Page 388 – Good Times

Monterey Bay Birding Festival Canceled Again

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July 26, 2021

Monterey Bay Birding Festival Canceled Again

The Monterey Bay Birding Festival has been mothballed for the second year in a row due to pandemic complications.

Despite most levels of society, from schools, businesses, services and government, edging back toward normal operations, the festival—in its 17th year—couldn’t get off the ground.

“The festival is definitely canceled for this year,” said Jeff Manker, board president of the Festival. “The reason is that it takes nearly a year to get everything in place. To have a festival this year we would have had to book a venue back in November 2020. Back then, no one was booking because the certainty of a vaccine was still up in the air.”

Additionally, Manker said organizers could not book speakers or workshop presenters because no one knew if it would be safe to hold events by September 2021.

“There was still so much we did not know about this pandemic and were getting very mixed messages from the government,” Manker said. “One thing we did know was that the most vulnerable group were seniors; many birders fall into that category.”

The festival, centered in Watsonville, fans out around the Monterey Bay area and beyond with field trips, lectures, special guests, authors and workshops. Typically run in September, the three-day event draws birders—from amateurs to experts—from around the globe. A major draw is their opening reception, which features the Taste of Pajaro Valley, an informal spread of the Pajaro Valley’s bounty of edibles, from strawberries to fine wines and local brews.

Manker said the board is expected to start planning out the future of the festival at an upcoming meeting. The board will also have new leadership next year, Manker said.

“The only big change I know of for now is that I am planning to move out of the area sometime in the next year, and so I will be giving up my position as board president,” Manker said. “So there will be a change in leadership and that may determine changes to come.”

Pajaro Valley has long been a huge attraction to birders, especially being situated along the migratory flyway with its six sloughs, lakes, rivers and the Pacific shoreline.

Field trips in the past included Pinto Lake, Big Sur River, Natural Bridges and West Cliff in Santa Cruz, Owls of Robinson Canyon and Ospreys and Owls of Elkhorn Slough.

Two arrested in Santa Cruz Black Lives Matter mural vandalism

Todd Guild

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July 25, 2021

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Two arrested in Santa Cruz Black Lives Matter mural vandalism

Santa Cruz police arrested two men suspected of vandalizing a large Black Lives Matter mural in Santa Cruz on Saturday by making a series of long, sinuous skid marks over it with a pickup truck carrying the United States flag.

Brandon Bochat, 20, of Santa Cruz and Hagan Warner, 19, of Boulder Creek, are suspected of damaging the art piece painted on the 800 block of Center Street sometime Friday night.

Investigators believe that both Bochat and Warner took turns driving the vehicle during the commission of the crime. The suspects posted a video of the vandalism on social media, with one of them writing, “‘BLM’ is a joke cry about it pussys,” with a United States flag emoji in the center of the statement.

In the video, at least one person can be heard laughing.

The suspects were booked into the Santa Cruz County Jail on charges of felony vandalism and conspiracy to commit a felony. They were released after posting bail, Santa Cruz Police Department Chief Andy Mills said Sunday during a community meeting at the police station attended by more than 50 people.

Police are still seeking two suspects in the crime, but it is not yet clear what their roles were, Mills said.

The department is considering hate crime charges, Mills said, if investigators can collect enough evidence to prove it.

“The investigation continues,” he said. “There is a lot of work still to be done.”

Abi Mustapha, one of the artists who worked on the mural along with roughly 500 community members, said that the act caused psychological damage to the community.

“This is out here,” she said. “It exists. If bigots can do this, why do I want to walk around these streets?”

Bochat and Warner were arrested after detectives received videos of the crime. In the videos, a white truck is seen intentionally “burning out” and applying tire tread marks across the length of the mural.

The mural was painted last September, three months after the murder of George Floyd sparked nationwide protests. It was approved by the Santa Cruz City Council last June.

“The mural is considered a public art installation, guided and funded by community members who desired a reminder of the struggle Black members of our community endure both locally and across the nation,” Santa Cruz Mayor Donna Meyers said at Sunday’s meeting.

She called the vandalism “heartbreaking and violating.”

“I can assure you that all of my City Council colleagues will work closely with our community to repair this damage as soon as possible, and more importantly to combat the roots of why such an act was committed,” she added.

Santa Cruz Vice-Mayor Sonja Brunner called the vandalism “scary,” and said it did more than simple physical damage.

“It also caused emotional, psychological and in-my-soul damage, and I know it’s not just me,” she said.

Brunner added that she plans to work with local organizations, schools and others in the wake of the incident.

“Progress is being made, but there is still so much that needs to happen,” she said. “It’s actions like this that remind us that there is still work to be done.”

Mills said that the damage estimate is well above the $450 required for a felony-level crime.

“This really struck a chord with many of our community members,” he said. “The Black community, the community of large, the people of color in our community, felt this was a personal attack.”

Mills pointed out that, out of more than 5,000 street segments in the city of Santa Cruz, the suspects chose to leave tread marks over a Black Lives Matter mural.

“We can see what took place here,” he said. “This wasn’t just a couple of kids fooling around, doing a burnout on the street. This was an intentional act of vandalism on something our community holds dear—a symbol of hope.”

Mills also had a message for anyone minimizing the crime.

“For those who seek to minimize the events that took place, to negate the responsibility by saying ‘these are just kids fooling around,’ shame on you,” Mills said. “This was meaningful to this community, and we will do everything in our power to make sure that those who did this are brought to justice.”

Santa Cruz City Manager Martin Bernal said the city plans to repair the mural as soon as possible, but the damage must first be estimated by Public Works employees.

Numerous people spoke about the vandalism Sunday. Some called for community-wide education to combat inherent racism issues that they said must be addressed at the elementary school level.

One woman who declined to give her name said the incident is not an isolated event and is about more than young kids harboring racist ideology.

“The issue is that it’s clear that there is a white supremacist community in this area, not just racist people,” she said. “I’m talking about a white supremacist community that has infiltrated itself in this area.”

Calls Mount for Sutter to Continue Urgent Care in Scotts Valley

Drew Penner

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July 23, 2021

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Calls Mount for Sutter to Continue Urgent Care in Scotts Valley

On a recent Sunday, Scotts Valley resident Sara Gonzales-Erhan walked past Sutter Health’s Urgent Care facility on Scotts Valley Drive with her daughter. The stroll served as a reminder of how staff at the location made a minor emergency last year less painful.

Elsa Erhan, who was 12 at the time, had hurt her ankle while running around the couch during some pandemic-era playtime, and needed the doctor to tell her just how bad it was.

“When I went there, she was really, really nice about it,” she said, adding the physician said she hadn’t broken anything, and shared helpful healing tips. “They were really easy to follow.”

Gonzales-Erhan, 46, told her daughter, who is now 13, that Sutter Health is planning to shutter the facility and bring in other services—primary and pediatric—and that the House lawmaker who represents the area’s been trying to convince the company to reverse course.

That effort gained steam July 14, when Rep. Anna G. Eshoo spoke with the health company’s top brass by phone and demanded they gather the community to explain why they’re making the move.

On July 16, a Sutter Health spokesperson said “local leaders from Sutter Health and the Palo Alto Medical Foundation had a productive meeting with Congresswoman Anna Eshoo earlier this week.”

Eshoo said she felt like she got some traction, but the result left much to be desired.

“I’m upset,” Eshoo told the Press Banner July 15, the day after speaking to Sutter CEO Sarah Krevans. “It’s deeply disappointing to me how my constituents are being treated.”

Eshoo is one of the most powerful politicians in Washington who’s been working on health matters long before she helped pass the Affordable Care Act—aka Obamacare. She spent much of her time as a San Mateo County Supervisor on such issues.

With the CZU Lightning Complex fires still visible in the rear-view mirror for many who are served by the Scotts Valley urgent care facility, and given how commuting across Santa Cruz can be a time-consuming proposition, Eshoo says closing it isn’t fair for residents.

“Being stuck in traffic with a 45-minute drive doesn’t fit with the word ‘urgent,’” she said. “This really landed like a bomb in the community.”

Gonzales-Erhan first learned of the closure plan through social media site Nextdoor.

“I was actually like, ‘Could this be true?’” she recalled. “I felt like the rug was pulled out from under me.”

Numerous comments on the site related astonishment, anger, frustration and annoyance.

“I think it is inexcusable that they haven’t notified patients who use the facility of its impending closure,” wrote user Janet Barlow, of Scotts Valley. “Sutter is getting way too big for its britches!”

A Bear Creek Woods resident offered to help fight back: “I’d be willing to join a picket line in Scotts Valley if you think that would help spread awareness in the community,” said poster Sonia Wyman.

Glen Arbor resident Joyce Spencer commented that she’d reached out to Sutter Health directly and never got a reply.

But the reason Gonzales-Erhan was taken aback by the news, was that she hasn’t had much luck getting her family health care protection anywhere nearby, despite being a longtime Sutter customer.

“I’ve been with Palo Alto Medical (Foundation) since 1985,” she said. “It isn’t like I’m calling Sutter and saying ‘I want to establish as a new patient.’”

She switched from a doctor in Mountain View to a doctor in Los Altos, for herself, and to Los Gatos health care for her kids—signing them up with Stanford Children’s Health.

Just two weeks before she saw the Nextdoor post, she’d called one of their Santa Cruz locations in the hopes they wouldn’t have to be tied to facilities in Silicon Valley.

The Sutter rep said she’d have to keep driving long distances for care, not because of a lack of physical space for doctors, but rather, because the company had a hard time hiring employees, according to Gonzales-Erhan. So reading the post, she wondered if they might eliminate one form of care only to struggle to staff the reoriented facility.

A Sutter spokesperson did not respond when asked directly about the comment.

At one point, Gonzales-Erhan had a problem with her knee, so she went to the Scotts Valley urgent care. She left feeling as positive about the experience as her daughter did after the twisted-ankle situation.

“The doctors that we saw at that urgent care, they’re really good,” she said. “They really take people’s concerns seriously.”

She was referred to a specialist in Santa Cruz, but that wasn’t the end of it. She got a follow-up call. The doctor was checking to make sure everything had worked out, Gonzales-Erhan said.

“You get so used to being in this ‘mill’—like a ‘patient mill,’” she said, explaining why the personal touch meant so much to her. “They’re just really friendly.”

Sutter says it will still offer same-day appointments in Scotts Valley.

Eshoo says Sutter “mishandled” the roll-out, and wonders if money had something to do with the decision—as in many corners of the health care industry.

“If you scratch beneath the surface a little, it usually has something to do with finances—but I don’t know for certain that’s what it is,” she said. “I think that people really deserve to hear from Sutter.”

Now the ball’s in the health giant’s court, according to Eshoo.

“I think that Sutter has a way to go in order to move back into a column of satisfactory performance here,” she said. “It’s up to them to pick up the ball.”

Bonny Doon Art Tour Returns this Month

Christina Wise

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July 23, 2021

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Joan Hellenthal of Bonny Doon has participated in the DoonArt Tour every year since it began in 2010, but 2020 got the best of the event—and Hellenthal.

“The fire came as close as the next ridge to my house and studio before it was stopped by planes dispensing fire retardant,” she said. “I was evacuated for five weeks but was allowed back to check on my house when it was safe. It was an unforgettable day when the sky was orange and as dark as night in the middle of the day. Very eerie.”

Eerie, indeed, and also inspirational for an artist like Hellenthal. She captured the dramatic feeling of her surroundings with two pieces that will be on display in the 2021 tour.

Bonny Doon artist Linda Levy said she is excited about this year’s event, and the promise of a fresh start after last year’s CZU Lightning Complex fires decimated more than 86,000 acres in San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties. The vast majority of the 1,490 buildings that were destroyed were in Bonny Doon.

“Neighborhood warriors and volunteer firefighters along with Cal Fire came together to battle this blaze. Many homes/buildings in Bonny Doon were left in ruins,” she said. “The Covid isolation and CZU fire destruction and evacuations closed what would have been the 10^th anniversary of the DoonArt Tour, during which several Bonny Doon artists lost everything. This year, the Tour is literally rising from the ashes, to share their artistic inspirations with visitors. The strength of their community is apparent in their extraordinary work.”

Levy says that the number of artists displaying their work has dropped due to the loss of homes and studios. They typically have 28-30 artists participating; this year they have 24.

“There will be diversity amongst the artists: painting in oils, watercolors, acrylics, pastels, digital, gouache, and other mediums like woodworking, photography, ceramics (both functional and sculptural), glass, jewelry, textiles, woodcuts, fiction/mystery author, furniture, tiles and rosemaling,” she said. “And most artists will be demonstrating how they create their work.”

For many artists, Levy says, the tour will be the first time they will have displayed their work since the fires and the pandemic.

“Artists have gone for over a year mostly unable to participate in exhibitions showing their work,” she said. “Many artists were affected by the isolation and the fires/evacuations and have created works of art expressing their experiences, and many have spoken about looking forward to being able to share their work with visitors.”

When the DoonArt Tour started 11 years ago, Levy said it was conceived in order to “make Bonny Doon a destination.”

Many of the area’s artists also participate in the Santa Cruz Art Council’s Open Studios, but the October weather in North County during that event presented challenges. The small number of visitors who made it to the outlying studios also pushed the Bonny Doon community to create its own display.

This year, the Santa Cruz Mountains Art Center in Ben Lomond is sponsoring the event as its partner nonprofit.

Levy says the tour will be a feast for the eyes of attendees, and safety will reign during the event.

“All of our artists have been fully vaccinated, and will be advocating the use of masks for those who feel the need,” she said.

The annual DoonArt Studio Tour, an event, free and open to the public, happens July 31 and Aug. 1, where 12 studios, representing 24 artists, will be open for visitors from 11am to 5pm. Come and be inspired by their expressive visions. For locations, visit the DoonArt Studio Tour’s Facebook page.

Pop-up Covid Vaccine Clinics Bring Shots to the Valley

Christina Wise

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July 23, 2021

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“I don’t want to die from Covid.”

For all the answers as to why folks were showing up at the pop-up Covid-19 vaccine clinic held at Liberty Bank on July 17, Boulder Creek resident Makayla Lockard had the most succinct, pull-no-punches response of the day.

The 19-year-old was one of 40 people who visited the Boulder Creek branch of the bank to receive one of two offered vaccines: the “one and done” Janssen/Johnson & Johnson variety, or the two-dose Pfizer shot for those 12 and older. Both were offered at no cost to residents who might otherwise have forgone the vaccine altogether, were it not for the convenience of the Downtown Boulder Creek location.

Rotary Club of San Lorenzo Valley Co-president Justin Acton was the primary mover and shaker of the four-week event, dubbed Vax The Valley, although he’s quick to spread the praise amongst other Rotarians and community partners.

“When I suggested the idea of hosting a pop-up vaccination clinic, there was unanimous consensus amongst the Rotary Club that it was a good idea,” he said. “Not one member was opposed—they all said, ‘How can we help?’ Within just a few days, we had County Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel on board, and the whole project came together very quickly after that.”

Acton was glad that county officials had his back.

“Some people are hesitant to jump into the vaccine conversation because it’s become politicized, and it shouldn’t be,” he said. “This isn’t a political issue, it’s a community health issue, and Rotary members realized that we weren’t forcing people to get vaccinated, but we were just offering the opportunity to do so if they wished.”

The push for the Boulder Creek location was based on statistics, Acton said. He recently read an article that said North Santa Cruz County had a lower vaccination rate than the county and the state.

“Locals were having trouble either navigating the medical system or getting rides to a vaccination location, so this seemed like something we could offer to help the community,” he said.

Acton also gives credit to Liberty Bank Manager Gina Klamner, whohas fully embraced its corporate mission to serve its community in multiple ways.

“We have supported other programs, like holding a Feed the Community Soup Night at the Odd Fellows Hall, and we’re always looking for ways to get more involved,” said Klamner, who has worked at the bank for 17 years.

Klamner said that both Rotary and the Santa Cruz Health Agency reached out to her, asking for her to open her branch doors as a way to improve the health of the community; Klamner didn’t bat an eye when asked.

“We think it’s important that the whole valley has the same opportunity as others to receive the vaccine,” she said. “Based on the responses from attendees, the biggest issue for most people was access to reliable transportation; the fact that we’re right here, in their backyards, allows them to come to a place they are familiar with, and get their shots.”

Danielle Solick of the Santa Cruz Health Agency’s Public Health Division was thrilled to watch locals stream into the bank. After just a year with the agency, she’s already seen a lot within her role.

“When I first joined, I was immediately deployed to the CZU Fire Response to help with staffing our medical health unit at the shelters,” she said.

She was based in Santa Cruz at the time, but has since broadened her reach into the San Lorenzo Valley and across the county as a clinic manager. Solick said that everyone on site on July 17 was volunteering their time to run the clinic.

“We brought enough vaccine for 50 people; we normally see between 25-40 patients at a small event like this one, but even if we only administered one shot, it would be considered a success,” she said. “Every shot is a good shot.”

Solick admits that, despite messaging from the president and the medical community regarding the need for vaccination, “Most people listen to information from their peers.”

“I think the success of a clinic like this is duplicated by a factor of 2-3, because these recipients are going to talk to other people,” she said. “We don’t really aim for an outcome, but we rely on our community partners to tell us where they see a need, and we respond accordingly.”

When asked what her primary message is to the public, Solick is pensive.

“It’s tricky. I don’t want to negate anyone’s opinions, or tell someone that their research is wrong,” she said. “I would say it’s always important to be discussing medical decisions with medical providers. We rely so heavily on social media that conversations can get convoluted at times. Right now, we are focused on targeted convenience to bring people in.”

Filmmaker Dave Waller of Felton was on-site in an effort to make a film about the little clinic that could.

“I’ve been looking for interesting projects that could benefit from being made into a film, and this seemed like the kind of thing that could use good messaging around it,” he said. “Vaccinations have been on my mind for the past few months, and I wanted to put some focus on the need to get as many people as possible vaccinated for the overall health of our community.”

Simon Murphy, 20, from Boulder Creek showed up for his jab.

“I got the flyer in the mail, and it seemed like a great opportunity,” he said. “I definitely would have waited longer to get it if this clinic wasn’t here. I wasn’t in a rush, but since it was right here in town, I decided to just do it.”

Parent Sarah Wildflower strolled in with her two teens, 12-year-old Serenity and 16-year-old Phoenix. Asked why today was the day to get the vaccine administered to her and her daughters, Wildflower said, “I just think it’s a good idea, with things mutating now. My kids are going to be returning to school, and I’ll be going back to work eventually, and this clinic just made it so convenient.”

Looking to attend the next pop-up clinic? Liberty Bank in Boulder Creek will be hosting three more opportunities from 10am to 2pm on the next three Saturdays: July 24, July 31 and Aug. 7. No registration is needed. Santa Cruz Metro runs its Route 35 bus on Saturdays, and the stop at Hwy. 9 and Hwy. 236 is the most convenient drop-off/pick-up point. Free snacks, beverages and gift cards are available at the event. There is also free transportation available at 408-315-3056.

New Downtown Mural Honors Watsonville’s Top Crop

Tarmo Hannula

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July 23, 2021

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New Downtown Mural Honors Watsonville’s Top Crop

WATSONVILLE—A new outdoor mural is taking shape thanks to three local artists and the backing of a business owner at the heavily traveled intersection of East Lake Avenue and Brennan Street.

Jessica Carrasco, Mateo Gonzalez (aka Primo) and Paul De Worken started work on the massive three-panel wall of Laundry Day laundromat this week. Using a slide projector, a generator and a long-handled paintbrush, they outlined the wall at night. As the week progressed the artists worked atop a scissor lift filling in the colors.

“This is my first mural,” Carrasco said. “I’m so excited to see it coming together. I just never thought I’d be part of something like this: I’m a new artist. Paul has been such a great mentor. We have people stop by, friends, family and strangers that comment and share ideas.”

Watsonville mural — *Jessica Carrasco boards a scissor lift to work on her portion of the mural. — Tarmo Hannula/The Pajaronian*

De Worken said the mural design not only celebrates one of Watsonville’s cash crops—strawberries—but also the culture of the farming that revolves around the colorful berries.

“We’ve got a lot of talent in Watsonville and a lot of talent going into this mural,” he said. “It should take about two weeks to complete. I just hope it all comes together in time for the Strawberry Festival.”

Laundry Day owner Dai Truong said he has been working with De Worken over the past year on the mural concept.

“I feel super excited about the mural,” he said. “It’s one way to celebrate the soul of the community. It’s the perfect canvas and it offers great visibility for our residents and visitors.”

Gonzalez, who runs his own business, Primo’s Custom Airbrush & Pinstriping, said he was thrilled to be part of such a significant project.

“It feels really good to be able to share my original design,” he said. “This is a big deal for me. Paul has been so encouraging. My design comes from a sticker I designed.”

Talks are also underway for a much larger mural on the rear wall of the business, Truong said.

*A sketch of what the mural will look like when completed. — courtesy of the city of Watsonville*

Watsonville Hospital Announces New CEO

Todd Guild

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July 23, 2021

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Watsonville Community Hospital has a new chief executive officer.

Steven Salyer, who has 14 years of leadership experience in hospitals throughout the U.S., started the position on July 6. The hospital announced the move on July 14.

Salyer previously served as chief operating officer at UP Health System in Marquette, Mich., a 222-bed specialty care and Level-2 trauma hospital. There, he oversaw all operations, including its cancer center, cardiology service line, employed physician clinics, surgery center and imaging centers.

Before that, he served as CEO of Sebastian River Medical Center in Sebastian, Fla., and as COO of Indian River Medical Center in Vero Beach, Fla.

In 2010, Salyer led a joint venture acquisition of Starke Regional Medical Center in Starke, Fla., in conjunction with Shands University of Florida.

Salyer has also served as CEO of Starke Regional Medical Center, and as COO of Harton Regional Medical Center in Tullahoma, Tenn.

Salyer was a captain in the United States Marine Corps for five years, both in peacetime and in combat support operations in Iraq.

Salyer in a press release said his focus will be on “ensuring the operational success of the hospital as one of the leading providers of healthcare in the area.”

“To achieve this goal, I am committed to building a strong partnership with the Watsonville Community Hospital medical staff and employees and working closely with them to enhance clinical quality, patient safety, and overall customer satisfaction,” he said.

Salyer is originally from California—he served in the U.S. Marine Corps there—and says that coming to Watsonville is “like a homecoming.”

“Watsonville is such a wonderful community,” he said. “There is just something about this community. It is so welcoming. The people are phenomenal, and I love the diversity.”

He praised his staff of nurses, doctors and employees.

“…just the teamwork they have taking care of patients, and how committed they all are,” he said. “People don’t realize what a good group they are.

“What they need is leadership,” he continued. “They need someone who is tied to them, helping them out on a daily basis, coordinating with the community, with the providers, building networks to get to the point where it thrives.”

Looking to the future, Salyer says that the hospital has plans to launch a new cardiac catheterization laboratory, begin interventional radiology and increase its cancer care. In addition, WCH has a new bariatric surgeon, he says.

The hospital is also looking to partner with other providers to offer more complex services such as liver transplants.

“We’re going to find out all the needs of those patients we support and we’re going to be able to meet those needs locally,” he said.

Salyer takes the helm at the hospital in the wake of a turbulent shift in management that started in June 2019 when Los Angeles-based Halsen Healthcare purchased it from Quorum Health Corporation.

That sale was put on hold briefly the following July when Watsonville Community Health Trust announced its intention to buy the hospital instead. Those plans fell through, however, when the Health Trust failed to secure funding. Halsen completed the purchase in October 2019.

After the sale was finalized, Halsen sold the building and property to Alabama-based Medical Properties Trust (MPT), and then leased it from them in a so-called sale/leaseback.

In January of this year, the hospital’s board of directors announced that Halsen had been ousted from its leadership role after the company was unable to meet “financial obligations to various stakeholders.”

MPT now owns the property, and contracts with Los Angeles-based Prospect Medical Holdings to oversee operations.

Salyer says that the hospital is in much better financial shape than it was under its previous management and that talks are underway “on the board level” to plan the future of the hospital’s leadership. He declined to elaborate.

While Prospect is overseeing the hospital, Salyer says he has the primary management role, and is employed by WCH. That’s important for the community to understand, he said.

“I’m not from out of town,” he said. “I’m here local now. I grabbed a U-Haul with my wife, my two rescue cats and my dog and we drove 2,200 miles over the Rockies to get here, and I’m here permanently.”

Salyer has a bachelor’s from East Tennessee State University and a master’s degree in business administration from New York Institute of Technology. He also holds certificates in Lean/Six Sigma, Theory of Constraints and executive leadership, as well as Marine Corps officer leadership training.

Santa Cruz County Health Officials Urge Public to Get Vaccinated

Todd Guild

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July 23, 2021

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Santa Cruz County Health Officials Urge Public to Get Vaccinated

A group of high-ranking medical care providers and officials on Thursday gathered at Santa Cruz’s Emeline health complex, a press conference convened to get a single message out to the public.

“We want to drive home the importance today of everyone eligible in our community to get vaccinated for Covid-19,” said Santa Cruz County Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel. “The time has never been more urgent.”

The pandemic is not over, Newel said, and cases are expected to increase through the fall. The biggest concern is the Delta variant of the disease, which is quickly spreading worldwide.

It is estimated that 80% of the state’s cases are now the Delta variant which, while not more lethal than other variants, is more transmissible, Newel told reporters.

Santa Cruz County currently has 11 confirmed cases of the Delta variant, she said.

Newel, and the health officials who spoke at the conference, said that people who are not vaccinated risk spreading Covid-19 to vulnerable populations, such as young people not yet eligible to receive the vaccine.

Unvaccinated people have an infection rate of 10 per 10,000, which would have placed them in the most serious purple tier under the system recently ended by the state. For those who have gotten the vaccine, that rate is 2 out of 10,000, which would have been the yellow tier.

The county is also beginning to see rising hospitalization rates for people infected with Covid-19, Newel said.

“Everyone who is currently hospitalized here in the county is unvaccinated, as we would expect,” she said.

“Really it’s one pandemic, and that’s a pandemic of the unvaccinated,” Newel added.

Dr. Nan Mickiewicz, Dominican Hospital CEO and President, said that after everyone in the community was vulnerable when Covid-19 first began its global spread, “the light at the end of the tunnel” came with the first vaccine.

Since then, Dominican has given more than 33,000 vaccinations, she said.

That number is sure to grow when children 12 and under become eligible to get theirs, Mickiewicz said.

“In our experience so far, the vaccine is safe, and it is effective,” she said. “And we’re going to keep vaccinating as long as people need it.”

Countywide, some 60% of the population has gotten their vaccine, said Dr. Catherine Martin of Sutter Health.

“We need to focus on closing the gap and vaccinating the remaining 40% of the population as soon as possible,” she said. “The longer we wait, the more time the virus has to mutate and place our community at risk of being infected by a new strain that cannot be controlled with our current vaccines.”

The low rate of vaccinated people is especially pronounced among people 30 and younger, Martin said.

These represent a “critical gap” in the community’s herd immunity, she said.

But these people can still contract Covid-19, Martin said, adding that young people are a major source of transmission.

“As a physician, I can tell you that being young and otherwise healthy does not guarantee natural immunity against Covid-19,” she said.

For information, visit bit.ly/3iFco72 or vaccines.gov.

Things To Do in Santa Cruz: July 21-27

GT Staff

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July 21, 2021

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A weekly guide to what’s happening.

ARTS AND MUSIC

BACKYARD BIRDS Backyard Birds—Linda Baker, Jean Catino, June Coha, Larry Prather, Linc Russin and special guest drummer Tom Leitzke—perform their first show of 2021. The Birds perform a fresh blend of vocal harmonies in a wide variety of music, uncovering great, overlooked songs in genres ranging from Americana, rock and roll, alt-country, pop and R&B to jazz standards and originals. The three womens’ close-knit harmonies, the band’s acoustic style, Linc’s mandolin playing and Larry’s expressive bass have drawn comparisons to the music of the T Sisters and Rosanne Cash. The ticket price is for dinner at 6:30pm and the show at 8pm (sold as a package, by reservation at 831-479-9777×2). See you there! Saturday, July 24, 6:30pm. Michael’s on Main, 2591 S Main St., Soquel.

BANFF CENTRE MOUNTAIN FILM VIRTUAL FESTIVAL Now’s your chance to catch all our Virtual World Tour Programs. 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. For more information and tickets, visit riotheatre.com or call 831-423-8209. Wednesday, July 21-Tuesday, July 27.

GREATER PURPOSE COMEDY NIGHT Every Friday night at Greater Purpose Brewing it’s the Greater Purpose Comedy Show. Hosted by DNA and Chree Powell, this show features the best of California comedy. The show is 90 minutes long with doors at 7pm, show at 7:30pm. Admission is $10 and we strongly suggest buying your tickets on Eventbrite in advance at eventbrite.com/e/greater-purpose-comedy-tickets-156589496399. Show is for ages 16+. Friday, July 23, 7-9pm. East Cliff Brewing Co., 21517 E Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz.

MIKE THE MAGICIAN Mike Della Penna creates wonder and laughter with virtual family magic performances that are equal parts playful and astonishing. More information at santacruzpl.libcal.com/event/7612431. Tuesday, July 27, 11am-noon. 117 Union St., Santa Cruz.

SANTA CRUZ SHAKESPEARE: RII The story that sets England’s Wars of the Roses in motion, Jessica Kubzansky’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s Richard II tells the story of that king’s ill-fated reign using just three actors. What is our responsibility when a bad leader rightfully occupies the throne? This exploration of divine right, capricious leadership and bloody insurrection is packed with contemporary political relevance. A critic’s choice pick when it premiered at the Boston Court Theatre in Los Angeles, Charles McNulty, critic for the LA Times, called the play a “feat of ingenious stagecraft.” Due to limited capacity at the venue, early ticket purchase is encouraged. Wednesday, July 21, 2-4pm. Friday, July 23, 8-10pm. Sunday, July 25, 8-10pm. The Grove at DeLaveaga Park, 501 Upper Park Road, Santa Cruz.

SANTA CRUZ SHAKESPEARE: THE AGITATORS This play tells the story of Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony. Over the 45 volatile years they knew one another, they were friends, allies and adversaries. Their hopes and dreams for equality brought them to common ground and political battlefields. As agitators, they were not content to let either our nation or each other rest in complacency, and their respective fights for racial justice and gender equity continue to this day. With a “safety first” mantra, Santa Cruz Shakespeare has implemented numerous Covid safety protocols for its 2021 season, including a revised seating layout that ensures adequate space and comfort for patrons. Thursday, July 22, 7:30pm. Saturday, July 24, 8pm. The Grove at DeLaveaga Park, 501 Upper Park Road, Santa Cruz.

THE QUITTERS AT FELTON MUSIC HALL Stevie Coyle has a long and illustrious career as an entertainer that began well before birth, and Glenn Houston’s well-decorated history includes his founding role of powerhouse Americana quintet, Houston Jones. 21+ only; table for two: $30, table for four: $60. Sunday, July 25, 2pm, 2-4pm. Felton Music Hall, 6275 Hwy. 9, Felton.

GREY BEARS BROWN BAG LINE Grey Bears are looking for help with their brown bag production line on Thursday and Friday mornings. Volunteers will receive breakfast and a bag of food, if wanted. Be at the warehouse with a mask and gloves at 7am. Call ahead for more information: 831-479-1055, greybears.org. Thursday, July 22, 7am. California Grey Bears, 2710 Chanticleer Ave., Santa Cruz.

GROUPS

CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP VIA ZOOM Support groups create a safe, confidential, supportive environment or community and a chance for family caregivers to develop informal mutual support and social relationships as well as discover more effective ways to cope with and care for your loved one. Meeting via Zoom and phone. For questions and registration, call 800-272-3900. Wednesday, July 21, 5:30pm.

COMPLEMENTARY TREATMENT FORUM Complementary Treatment Forum is an educational group and a safe place to learn, for women with a cancer diagnosis. Meets every fourth Saturday, currently on Zoom. Registration required, contact WomenCARE at 831-457-2273. Saturday, July 24, 10:30am-12:30pm.

ENTRE NOSOTRAS GRUPO DE APOYO Entre Nosotras support group for Spanish-speaking women with a cancer diagnosis. Meets twice monthly. Registration required: call Entre Nosotras at 831-761-3973. Friday, July 23, 6pm.

OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS All OA meetings have switched to online due to sheltering in place. Please call 831-429-7906 for meeting information. Do you have a problem with food? Drop into a free, friendly Overeaters Anonymous 12-step meeting. Thursday, July 22, 1-2pm.

SALSA SUELTA FREE ZOOM SESSION Weekly online session in Cuban-style Salsa Suelta for experienced beginners and up. May include mambo, chachacha, Afro-Cuban rumba, orisha, son montuno. No partner required, ages 14 and older. Contact to get the link; visit salsagente.com. Thursday, July 22, 7pm. Louden Nelson Community Center, 301 Center St., 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 required, call WomenCARE at 831-457-2273. All services are free. For more information visit womencaresantacruz.org. Monday, July 26, 12:30pm.

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, July 27, 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 required, call WomenCARE at 831-457-2273. Wednesday, July 21, 3:30-4:30pm.

OUTDOOR

CASFS FARMSTAND Organic vegetables, fruit, herbs and flowers are sold weekly at the CASFS Farmstand, starting June 15 and continuing through Nov. 23. Proceeds support experiential education programs at the UCSC Center for Agroecology & Sustainable Food Systems. Friday, July 23, noon-6pm. Tuesday, July 27, noon-6pm. Cowell Ranch Historic Hay Barn, Ranch View Road, Santa Cruz.

CASTRO ADOBE TOURS Come to a free tour of Castro Adobe State Historic Park and learn about the history of the California Rancho Period. Explore the 170-year-old two-story adobe hacienda to see the restoration work that has been happening. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, tours require pre-registration. Pre-registration is also available for July and August, but may be subject to change. To preregister for your tour, visit: cognitoforms.com/FSCSP1/CastroAdobeTours. Sunday, July 25, 11am-3pm. Castro Adobe State Historic Park, 184 Old Adobe Road, Watsonville.

GUIDED COASTAL WALK This two-and-a-half-mile family-friendly walk will explore the plants, animals, and geology of coastal bluffs. Bring water, hat, closed-toe shoes, layered clothing, and binoculars if available. Meet next to the park map in Wilder Ranch main parking lot. Rain cancels. Vehicle day-use fee is $10. For more information, call 831-426-0505. Spaces are limited and early pre-registration is recommended. Attendees are required to self-screen for Covid-19 symptoms when pre-registering. Masks and social distancing are also required at all programs. To register, visit santacruzstateparks.as.me/schedule.php. Saturday, July 24, 11am. Wilder Ranch State Park, 1401 Coast Road, Santa Cruz.

HISTORIC RANCH GROUND TOUR Discover what life was like a century ago on this innovative dairy ranch. This hour-long tour includes the 1896 water-powered machine shop, barns and other historic buildings. The vehicle day-use fee is $10. For more information, call 831-426-0505. Spaces are limited and early pre-registration is recommended. Attendees are required to self-screen for Covid-19 symptoms when pre-registering. Masks and social distancing are also required at all programs. To register, visit: santacruzstateparks.as.me/schedule.php. Saturday, July 24, 1pm. Sunday, July 25, 1pm. Wilder Ranch State Park, 1401 Coast Road, Santa Cruz.

NEW BRIGHTON JUNIOR RANGERS This fun one-hour program offers kids, ages 7-12, an opportunity to earn prizes while learning about birds, sea life, and local park animals, playing games, and doing arts and crafts. Meet at the campground Ramada. For more information, call 831-685-6444. Spaces are limited and early pre-registration is recommended. Attendees are required to self-screen for Covid-19 symptoms when pre-registering. Masks and social distancing are also required at all programs. To register, visit santacruzstateparks.as.me/schedule.php. Friday, July 23, 3pm. Saturday, July 24, 3pm. New Brighton Beach, 1500 Park Ave., Capitola.

NEW BRIGHTON LITTLE RANGERS Children 3-6 are invited to play games, listen to stories and songs, and learn about nature! Smiles, laughter, and good times abound at this program, and it’s a fantastic way to begin your morning in the park. Meet at the campground Ramada. For more information, call 831-685-6444. Spaces are limited and early pre-registration is recommended. Attendees are required to self-screen for Covid-19 symptoms when pre-registering. Masks and social distancing are also required at all programs. To register, visit: santacruzstateparks.as.me/schedule.php. Friday, July 23, 11-11:30am. Saturday, July 24, 11-11:30am. New Brighton Beach, 1500 Park Ave., Capitola.

SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS CLASSIC CAR SHOW Firefighter Fundraiser for the Ben Lomond Boulder Creek and Felton Departments. This family-friendly fun and free event will host over 50 classic cars at the beautiful Historic Brookdale Lodge. There will be live music, face painting and a 50/50 raffle and local vendors. Come out and have a great time. Safety protocols will be observed. Saturday, July 24, 8am. Brookdale Lodge, 11570 CA-9, Brookdale.

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, July 27, 7:15-8:15pm. Moran Lake Park & Beach, East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz.

How Ezra Hapner Learned to Stop Worrying and Love His Raps

Aaron Carnes

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July 21, 2021

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How Ezra Hapner Learned to Stop Worrying and Love His Raps

Local rapper Ezra Hapner was putting so much pressure on himself to put out great music that he was having a hard time recording any music. To get over this, he told himself that he was only recording demos. His friend/producer Lalo sent him some chill, lo-fi beats, and Ezra took verses he’d written and recorded his vocals with only one take per song. On June 17, he released At Your Leisure, his first official EP.

“I’m a major perfectionist, which is why I have a hard time releasing,” Hapner says. “The amount of work I’ve done for the amount of music I have out is ridiculous. In some ways, it was kind of a challenge to myself to do things imperfectly and get them out. It was a challenge to not do 100 takes trying to get every syllable perfect—instead, put it out as more of a raw-feeling project.”

The EP captures his easy-going, thoughtful, and often offbeat personality, while also showing off his lyrical skills and flow. Combining those different elements, he comes across as very much a regular guy, someone you probably work with or have as a next-door neighbor. However, Hapner is very serious about rapping. He’s been doing it for as long as he can remember.

“In elementary school, I loved Run DMC and Kris Kross and Beastie Boys. I used to rap at school a lot. I was the rapper kid,” Hapner says. “I would rap book reports and school projects. I would always do talent shows with my friend.”

Hapner is also an excellent drummer and has been playing for as long as he’s been rapping. Currently, he plays in Anthony Arya’s band.

Due to the isolation and extra time on his hands after Covid lockdowns began last year, Hapner began releasing periodic videos of himself rapping bars in the camera. He also shot two videos. The first, “Pink Ladies” is lo-fi, and technically just a 40-second video loop on repeat (“I walk around with the Pink Lady, real crisp.”) “Shoestrings,” a chill song with a Spanish sounding guitar sample, has a more polished, professional video, which was shot over by the lighthouse on West Cliff.

“We were waking up at sunrise for this shoot just because of better lighting, so there weren’t a ton of people,” Hapner says. “It was a little weird at first, honestly, because I was sitting in the chair in the middle of that field while we were filming. I’m like trying to look natural and rap but all these people are walking along the sidewalk watching. After we were filming for a bit it felt fine. It’s fun.”

Hapner had only met the producer of At Your Leisure, Lalo (Eddy Benkhin) once. They hit it off and started collaborating via Zoom during the pandemic.

The past year has also been an interesting time for Hapner because he’s been studying at UCLA. But since everything is being done over Zoom, he’s been living in Santa Cruz the whole time. That’s also afforded him the time and energy to be able to work on his music. With things opening back up, he wants to get out and join the scene a little bit before he has to leave it. He plans to move to L.A. in September now that attending in-person classes is an option.

“I’ve never actually done a show for my music,” Hapner says. “I really want to set up a show and bring in some friends who play as openers and do it during the summer before everyone goes back to school. I think it would be a great time now because [I’m] forming a stronger connection with people who might like my music here, and then bring it to people wherever they go in the fall.”

For more info, check out: www.instagram.com/ezrahapner.

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ARTS AND MUSIC

GROUPS

OUTDOOR

How Ezra Hapner Learned to Stop Worrying and Love His Raps

Monterey Bay Birding Festival Canceled Again

Two arrested in Santa Cruz Black Lives Matter mural vandalism

Calls Mount for Sutter to Continue Urgent Care in Scotts Valley

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Santa Cruz County Health Officials Urge Public to Get Vaccinated

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How Ezra Hapner Learned to Stop Worrying and Love His Raps