If you think too hard about birthdays, they can seem pretty arbitrary—let’s face it, our bawling, wrinkly debut wasn’t anybody’s best day. For adults, the celebration of that date tends to be more of a way to mark time and sometimes get presents than an occasion loaded with meaning.
But for Ginny Mitchell, this birthday is different. For one thing, the Santa Cruz singer-songwriter will be doing a retrospective birthday show at Michaels on Main on Friday, March 18. She’ll play songs from all the phases of her career, which has wound through folk and rock, country and bluegrass, jazz and swing—with many combinations of genres along the way. And she’s bringing an all-star band of local musicians to the stage for this retrospective, including AJ Lee, Patti Maxine, Lisa Pollack (aka Lisa P), Steve Palazzo, Daniel Thomas, Katethe Hostetter, Sharon Allen, Jimmy Norris and Matt Bohn. You could say that this show is as much a celebration of her bond with these friends as it is of Mitchell herself—and in some cases, they go way, way back.
“Steve Palazzo and I went to high school together at Santa Cruz High,” says Mitchell. “I taught him his first D chord. We went on tour together back in the ’80s. And I have a photograph of me and Patti when we did this little gig, I was all of 17, 18—we were just babies, singing at the Poet and Patriot.”
Of course, Mitchell has only formed a bond more recently with the younger players, like Lee. She’s floored by Lee’s talent, and is reminded of someone like Alison Krauss, who played on Mitchell’s first CD, Wild Rose, in 1993. And she thinks mainstream success is in Lee’s future.
“My prediction is that AJ Lee is going to break through, like Sarah Evans broke through, like Molly Tuttle is breaking through,” she says. “There’s something that I recognize in AJ that I haven’t seen in others. She’s got it. Whatever ‘it’ is, she’s got it.”
Even Mitchell herself is kind of blown away by the group that’s come together for this show.
“We had a rehearsal last night, and I sat there and looked around me, and I thought, ‘These people are just so amazing,’” she says.
This birthday bash is also significant because it comes at a time that Mitchell is feeling a creative resurgence. The last decade has seen some dark days—she and her husband Marty Collins had to close their innovative production studio the Digital Media Factory in 2013, after Collins—a two-time cancer survivor at the time—suffered a medical catastrophe in 2012 during what was supposed to be a routine surgery. In the aftermath, he was put on a respirator and not expected to survive. But he defied the odds for several years and even returned home and regained his ability to breathe without a ventilator. However, he passed away in 2016.
It took years for Mitchell to get to a place where she felt she could be creative again. It was her siblings who encouraged her to return to performing and writing.
“I thought, ‘I can’t do it. I don’t have the energy for it,’” she remembers. “But I started playing music with different friends of mine. I realized I got a charge out of that. It was like, ‘I remember this feeling.’ The music just brought me back to life. It’s always been that way for me, ever since I was a kid. But this time, as an adult, it was everything.”
Now, she’s writing and recording songs again, and ready to decide what’s next.
“It just takes some time to sort of heal a little bit,” she says. “I’ve found myself in a place where I can really look forward. It’s the first time in my life, really, where I thought, ‘Okay, well, what am I going to do? Where am I going now?’”
Ginny Mitchell’s Birthday Bash will be held on Friday, March 18, at 6:30pm at Michael’s on Main, 2591 South Main St., Soquel. $50 ticket includes dinner and show. For tickets, go to michaelsonmainmusic.com.
At a time when the character and personality of Santa Cruz is under assault by greedy developers and monied interests seeking to gentrify and homogenize our city with a seemingly endless number of high-density, urban-inspired, high-rise building projects, the “Quote of the Week” that appeared in the March 2 issue of GT is appropriate and bears repeating: “There may have been a time when preservation was about saving an old building here and there, but those days are gone. Preservation is in the new business of saving communities and the values they embody.“
This is not the first time Santa Cruz has been under siege. The effort to industrialize the city in the early ’60s was thwarted. Plans to turn Lighthouse Field into a convention center were halted by citizen involvement. There is still plenty of Santa Cruz to save. We don’t have to stand by and watch it sold off to the highest bidder.
Michael Funari
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*****@*******es.sc.
RTC Commissioners: You were appointed—not elected—as regional commissioners of California transportation policy to administer state funding to implement that public policy. In your RTC roles, your duties are to serve as trustees of the ways and means of developing better public transportation, not as local politicos buffeted by the winds of parochial interests.
You have one job: administer public funding to improve our public highways and transportation systems, and plan for and carry out that work. No more, no less.
The California Transportation Commission bought us a functioning railroad, 32 miles long, connecting with the intrastate mainline at Pájaro. This strategic asset was acquired for the RTC to maintain, improve and develop for public railroad purposes.
We commend your staff’s planning for a paved rail trail for pedestrians, bicyclists, wheelchair users, hand-cyclists and others alongside the tracks as an ancillary part of our railroad infrastructure. That makes perfectly good sense—it’s an adjunct way for all people to access the planned electric passenger rail vehicles, and it can be used for local personal walking, biking, adaptive cycling and more. We’re already enjoying the two completed rail trail segments. Thank you!
However, we cannot emphasize too strongly: The only legitimate priority use for the Santa Cruz Branch railroad corridor is for purposes of a public railroad—rail trail included. And if some further right of way acquisition is necessary to augment the rail trail, then so be it. It is your staff’s responsibility to plan for that, prepare for it, and fund it. We expect our RTC commissioners to support that work. Let’s get the job done.
No matter how much money the adversaries of the public trust put into their misguided campaign pressuring the RTC to tear out the tracks and build a “linear park” there instead, we urge you: Do not be deterred. No matter how much the anti-rail Greenway ballot initiative may attract political capital, you must not be influenced by it. You serve a greater purpose, and we support you in that.
Counter-productive planning for a so-called “interim trail” replacing the rails is not a responsible option.The “interim” would be interminable. That unreasonable alternative would vitiate the RTC’s public railroad purpose entirely. Among other harms, it would preclude our firefighters’ desired ability to respond to wildfires by use of the public railroad, according to officials from six local fire protection districts.
We know that doing what needs to be done isn’t easy! But we also know, and we hope you know, that where there’s a will, there’s a way.
We believe that funding to rebuild the railroad bridges is surely available if we apply for it and pursue it diligently. We need to be aiming for a well-functioning public railroad.
Please, do your job. Our grandchildren will thank you.
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*****@*******es.sc.
I’m amazed at how Consuelo Alba and her partners have built the Watsonville Film Festival up into such an impressive organization over the last decade. I remember walking around the Fox Theater in Watsonville with her years ago as she told me what she envisioned for the WFF—not just film screenings, but cultural events that would bring the community together. Even as I thought, “It’ll take forever to develop this plan,” I was swept up in her energy and enthusiasm.
Clearly, it didn’t take forever, because their annual Day of the Dead celebration is already one of the county’s most beloved events. I’ve seen some great films at the WFF, but even more important to me are my memories of having a blast at their Frida Fest celebration a few years ago.
So that’s why, despite my relief that the WFF was able to survive and even thrive virtually over the last couple of years of the pandemic, I’m so happy to see them return to an in-person event this year. The WFF really does bring the community together, just like Alba originally promised. I think when you read Johanna Miller’s cover story on the event in this week’s issue, you’ll see that they haven’t lost a step. They can show a Hollywood crowd-pleaser like Real Women Have Curves one night, and then Fruits of Labor—a documentary about a Watsonville teenager trying to figure out her future while doing farm work—on another. The common denominator is heart, and I think that is what’s really at the core of Alba’s vision.
STEVE PALOPOLI | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
PHOTO CONTEST WINNER
A shot from Beach Hill last week shows the recently cleared site that was La Bahía. Photograph by Mathew E. Simpson.
Submit to ph****@*******es.sc. Include information (location, etc.) and your name. Photos may be cropped. Preferably, photos should be 4 inches by 4 inches and minimum 250dpi.
GOOD IDEA
READY TO ROLE MODEL
Senderos, a non-profit that teaches Latino culture and history to Santa Cruz youth, hosts a Latino Role Models conference each year for students and their families. This year’s virtual conference on Saturday, March 12, will hold workshops and a panel on how Latino students can achieve their higher education and career dreams. The keynote speaker is Dolores Huerta, the civil rights activist who co-founded the United Farm Workers labor union with Cesar Chavez. Sign up at: tinyurl.com/latinosmodels2022.
GOOD WORK
COST OF LIVING
A federal judge recently gave the green light for the Pajaro Valley Healthcare District (PVHD) to buy Watsonville Community Hospital, which was at risk of closure. Now, PVHD is raising money to complete the purchase of the city’s only hospital. On Sunday, PVHD announced the launch of its fundraising campaign, with Watsonville-based berry company Driscoll pledging $1.75 million to match all donations to the effort made by May 1. Donations can be made at PVHDP’s website at PVHDP.org.
It has been 75 years since Dave Ferrari first opened “Ferrari the Florist” on Pacific Avenue in Downtown Santa Cruz.
It was 1946, just after the end of World War II, and the shop quickly gained a reputation for its quality flowers, window displays and friendly customer service.
Through its extensive history, Ferrari Florist, as it’s now called, has persisted—and remained important in the lives of Santa Cruz County customers.
“They’re all so loyal,” says Brian Piazza, who now owns the store with wife Marilyn Piazza. “They go gaga over Ferrari. They all have stories to tell—historic stories, from long before I was involved.”
The Piazzas purchased the longstanding business in 2016 after it had gone up for sale. They knew of its legacy, plus the shop had arranged the flowers for their own wedding more than three decades prior.
Since gaining ownership, Brian and Marilyn have expanded Ferrari’s reach by opening satellite locations in Scotts Valley and Watsonville. The stores sell mainly locally grown flowers and plants, and they also aim to be environmentally sensitive, working with local organizations to create arrangements to attract butterflies, honeybees and other pollinators.
Brian says that the 75th anniversary felt “surreal.”
“We’re trying to get our minds around it,” he says. “Owning a business that has been around for so long … it’s incredible.”
The Piazzas are in the midst of relocating and expanding their current flagship Santa Cruz operation on Soquel Avenue to the 100-year-old Farmers Exchange Building on River Street. Brian says he had been driving by the iconic building when he noticed it was available.
“We called the landlord, he says they’d been going through a big selection of possible businesses,” he says. “There were pot stores, mattress shops, franchises, chains. But they were being very selective about who went in there.”
When Brian pitched bringing in Ferrari, the landlord called the owner of the building, who was immediately on board.
“Apparently the owner says to them, ‘Do whatever it takes to get Ferrari Florist in there—that’s exactly who we want,’” he says. “That was nice. We didn’t have to struggle too much for it.”
The large red building, located next door to Patagonia, is triple the old shop’s space. Brian says that Soquel Avenue space is too small to meet current demand, and can be frustrating for employees who have to navigate a cramped back room.
“It’s also tucked in on a blind side of the street,” he says. “No one can really see us.”
The new store, which held its soft opening on Feb. 28, will eventually include everything from a wedding/event consultation area to a plant and garden store similar to the one at their store in Watsonville. They will hold classes in the store as well, on floral arrangement and succulent garden planting. An ADA-accessible Dutch door will act as a walk-up window for curbside pickup.
The soft opening will soon be followed by a grand opening and possible 75th anniversary celebration in the spring. The Piazzas are coming down from the hustle and bustle of Valentine’s Day, one of the busiest times of year for florists.
“It’s really exciting,” Brian says. “This business has always been about our customers. Their enthusiasm is what motivates us. It’s not about monetizing things—this is about demand. They want more.”
Despite ongoing challenges, such as the nationwide labor shortage, supply chain issues and high costs, Brian says they are excited to be moving forward with the expansion.
“Santa Cruz has been getting a lot of bumps and bruises,” he says. “Lots of businesses are moving away. For me, though, we’re investing in this community with this move. We’re one of the originals. So we’re going to stay right here.”
A decade ago, a sold-out crowd gathered at the Henry J. Mello Center in Watsonville to enjoy films, promote filmmakers and celebrate the local arts community.
The first annual Watsonville Film Festival (WFF) was supposed to be a one-time event. But its success ignited interest in both organizers and South County residents who attended.
“Our motivation then was to celebrate local stories, the creativity of our community and bring people together—once,” says WFF executive director Consuelo Alba. “All of us realized, ‘There is something here. We have to continue.’ And we keep saying that every year. There is something very powerful and magical about bringing people together through film.”
The festival’s reach has continued to grow every year; a single festival has transformed into a year-round nonprofit that hosts events and works closely with other organizations, schools and businesses.
“I am incredibly proud, and grateful for our team,” Alba says, “and for everyone who has been involved in this organization for all this time, but all the new faces as well. It’s just a really, really wonderful feeling to get to this point.”
WFF’s 8th annual festival was one of the first in-person events in Santa Cruz County to be canceled when Covid-19 hit in March of 2020. So the group shifted its focus to virtual events, eventually creating its very own streaming channel in 2021.
“[Going virtual] was very hard, we had never done it before,” Alba says. “In 2020 we experimented with different formats, and then we started working with our own platform. We’ve been learning a lot in the process.”
The shift to online has resulted in WFF’s viewership expanding exponentially.
“We are reaching more people than ever,” Alba says. “Beyond Santa Cruz County, beyond Monterey Bay, even beyond California. Our program is attracting a lot of attention.”
Virtual screenings continue to be a part of this year’s festival, which kicked off Friday and runs through March 20.
Brenda Avila-Hanna, who works for WFF’s Artist Development and is a member of the Programming Team, says she is glad they are keeping some of the programming available online for free.
“We got a lot of feedback that by doing that, we addressed some other issues,” Avila-Hanna says. “Like mobility: Sometimes people cannot attend for different reasons. They might be working, or maybe there isn’t a bus route that can take them there.”
Additionally, going virtual has allowed WFF to make its Q&A sessions and other materials completely bilingual.
“We heard from people who were watching films with different generations within their families,” Avila-Hanna says. “We’re excited to continue that tradition. To have a little bit of what the festival was before, and what is shaping up to be its future.”
More than 30 full-length and short films are now available to watch for free online at watsonvillefilmfest.org. Many are locally made, via places such as Digital NEST, and a handful are set in Watsonville.
‘Tesoros,’ which will be screened at this year’s event, tells the story of a group of kids who go searching for pirate loot.
Local ‘Fruits’
One such film, Fruits of Labor, follows a Watsonville teenager named Ashley who is balancing school, applying for college and personal life while also working in local agricultural fields and factories to help support her family.
Directed by Emily Cohen Ibañez, the 2021 documentary had its world premier at the South by Southwest film festival in Austin, TX last year, and has impressed audiences and critics alike across the U.S.
“I love coming-of-age stories, but I didn’t see those afforded to women of color, especially working women of color,” Ibañez says. “I wanted Ashley to be her full self as a teenager. This is an unusual film about farm labor. People are used to seeing historical icons, or very issue-driven films that focus on social ills. Sometimes what can happen is that folks of color can become stand-ins for social problems.”
Ibañez called working with Ashley and her family “compelling.”
“The love between them just jumps off the screen,” she says. “She is doing farm and factory labor, but she’s also a teen who has a sense of humor, who falls in love for the first time, going through teenage angst as well as these huge burdens she’s having to manage that no teenager should.”
Ibañez said that Ashley and her family are excited that the film will be featured at WFF.
“She’s overjoyed, it’s just really exciting. WFF is a wonderful festival, but it’s also the hometown of the film,” Ibañez says. “There is so much hometown pride with this festival, and we’re honored and excited to be part of it.”
Other films include The Mole Agent, an Academy Award-winning documentary from Chile about an elderly person who takes a job as a detective inside an assisted-living facility; and Treasures, a film from Mexico about a family who moves from the city to a small fishing town, where they connect more closely with each other, the community and the environment.
Short films include the world premiere of Watsonville-based filmmaker Gabriel J. Medina’s Disposable, which tells the story of two undocumented laborers fleeing a civil war in Mexico, who find work in the U.S. during a global pandemic, only to discover they’ve been lured into a frightening situation.
“We have an incredible lineup, the selection of films is very strong this year,” Alba says. “And most of the films are directed by women—which is really exciting, because these are important stories we rarely see.”
BACK TO LIVE
Having an in-person component to the event was also important to organizers, especially after three years without one. On March 12 at 6pm, WFF will host an opening night event at the Mello Center, screening the award-winning film Real Women Have Curves, directed by Patricia Cardoso, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary.
The story follows a young Mexican-American woman (America Ferrera) on the cusp of adulthood.
“It is a really important American indie film,” Alba says. “It was very influential. It broke ground in 2002 by focusing on a young Latina immigrant in L.A., on her dreams, inspirations and self-love. It challenged all Hollywood conventions at the time. Our hope is to introduce this film to a new generation of Latinas.”
The screening will include a special appearance by playwright and screenwriter Josefina López.
WFF will also introduce its first cohort of Cine Se Puede fellows at the event. Cine Se Puede, launched last year, is a fellowship aiming to support emerging local filmmakers, assisting with funding of up to $1,000 per project. Participants will learn to pitch stories, improve proposals, budgets, marketing and distribution plans and more.
Fellows will have the chance to pitch projects to experts at the festival.
“There is an amazing educational pipeline here—Digital NEST, Cabrillo, local universities,” Avila-Hanna says. “But once filmmakers try to make it professionally, they either have to leave our region and we lose all that talent or opportunity. Or they stay, but it can feel very isolating. We’re trying to change that.
Avila-Hanna says she was “very excited” about the first cohort.
“They are all incredibly talented and resilient,” she says. “Many have been working here for years, some have screened their work at the festival. We have seen them grow from students to this professional stage. They are very intentional about working in the region. They really represent the essence of our festival.”
Alba said that the seven filmmakers will be working closely with WFF and each other for the next 13 months.
“We’ll have more opportunities to support these filmmakers after the festival,” she says. “But this way, people can recognize them as the inaugural fellows.”
Avila-Hanna says that Cine Se Puede, as well as the fact that WFF is free and easily accessible to all, makes it stand out.
“Our hope is that we continue to shift the culture around film festivals,” she says. “Reimagining what they could be, with a different audience who is not traditionally catered to by these events. Reimagining who goes to walk the red carpet, who gets to connect with other filmmakers, experts.”
The festival is also collaborating with PBS’ award-winning documentary series POV, which Alba says will help promote the festival within its networks.
“It’s really exciting,” Alba says. “It’s taking our work and exposure to another level.”
Alba said she is grateful to be back in person, at least for part of the festival, to celebrate 10 years.
“We invite people to come to the [March 12] event early to reconnect,” she said. “We haven’t been able to see people in this setting for so long!”
Alba added that WFF will be taking a number of Covid safety protocols at the event.
“We take the safety of our audiences very seriously,” she says. “We have a team dedicated to making sure we know where we stand with Covid and what the health department recommends.”
Looking ahead, Alba said her hope is that WFF will help make Watsonville become a hub for filmmaking, fostering both seasoned and brand new filmmakers and allowing Latino artists to feel supported and inspired.
“My hope is that we continue our program, that we can celebrate the great stories and artistry of Latino filmmakers for years to come,” she said. “And that our festival brings people to Watsonville. We’ve always been about promoting the talent, the potential, the economic development of Watsonville. We want to put it on the map as a place to watch amazing films.”
The Watsonville Film Festival will be held March 11-20. To register for the March 12 event, find a full schedule or donate to the organization, visit watsonvillefilmfestival.org.
A large group of people gathered in front of Cabrillo College’s Watsonville Campus Monday to watch as a new Pride flag was raised, two days after someone burned the rainbow flag that previously flew over the El Patio outdoor seating area.
Watsonville City Councilwoman Vanessa Quiroz-Carter, whose 2nd District covers the college, said the impromptu gathering sends a message to the county’s LGBTQ+ community.
“We see you, we hear you, we are here to protect you,” she said. “This is my community, this is my district and this is one of the only places in the world that I feel safe.”
According to Cabrillo President Matt Wetstein, a student worker found the charred flag next to Building A on Saturday morning.
“This is deeply upsetting, and we take this matter very seriously, as the second act of vandalism and hate to occur on Cabrillo’s campus within the past two weeks,” he says. “It is especially disturbing, because students love that flag, and several students came to El Patio specifically to take their photo with the flag.”
The Watsonville Police Department is investigating the incident, WPD spokeswoman Michelle Pulido said. Officers hope to view video surveillance footage taken at the campus, she said.
The incident occurred one week after someone scrawled racist graffiti on a bathroom on the Aptos campus, prompting Wetstein to repeat a message he sent out then. There is no apparent connection to that incident, Cabrillo officials have said.
“Cabrillo is a community that values diversity and promotes a safe and equitable environment for all students, faculty and staff, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity,” he said. “There is absolutely no place at Cabrillo for intolerance nor hatred of any kind. We welcome, support, and stand as allies with our members of the LGBTQ+ community.”
Neither the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office nor Cabrillo officials have specifically stated what the graffiti said. But Cabrillo spokeswoman Kristin Fabos said it was racist and anti-semitic, not anti-LGBTQ.
Those messages are apparently similar to graffiti found at UCSC in two reported incidents of anti-Black, antisemitic and white-supremacist graffiti.
According to UCSC spokesman Scott Hernandez-Jason, the graffiti occurred sometime between March 4 and 5 at Crown and Merrill Colleges, and contained “spray-painted images and words which historically been used to inspire terror and to degrade and dehumanize Black and Jewish people.”
“These symbols have taken on broader white-supremacist meanings in the 21st century, and have also been used against many communities of color. We resolutely condemn this crime,” he stated in a message to the community.
The UCSC Police Department initiated an investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the UCSC PD at 459-2231, ext. 1.
It is not yet clear if there is a connection to any of the vandalism.
At the Watsonville rally, Encompass Community Services CEO Monica Martinez said she was “shocked” when she learned about the vandalism.
The turnout, she said, sends a message to the community.
“I think it’s so important that the community shows up and shows youth, in particular, that this is a safe space for them,” Martinez said. “It’s so difficult to be a queer youth growing up.”
Not having the support can have a detrimental effect on young LGBTQ+ people, Martinez said.
“I want to be a part of showing the community that it is a safe space, and that there are allies and friends and people like them,” she said.
Madeline Ciara Aliah, 16, who attends Cypress High School in Santa Cruz, attended the gathering. She said she was frustrated when she heard about the vandalism.
“There are so many things going on right now,” Aliah said. “There is a war going on, on every front, on our right to be us.”
Asked why she made the 15-mile trip to Watsonville, Aliah said, “I’ve gotta do something.”
“I’m guessing there are a lot of people out there who will hear this news and think, ‘Man, one person can’t change anything,’” she said. “But if everyone thinks that, then nobody is going to change anything.”
Cabrillo College Governing Board Trustee Adam Spickler said that any act of violence and intimidation that targets minority groups is unacceptable.
“As an out LGBTQ elected leader at our college, I know how critical it is we make sure every student, staff and faculty member feels safe at our college,” Spickler said. “We will act quickly and courageously to ensure Cabrillo stays welcoming and safe for everyone.”
The acts of vandalism follow a year in which nearly every school district and municipality in the county raised flags celebrating the LGBTQ+ community. In addition, Jimmy Dutra and Donna Meyers, both open members of the LGBTQ+ community, were the lead officials for the two largest cities in the county—Watsonville and Santa Cruz, respectively.
Spickler also said that the college views the vandalism as a “teachable moment.”
“We will increase opportunities to showcase positive representations of LGBTQ people, history and events at Cabrillo,” Spickler said.
Fellow Cabrillo College Trustee Steve Trujillo, who is also openly gay, agreed.
“This is a senseless act of vandalism and it does not represent the caring spirit that is so prominent at the Watsonville Center,” he said. “We reject these acts of hatred and want students to know that Cabrillo is here for you as a safe space and a place of friendship and support.”
[This article has been updated from a previous version that included a photo that did not accurately represent the content of this story. — Editor]
The Black Health Matters Initiative, a local effort to improve the quality of life for Santa Cruz County’s Black residents, was honored at the inaugural Anthem Awards on Feb. 28.
The goal of the Anthem Awards, according to its website, is to honor “the purpose and mission-driven work of people, companies, and organizations worldwide.” The competition received nearly 2,500 entries from 36 countries worldwide.
Black Health Matters, which grew from the Tannery World Dance & Cultural Center (TWDCC), was honored alongside The New York Times, The Daily Show With Trevor Noah and star tennis player Naomi Osaka, as well as a number of other prominent figures. It took home Silver in the category of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Best Community Engagement. Its fellow category winners included the National AIDS Memorial.
“It was amazing to be recognized at this level,” says Angela Chambers, Black Health Matters project manager and director of the Youth Ambassador Program, “and to be able to accept the honor with our partners and community, who have worked so hard to make our initiative successful.”
Black Health Matters was born out of the response to the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer in 2020. Founder Cat Willis, who was director of TWDCC at the time, said she was inspired when she saw the Black community in Santa Cruz convening to take action.
“We are about 1.4% of the population [of Santa Cruz County],” Willis says. “I’ve been here 21 years, I raised my kids here, but I haven’t seen a lot of safe spaces where Black folks gather. I saw a big, gaping hole in the community. With [Black Health Matters], I wanted to bring together multi-generational, multi-faceted, Black-led or centered organizations that could help create for us more agency, pathways and power.”
Black Health Matters partners with United Way of Santa Cruz County, the Santa Cruz County Coalition for Justice and Racial Equity, the Speak for Change Podcast, the Pajaro Valley Health Trust and more to increase the visibility of health inequalities impacting the Black community. It provides resources and funding for outdoor recreation, arts and culture events, youth empowerment programs and more.
Being honored with an Anthem Award for their work, Chambers says, felt validating.
“Black Health Matters is centered in our health, and in Black futures. But it’s also centered in our joy,” she says. “To have that validated as an important, worthy and honored cause is huge.”
Willis said she hopes the award and Black Health Matters’ increasing visibility in Santa Cruz will keep interest growing.
“We want to be sure that we support young leaders, entrepreneurs,” Willis says, “people who want to hold social and cultural events that give Black folks a sense of community, a network.”
Black Health Matters recently supported Santa Cruz’s first-ever Cookout, held at Harvey West Park on Feb. 26. Organized by local activist Ayo Banjo, the event brought together the Black community and allies for an afternoon of recreation, food, entertainment and more.
“The Cookout was beautiful,” Chambers said. “There were kids running around playing games, sports, Black artists, allies, a beautiful barbecue … It was absolutely healing. It was like a shift in what can be considered normal in Santa Cruz.”
Chambers said she was grateful for what Black Health Matters has given her personally, as well as the greater Black community.
“This has been a healing venture for me, as a mixed Black person in Santa Cruz,” she says. “I’ve been lucky in my experience to have found such a diverse home base … but that’s not the case for so many. Black residents often end up leaving, being victims of racism and violence … I just need people to know [Black Health Matters] has been a saving grace for so many. It’s much more than events and programming—it’s home.”
To learn more about Black Health Matters visit bit.ly/3MieqrL. For information about the Anthem Awards visit anthemawards.com.
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Aries author Isak Dinesen defined “true piety” as “loving one’s destiny unconditionally.” That’s a worthy goal for you to aspire to in the coming weeks. I hope you will summon your deepest reserves of ingenuity and imagination as you cultivate a state of mind in which you adore your life just as it is. You won’t compare it negatively to anyone else’s fate, and you won’t wish it were different from what it actually is. Instead, you will be pleased and at peace with the truth of exactly who you are right now.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): As author Mary Ruefle points out, “In the beginning, William Shakespeare was a baby, and knew absolutely nothing. He couldn’t even speak.” And yet eventually, he became a literary superstar—among history’s greatest authors. What happened in between? I’m not exaggerating when I attribute part of the transformation to magic. Vast amounts of hard work and help and luck were involved, too. But to change from a wordless, uncoordinated sprout to a potent, influential maestro, Taurus-born Shakespeare had to be the beneficiary of mysterious powers. I bring this up, Taurus, because I think you will have access to comparable mojo during the next four weeks.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): As talented and financially successful as Kanye West is, the Gemini singer-songwriter experiences a lot of emotional suffering. But no one lives an ideal life, right? And we can learn from everyone. In any case, I’ve chosen quotes by Kanye that are in rapt alignment with your astrological omens. Here they are: 1. “I’m in pursuit of awesomeness; excellence is the bare minimum.” 2. “You’re not perfect, but you’re not your mistakes.” 3. “I’m not comfortable with comfort. I’m only comfortable when I’m in a place where I’m constantly learning and growing.” 4. “Everything I’m not makes me everything I am.”
CANCER (June 21-July 22): “Any real ecstasy is a sign you are moving in the right direction,” wrote philosopher Saint Teresa of Avila, who was renowned for her euphoric spiritual experiences. So is there any such thing as “fake ecstasy,” as she implies? Maybe fake ecstasy would be perverse bliss at the misfortune of an enemy, or the trivial joy that comes from realizing your house keys aren’t missing. Real ecstasy, on the other hand, might arise from a visceral sense of the presence of God, or the rapture that emerges as you make love with a person you care for, or the elation you feel when you commune with your favorite animal. Anyway, Cancerian, I predict that in the coming days, you will have an extra rich potential for the real kinds of rhapsodic delight and enchantment.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Leo actor Jennifer Lawrence portrayed a rugged, fierce, resourceful champion in The Hunger Games film trilogy. In real life, however, she has few resemblances to that stalwart hero. “I have the street smarts and survival skills of a poodle,” she has confessed. But I’ve got potentially good news for her and all the rest of you Leos. The coming months will be a favorable time for you to cultivate the qualities of a rugged, fierce, resourceful champion. And right now would be an excellent time to launch your efforts.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Each of us periodically has to deal with conflict. There come times when we must face the fact that a specific situation in our lives isn’t working well and needs to be adjusted, fixed or transformed. We might prefer to pretend the problem doesn’t exist. We may be inclined to endure the stressful discomfort rather than engage with its causes. But such an approach won’t be right for you in the coming days, dear Virgo. For the sake of your mental and spiritual health, you have a sacred duty to bravely risk a struggle to improve things. I’ll provide you with advice from novelist John Fowles. He said, “I must fight with my weapons. Not his. Not selfishness and brutality and shame and resentment.” Fowles goes on to say that he will offer generosity and gentleness and no-shame and forgiveness.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): A blogger named MysteryOfWhat expressed appreciation for her errors and wrong turns. “I love all my mistakes!” she exclaimed. “I had fun!” She has a theory that she would not have been able to completely fulfill her interesting destiny without her blunders and her brilliant adjustments to those blunders. I won’t encourage you to be quite so boisterously unconditional in celebrating your fumbles and miscues, Libra. My inclination is to urge you to honor them and feel grateful for them, but I’m not sure I should advise you to shout out, “I love all my mistakes! I had fun!” But what do you think?
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Scorpio poet Norman MacCaig wrote, “Ask me, go on, ask me to do something impossible, something freakishly useless, something unimaginable and inimitable like making a finger break into blossom or walking for half an hour in twenty minutes or remembering tomorrow.” I hope people say things like that to you soon, Scorpio. I hope allies playfully nudge you to stretch your limits, expand your consciousness and experiment on the frontier. To encourage such a development, you could do the same for your beloved allies: nudge them to stretch their limits, expand their consciousness and experiment on the frontier.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): “Look at your body not as a source of physical attraction but as a shrine,” wrote teacher Sobonfu Somé. Personally, I have no problem if you regard your body as a source of physical attraction—as a gorgeous, radiant expression of your life energy, worthy of inspiring the appreciation of others. But I agree with Somé that you should also treat your body as a sacred sanctuary deserving of your reverence—especially now. Please boost your intention to provide your beloved organism with all the tender care it needs and warrants.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): “It’s surprising how much memory is built around things unnoticed at the time,” writes author Barbara Kingsolver. Yes! I agree. And by providing you with this heads-up from her, I’m hoping that the subtly potent events unfolding for you in the coming weeks will not go unnoticed. I’m hoping you will be alert for seemingly small but in fact crucial developments—and thereby give them all the focus and intelligence they deserve. Later, you’ll remember this delicately pivotal time with amazed gratitude.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): What’s more important: to learn or to unlearn? The answer, of course, is they are equally important. But sometimes, the most crucial preparation for a new learning phase is to initiate a surge of unlearning. That’s what I’m recommending for you right now. I foresee you embarking on a series of extravagant educational experiences in a couple of weeks. And the best way to ensure you take maximum advantage of the available lessons is by dumping useless knowledge and irrelevant information and numbing habits.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Singer-songwriter Jill Scott has earned one platinum and two gold records. She approaches her craft with diligence and intensity. On one occasion, she was frying a burger at her boyfriend’s house when she sensed a new song forming in her imagination. Abandoning the stove, she ran into the next room to grab pen and paper. Soon she had transcribed the beginning of a melody and lyrics. In the meantime, though, the kitchen caught on fire. Luckily, she doused it. Later Jill testified, “His cabinets were charred, and he was furious. But it was worth it for a song.” I don’t think you’ll have to make as big a sacrifice as hers in the coming days, Pisces. But you should respond robustly whenever inspiration arrives.
Homework: Every day for three days, seek out three experiences that will make you laugh a lot. Report results: newsletter.freewillastrology.com.
Spring is just around the corner, ushering in the warmer weather that comes with it. I suggest we greet this temperate season full-on with a nice bottle of Chardonnay.
Ettore Wine’s 2018 Chardonnay Pure ($28) is the perfect addition to your wine rack. Should you want to try another Ettore Chardonnay, Zero ($42) is a fantastic option.
The winery’s master winemaker and namesake, Ettore Biraghi, is an Italian-born son of flower growers, so his attachment to the land came early. But when he first saw the Sanel Valley in Mendocino along the northern stretches of the Russian River, he describes it as “love at first sight.” So, this is where he founded the boutique winery.
The Chardonnay Pure ($28) is made with organic grapes, as are all Ettore’s wines. Notes of white flowers and exotic fruits accompany butter and vanilla nuances. With its deep straw-yellow color and golden reflections, it’s appealing to look at as well as to taste. The soft and flavorful finish is a fine ending to this elegant wine. Don’t forget to “spring forward” your clocks on Sunday, March 13. ettore.wine.com.
Dream Inn
Santa Cruz’s iconic landmark hotel, the Dream Inn, has some special events lined up for spring break—a daily Street Taco Cart, Kids Happy Hour featuring $6 Marianne’s ice cream bars, a Bloody Mary & Mimosa Bar and a citywide Scavenger Hunt with maps and prizes. City tours are available on “Slowboy,” a newly restored 1964 VW bus. The Dream Inn has recently revamped the Jack O’Neill restaurant and all 165 rooms, adding to the enjoyment of a welcome break right next to the beach. dreaminnsantacruz.com.
Bee-Keeping Workshop
If you missed Love Apple Farms’ workshop on backyard bee-keeping, there’s another one scheduled for April 2. Love Apple, based in Scotts Valley, is hosting classes through September, focusing on an assortment of your gardening needs. growbetterveggies.com.
