the Tannery.

Finally, I want to mention a Veteran’s Day show this week featuring Keith Greeninger, who I wrote about for a cover story last year. We all know Keith does amazing work in this community, but in my 2020 article I mentioned his song “22 Angels,” which was just about to be released on his new album at the time. That song, about the epidemic of suicide among veterans and active-duty men and women in the U.S. armed services, has struck a chord in a huge way with families across the country, and it may be the most important song he’s ever written. He’ll be playing it when he performs on Sunday, Nov. 7, at the “Felton Still Remembers” event at Hallcrest Vineyards from 11am-4:30pm. The Joint Chiefs, One Country and Michael Gaither also perform. Tickets are $37.50, go to hallcrestvineyards.com.

STEVE PALOPOLI | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

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Four local agencies have teamed up to buy Watsonville Community Hospital, in an attempt to make healthcare services more affordable. The agencies formed the Pajaro Valley Healthcare District Project (PVHDP), which would also establish a healthcare district. These districts are public entities with the goal of providing more and theoretically better healthcare services, and are run by a locally elected Board of Trustees. PVHDP is considering taking this idea to voters as a ballot initiative—time will tell what voters think.

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Last week, the city of Santa Cruz announced that it received $22.6 million from the state, money that will go towards finishing its new affordable housing project at the Pacific Station South. The project will include 70 new units, available to households making 30 to 60 percent of the median income. It will also have an onsite low-income medical and dental clinic. The project has been in the making for nearly two decades, and is expected to be ready for leasing in 2024.

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