Page 346 – Good Times

New Program Aims to Bring Students Back to Cabrillo

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October 29, 2021

New Program Aims to Bring Students Back to Cabrillo

WATSONVILLE—Cabrillo College’s Watsonville Center has started up a new program that aims to welcome back and support students who left the school during the pandemic.

Ganas is a two-semester program encouraging previous students, especially those in South County, to return and resume their studies. Students receive counseling, mentoring, grants for textbooks, tutoring, workshops and more.

“A lot of people dropped out of college in March 2020,” said Sarah Hulick, Project Manager for Ganas and adjunct faculty member for the Horticulture Department. “All of a sudden, all their classes went online, overnight. They might not have had WiFi, or maybe their families got sick. People’s lives were just so upheaved.”

This was the case for student Aryanna Mendoza.

“Online classes were really difficult for me, when the pandemic first happened,” she said. “So I left school for a while.”

Mendoza first learned about Ganas at The Patio, an outdoor tutoring and support hub at the Watsonville Center. She had just returned to the school but was having trouble finding her footing.

“I needed help,” she said. “I was asking questions, and they brought up the program to me. It sounded really interesting.”

Ganas supplies students with Covid Emergency Cash Grants (based on how many units they take), Financial Aid counseling, academic counselors who can set up personalized education plans, tutoring and job/career services, workshops and more.

They also hold events, both online and in-person. Last month, current Dean of the Watsonville Center Eduardo Cervantes gave a presentation to students about his own academic journey. On Tuesday, Ganas hosted Transfer Chats, a virtual discussion meant to help students and their families learn about the process of transferring to four-year universities.

“We had a really good turnout,” said Karla Ramirez-Sorto, Ganas’ program specialist. “Students were interacting, asking a lot of questions. It was great.”

Cervantes thought of Ganas years before the pandemic. But the program was not able to get off the ground until the school received grant dollars from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund, which was part of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act in early 2021.

“Eduardo had a dream in mind,” Hulick said. “But he didn’t have the funding. When those grant dollars came in, he saw an opportunity. It’s one of those awesome things that came out of a really bad thing. A ‘Covid silver lining.’”

Ramirez-Sorto is a Cabrillo and CSUMB alum who herself experienced what it was like to leave and reenter school. At Ganas, she acts as a recruiter and mentor to help connect students with resources both on and off campus.

“I literally went through this, so I can empathize with them with everything going on,” she said.

Ganas is open to anyone who has been out of Cabrillo for the past 1-3 semesters due to the pandemic.

“It’s never too late to come back,” said Ramirez-Sorto. “And the thing is, we don’t just want to get them back in, but support them throughout the semester. We’re not just an entry program.”

As for Mendoza, she said she is planning to finish prerequisites at Cabrillo and then transfer to another school to become a veterinary technician.

“Everyone at Ganas is truly amazing, and if anyone has the opportunity to try out this program, I’d say jump on it,” she said.

Anyone interested should fill out an interest form online. You can also email Hulick at sa******@ca******.edu, or Ramirez-Sorto at ka******@ca******.edu, or schedule a time to meet in person.

City Council Advances Proposed RV Parking Restrictions

Aiyana Moya

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October 29, 2021

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City Council Advances Proposed RV Parking Restrictions

The Santa Cruz City Council at its Tuesday meeting advanced a proposed law that would make it more difficult for residents living in recreational vehicles (RVs) to find a place to park overnight.

It’s a move that supporters hope will remedy the issues residents have brought forward related to the estimated 65 RVs that line the streets on the lower Westside. Opponents say it will only penalize the people living in vehicles, and exacerbate the homeless crisis in Santa Cruz.

The proposed law would prohibit overnight parking for oversized vehicles on city streets unless the vehicle has a permit to be there. Residents could apply for a permit to have an oversized vehicle parked in front of their house for a few days a month. Unpermitted vehicles could be subject to fines and potentially towing.

The City Council reported receiving more than 400 emails regarding the law, and around a few dozen people called into Tuesday’s meeting. The number of callers in favor and those opposing the law were relatively even.

According to the proposal, since January of this year, there have been 15 emergency calls related to oversized vehicles, with seven of those calls related to fire and/or gas leakage. The sewage waste discharged from these RVs and onto streets is another concern cited by the proposal. One caller also mentioned feeling unsafe walking down the streets lined with RVs with his young child.

Council members Justin Cummings and Sandy Brown voted against moving the proposal forward, citing high costs to implement the initiative and the potential for the ordinance to target people experiencing homelessness with fines.

According to the staff report, the cost of a law like this could range between $150,000-500,000, depending on how robust a program the city chooses—precious funds that the city is in need of given the budget deficit, according to Cummings.

Vice Mayor Sonja Brunner, who brought the item forward at a meeting earlier this year, clarified that if someone living in an RV is participating in a safe parking program, or another local shelter program, they will not be subject to violations. But Brown said the framework to conduct a program like this is lacking and could leave people experiencing homelessness vulnerable to infractions.

“I don’t believe that simply writing an ordinance with all kinds of open-ended questions about whether or not it can even be operationalized resources, I don’t believe that’s [an] action towards addressing concerns around these RVs,” Brown said.

Those council members who voted in favor of the proposal cited concerns from residents and the need for the council to make progress on the dire homeless situation as their reasoning.

“It’s a way to get resources to Santa Cruz,” said Mayor Donna Meyers. “Our voters want us to fix this problem. They don’t want to hear us start just keep talking, talking, talking.”

By taking action, the council can demonstrate the need for more state and federal funding that can be funneled to the program and other homeless programs, Meyers said.

“Our city is probably the most impacted city of its size in the state of California, if not in most of the western states,” Meyers said. “We have to stop pointing at each other and we have to resource what we have to address homelessness, which is an extreme issue in this city.”

The city also gave a target date for offering in-person options for city council meetings. By the second meeting in November, the city hopes to have a hybrid model in place, so those interested can have the option to attend the meeting in person in addition to virtually.

Watsonville City Manager Selected to Lead Santa Cruz

Uncategorized

Tony Nuñez

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October 28, 2021

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Watsonville City Manager Selected to Lead Santa Cruz

Matt Huffaker will leave his position as Watsonville City Manager for the same job in Santa Cruz, Watsonville city leaders confirmed with the Pajaronian Thursday afternoon.

The Santa Cruz City Council, in a press release, said it made a unanimous recommendation for Huffaker to take over as the city’s top official. It will vote on the appointment at its Nov. 9 meeting. If approved, he would start on Jan. 3, 2022.

The final details of his employment agreement will be released in advance of that meeting, according to city spokeswoman Elizabeth Smith.

Huffaker did not immediately return a call seeking comment Thursday. In a press release, he said that he was “humbled” and ready for the opportunity.

“I think my local experience and established regional partnerships will allow me to hit the ground running,” Huffaker said in the release. “I’m ready to get to work.”

Watsonville Assistant City Manager Tamara Vides said that the Watsonville City Council will meet in the near future to discuss transition plans. It is unclear when that will happen.

Watsonville Mayor Jimmy Dutra said Thursday that while he’s saddened to hear that Huffaker is leaving, he was ultimately happy for the outgoing leader.

“Matt is young, ambitious and he is in control of his own future,” Dutra said. “If this is his choice for his future, I’m happy for him.”

First hired as assistant city manager in 2016, Huffaker has been Watsonville’s lead official since being appointed to the position in 2018.

In that short amount of time, Huffaker has done many good things for the small agricultural hub, says Dutra. That includes, among other things, increasing revenues and stabilizing the city’s finances, advocating for the funding of a $22 million renovation of Ramsay Park and working to bring other funding to help Watsonville recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.

“A lot has happened since Matt has been here … his stamp is going to be on several aspects of the city,” he said. “This makes me really sad, but I’m grateful for what he has done for our city.”

Santa Cruz Mayor Donna Meyers said Huffaker’s success in Watsonville was a big reason why they selected him over two other candidates. She said his ability to balance Watsonville’s finances, and his recent work with the Ad-Hoc Committee on Policing and Social Equity made him the clear choice to lead Santa Cruz through a slew of challenges in the near future.

“[The police committee] was something that really stuck out for us,” Meyers said. “One of the things our community tells us is that they really want a city manager that they can engage with and who is responsive. Matt seems really supportive of that idea of a city manager being involved in the community.”

Along with its issues in dealing with homelessness and affordable housing, Santa Cruz is also in the midst of hiring its new police chief and fire chief, as well as a new finance director that will try to help the city weave its way through the projected pandemic-related recession and the budget crisis.

“[Huffaker] was ready for a bigger challenge and Santa Cruz is definitely a bigger challenge,” Meyers said.

If appointed, Huffaker would step into a position vacated by Martín Bernal, who announced his retirement in February. He officially left the position at the end of July after 24 years of service with the city of Santa Cruz and more than 30 years in public service.

Huffaker’s departure puts Watsonville’s leadership in flux heading into a year that could see mass turnover in its elected leaders. Four city council members will either be up for reelection or will have to vacate their seats because they will term out, and another seat will be determined in a special election on Dec. 7.

In addition, the 4th District Supervisorial seat currently held by Greg Caput will head to the polls next year.

Watsonville is also actively looking for a police chief after the retirement of David Honda earlier this year.

Huffaker, who received a five-year contract extension from the Watsonville City Council earlier this year, earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego and graduated with a master’s degree in public administration from California State University East Bay.

Before being hired in Watsonville, Huffaker, a native of Oakley in Northern California, said he has been involved in local government for 15 years and city administration for seven years.

Specialty Coffee Shop Joins Watsonville Hangar Complex

Johanna Miller

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October 28, 2021

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Specialty Coffee Shop Joins Watsonville Hangar Complex

WATSONVILLE—A new coffee shop has opened on Aviation Way, rounding out the Watsonville Hangar business complex that has been growing steadily the past couple of years.

Honeylux Coffee is a specialty coffeehouse offering its own signature blend of java, as well as espresso drinks, teas, pastries and more.

Married couple Ashley Malone and Travis Nelson had just lost their jobs due to the pandemic when they began exploring new career paths.

“I think a lot of people went through this,” Malone said. “Asking, ‘Is this the time to change course, find a new career? What do we really want to do?’”

Nelson’s father, knowing his son’s passion for coffee, was the one who planted the seed of the idea. He had heard there was space at the Hangar and that the owners wanted it to be filled with a coffee shop, so he encouraged the young couple.

“We were hesitant at first,” Malone said. “It seemed like a really bold move. We didn’t have any idea what we were doing. But the more we talked about it, and actually came to look at the space … the vision came to life.”

Nelson had gained knowledge and experience in the field working at a restaurant in Florida, where he and Malone attended college together, and then at Verve Coffee Roasters in Capitola when they moved back to California.

“[Verve] is where I really got into specialty coffee,” Nelson said. “I learned a lot, working there.”

Honeylux sources its coffee from Santa Cruz roaster 11th Hour. Malone knew owner Brayden Estby, who had started up the venture with his brother Joel, from middle school. Together they created a signature Honeylux coffee, made from a blend of Columbia and Guatemalan beans.

“It’s a 50/50 blend,” Nelson said. “The Costa Rican is a bit lighter, floral and fruity. The Guatemalan is more traditional. When you put them together it creates a really nice balanced coffee. It’s something traditional and specialty coffee drinkers alike can enjoy.”

Honeylux is located at the end of the Watsonville Hangar complex, which also includes Beer Mule, Zameen at the Hangar, Mr. Z’s Crepes and Teas, Aloha Hola and Ritual Ride Cycle Studio. Malone said they have been welcomed with open arms by the burgeoning hub.

“We have to give credit to the people who have been here in this space before us, [they] made it what it is,” she said. “This has already cultivated such a great community. For us to be part of that, and the fact that everybody’s been so welcoming, [they] embraced us … We, hopefully, can build on that rapport with everyone, and keep building onto that community, that trust.”

Nelson said they wanted to bring “a different type” of coffee shop to Watsonville, where people can have an experience beyond just picking up a cup on the go.

“You want to be excited about the place you’re in,” Nelson said. “A place you want to stay and hang out.”

As for its name, Malone says they were looking for something “ethereal” and unique. Both ‘Honey’ and ‘Lux’ were potential names, before they chose to just put them together.

“‘Lux’ means ‘light in Latin.’ So basically it means ‘sweet light,’” Malone said. “The color and feel of that … it just ties into everything.”

Added Nelson: “I thought it would be a good idea to have something that no one else had. We could stand out a bit more.”

Honeylux Coffee, 45 Aviation Way Ste. 4B, officially opened on Oct. 15 with a special Grand Opening celebration. The shop has been attracting more customers each day, Malone said, many who have heard about it by word of mouth.

“I want people to come and enjoy themselves, let this be a place of meeting and celebrating,” Malone said. “We’ve already had so many people who have brought back their friends and family.”

Nelson said he was excited to further specialty coffee in Watsonville.

“A lot of people grab a coffee and say ‘Oh this is good! It tastes so different!’” he said. “That’s really cool to hear.”

For regular updates follow Honeylux on Instagram @honeyluxcoffee.

Many Americans Say They Believe in Ghosts. Do You?

The New York Times and GT Staff

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October 28, 2021

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Many Americans Say They Believe in Ghosts. Do You?

By Anna P. Kambhampaty, The New York Times

There are a number of different ways to quantify belief among Americans in so-called paranormal phenomena. One way is to ask a selection of people representative of the population if they believe in ghosts. In a 2019 Ipsos poll, 46% of respondents said they did.

Another is to ask what they fear. This year, according to the Chapman University Survey of American Fears, about 9% of 1,035 adults surveyed said they feared ghosts, and the same amount said they feared zombies; many more people said they were afraid of government corruption, the coronavirus or widespread civil unrest.

The last time Gallup surveyed people about ghosts, in 2005, 32% of respondents said they believed in “ghosts or that spirits of dead people can come back in certain places and situations.” When Gallup asked the same question in 1990, the result was 25%.

Such beliefs have pervaded U.S. culture and media for centuries. But some researchers are now studying whether their rise may be tied, in part, to the rise over the past few decades of Americans claiming no religious preference.

“People are looking to other things or nontraditional things to answer life’s big questions that don’t necessarily include religion,” said Thomas Mowen, a sociologist at Bowling Green State University.

For a continuing study on religion and paranormal belief, for example, Mowen said he was finding that “atheists tend to report higher belief in the paranormal than religious folk.”

‘This Supernatural Interest’

Last year, the share of Americans who belong to religious congregations fell below 50% for the first time in more than 80 years, according to a Gallup poll released in March. And the percentage of people claiming no religion nearly tripled from 1978 to 2018, according to the General Social Survey.

Still, even as religious frameworks for thinking about the meaning of life and death have become less popular in the United States, the big existential questions inevitably remain.

The General Social Survey found that as religious affiliation declined over four decades, belief in the afterlife remained relatively steady: In 1978, about 70% of those surveyed believed in the afterlife, and about 74% reported the same in 2018.

As Joseph Baker, co-author of the book “American Secularism: Cultural Contours of Nonreligious Belief Systems,” put it: “People are outside of organized religions, but they still have this supernatural interest.”

Paranormal television, film and media of all sorts also play a significant role in the perpetuation of belief in the supernatural. Sharon Hill, author of the 2017 book “Scientifical Americans: The Culture of Amateur Paranormal Researchers,” sees the rise of nonfiction paranormal television shows like Syfy’s “Ghost Hunters” — which averaged about 3 million viewers per episode at its peak — as particularly influential in the culture.

“Ghost Hunters,” which premiered in 2004 and originally ran for 11 seasons, portrayed the search for paranormal activity as a discipline. “They had gadgets, they talked in jargon, it sounded professional,” Hill said. “It was convincing to the person at home that this was a serious thing going on in the world.”

And then, Hill said, “because of the rise of the interest in the paranormal, it was really, really easy for these tabloids to pick up cheap stories of people saying that they have demons in their house or they’ve seen a ghost or they got something creepy on their video cam.”

The internet allowed for people across the globe to connect with each other over paranormal interests, Hill added. Reddit became a popular forum to discuss unexplainable mysteries, such as an eerie experience at a rest stop or claims of a demonic run-in at a hospital unit. The site added a new element to these stories by making them interactive, with readers going back and forth in the comments, joining and adding to the narrative themselves.

Pandemic-Fueled Paranormal

Some paranormal investigation groups in the United States say they have received more requests than usual during the pandemic.

Don Collins, a director at Fringe Paranormal, a group in Toledo, Ohio, that investigates claims of unexplained happenings, said his team has been contacted for residential investigations or information on a weekly basis this year, as opposed to the typical one or two requests per month they got before the pandemic.

“I think part of it is that since a lot of people are at home due to COVID, if there is something paranormal going on, they’re actually home to notice it,” Collins said.

“People try to explain things happening through paranormal means when they can’t find an explanation for things that are going on,” he continued. “Negative things are happening around them, they may tend to attribute it to paranormal activity.”

Baker put it another way. “Religion and supernatural belief tend to go up in times of what we would call existential crisis or more existential perils,” he said.

“The increased suffering and death” caused by the pandemic means that people are “more likely to have experiences with death recently,” he said. “That may bring up these sorts of issues of wondering about spirits of loved ones.”

Believing in the supernatural can even be a source of solace. Emily Midorikawa, a biographer of Victorian-era women, provided a historical parallel. “There was certainly a real spike in people who sought the services of mediums, sought comfort in spiritualism about the time of the American Civil War,” she said.

Then as now, the paranormal was fodder for connection. In the Victorian era, seances were gathering places where social structures were less rigid, Midorikawa said.

“It wasn’t unusual, for instance, to have a female medium leading a seance, talking to groups of men and women,” she said. “There was an appeal to women who just went to seances as participants, perhaps it was a chance to get out and mix with people in that setting that was a little bit unusual — and one where perhaps there was a little bit more freedom.”

Today, believing in some form of the paranormal may represent freedom in another way, perhaps as an avenue to conceptualize other possibilities. After all, there are plenty of everyday mysteries we simply accept as part of modern life.

“A belief in the paranormal maybe doesn’t seem as much of a stretch,” Midorikawa said, “when we think about all the things we’re interacting with all the time that might as well be a kind of magic for all the understanding we have of them.”

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.

Youth Activists Plan Climate Strike

Erin Malsbury

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October 28, 2021

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Flyers? Check. Safety guards? Check. Sound systems? Maybe one or two more bullhorns … Speeches? In progress. Signs and banners? Route maps? Permits? Radio announcements? Conversations with school administrators?

On Sunday, a group of about 10 local activists met at a coffee shop downtown to review final logistics for an upcoming climate strike. Tamarah Minami, a sophomore at Santa Cruz High School and organizer for Youth for Climate Justice, led the group through the agenda.

They discussed where to walk, safety, funding, outreach and details of the event down to what music to play. The organizers have met weekly for more than a month to plan a walk-out scheduled for Friday, Oct. 29. On that day, groups around the country will strike in support of the organization Fossil Free Futures’ day of action.

Getting the word out has proven extra challenging this year. The recent rain delayed putting up flyers, and virtual lectures prevent speakers from showing up to talk with students before or after classes. One UCSC student suggested putting flyers up in bathroom stalls. “It’s a great way to get a captive audience,” she chuckled.

Despite the challenges, the young organizers feel optimistic about the turnout. They plan to lead students from UCSC and seven local middle and high schools to the Wells Fargo bank and the farmers’ market downtown. In addition to signs and banners, the protesters will have speakers, music and an open mic.

They want to draw attention to a list of six local demands:

1. The City and County of Santa Cruz implements a plan to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2030.

2. The City of Santa Cruz stops subsidizing automobile emissions by discontinuing plans to use public land and money to build a large parking garage on the site of the Farmer’s Market.
3. The California Teachers Union divests retirement funds from fossil fuels.
4. Santa Cruz City Schools implements a Greenhouse Gas inventory and Climate Action plan
5. Local Schools and Universities mandate climate curriculum at all grade levels.
6. UCSC adopts the UC Green New Deal put forward by the UC GND Coalition

“I’m really excited that we have these concrete demands,” says Minami. “This is a chance for us to actually get some of those done.”

Things To Do in Santa Cruz: Oct. 27-Nov. 2

GT Staff

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October 27, 2021

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Things To Do in Santa Cruz: Oct. 27-Nov. 2

A weekly guide to what’s happening.

ARTS AND MUSIC

PAULA POUNDSTONE Paula Poundstone is one of our country’s preeminent comedians, known for her smart, observational humor and spontaneous wit that has become the stuff of legend. She tours regularly performing over 85 shows a year. Friday, Oct. 29, 8pm. Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Ave., 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, Oct. 27, 3:30pm. London Nelson Community Center, 301 Center St., Santa Cruz.

FOOD TRUCK FRIDAY – HALLOWEEN STYLE It’s our annual Halloween Food Truck Friday! Everyone dressed in a costume gets a treat from the food trucks! Cringe is performing live and is flying band members in for this spooktacular Halloween Food Truck Friday! SVEF is hosting the fa-boo-lous Beer & Wine Garden filled with local brews from Steel Bonnet—a great way to support our schools! Check out this boo-tiful food truck line-up: Pana, Saucey’z, Taquizas Gabriel, Scrumptious Fish & Chips, Aunt LaLi’s. You might even find some sandwitches, booritos, horrors d’oeuvres & terrormisu on the menu tonight…bone appetit & we’ll see you there!. Friday, Oct. 29, 4:30-7:30pm. Skypark, 361 Kings Village Road, Scotts Valley.

COMMUNITY

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, Oct. 27, 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, Oct. 28, 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. 1, 12:30pm. Felton Branch Library, 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. 2, 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. 2, 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, Oct. 27, 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, Oct. 28, 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, Oct. 27, 3pm. La Selva Beach Branch Library, 316 Estrella Ave., La Selva Beach.

GROUPS

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, Oct. 28, 10am. Tuesday, Nov. 2, 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, Oct. 27, 4:30pm. Capitola Library A Santa Cruz City County Public Library Branch, 2005 Wharf Road, Capitola.

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, Oct. 29, 6pm. WomenCARE, 2901 Park Ave., Suite A1, Soquel.

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, Oct. 28, 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. 1, 12:30pm.

WOMENCARE MEDITATION GROUP WomenCARE’s meditation group for women with a cancer diagnosis meets the first and third Friday from 11am-noon. For more information and location call 831-457-2273. Monday, Nov. 1, 11am-noon.

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. 2, 12:30-2pm.

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, Oct. 27, 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, Oct. 29, Noon-6pm. Tuesday, Nov. 2, Noon-6pm. Cowell Ranch Historic Hay Barn, Ranch View Road, Santa Cruz.

FREE TUESDAY AT UCSC ARBORETUM Community Day at the UCSC Arboretum, free admission on the first Tuesday of every month 9am-5pm. Come explore the biodiversity of our gardens, great birdwatching or simply come relax on a bench in the shade. Tuesday, Nov. 2, 9am. UCSC Arboretum & Botanic Garden, 1156 High St., 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, Oct. 30, 1-2pm. Sunday, Oct. 31, 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. 2, 6:30-7:30pm. Moran Lake Park & Beach, East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz.

YOU PICK ROSES We are growing over 300 roses, deeply fragrant, lush and in every color, and we want to share them with you! Get out of the house and enjoy cutting a bucket of roses for your pleasure or to share with family and friends. Visit birdsongorchards.com to make a reservation. Once you have made a purchase, you will be sent a calendar link to pick a time for your reservation and directions to our farm in Watsonville. Friday, Oct. 29, 11am. Sunday, Oct. 31, 11am.

AJ Lee and Blue Summit Unleash a Cornucopia of Bluegrass, Folk, Jazz and Rock

Aaron Carnes

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October 27, 2021

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AJ Lee and Blue Summit Unleash a Cornucopia of Bluegrass, Folk, Jazz and Rock

AJ Lee has been writing and performing music since she was a kid. Steeped in bluegrass, she’d always had a particular fondness for acoustic music.

By the time she assembled AJ Lee and Blue Summit in 2015, which was based out of Santa Cruz at the time, she and her band were broadening their influences to also include blues, folk-rock, soul and jazz. Their 2019 debut album Like I Used To showcases this, and even incorporates some rock instrumentation not part of the live band.

“We didn’t have a full-time fiddle player. We had some electric guitar on a few tracks. We were thinking maybe we could add electric guitar to live shows. Maybe we could have a drummer part-time,” Lee says. “I still really like the old album. It’s just such a different sound.”

With the members now spread out all over the Bay Area, the group is releasing its sophomore album I’ll Come Back, which they’ll showcase at Felton Music Hall on Saturday, Oct. 30. While it is experimental in parts, the new record is very much a return to Lee’s acoustic, bluegrass roots. Many of its songs were written by Lee back when she was 15 years old, and have never been released.

Fiddle player Jan Purat accompanied the band on one song for Like I Used To, and joined the band full time shortly after.

“When Jan joined the band, it was like a no-brainer. We should do what we do best, which is acoustic music. We’ve all been playing it for years,” Lee says. “With the fiddle, not saying it pinpoints to one genre over another, but it was just like, ‘This feels right. We should do this more.’”

Having the bluegrass elements more prominently on display has brought out the improvisational elements of the group.

“It’s always fun playing these songs, especially when you play them as much as we do on tour. Sometimes maybe 10 days in a row you’ll be playing the same song, but it’s always fun to play because of the bluegrass influence. We like improvising and freshening things up, making it interesting not just for the audience, but for ourselves as well,” Lee says.

Going into 2020, the group had momentum as a touring act until the pandemic hit. They stayed engaged with their fanbase by doing virtual “Sofa Sessions” concerts. And the audience they built online seems to have translated to the post-Covid touring world—on a recent East Coast tour, they sold out several shows.

“With the livestreams, me, Sully and Jesse, almost every Sunday or Monday would stream about an hour, just kind of jamming. Going through a bluegrass jam book and interacting with fans,” Lee says. “We’re really happy that we have lots of dedicated fans all over.”

When they got together in January to track I’ll Come Back, the challenge was to make sure they could pull off everything on the album live. For instance, the title track opens with a weird looping, almost psychedelic sound effect, which blends nicely with the roots elements of the song—and it can be done at their shows.

“We’re trying to experiment with the limits of what we can do with our acoustic instruments,” Lee says. “I think it gives the acoustic sound a cooler feel. The thing that we’re doing with the new album is a true organic sound, so if you listen to the album, you know you’re going to get basically the same thing at the live show.”

AJ Lee and Blue Summit performs at 8pm on Saturday, Oct 30 at Felton Music Hall, 6275 Highway 9, Felton, $20. 831-704-7113.

Letter to the Editor: Hooray for the Symphony

Letters to the Editor

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October 27, 2021

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Letter to the Editor: Hooray for the Symphony

Re: “Climbing Back” (GT, 9/1): Bravo, bravo, bravo to Daniel Stewart and the amazing return of the Symphony! Especially bravo to the women who gifted me a ticket in the Orchestra section. My heart is full, and I truly feel like the richest person in all of Santa Cruz! Thank you, thank you, thank you for your gracious and beautiful gift!

Debbie Morton

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.

Letter to the Editor: Santa Cruz Parody

Letters to the Editor

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October 27, 2021

1

There could not be a better (or worse) parody of Santa Cruz then what I witnessed last week while dropping my kids off at school:

With climate change, fires, drought, a global pandemic and Republican-led voter suppression closing in, a white man with a clipboard stands outside a Santa Cruz elementary school explaining to a group of white parents that the South county Latino population won’t use the trains in the future, and that we need to stop trains from coming to Santa Cruz County.

Isn’t there something more important to fight for in these hard times than trying to stop a train?

Jacob Sackin

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.

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ARTS AND MUSIC

COMMUNITY

GROUPS

OUTDOOR

AJ Lee and Blue Summit Unleash a Cornucopia of Bluegrass, Folk, Jazz and Rock

Letter to the Editor: Hooray for the Symphony

Letter to the Editor: Santa Cruz Parody

New Program Aims to Bring Students Back to Cabrillo

City Council Advances Proposed RV Parking Restrictions

Watsonville City Manager Selected to Lead Santa Cruz

Specialty Coffee Shop Joins Watsonville Hangar Complex

Many Americans Say They Believe in Ghosts. Do You?

Youth Activists Plan Climate Strike

Things To Do in Santa Cruz: Oct. 27-Nov. 2

AJ Lee and Blue Summit Unleash a Cornucopia of Bluegrass, Folk, Jazz and Rock

Letter to the Editor: Hooray for the Symphony

Letter to the Editor: Santa Cruz Parody