Educator at Heart of SLVUSD Allegations Resigns

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Educator at Heart of SLVUSD Allegations Resigns

During a closed session meeting on Tuesday, the San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District agreed to let one of the educators being investigated for sexual misconduct—Teacher 178—resign.

Mark Becker, the SLVUSD Board Clerk, made a motion that was seconded by Trustee Grace Pollak to accept high school social studies teacher Eric Kahl’s resignation. It passed unanimously, 5-0.

“This was a mutually acceptable separation agreement,” SLVUSD Superintendent Chris Schiermeyer told the Press Banner in a statement. “We look forward to getting this resolved and moving forward.”

Schiermeyer declined to say which of the two teachers who’d been placed on leave, William Winkler or Kahl, resigned and he forwarded this publication to the public records request process.

Under the Resignation and General Release Agreement, uncovered by the Press Banner through the freedom-of-information process, Kahl promised not to sue the district in exchange for being allowed to quit of his own accord.

His employment term ends Oct. 15 and his health benefits are to be paid through Oct. 31.

The district, under previous superintendent Laurie Bruton, confirmed both Winkler and Kahl were removed from teaching and placed on administrative leave, in an April 1 letter.

“The parties desire to avoid the time, expense and risk involved with any administrative proceedings and potential litigation, and further desire to settle, once and forever, all disputes arising out of, related to, or in any manner connected with Kahl’s employment with the district,” states the agreement, which was signed Sept. 14 by Kahl, Schiermeyer and Joe Cisneros, the lawyer for Monterey-based Biegel Law Firm representing both teachers who’ve been under investigation, as well as Brian Bock of Southern California firm Bock Law Group.

SLVUSD also specified that if it’s ever asked for a work reference, it must say its policy is to disclose only Kahl’s dates of employment, salary and positions held.

In May, the board voted to part ways with former high school principal and administrator Ned Hearn, who is currently a defendant in a Solano County childhood sex abuse lawsuit involving a former student.

In July, a former middle and high school teacher in the district, Michael Henderson, received six months of home confinement for abusing a 10-year-old girl during private after-school lessons in Felton. Under the terms of a deal, he pled guilty to assault with great bodily injury, but won’t have to register as a sex offender. He is still a free man until Sept. 30, when he must report to start his sentence at home in Washington State.

Accusations of sexual abuse and harassment against several current and past SLVUSD teachers were shared through anonymous social media posts, and in reports made directly to the district.

Leann Anderson, a former SLVUSD student who claims Kahl sexually harassed her, shared screenshots with the Press Banner of a conversation she says she had on graduation day with Kahl while she was a minor. The screenshots show a conversation in which illegal drug use is discussed.

Investigators have been working over the past several months to get to the bottom of the stories.

When informed of Kahl’s voluntary departure by the Press Banner, Anderson said it would take her some time to process its significance.

“The fact that he quit made it more confusing,” she said. “I’m more shocked that it took him this long to step down.”

SLVUSD Board President Gail Levine declined to comment on the teacher’s resignation.

In an interview with the Press Banner, Schiermeyer said when they got the results of the investigation into Kahl, they decided the “mutual agreement” was the best option.

“You do an investigation, and at the completion of the investigation you have things that are either proven substantiated or unsubstantiated,” he said. “You work with your team to find out what the best resolution would be.”

The district’s investigation into Winkler is still ongoing.

Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Ashley Keehn confirmed the agency still has multiple “open investigations” into SLVUSD employees, although no charges have been filed.

After Seven Years, Grace Harbor Women’s Center Opens

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After Seven Years, Grace Harbor Women’s Center Opens

WATSONVILLE—A seven-year-long project has come to fruition for Teen Challenge Monterey Bay (TCMB) and the Pajaro Rescue Mission with the opening of the Grace Harbor Women’s Center in Watsonville.

The new center and shelter at 55 Brennan St. provide 50 beds for women with issues such as drug and alcohol addiction, who are a part of the faith-based Teen Challenge residential program. Another 42 beds are available on a short-term basis for homeless and at-risk women, including those with children.

The 20,000-square-foot center will also include the Rustic Table Restaurant, the Lighthouse Treasures Shoppe and a clinic run by the Pregnancy Resources Center of Santa Cruz County.

The center celebrated its Grand Opening on Sept. 9, and they will hold another ribbon-cutting ceremony for the restaurant and store on Sept. 23. 

“This was a huge project,” said Mike Borden, executive director of TCMB. “When we secured this building, we had no idea the magnitude of what we were getting ourselves into. This building is more than half an acre. So much stuff needed to be done.”

The building itself is believed to have been constructed in the late 1920s or early ’30s. Originally a Ford car dealership, it then became Baker Brothers Furniture, which is now Baker Brothers Furniture & Appliance, located around the corner. In 2012 it was purchased and donated to TCMB. The Watsonville Planning Commission approved the Grace Harbor project in 2014.

The remodel of the building included reinforcing it with steel beams above and below ground, updating electrical, plumbing and HVAC, and updating its seismic retrofit.

Borden said it was built to last “at least 100 years.”

“Honestly, this would be the best place to go after a disaster,” he said. “With all its reinforcing … It’s basically a building inside another building.”

The national Teen Challenge program was founded in New York City in 1958 by Pastor David Wilkerson, who aimed to help young people overcome life-controlling issues such as gang violence and homelessness. TCMB began operating in the Pajaro Valley in 1987. They teamed up with the Pajaro Rescue Mission in 2007. 

In addition to helping people recover from addiction and homelessness, Teen Challenge also aims to provide their students with work skills and experience. The restaurant and retail shop will be employed by women who are or have been part of the program.

This is one aspect of the program that Borden said is “vital” to their success. 

“We can get them sober, give them Jesus Christ, but if we don’t give them a means to support themselves, all that can go away,” he said. “Here, they get clean and sober … get spiritual teaching, and we give them life skills. They can write their resume as they go through the program.”

Sara McGee, assistant program director at Grace Harbor, said that the free services will help women find their footing as they reenter the workforce.

“A lot of these women don’t have much, or any work skills or past experience,” McGee said. “Here, they will get these skills by learning on the job … and the money made goes right back into the program.”

The Rustic Table is the second such restaurant. The first was opened in Placer County, and another is planned to open in Lassen County. Chef Cyndahl Schobel, a former participant in TCMB who is now a staff intern, will serve up a menu featuring American cuisine.

“Cyndahl will learn from our executive chef … and then she’ll teach the students,” McGee said. “Our program is all about that sort of development.”

Grace Harbor includes a public lobby, which leads into a secure area that includes offices, conference rooms, a small chapel, dormitories, kitchens and more.

A large cafeteria and gathering space is situated at the back, where women and their children can eat, relax, study and socialize.

Borden said that when designing the facility, safety was their top priority. Lights, electronic locks and security cameras have been installed at the front of the building and hallways.

The center also boasts self-sustaining power, utilizing solar panels and opening a set of skylights that offers plenty of natural light to reduce electricity use.

Borden said that finally opening the center after such a long haul feels “unreal.”

“It is incredibly exciting and almost unbelievable that we have finally opened,” he said. “We’re living in a miracle.” 

County Sups Pass Moratorium on New Cannabis Cultivation

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County Sups Pass Moratorium on New Cannabis Cultivation

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a temporary ordinance prohibiting new cannabis cultivation licenses within 500 feet of residential structures.

The moratorium stemmed from the supervisor’s Aug. 24 meeting, during which they discussed potential conflicts between residential parcels and commercial cannabis crops such as odor, noise and security.

The issue will return on Nov. 9, when the supervisors will discuss a set of permanent rules.

Assistant County Administrative Officer Melodye Serino said that the moratorium as originally written would prohibit cannabis cultivation on more than half of the 1,462 possible cultivation sites countywide, leaving 689.

This, Serino said, would mean a revenue loss for the county of roughly $2.5 million.

Supervisor Zach Friend, who proposed the ordinance, said the county has always carefully scrutinized the county’s growing cannabis industry since recreational marijuana was legalized in 2016. This includes an environmental impact report that showed the industry poses several significant impacts.

“Given the fact that this would still maintain nearly all the activity within the second district, given the fact that there is still over tenfold growth in potential licenses even with what’s being proposed, I consider this still to be a very reasonable approach moving forward,” Friend said.

Numerous people addressed the board, most of them in the local cannabis industry who said the moratorium would scuttle their investments and halt their plans to expand or begin their businesses.

Trent McNair, a property owner, said he has over the past decade rented his land to tenants in the cannabis industry without a single complaint. He said the moratorium is unwarranted since licensees must follow strict restrictions and regulations.

“Do this and you break the back of the industry in Santa Cruz County,” he said.

Michael Balch, a resident of Crest Road, said that the cannabis industry is different from other areas of agriculture, in that it doesn’t have odor mitigation and security concerns.

“No other legal farming crop on the Central Coast has to conform with ordinance restrictions on odor control, lighting and rigid security,” he said. “There are no 8-foot barrier fences and security around strawberry fields here. There is not the 24-hour hum of odor mitigation systems in other fields.”

Robert Kitayama, who owns KB Farms, said the ordinance would jeopardize his company’s plans to sell a 30-acre parcel containing greenhouses to be used for cannabis cultivation and erode the property value by 25-50%.

That, he said, will hurt plans to upgrade his own business.

“We need this investment,” he said. “As farmers, we want to support other farming, and we believe that legal cannabis can be done correctly.”

The ordinance passed 4-1, with Supervisor Ryan Coonerty dissenting.

Coonerty said he would have supported a more narrow ordinance.

“This change is too big a leap when we are trying to bring continuity and security to this industry,” he said. “This seems like an over-correction.”

Santa Cruz City Council Removes Peyote from List of Decriminalized Psychedelics

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Santa Cruz City Council Removes Peyote from List of Decriminalized Psychedelics

Concerns from local Tribal communities prompted the Santa Cruz City Council to remove peyote from the list of plant and fungi psychedelics that are decriminalized in Santa Cruz.

The resolution to decriminalize psychedelics passed in January of 2020. Since then, the Santa Cruz Tribal community has raised concerns about the peyote plant being decriminalized—concerns that are being echoed by Native American communities across the nation.

Native Americans have used peyote for religious and medicinal purposes for centuries, and under federal law, only members of the Native American Church are permitted to ingest peyote. 

But as efforts to decriminalize psychedelics grow more popular in cities across the nation, the National Council of Native American Churches (NCNAC) worries the decriminalization of peyote will speed up the already diminishing supplies of the hallucinogenic cactus and encourage unsustainable harvesting practices. 

In March of 2020, NCNAC and the board of the Indigenous Peyote Conservation Initiative called on cities to consider the importance of peyote in Native American culture when implementing decriminalization policies, and advocated that Native Americans have exclusive access to the plant.

“Broken treaties in this land, the preciousness of native traditions, ecological threats to the medicine itself, and the importance of spiritual respect in its use makes peyote a tenuous plant to include explicitly in any decriminalization effort,” the statement reads.

For the past year, City Council members Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson and Sandy Brown worked with NCNAC and local tribal communities to incorporate their feedback to address these concerns.

“The Tribal community (expressed to me) that they were really challenged with the way the resolution was adopted in the past … there’s definitely a sense of urgency that this resolution be moved forward,” Kalantari-Johnson said at Tuesday’s meeting.

The original resolution was brought forward by Decriminalize Nature (DN) Santa Cruz, a nonprofit whose mission is to decriminalize plant-based psychedelics across the nation. Since the NCNAC came forward with its request to exclude peyote from decriminalization efforts, DN issued a statement in support of the churches’ request.

But Councilman Justin Cummings, who says he has been in communication with DN, said the updates to the resolution still needed additional adjustments and discussion to satisfy the concerns of members of DN and the broader community. He argued that the language around what is and is not decriminalized is vague, and that the City Council should push the resolution until more clarifications and adjustments could be made.

Ultimately, the adjustments to the resolution to exclude the decriminalization of peyote passed unanimously, but Cummings still expressed his disappointment.

“I’ll be supporting this, but I will also be bringing to the attention of members of communities who have worked on it,” Cummings said.

Council also approved a $2.2 million contract to hire Jayson Architecture for the construction of the new downtown library. Jayson Architecture, a San Francisco-based firm, has also designed the remodels of the Garfield and Branciforte libraries in Santa Cruz.

The ‘mixed-use’ library project will include between 50 and 170 affordable housing units, a parking garage and be the permanent site for the downtown farmers markets.

For residents interested in giving feedback on the proposed design of the library, there will be public workshops in October, November and December. For information on the project and the workshops, visit the city’s website.

Covid-19 Relief to Help Fund Major Ramsay Park Overhaul

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Covid-19 Relief to Help Fund Major Ramsay Park Overhaul

WATSONVILLE—If all goes according to plan, Watsonville’s Ramsay Park over the next five years will become the “community space that it really needs to be,” says city of Watsonville Administrative Services Director Cindy Czerwin.

The City plans to pump roughly $22 million in local, state and federal funding into its largest park. That includes an estimated $7.4 million of Covid-19 relief funding given to the City by Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan Act. That cash will fund the construction of an inclusive park, and an expansive rebuild of the Watsonville Nature Center.

The allocation, included in a four-year outline of how to spend the $18.2 million in federal funding, was approved 6-0 by the Watsonville City Council at Tuesday’s meeting.

The cash was distributed to local governments around the nation to help them recover from the economic downturn and social issues induced by the pandemic. There were restrictions on how and what the money could be used on. Specifically, the expenditures needed to be related to Covid-19 recovery, pay employees for continuing to work while the virus spread, repair aging sewer, water or broadband infrastructure and make up for lost revenue from the last 18 months.

The City’s four-year plan presented to the council Tuesday directed $1.48 million to support and create programs and activities that address the community’s mental health. It will also use $150,000 to support local businesses by providing, among other things, child care services, and spend $1.35 million to create a youth job training and mentoring program.

In addition, the City also set aside $1.1 million to update planning documents that have long been a point of contention for City and elected officials. That includes the City’s current general plan, which was devised in the 1990s and envisioned what Watsonville would look like—and the rules developers should follow—through 2005.

“The general plan is something that I think is important just because I’m tired of getting sued,” Mayor Jimmy Dutra said, referring to a court decision that halted the city’s previous general plan efforts last decade. “It’s important to be putting these safety measures in place so that we can not be facing that all the time.”

The City Council only approved the first year of the spending plan. That $4.82 million allocation includes $50,000 for a Covid-19 memorial, $400,000 in hazard pay for City employees, $350,000 in tech upgrades for the city council chambers and community rooms at the Civic Plaza and more than $2 million in neighborhood streets and traffic safety improvements, as well as updated signage and median beautification on the city’s main roads.

The proposed spending plan will return to the City Council at least twice a year over the next four years, Czerwin said. The elected leaders could make adjustments to the plan during those bi-yearly updates.

The construction of the inclusive park at Ramsay, according to the current plan, won’t happen until the 2023-24 fiscal year, and the nature center facelift is expected to happen the following fiscal year.

But the park will see major upgrades leading up to those renovations, as the City Council during its biennial budget hearings earlier this year approved a $7.5 million investment to fund the rebuild of Sotomayor Soccer Field and the preparation of other projects at the park. And just last week, State Assemblymember Robert Rivas, the representative for California’s 30th District, announced he had secured another $7 million in state funding for the construction of a multipurpose softball field, among other things. The City has also allocated cash to build a dog park at Ramsay, and recently celebrated the construction of a bicycle pump track.

Vaccine Progress

Watsonville City Manager Matt Huffaker said that roughly 85% of residents in the 95076 zip code are partially vaccinated and 74% are fully vaccinated. That is compared to the countywide numbers that show only 69.72% are partially vaccinated and 62.61% are fully vaccinated.

“We’re proud to say that through significant partnership with our community partners and county health that Watsonville now has the highest adoption rate and we hope to keep it that way,” Huffaker said.

In addition, Huffaker said that the vaccination center at old city hall in downtown Watsonville is now offering an additional dose for immunocompromised individuals. The site is open Thursday through Sunday. On Thursdays and Saturdays, it is open from 9am to 1pm. On Fridays and Sundays, it is open from 2pm to 6pm.

Rules of the Road

The City Council also approved a four-year, $647,000 contract with Ecology Action to provide pedestrian and cycling safety workshops at elementary and secondary schools feeding into Pajaro Valley High School.

The contract is part of an $11.7 million grant from the California Transportation Commission that will also help fund the creation of the Highway 1 pedestrian and bicycle overpass connecting PV High to Harkins Slough Road, a long-awaited project that seeks to alleviate the traffic jam produced by motorists and students before and after school hours.

Ecology Action already holds classes—called Walk Smart and Bike Smart—throughout Pajaro Valley Unified School District schools. The nonprofit was essential, Watsonville Principal Engineer Murray Fontes said, in helping the City receive the aforementioned grant.

“This is not going to solve all our problems, by any means, but it is going to help educate children as well as adults,” Councilman Lowell Hurst said.

Cabrillo College Unveils New Mural at Aptos Community Celebration

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Cabrillo College Unveils New Mural at Aptos Community Celebration

APTOS—Cabrillo College’s Aptos campus came alive Tuesday evening as the community celebrated the installation of a new mural designed by Watsonville artist Francisco Alonso.

The event drew scores of dignitaries and representatives from Cabrillo, local governments and arts organizations, as well as everyday residents from across the county. 

Entitled “Unity,” the mural, which Alonso created with fellow artist Jeronimo Sanchez, was the result of an effort by numerous groups at the college to promote diversity and celebrate its status as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). It was funded by a grant from the Cabrillo Foundation and the college’s Student Senate. 

A blessing was given by the Pajaro Valley Ohlone Indian Council in a special welcoming ceremony. Guests were also treated to dance performances by Cabrillo students and Watsonville’s White Hawk Aztec Dancers, a poetry reading, a DJ and free Mexican food in the school’s quad.

“Today is a wonderful day of celebration,” said Cabrillo’s president Matthew Wetstein. “Today we celebrate, for the first time ever, a Latinx-inspired mural at Cabrillo’s Aptos campus.”

It is also, Wetstein said, the first time the college has officially observed Hispanic Serving Institutions Week, a national effort to recognize institutions of higher education that are Hispanic-serving, defined by the U.S. Department of Education.

To get the designation as an HSI, a college must serve more than 25% of students who are Hispanic. Today, these students represent 45% of Cabrillo’s student body. This past spring, the school reached a historic milestone of 50% of its graduating class being Latinx.

Wetstein also broke the news Tuesday that they had been notified by Congressman Jimmy Panetta that Cabrillo will be the recipient of a $5 million, five-year HSI grant that will help promote STEM education at the college.

“We can aim as a college to foster a greater sense of belonging among our diverse student body, celebrating the rich tapestry that our students bring to our campuses,” Wetstein said. “We are better for that diversity—a better college, a better community.” 

But Tuesday’s focus was on the power of art, specifically, the art that is now displayed on one of Cabrillo’s elevator towers on upper campus, just past the statue of Martin Luther King, Jr. The effort to bring a mural like “Unity” to Cabrillo began in 2019, when the Student Senate and other on-campus groups voted to approve and fund the project.

While the pandemic delayed things for a while, an open call was finally sent out by Cabrillo’s Mural Committee in early 2021. That was when Alonso caught wind of the project and submitted his piece.

Alonso, who was born in Michoacán, Mexico and grew up in Watsonville, is an alumnus of the school. He began as a dishwasher in the cafeteria before faculty and staff encouraged him to start taking art classes. He eventually transferred to San Francisco State, where he received an art degree.

Prior to the mural’s completion, Alonso explained that the piece was inspired by totems, representing symbols of indigenous ancestral wisdom and knowledge from various cultures, from the Native inhabitants of California’s Central Coast, to Chinese, African and more.

On Tuesday, both Alonso and Sanchez thanked everyone who was involved in making the mural project a reality.

“I am so happy to be sharing with you this vision of unity,” Alonso said. 

Watsonville muralist Yermo Aranda also spoke at the event, reminiscing on how he and Alonso had worked together on murals in the 1990s. Aranda discussed the importance and power of art to culture.

“Art has a way of empowering us,” Aranda said. “We realize we’re capable of doing amazing things we never thought we could do. It shows the world we have something to offer.”

School Resource Officers to Return to Watsonville and Aptos High School Campuses

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School Resource Officers to Return to Watsonville and Aptos High School Campuses

WATSONVILLE—Pajaro Valley Unified School District will return School Resource Officers (SROs) to Watsonville and Aptos high school campuses, and pair them with mental health workers.

The district’s Board of Trustees approved the plan after a late-night special meeting with hours of impassioned public testimony inside the Henry J. Mello Center at Watsonville High School.

The item passed 6-1, with Trustee Maria Orozco dissenting. She later voted with the rest of the trustees to approve funding for the program’s altered return.

The plan will cost approximately $1.19 million, including a one-time cost of $373,557 and ongoing costs of $823,700.

The district is also implementing several safety upgrades, including improving security cameras, implementing a safety app and having a cell tower installed in Aptos to provide better coverage.

Pajaro Valley High School is participating in the School Success Project, which is funded through the Santa Cruz County Probation Department. That program focuses on the socio-emotional needs of the students and involves their families.

The issue came to the board after the Aug. 31 stabbing death of a 17-year-old student identified as Gerardo on the Aptos High School campus. Two students, 14 and 17, were arrested in the attack.

The trustees voted in July 2020 to remove SROs from the campuses of Watsonville, Aptos and Pajaro Valley high schools, opting instead to funnel the money to socio-emotional support services.

Among the reasoning for the decision was that law enforcement on campus makes marginalized students feel unsafe, that officers target non-white students and that the program fuels the so-called school-to-prison pipeline.

But in the wake of the murder, the district and board were widely criticized for the decision, with many suggesting law enforcement presence might have prevented it.

Still, the issue generated controversy at the special meeting, with more than 100 people addressing the board, the majority of which spoke against returning SROs to school campuses.

Joy Flynn, a parent of an Aptos Junior High School student, told the board she was disappointed in the decision.

“None of you will know what it’s like to be the mother of a Black boy, or the grandmother of a Black boy,” she said. “Now I will have to worry about my son being policed at school.”

The fact that a mental health clinician will accompany the SROs was not comforting for Flynn, who said that such treatment should start when students are young.

“We should normalize seeking mental health treatment in elementary school, instead of normalizing policing in school,” she said.

Anthony Flores, a WHS graduate who helped create a wellness center on the campus, said that service is what students need.

“Police don’t prevent crime,” he said. “We’ve never felt safe with SROs.”

But speakers also called for the return of law enforcement on campuses, saying that many students feel safer with them, and, in fact, see them as mentors.

Tiffany Chapman blamed the murder on negligence by the board and PVUSD Superintendent Michelle Rodriguez. 

“I am happy about the increase to the mental health available to our children, but it cannot be at the expense of their safety,” she said.

“(Santa Cruz County) Sheriff (Jim) Hart stated that if an SRO had been on campus, the perpetrator, who was already on probation, would have been pulled off campus after his first fight. and would have been dealt with through the probation office,” Chapman said. 

Countering assertions that not enough has been done in the wake of the murder, Trustee Kim De Serpa told the audience that the district has worked with mental health providers for years. 

“We care about that family,” she said. “We care about everyone in this district. We feel terrible about this tremendous tragedy that occurred at Aptos High.”

De Serpa also criticized Sheriff Hart, who she said has released private information about the teen suspects and called on county counsel to investigate the matter.

Trustee Jennifer Holm said she supported the plan, but called for the district to have a say in how the SROs are chosen and asked for a one-year review of the program.

In explaining her opposition to bringing back SROs, Orozco said that she sees students suffering from mental health issues that law enforcement cannot address.

“What we’re seeing is a mental health crisis,” Orozco said.

“We’re already taking all these measures, and I don’t feel comfortable compromising,” Orozco added. “I think we owe that much to Gerardo and his family. In fact, we owe that much to all youth that we’ve lost to violence. So let’s buckle down and get to work. The SROs are not the solution.”

Things To Do in Santa Cruz: Sept. 15-21

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Things To Do in Santa Cruz: Sept. 15-21

A weekly guide to what’s happening.

ARTS AND MUSIC

BANFF CENTRE MOUNTAIN FILM VIRTUAL FESTIVAL Bring the adventure home! Fluff up your couch cushions, grab a snack of choice, and make sure you have a good internet connection because the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour is Virtual! Travel to the most remote corners of the world, dive into daring expeditions, and celebrate some of the most remarkable outdoor achievements, all from the comfort of your living room. Films can be purchased individually or as a bundle. Banff will also be screening Award Winners: Monthly Film Series; join us online for a mixed program of award winners from the 2020, 2019 and 2018 Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festivals. Catch up on missed films or relive some of the best that Banff has to offer. Just announced is the Encore Classic Films from the past 10 years. Audience favorites. Don’t miss out! Screening until Oct. 24, 2021. Visit riotheatre.com for more information about the online programs and how you can support your local screening. 

BEARPAD: THE HUGGING TREE Bearpad is brought to you by Patrick Stephenson and Jordan Fickel. It is a scrappy queer art with an emphasis on physicality and affection. Masculine, relaxed bodies expressing casual desires, cozy gay vibes. A Santa Cruz-based production, the work is influenced by queer history, DIY ethics, and psychedelic aesthetics. The Hugging Tree is an art show and a performance. The art show is a series of experiments in color and form through representations of queer bodies in motion. It is an immersive, audio-visual exploration of intimacy through different ideas of moving images, as well as abstracted interactivity. The performance further explores these ideas through live music. Tickets are $5-$15; for more information visit indexical.org. Saturday, Sept. 18, 8pm. 

​CAPITOLA MOVIES AT THE BEACH: ‘FROZEN 2’ Free movies near Capitola Beach! Movies begin at 7:30 pm (or dusk). All movies are shown on the bandstand stage in Esplanade Park. Suggested to bring low back chairs or picnic blanket for seating. No dogs or alcohol in the park or on the beach. Esplanade Park, 7:30-10 pm.

CELEBRANDO LA CULTURA This free outdoor concert on Saturday, Sept. 17 in Watsonville City Plaza honors the impact of Mexican American culture on the Bay Area and celebrates the vibrancy of the Pajaro Valley’s agricultural community. Co-produced by McEvoy Foundation for the Arts and Los Cenzontles Cultural Arts Academy with the Watsonville Film Festival, Celebrando la Cultura features music and dance performances from local Mexican cultural organizations. Registration is not required. Watsonville City Plaza, 6-8 pm. Free.

FREQUENCY: FESTIVAL OF LIGHT, SOUND, & DIGITAL CULTURE Light up the night at Frequency, the MAH’s new festival of light, sound, and digital culture. Extending over 4-nights, explore downtown Santa Cruz as local and visiting artists illuminate the museum, neighboring parks, plazas, and riverfront area with interactive installations, live performances, and immersive experiences. Follow the luminescent glow as artists highlight some of the most iconic structures and spaces in downtown Santa Cruz. The route will also reveal less familiar courtyards, alleyways, and rooftops as artists adorn the spaces with glowing installations. Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History, 705 Front St., Santa Cruz. santacruzmah.org. Sept. 16-19. 

​​SANTA CRUZ COUNTY FAIR Five days of fun and festivities, including a large carnival. Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, 2601 East Lake Ave., Watsonville. santacruzcountyfair.com. Sept. 15-19. 12-10 pm.

SHEDM: THE FEMALE CREATORS OF DANCE MUSIC: Sundays: DJs are mixing in the darkest BASS beats by our favorite female and LGBT producers. Don’t miss out. Starts at 9pm. Guest DJs every week. Motiv nightclub is open and fully remodeled—there are all-new bathrooms and state-of-the-art dance floor lights. Add to your calendar: facebook.com/events/3008160246139834. Sunday, Sept. 19, 9pm. Motiv, 1209 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz.

HEISENBERG: THE UNCERTAINTY PRINCIPLE BY SIMON STEPHENS In this play from one of theater’s most original voices, a bustling London train station brings an unexpected encounter between free-spirited American Georgie and reserved Irishman Alex, thrusting two strangers into a life-changing game. When she turns up in his shop a few days later, the suspicious Alex is drawn into Georgie’s anarchic world and his conventional life becomes chaotic, uncertain, and undeniably richer. Performances are Thursday thru Sunday, Sept. 16 through Oct. 10 (plus Wednesday, Sept 15). Tickets: adults $50; seniors and students $45; preview $27. Directed by Paul Mullins, featuring Paul Whitworth and Erika Schindele. Safety is our priority, for our Covid-19 safety policies, please see our website at jeweltheatre.net or call the box office at 831-425-7506. Wednesday, Sept. 15, 7:30pm. Jewel Theatre, 1010 River St., Santa Cruz. 

VIRTUAL MOVIE NIGHT | VOICES OF GRIEF: HONORING THE SACRED JOURNEY For those who have ever struggled in knowing what to say or do in the presence of profound loss, your own or someone else’s, Voices of Grief: Honoring the Sacred Journey offers a hope-filled perspective of how to successfully navigate grief. This award-winning documentary film interweaves individuals’ personal stories of loss and healing together with the insight of nationally renowned experts in the fields of grief and mourning. Q&A panel immediately following the documentary with the film’s executive producer Kathy Sparnins and Elaine Cashman, Clinical Supervisor for Hospice of Santa Cruz County’s Grief Support Program. Watch the film trailer at vimeo.com/160025934. For more information, visit voicesofgrief.org. Tuesday, Sept. 21, 6-7:15pm. 

WHEN WE PAINT OUR MASTERPIECE: THE ART OF THE GRATEFUL DEAD COMMUNITY Learn how the members of the Grateful Dead and the global Deadhead community took inspiration from one another in creating an image-rich, worldwide art practice that, like the band’s music, scrambled perceived standards and norms. The creative works presented in When We Paint Our Masterpiece reveal a world full of variety when it comes to design practices, international traditions, visual icons, and vernacular art forms. There has been space for all of these patterns and visions in the community of fans and fellow artists that blossomed around the band, and that community of creators continues to thrive today. This exhibit explores the mutual appreciation among fans as well as between fans and the band. Free. McHenry Library, UCSC, 1156 High St., Santa Cruz. Through December 22, 2022.

COMMUNITY

BACK-TO-SCHOOL STUDENT SPOTLIGHT Ready to show the world you’ve got talent? Let your creativity shine at the back-to-school student spotlight. Brought to you by the Lions Club of District 4-C6 to benefit Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Students ages 4-24 of all abilities: you’re invited to submit a video of your special talent to be featured during the live, online show. All talents are welcome, like singing a song, reciting a poem, or performing a magic act. Family and friends are invited to join in to cheer you on! Purchase a ticket or learn more about the event at vistacenterevents.org/b2s2021. See you at the show! Wednesday, Sept. 15, 5pm. 

COMMUNITY DRUMMING WITH JIM GREINER IN PERSON Percussionist/educator Jim Greiner will conduct the next in his monthly third Friday series of community drumming sessions at the Inner Light Center in Soquel in person. The cost is $10. Masks and social distancing requirements will be honored. Jim makes it fun and easy for people from all walks of life to play drums and hand percussion to release stress, to uplift and energize yourself, and to reinforce positive life rhythms through percussion playing. Friday, Sept. 17, 7-8:30pm. Inner Light Center, 5630 Soquel Drive, Soquel.

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, Sept. 15, 4:30pm. Capitola Library A Santa Cruz City County Public Library Branch, 2005 Wharf Road, Capitola.

DOWNTOWN SANTA CRUZ MAKERS MARKET Come on out and support local makers and artists at the Downtown Santa Cruz Makers Market every third Sunday of the month on Pacific Ave at Lincoln St. We are now on the 1100 block of Pacific Ave. between Cathcart and Lincoln Streets near New Leaf. Support local and shop small with over 30 Santa Cruz County artists and makers! Don’t forget to stop in and visit the downtown merchants and grab a bite to eat from the downtown restaurants. Remember to social distance as you shop and wear your mask. If you’re not feeling well, please stay home. There will be hand sanitizing stations at the market and signs to remind you about all these things! Friendly leashed pups are welcome. Sunday, Sept. 19, 10am-5pm. Downtown Santa Cruz Makers Market, Pacific Ave., 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, Sept. 15, 11am. Felton Branch Library, 6121 Gushee St., Felton.

FREE BIKE COMMUTING 101 WORKSHOP – GO SANTA CRUZ Are you ready to take your commute to the next level? Learn from the experts about bike commuting basics including hauling gear, what to look for in a solid commuting bike, riding while “business casual,” rush hour rules of the road, and more. As Santa Cruz County expands its network of protected bike lanes and paths, now is the perfect time to explore commuting by bike. With the right preparation, adding biking to your commute options can be a breeze. Staff from Ecology Action will share the need-to-knows of bike commuting, troubleshoot your commute and after-work errands, and help cyclists of all levels plan for a safe and satisfying ride. Free bike lights and helmets for all attendees, must be an employee of a business in Downtown Santa Cruz Parking District enrolled in Go SC at my.cruz511.org/s/gosantacruz. This free workshop is offered to all downtown Santa Cruz employees as part of Go Santa Cruz, a transportation program that provides downtown employees with commute alternatives to single-occupant car trips. For more information, visit cityofsantacruz.com/gosantacruz. Thursday, Sept. 16, Noon-1pm. 

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, Sept. 16, 7am. California Grey Bears, 2710 Chanticleer Ave., Santa Cruz.

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, Sept. 21, 11am. La Selva Beach Branch Library, 316 Estrella Ave., La Selva Beach.

ONLINE ARTISTS’ TALK—ADAPTATIONS: EVOLVING IN A CHANGING WORLD As part of “Adaptations: Cabrillo Art, Photography & Art History Faculty and Staff Exhibition” faculty members Claire Thorson, Neeley Drown, Lesley Louden, Jane Gregorius, Beverly Rayner and Tobin Keller discuss how recent developments caused them to explore the effects of Covid-19 on the psyche, society and interpersonal interactions in their artwork. Wednesday, Sept. 15, 6pm. Cabrillo College Gallery, 6401-6599 Soquel Drive, Aptos.

PRESCHOOL STORYTIME ON THE FELTON PATIO Join Librarian Jackie on our beautiful Felton patio for Preschool Storytime. Preschool Storytime is a weekly early literacy program for children ages 3-5 years old and their caregivers. 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 as well as children ages 3 and up please wear a mask. Repeats weekly. Thursday, Sept. 16, 11am. Felton Branch Library, 6121 Gushee St., Felton.

VEGAN COOKING & WINE PAIRING CLASS: A TASTE OF PROVENCE ON YOUR PLATE Greetings, foodies and wine lovers! Join me for a delightful afternoon enjoying the beautiful art of vegan French cooking and wine pairing at the gorgeous FlipJack Ranch in Bonny Doon, nestled in the magical Santa Cruz Mountains. We’ll be going on a delicious journey to Provence, France through our culinary adventures together! In this delicious and fun hands-on cooking and baking class you’ll make a four-course meal featuring savory thyme pate, salad, ratatouille, pear lavender tart and more. Class fee is $225.00 (nonrefundable) and includes a bottle of Château La Chèze 2015 Côtes de Bordeaux. Saturday, Sept. 18, 1-5pm. FlipJack Ranch, 4600 Smith Grade, Santa Cruz.

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. Thursday, Sept. 16, 10am. Tuesday, Sept. 21, 10am. Temple Beth El, 3055 Porter Gulch Road, Aptos.

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, Sept. 17, 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, Sept. 16, 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 at WomenCARE’s office. Currently on Zoom. Registration is required, call WomenCARE at 831-457-2273. All services are free. For more information visit womencaresantacruz.org. Monday, Sept. 20, 12:30pm. WomenCARE, 2901 Park Ave., Suite A1, Soquel.

WOMENCARE MINDFULNESS MEDITATION Mindfulness Meditation for women with a cancer diagnosis. Meets the first and third Friday, currently on Zoom. Registration Required: WomenCARE 831-457-2273. Friday, Sept. 17, 11am-noon. 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, Sept. 21, 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, Sept. 15, 3:30-4:30pm. WomenCARE, 2901 Park Ave., Suite A1, Soquel.

OUTDOOR

ANNUAL COASTAL CLEANUP DAY Show how much you love the Monterey Bay, volunteer for Annual Coastal Cleanup Day on Sept 18 and/or help clean up your favorite places all month long! Save Our Shores hosts dozens of cleanups along the Central Coast. By joining us as a volunteer, you will make a positive impact on our beautiful Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and prevent trash from entering the ocean. It is suggested you show up fifteen minutes prior to get instructions. For more information or to sign up to volunteer, visit saveourshores.org/coastal-cleanup. Saturday, Sept. 18, 9am-noon. 

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 UC Santa Cruz Center for Agroecology & Sustainable Food Systems. Friday, Sept. 17, Noon-6pm. Tuesday, Sept. 21, Noon-6pm. Cowell Ranch Historic Hay Barn, Ranch View Road, Santa Cruz.

CLIMATE, LAND AND WATER OUTDOOR MEDITATION This is a public meditation/demonstration to raise our spirits, raise awareness, and raise the vibration in these troubled times. We will open with a Land Acknowledgement and orientation, then silent meditation, ending around 3:30pm. All are welcome! Please arrive early to find parking and get settled in. We will gather on the lawn near the lighthouse—look for the Novasutras signs. You are welcome to bring your own sign to hold or wear around your neck, with inspiring messaging about the climate and environmental crises see bit.ly/SCOM4CH for info. Sunday, Sept. 19, 2:30pm. 

RECOVERY OF SEA OTTERS IN THE NORTHEAST PACIFIC: NEW INSIGHTS AND SURPRISES FROM SOFT-BOTTOM ECOSYSTEMS Sea otters are a model species for investigating how the recovery of a top marine predator impacts ocean ecosystems. As sea otters expand into new regions and habitats, such as saltmarsh ecosystems, they are unraveling secrets previously unknown to science. This presents an unprecedented learning opportunity, providing much-needed knowledge and tools for resource managers. Join Brent to learn more about sea otter ecological roles in seagrass beds and how collaborative research ties to the conservation of sea otters in the Northeast Pacific. Register in advance for the online Science Sunday webinar at seymourcenter.ucsc.edu/learn/ongoing-education/science-sundays. Registration closes at 12:30pm on Sunday, Sept. 19. For more information visit seymourcenter.ucsc.edu. Sunday, Sept. 19, 1:30-2:30pm. Seymour Marine Discovery Center, 100 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz.

SEYMOUR CENTER OUTDOORS! Activities include tide pool investigation: hone your observation skills and watch animals such as sea stars, sea urchins, and hermit crabs gracefully move in their environment; outdoor scavenger hunt: explore the pathway of giants and find nine outdoor objects hidden around the Seymour Center; larval fish geocache: Why do baby fish look so different from their adult forms? What kinds of strategies do fish use for raising their young? And just what kind of fish live in Monterey Bay, anyway? Find the answers to these questions in five secret containers located throughout the Coastal Science Campus. Marine Animal Selfie Station: Grab a selfie with one of our life-sized wooden marine animals—be sure to use #SeymourCenter on your social media profiles. The Seymour Center Outdoors is free to visit with a suggested $10 donation per household. Become a sustaining supporter of the Seymour Center, and purchase a membership! To learn more visit seymourcenter.ucsc.edu/visit. Saturday, Sept. 18, 11am-2pm. Seymour Marine Discovery Center, 100 McAllister Way, 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, Sept. 21, 7-8pm. Moran Lake Park & Beach, East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz.

WEST CLIFF FOOD TRUCK SERIES 2021 Join us at the West Cliff Lighthouse parking lot to enjoy the beautiful view, local food trucks, and live music! It’s a great chance to get outside and soak in the sunshine. This is becoming a locals favorite and tourists love it as well. The parking lot is close to many wonderful picnic areas where you can relax and take in the scenery. Admission is free! Friday, Sept. 17, 4-8pm. Lighthouse Point Park, West Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz.

WEST CLIFF OUTDOOR MARKET 2021 Come enjoy West Cliff Outdoor Market which will feature unique artisans and local food trucks. This one-of-a-kind market will be held in two parking lots along West Cliff Drive in Santa Cruz. This is always a popular spot for locals and tourists, as it overlooks the famous Steamers Lane surf spot. Enjoy the fresh air as you stroll among many artisan’s booths and specialty food while taking in the view. Come enjoy the live music and admission is free! We will also be giving away free tokens every hour to random shoppers who may use them towards any vendor of their choice. So come down and get your free gift! See you on the cliffs. Saturday, Sept. 18, 10am-7pm. Lighthouse Point Park, West 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, Sept. 17, 11am. Sunday, Sept. 19, 11am.

Bizarro Art-Rock Heroes The Residents Celebrate 50 Years of Weirdness at the Rio

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Bizarro Art-Rock Heroes The Residents Celebrate 50 Years of Weirdness at the Rio

Officially, Homer Flynn is the president of the Cryptic Corporation who speaks on behalf of weirdo band the Residents. The identity of the band members is unknown, which has been the case for the entirety of their long career—they are currently celebrating their 50-year anniversary with a string of shows, one of which includes the Rio Theatre on September 18.

However, the Residents’ status as a “band” is a bit up in the air. When asked whether a group of unknown individuals who specialize in audio/video experiments and are best known for the bizarro image of an eyeball head wearing a top hat should be described as a band, a collective or some other entity, Flynn invokes Kurt Vonnegut’s book Mother Night, in which an American WWII spy disguises himself as a Nazi, and eventually turns into a Nazi.

“The moral of the story, which Vonnegut tells you in the foreword, is ‘you are what you pretend to be. So you should be very careful what you pretend to be,’” Flynn says. “With the Residents, they have pretended to be a band so long, they actually have become one.”

This current tour, which they are calling “Dog Stab,” will combine tunes from last year’s Metal, Meat and Bone, as well as two of the group’s classic albums: The Third Reich ‘n’ Roll (1976) and Duck Stab (1978).

Originally, The Third Reich ‘n’ Roll began as a sonic experiment where the Residents imagined what it would sound like if the oddball ’70s Krautrock bands (Can, Neu!, Tangerine Dream) were to interpret standard ’50s and ’60s rock ‘n’ roll songs. They recorded themselves playing on top of well-known tunes, but played really strange avant-garde parts. Later, they mixed out the original songs and kept the weird bits. But as they worked on it, the concept grew darker. They thought about how rock music has pretty much overtaken culture with the force of an army, and how maybe that wasn’t a great thing.

“They started thinking about rock music and how it became such a massive gravitational force, kind of bending all other forms to the rock beat,” Flynn says. “And ultimately, that was how Dick Clark wound up on the cover as Hitler.”

The lead single for The Third Reich ‘n’ Roll was a tense, dissonant cover of the Rolling Stones’ hit “Satisfaction,” which wasn’t on the actual album. But it was the first Residents tune to gain significant interest from what would become their cult following.

“‘Satisfaction’ was one of the first punk records. They weren’t doing punk; they were just doing what they were doing,” Flynn says. “But it certainly got linked to the punk and new wave movement at the time.”

Just a few years later, they released Duck Stab/Buster and Glen, which were EPs at the time, and are now commonly referred to collectively as the Duck Stab LP. Many of their best-known songs were on this release. For years, Primus covered two songs on the album: “Constantinople” and “Hello Skinny.”

In a way, the record was their most simple. They had been working on their masterpiece Eskimo for three years, and weren’t making progress. The idea was to tell a fictitious story based around Inuit culture using just sounds, musical instruments and mumbling gibberish. They worked on Duck Stab as a break from Eskimo’s high-concept approach. With Duck Stab, they created some of the catchiest—albeit eerie and abstract—tunes of their career.

“They’ve always had fragments of things here and there. So it wasn’t like they started from scratch. Some of them were interesting fragments that they hadn’t decided what to do with yet,” Flynn says.

With Duck Stab, the Residents suddenly got lumped in with the post-punk movement, which was certainly adventurous, though not on their level. The group proved that the following year when they finally finished Eskimo. It sold well, despite sounding nothing like what any other band was doing at the time.

The group was just beginning. They released countless albums in the decades that followed, embraced emerging technology in a creative way, and became synonymous with the very idea of weird music.

“I think the version of them that exists right now is probably the best band they’ve had. It’s debatable from anybody—is this the best version or not? I think it’s definitely a very good band at this point,” Flynn says.

The Residents play at 8pm on Saturday, Sept. 18 at the Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz, $34.65. 831-423-8209.

The Santa Cruz Mountain Sol Festival at Roaring Camp Meadows in Felton Returns

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The Santa Cruz Mountain Sol Festival at Roaring Camp Meadows in Felton Returns

Good Times has compiled a killer playlist in preparation for the seventh annual Mountain Sol Festival on Sept. 18 and 19. All you have to do is download the songs and pack your bag.

Side 1 (Saturday):

“Cuckoo” – Rising Appalachia (1:45pm) Chloe and Leah Smith’s rendition of the traditional Appalachian folk tune is a Pogues-Tennessee Ernie Ford lovechild. The duo’s piercing harmonies sail alongside a punch-drunk fiddle that glides up and down with rhythmic intensity.

“Skin on the Drum” – Michael Franti & Spearhead (5pm) Franti’s live performances are difficult to beat, but this track’s funky-cool vibe is layered with miles of grooves that don’t let up: “I’ve been fully marinated, and now I’m ready for the fire,” Franti croons. Try to resist those fresh beats. I dare you.

“Mean Ol’ River” – Wolf Jett with Marty O’Reilly (noon) Need good ol’ Americana that channels some sludgy country soul? —the band dubbed it “Cosmic Mountain Music.” Whatever the hell it is, frontman Chris Jones’ southern fried scatting and howling is electric.

“Dreaming” – Dustbowl Revival (3:45pm) The folk outfit’s all-enveloping sound is reminiscent of L.A. neighbors Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. Meanwhile, the sextet keeps their rootsy side intact, Old Crow Medicine Show style.

Side 2 (Sunday):

“Like You Mean It” – The California Honeydrops (3:45pm) Most Honeydrops’ songs are tightly wound cornucopias of funk, soul and R&B, peppered with an ever-present New Orleans-flavored horns section. It’s hard to go wrong.

“I’ll Rise” – Ben Harper (5:15pm) Close your eyes, and you may think Otis Redding is back from the dead, unleashing the mighty prose inspired by Maya Angelou’s “Still I Rise.” There is a good reason why Harper is a multi-Grammy Award winner who’s sold millions of records.

Any Jerry Garcia song – Jerry’s Middle Finger (noon) Frequent Jerry Garcia collaborator Melvin Seals wouldn’t sit in with any Dead/Garcia cover band, but these guys are just that good.

Anything Live – Dumpstaphunk (1:45pm) Straight out of the Big Easy, complete with a pair of Nevilles in tow, the septet’s 2021 record—featuring Marcus King, Trombone Shorty and Chali 2Na—is good. It’s damn good. But it doesn’t quite capture the excellence of the jams birthed during D-Phunk’s live shows.

Gates open at 11am. Regular passes sold out (2020 festival passes honored); limited bundle ticket packages available; kids 10-17/$45 per day; 2-9/ free (only with ticketed adult); for more information and safety protocols, visit santacruzmountainsol.com.

Educator at Heart of SLVUSD Allegations Resigns

San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District agreed to accept high school social studies teacher Eric Kahl’s resignation
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After Seven Years, Grace Harbor Women’s Center Opens

Grace Harbor Women's Center provides beds for women struggling with addiction and other issues
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County Sups Pass Moratorium on New Cannabis Cultivation

The moratorium stemmed from concerns about potential conflicts between residential parcels and commercial cannabis crops
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Santa Cruz City Council Removes Peyote from List of Decriminalized Psychedelics

peyote
The National Council of Native American Churches worries decriminalizing peyote will diminish supplies of the hallucinogenic cactus
Read more

Covid-19 Relief to Help Fund Major Ramsay Park Overhaul

If all goes according to plan, Watsonville’s Ramsay Park will become a much-needed community space
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Cabrillo College Unveils New Mural at Aptos Community Celebration

Entitled “Unity,” Francisco Alonso created the mural with fellow artist Jeronimo Sanchez
Read more

School Resource Officers to Return to Watsonville and Aptos High School Campuses

Mental health workers will also be sent to Watsonville and Aptos high school campuses
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Things To Do in Santa Cruz: Sept. 15-21

Virtual movie night, community drumming, downtown Santa Cruz Farmers’ Market and more
Read more

Bizarro Art-Rock Heroes The Residents Celebrate 50 Years of Weirdness at the Rio

The longtime experimental outfit has kept the identities of individual members unknown since they began
Read more

The Santa Cruz Mountain Sol Festival at Roaring Camp Meadows in Felton Returns

The solid two-day lineup features Ben Harper, Michael Franti and Spearhead and Dumpstaphunk
Read more
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