A group of state lawmakers and local medical providers gathered July 8 at the Santa Cruz Community Health Center in Live Oak to sound the alarm on President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBBA).
Despite its name, the bill will remove millions of people across the U.S. from their health insurance plans and pauperize plans for millions more.
That was the message from Congressman Jimmy Panetta and a cadre of medical professionals, who stressed that the bill will not deter them from their primary mission.
“We’re not going anywhere,” said Donaldo Hernandez, a doctor who serves as vice-chair to the California delegation of the American Medical Association. “We’re going to be right here making sure that we keep doing the thing we have sworn to do, the thing we love, and that’s taking care of people in our communities.”
According to Panetta, OBBBA is a “a self-inflicted wound that will hurt working families throughout this country, that will decrease health coverage in the 19th Congressional District and could lead to closures of rural hospitals in our communities.”
The bill, he said, will provide $4 trillion in tax breaks for billionaires and corporations, which will be paid for by adding $3.8 trillion to the national debt, and $3.4 trillion to the deficit over the next 10 years, and slashing $1 trillion in Medicaid services, leading to 17 million people losing health care.
In addition, the bill cuts $191 billion in federal contributions to state Medicaid programs, with zero expansions in coverage, and imposes state-directed cuts of $149 billion in reimbursements to Medicare rates.
OBBBA also adds co-payments for certain economic levels for people on Medicare, denies transgender youth care, and prevents care for legal immigrants except those with green cards.
Moreover, the legislation implements work requirements that will kick 12 million people off Medicaid, and requires able-bodied adults 18-64 to show proof of 80 hours per month of work, school or volunteer time.
But while such a proposition might seem simple, it doesn’t mention that two-thirds of the people receiving benefits are in nursing homes and unable to work, Panetta said.
“There is a reason why there are no work requirements at the federal level,” he said. “Because it prevents people from getting Medicaid.”
Some 37,000 people in Santa Cruz County could lose Medicaid or coverage under the Affordable Care Act.
That could be devastating in Santa Cruz County, where roughly 71,000 people are enrolled in Medi-Cal and 93% have health insurance, said Health Officer Lisa Hernandez.
Local clinics, she added, serve 14,000 patients through 100,000 appointments annually.
Community Bridges CEO Ray Cancino said he is “utterly devastated” by passage of the bill, and the fact that “not even four Republicans in the House had the courage to stand up and stop the ‘Big Disastrous Bill’ from passing.”
The reality, he said, is that an estimated 17 million Americans will lose their healthcare coverage, and that devastating cuts—totaling nearly $300 billion over the next decade—will gut SNAP, the nation’s most vital food assistance program.
Worse, Cancino said, is that lawmakers knew the harm this bill would cause.
The cuts will mean that many people will face longer wait times and fewer providers, and millions of people will go without regular care, flooding emergency rooms with preventable crises.
In addition, healthcare costs will rise for everyone, Cancino said.
‘We should all be clear-eyed about what this moment represents,” he said. “It is the cost of apathy. It is a painful reminder that when we fail to vote with our values—not just in California, but across the country—we leave our most vulnerable neighbors exposed to decisions made without compassion or foresight.”
Emile Suotonye DeWeaver became an activist and journalist while incarcerated for 21 years and cofounded the organization Prison Renaissance. Ghost in the Criminal Justice Machine: Reform, White Supremacy and an Abolitionist Future is DeWeaver’s new book, which envisions a culture without white supremacy, where police and prisons are replaced with healing systems that create safety and accountability. He will be reading from his book on July 18 at the UC Santa Cruz Institute of the Arts and Sciences.
WHITE IS A METAPHOR FOR POWER
John Malkin: You write, “Police work for the white supremacist status quo that was established at the founding of this country.”
Emile DeWeaver: When I’m talking about white supremacy I like to start with the quote by James Baldwin. He says that white is not a skin color; it’s a metaphor for power. A failure to understand that is really connected to the shame spirals we find ourselves in around white supremacy, particularly amongst white people. And also the blind spots, particularly amongst non-white people, about the ways we participate in white supremacy as a survival strategy.
I think about white supremacy in three terms. We’re familiar with the impacts of white supremacy on an individualism level, like “I’m discriminated against” or “I’m pulled over by the police.” And we’re familiar with the structural components of white supremacy like court systems, laws and redlining.
These are important, but what goes missing is the culture and ideology of white supremacy, which are really the things we need to focus in on because the structures of white supremacy just enforce the culture. If you dismantle the structures, the culture would just breed new mechanisms to enforce itself. Ultimately we need to kill the culture, but we must understand that culture is just normalized ideology.
If we want to really start dealing with the root causes of white supremacy we need to understand that we have all been taught to be white supremacist. There’s so many ideas on this from The New Jim Crow all the way to Afro-pessimism that give us the structural manifestations of white supremacy. Often in the culture of white supremacy the thing that signals you’re safe is that you’ve adopted the culture. You’ve joined the ranks of structural Stockholm Syndrome; you’ve taken on the values and mores of your oppressor.
WRITE MY WAY OUT
You write, “By the age of 18, I was serving 69 years to life for murder. By 19, I experienced an awakening and resolved to write my way out of prison.” Tell me about your awakening and your resolve to write your way out of prison.
I always like to say, “You do realize I was a child when I went to prison? So, primarily I grew up.” Probably the biggest factor was that at 19 I was forced to grow up because I had a child. My daughter was born and I met them behind a glass wall. I started thinking about what my daughter was going to see as they grew up, which forced me to look at myself. What they were going to see was a junior high school dropout and someone who, in our society, is a murderer, a throwaway and something to be ashamed of. From my pretty rough relationship with my father, I knew there was no way for my kid to grow up feeling ashamed of me without also being ashamed of themselves. And that cracked me in half.
The little seed of hope was, “Starting right now, you are going to become someone that your kid can be proud of.” I resolved to write my way out of prison. But plan B was, “If I never get out of prison, I can still live a life that shows my kid that no matter how far you fall down, you can always turn around and build something beautiful in your life. That was my wake-up moment. I didn’t have the training to be a writer, so I spent the next 12 years training myself through reading, practice and handwritten rejection letters from editors, honing my craft until I got to a place where I could make a living writing.
QUIET PACIFISM
You write that while incarcerated, you practiced “quiet pacifism” and “meditated like a Zen monk.”
It’s accurate to say that meditation, if it didn’t save my life, it saved my sanity. I came to meditation through practicing Tai Chi in prison. I was also reading the journals of Ralph Waldo Emerson. He had this one line—“Write your own Bible”—and it blew my mind. I was like, “What? You can do that?” So, I began to write my own Bible and 12 years later I came across Buddhism and I realized, “This is what I thought I created!” I got really deep into Buddhist compassion practices, the four noble truths, eightfold path and with that came a commitment not to harm people. There’s a lot of strategy that goes into living in very violent prisons where violence is the currency that earns respect. So I say “quiet pacifist” because it’s not like I was on the yard saying, “Hey everyone, I’m a pacifist!” But I was always strategizing so as to resolve all problems without violence.
I was interested to read in your book, “My dream for abolitionists who will not engage reforms is that they soften the hard lines of this stance.” You also write, “For abolition to work, it must be led not by incarcerated people’s families, not by formerly incarcerated people, but by incarcerated people.”
There is the general concept that impacted people should lead the work. One of the reasons I founded Prison Renaissance is because there was this accepted norm that incarcerated people can’t create organizations because they’re in prison. I saw that as an imagination problem. I founded Prison Renaissance to break that imagination lock.
It was founded and run by incarcerated people, even in a situation where incarcerated people are not allowed to run nonprofits. That was a very dicey time! But, we did it! We’d be in college classrooms, lecturing over the phone. We did a live art event with Southern Exposure in San Francisco called Metropolis with recordings of incarcerated people telling stories about their experiences. I called in and facilitated a town hall-style meeting around emergent strategy and abolition. People’s minds were blown.
There’s no reason why more effort isn’t put into building incarcerated leadership. Think about the Civil Rights movement and imagine the entire country marching across the bridge at Selma but all the Black people stayed home. Could we have had a civil rights movement? Of course not. So, why do we think it’s different for abolition?
Tell me more about prison reforms you see as necessary.
What do reforms look like that give incarcerated people more protection and power? The golden standard for me is prison slave labor. Step one is a reform campaign that’s banning slave labor. Step two, getting it enforced. Step three, while you’re getting it enforced we’re building the right for incarcerated people to own their labor. Incarcerated people work for companies for more money than they would make in prison, but it’s a quarter of what they would make if they were out of prison. But that makes up such a small minority of prison labor. Ninety-plus percent of prison labor is slave labor running the prison: electricians, janitors, cooks, servers, secretaries. Prisons today are simply not sustainable without slave labor. And that’s the importance of ending slave labor! The gears would grind themselves out. So, I wish there was a softer line on reforms and a more strategic approach.
When you describe the right for incarcerated people to own their work, it reminds me of exploitation that occurs outside of prison.
What defines slavery is choice. Where we live in capitalism, you cannot choose not to work. Prison is just the clearest manifestation of our society. This same shit playing out in prison is playing out with you at home watching TV, going to work. I ask people, “Tell me you don’t feel disposable in your country as a white person who doesn’t want to make any waves because you know how quickly you will be disposed of by the very system you are riding on right now!” You can think of prison as a machine, a mechanism of disposability, and if you trace that to its root you will find white supremacy.
HEALING CITIES
A central question in your book is; what does a world look like where we don’t put people in prison for breaking laws, even when someone commits a violent act? Tell me about your concept of healing cities and harm recovery programs where “men weep when they hurt” and learn to use power in healthy ways.
The idea for the healing cities comes from thinking about how much money we spend on prisons and police. I did the math and we can solve three of our major social problems by not spending it on police and prisons. There could be no homelessness and everyone could have an education with no debt. I’m a hippie! I was raised in California and I go to festivals where we’re basically creating entire cities over a weekend and then dismantling them at the end of the week. We are our own government. Harm happens in these places and we have processes for holding people accountable and restoring safety.
So, these structures that abolitionists are trying to promote, they already exist. They just don’t exist for Black people! In my hippie world, it’s a lot of white people. Healing cities is an act of visionary fiction. Let it be a starting point for a conversation as we all collectively figure this out.
DEFUND THE POLICE
We just marked the fifth anniversary since George Floyd was killed by Minneapolis police on May 25, 2020. Black Lives Matter and Defund the Police were huge movements worldwide. When I ask people, “What happened to Defund?” many say, “It collapsed because the word defund was just too much for people.” What do you think happened to Defund?
It was not the word chosen for the project! (Laughs.) What happened to Defund the Police is that people don’t understand how they’re impacted by propaganda in the 21st century. It approaches mind control. The science of it is so tight but there’s not enough humility in our movements to understand and engage that. Now we’ve missed the bus. This guy got elected and a lot of people are screaming, “I want to get involved.” And it’s like, “I’m sorry to break it to you but the time to get involved was before he got elected.”
This is an “I told you so” moment but it’s also a “frameworks and principles” moment. Principle one: we got outmaneuvered. Principle two: if you’ve been out-maneuvered that means you’re two steps behind. Principle three: the worst thing you can do if you are two steps behind is rush forward; they’ve already prepared their response to what we’re going to do. Principle four: it is vital for us to stop and pause. Inaction is also a strategy. Bayo Akomolafe says, “Times are urgent, let us slow down.”
For me, clarity is hope. Clarity is the only foundation on which you can build power that belongs to you. Power is the only thing that can change this world. So, I invite people to engage these difficult topics with the mindset that the clearer you get, the more powerful you become. And the more powerful you become, the more hope we have.
Emile Suotonye DeWeaver speaks at 6pm on July 18 at the UC Santa Cruz Institute of the Arts and Sciences, 100 Panetta Ave, Santa Cruz.ias.ucsc.edu
Listen to this interview with Emile DeWeaver on Thursday at noon on “Transformation Highway” with John Malkin on KZSC 88.1 FM / kzsc.org.
Published in cooperation between casino.org and Good Times Santa Cruz
Online gambling is currently illegal in California as of April 2025, and the wide-ranging state ban includes all online sportsbooks and casino sites. However, the broader national picture for iGaming in the United States has witnessed significant landmark changes in recent years, causing many industry experts to speculate about when certain states might move to introduce more permissive online gambling legislation. Despite some failed efforts to legalize gambling activities in California, the state still appears a long way away from making any notable changes to its heavily restrictive legal framework. In this article, we’ve examined if and when we might expect online gambling to be legalized in the Golden State.
The Role of the California Electorate
In November 2022, two key ballots indicated the largely anti-gambling stance of much of the California electorate, as the majority of voters rejected two major propositions aimed at legalizing sports betting activities. Following on from the landmark Supreme Court decision to remove the federal sports betting ban in 2018, legislators and industry leaders in many U.S.states began to explore the new possibilities for opening up their own legal and regulated markets. In California, Proposition 26 aimed to legalize in-person sports betting at tribal casinos and racing tracks, while Proposition 27 was backed by major online gaming companies aiming to legalize online sports betting sites in the state. Both initiatives were overwhelmingly rejected by the electorate, with Prop. 27 receiving a particularly large opposition from 82.28 percent of voters, making it one of the largest margins of defeat for any proposition in history.
This fascinating moment in Californian voting history revealed many interesting elements of public opinion in the state. Many voters indicated concerns about youth exposure to online gambling, suggesting that tighter and clearer regulatory frameworks may need to be put forward in order to gain the support and trust of the electorate. Alongside this, many voters in California are supportive of Native American tribal interests in the state, meaning that they followed the lead of the tribes who voted against Prop. 27. Instead of welcoming major companies with open arms, some Californians may have felt that local interests would not be prioritized by these larger iGaming businesses. Clearly, there are many reservations among voters here about the expansion of online gambling activities, which will undoubtedly take some time to evolve. The result of both ballots also highlighted the significant influence of tribal gaming throughout the state, as its leadership will clearly be instrumental in any future decision-making about online gambling law.
The Future of Gambling Legislation in California
The current landscape in California remains the same, with a highly restrictive approach to all forms of gambling. However, despite the significant blow to progress in 2022, there have since been renewed discussions between tribal leaders and major gaming companies about a changing future for legalization in the state. Since tribal casinos in the area are exempt from prohibitive law, they currently dominate California’s brick-and-mortar gambling industry, typically generating over $8 billion USD in annual gaming revenue. During the events of 2022, it undoubtedly became clear that the tribes must also lead the way forward for online gambling. To acknowledge this, in a recent appearance at the annual Indian Gaming Tradeshow and Convention, DraftKings CEO Jason Robins and FanDuel President Christian Genetski recognized the importance of tribal partnerships and outlined their hopes for a more constructive, collaborative future.
Evidently, any possible future changes to gambling legislation in the Golden State will need to be agreed upon in collaboration between legislators, iGaming operators and the 109 recognized tribes in the state today. This poses a significant challenge for those seeking to open up a more permissive legal framework in the state and certainly means that many years of debate and conversation will need to take place before we are to see any significant movements. The introduction of new laws in California regarding sports betting and online casino gaming will therefore take at least a few years to materialize, with some experts stating that 2028 is the most likely current target for any significant changes to take place. Ultimately, learning from the failures of previous propositions will be the most vital task for those pushing for change.
While the current situation in California is clearly complicated, there are, of course, many groups within the state who do support the opening of a legal and regulated online gambling market. With many American iGaming fans now regularly checking casino promo codes and enjoying online casino games in states like New Jersey and Michigan, many California gamers will undoubtedly be keen to follow suit as soon as possible. And having witnessed the massive revenue generated by these new domestic online casino markets, many leading government officials and gaming industry experts are keen to bring about the enormous economic uplift that legalization can generate. Total iGaming revenue in New Jersey hit a record $243.9 billion USD in March 2025, demonstrating that the Golden State’s economy could clearly receive a similarly significant boost if it loosens its legislation.
Ultimately, due to the state’s complex political landscape, any notable changes to online gambling legislation in California will undoubtedly be at least a few more years away. Changemakers must navigate the powerful influence of tribes in the area, as well as the cautious outlook of the electorate, which indicates that wide-ranging conversations between all stakeholders will need to take place before we see any meaningful action. Despite this, some industry experts are cautiously optimistic about the likelihood of a more permissive future for iGaming in California. As the national legislative landscape continues to change at a dramatic pace, the United States is certainly becoming more open to online casino and sports betting activity, with the generation of significant tax revenue offering a clear incentive for many state governments. With American citizens demonstrating increasing demand for casual gaming and wagering opportunities, it is certainly possible that California could legalize online gambling within the next decade. Whatever happens, it will be fascinating to watch the negotiations unfold.
Where would you bring a first-time visitor to Santa Cruz?
ARIANA, left, and MICA
Hanuman Temple at Mount Madonna Center. The community there is so welcoming, and the temple is like stepping into another country.
Ariana Sandoval, 24, Chemical Engineer Mika Saad, 22, Writer
LUKE
Pacific Avenue, for a Sunday afternoon stroll — with a stop at Chocolate Café for a Passionfruit Margarita and their Cheese Bowl with focaccia.
Luke Shepherd, 35, UCSC Music Teacher
ROXANNE
Up in the redwoods of Aptos. I like to camp and being in the woods, and I especially love The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park.
Roxanne Thomas, 19, Forestry Major at Columbia College
DAVID
We would take a walk along West Cliff and watch the surfing at Steamer Lane and then play at Lighthouse Park.
David Pattee, 69, Pastor at Peace United Church of Christ
KERRY
Natural Bridges. It’s got a bit of everything. You have a little hiking and the beach and the beautiful rocks. And you have butterflies at the right time of year.
Kerry Krouse, 53, Writer / Teacher
JAMES
The Crow’s Nest! People ask me where they can go to eat that’s not so touristy and not too expensive. The Crow’s Nest food is excellent, and the hospitality and service is good.
There are other cities in California that claim to be the U.S. surf capital, but our cover story makes a convincing case that Santa Cruz is where the sport started on the mainland. Yes, Hawaii was really first, but at that time, 1885, Hawaii was its own country.
When three of its princes climbed on boards made of redwood and hit the waves off the San Lorenzo River, the local sport was born.
It’s amazing to think back to that time in light of how popular the sport became. Imagine seeing the first people standing on water and riding the waves. Our cover story by Geoffrey Dunn and Kim Stoner takes you back through time and gives you some context both for surfing and the people who brought it here. This is some fun history and will delight even those who aren’t history buffs.
You can also relive it at the Museum of Art & History downtown, a place that has become our city center and deserves all the support we can give it. It has become a true cultural, musical and artistic heart of Santa Cruz.
Speaking of which, two local promoters are having their first new event at the Museum this week, called “Legends Live & Local.” It’s already sold out but supporting activities like it will help bring in more. This one features Go-Go’s guitarist Jane Wiedlin, who will talk about her time with the hot ’80s girl group, which recently appeared at Coachella.
Here’s the wild part: Jane will be backed up by a super group of local musicians who are in their teens and up. It’s a chance to see our locals backing an international star, and promoters Matthew Swinnerton and Jennifer Otter Bickerdike want to bring in more celebrities for events.
This is the kind of thinking we need in this town…people with big visions combining national and local talent. It gives us all a reason to get out and see things even better than anything over the hill.
Speaking of which, I see internationally known country star Lacy J. Dalton, who got her start in Santa Cruz, is coming back on Aug. 16, playing the intimate El Vaquero Winery. That’s huge!
On other fronts, Watsonville started its Second Saturday festival, like Santa Cruz’s First Friday, and the response was great. That’s what I’m talking about.
And the MAH had a dog fashion show Sunday, as you can see in the photo on this page. It sounded too crazy for me not to check it out, and I loved it. We’ve got so many innovative thinkers here who know how to put on a Good Time (pun intended).
Thanks for reading.
BradKava | Editor
PHOTO CONTEST
DOGGY STYLE So much cuteness at the Museum of Art & History Sunday for the Santa Cruz SPCA’s Dog Fashion Show. Photograph by Joan Hammel
GOOD IDEA
Dr.Jill Biden, a lifelong public school and community college educator and former First Lady of the United States, will speak at Kaiser Permanente Arena at 7pm Saturday, Sept. 27. Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Thursday, July 17 at 9 a.m. and can be purchased via Ticketmaster.com. Early access to tickets will be available through a series of exclusive presale events on Wednesday, July 16. Those interested in receiving presale access are encouraged to sign up for Warriors Insider (search Santa Cruz Warriors Insider).
GOOD WORK
The True Love Christian Music & Art Festival this Saturday in Aptos Village Park features over 12 churches gathering together to share their True Love for God and their neighbors.
All FREE including food, ice cream, 12 bands on two stages sharing about True Love, joyful activities for the whole family. Features include a climbing wall, art painting, bounce houses, a mechanical bull, gunny sack races, face painting and more. 10:30am-6pm.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
‘Modern Americans behave as if intelligence were some kind of hideous deformity.’ –Frank Zappa
Do you remember the Moss Landing Fire and do you want a repeat?
On Jan. 16, 2025, lithium-ion battery equipment ignited at the Moss Landing Energy Storage Facility in Moss Landing, CA. Like many people affected by the fires, I have concerns about the health effects of humans, local sea life, livestock, pets and the contamination of the water and soil.
Since I was personally affected by the fire/s (asthma symptoms for more than six weeks), my main purpose for this letter is to inform the public of a report that you can find titled Moss Landing Energy Storage Facility (Battery) Fire Community Survey Results (neveragainmosslanding.org/the-moco-health survey) In this report a total of 1,539 people completed the health survey with 1,296 people who worked or resided within 16 zones closest to the facility. 243 individuals who responded live outside the 16 zones and include the communities of Capitola, Soquel, Live Oak, Santa Cruz City, Scotts Valley, Ben Lomond, Felton, Aptos, and Rio Del Mar. The health symptoms reported include headache, sore throat, coughing, itchy eyes, metallic taste in mouth, fatigue, congestion, dizziness or lightheadedness, watery eyes, and shortness of breath.
Do you know that the County of Santa Cruz is proposing three B.E.S.S. (Battery Energy Storage Sites) in our area? One is located near Aptos High School, a second near Dominican Hospital/Dominican Oaks and a third is in Watsonville (90 Minto Road). The Watsonville location is farthest along in the planning process and is proposed to be 14 acres. It is in a densely populated area and is very close to Minto Lake and Park. The next community informational meeting is set for July 17 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Live Oak Annex (979 17th Ave., Santa Cruz) by the Simpkins Family Swim Center.
Come and learn more!
Marlese Roton
ZEN HERE
In your current issue you asked for suggestions for future issues celebrating the 50th anniversary of Good Times.
I would like to suggest the Santa Cruz Zen Center on School Street, where zen students began practicing in 1973 under the guidance of beloved teacher the late Kobun Chino Otogawa. Kobun, as he was known to everyone, was invited by Shunryu Suzuki Roshi to help with the establishment of Tassajara Zen Monastery in the late ’60s and eventually made his way to teach in Santa Cruz at the invitation of a group of zen students.
During the 1980s there was a transition and the late Katherine Thanas from the San Francisco Zen Center was invited to be the teacher at the Santa Cruz Zen Center and was eventually named Abbot. Currently several of Katherine’s students, and some of their students, lead the practice.
The Santa Cruz Zen Center is up the block from Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park and down the block from Mission Plaza, and although upgrades have been made over the years the buildings look as they did when the center was established.
Ellen Richter
BEAUTIFY SANTA CRUZ
It’s peak tourist season, and yet the first thing that greets visitors is a falling-down sign at the entrance to our beautiful town, saying “Help beautify Santa Cruz,” tied to a couple of redwoods and surrounded by a chain-link fence. To the right, there is a rotating crew of down-and-out people soliciting money on the median under the “no soliciting on median” sign. On the left, we have an ice cream shop and then nearly three blocks of dilapidated houses and empty lots. What message does that send? Direct visitors to Midtown/Seabright businesses that are having a hard time with the bridge out. We need to make the entrance to our city reflect the colorful, artsy, playful place it is—we could start by removing the chain link fence. Can we encourage those landowners to rebuild or beautify their lots? Next, we could add vibrancy to this area by planting flowers and trees, making a food truck area, hosting an antique or art show in one of those empty lots on weekends, offering free parking in those lots and/or county building lot and a shuttle to and from downtown, midtown and the beaches and alleviate some of the traffic. Let’s do what Santa Cruz does best, be creative.
Hannah Nevins |Santa Cruz
THANKS PENNY
I want to thank the Penny Ice Creamery for their generous donation of ice cream to make this past Fourth of July special for the often forgotten children at the Santa Cruz Juvenile Hall. The donation was greatly enjoyed and appreciated! The Penny is a wonderful local business, one we should all support.
Summertime is peak pleasure season for us diehard foodies: farmers markets overflow with color, outdoor dining makes meals more fun, and just about every weekend brings a beach bonfire, BBQ or backyard potluck. With all this celebration, it’s no surprise our best eating habits can start to melt faster than the Penny Ice Creamery adds new flavors.
For many of us, the warm weather comes with an open invitation to indulge—as well we should, now and then. But somewhere between the spontaneous pizza nights, sweet treats and sunset cocktails, we may start to feel a little off: bloated, sluggish, or on a blood sugar rollercoaster we didn’t exactly buy a ticket for.
Which might leave one wondering, does everything good have to be bad? And how do we enjoy the season’s best without throwing our health goals—or gut—off balance?
First, the Usual Suspects
BBQ Blowouts: Between backyard burgers, buttery buns and mayo-soaked side dishes, typical cookout fare tends to be heavy on refined carbs, saturated fats and salty sauces that spike energy short-term but drain it long-term.
Sugary Summer Sweets: Ice cream cones, frozen cocktails and fruity desserts are tempting in the heat, but they can send your blood sugar soaring, leading to the inevitable crash (and more cravings).
Boozy Beverages: From sangria to spritzers, many summertime drinks pack more sugar than you’d guess. And let’s not forget: alcohol affects digestion, sleep, and the ability to make healthy choices later.
Vacation Mode Creep: You’re on vacation—treat yourself! But sometimes “vacation eating” seeps into everyday life. A few days of indulgence can become a few weeks of low energy and brain fog.
Eating Well, Feeling Good
The good news? You don’t have to skip the parties or snack on celery sticks in the corner to stay healthy. In fact, you can fully enjoy the flavors of the season by leaning into a time-tested eating style rooted in pleasure and nourishment: the Mediterranean approach.
It’s not a trend—it’s a lifestyle built around seasonal food, simple preparation and mindful enjoyment. Here in Santa Cruz, we’re practically set up for it.
Embrace the Season: The best way to upgrade your summer diet is to enjoy the best fresh produce you can find. From stone fruit and strawberries to sweet corn and juicy tomatoes, seasonal goodness is at its peak—delicious, fiber-rich and bursting with antioxidants.
Try these:
Grilled veggie skewers with olive oil and fresh herbs
Grilled peach and arugula salad with basil and balsamic
Cold gazpacho with cucumber, tomato, and garlic.
Balance Your Plate: Fill half of your plate with fiber-rich veggies (as even the USDA MyPlate guide advises) and add whole grains or legumes, along with healthy fats and lean proteins. This combo slows digestion, keeps blood sugar steady, and helps you feel satisfied without the food coma.
Think:
Grilled locally caught halibut (now in season) topped with fresh cherry tomato and zucchini compote and a side of wild rice.
Whole wheat pita with hummus, chopped cucumber and fresh mint
Marinated grilled portobello mushroom burger topped with fresh pesto, sliced heirloom tomato atop a Beckman’s sourdough bun, with a side of baked sweet potato fries
Flavor Without the Crash: Skip the sugary sauces and bottled dressings. The Mediterranean approach is all about natural flavor: lemon, vinegar, garlic, fresh herbs and good extra virgin olive oil.
Upgrade your condiments:
Use a tahini or yogurt-based dip instead of ranch.
Try chimichurri, pesto, or citrus vinaigrette instead of BBQ sauce.
Garnish with mint, dill, or basil for a flavor boost without added sugar.
Be Smart About Sips: Hydration is key, especially in the heat. If you’re enjoying a drink, alternate with water or a spritz of sparkling water and citrus to stay balanced. Here’s a mocktail idea:Muddle fresh berries and mint in a glass, add ice, and top with sparkling water and a splash of lime. You’ll feel festive and refreshed—without the hangover.
Eat Mindfully, Not Perfectly: In many Mediterranean cultures, meals are slow, social and savored. That pace helps digestion, reduces stress, and keeps you from accidentally inhaling a second plate of chips while distracted.
Try this: Before eating, pause. Take a breath. Appreciate the food in front of you. When you eat with awareness, you naturally eat in alignment with what your body needs.
The Bottom Line
Summer is meant to be savored. Food is meant to be enjoyed. The trick is finding a rhythm that honors both your appetite and your well-being.
With a few smart shifts—more fresh produce, fewer processed extras, and a mindset of mindful enjoyment—you can say yes to all the season has to offer, without feeling weighed down.
So bring the salad to the potluck, sip the mocktail by the pool, and let that grilled peach with honey remind you: feeling good doesn’t mean missing out—it means showing up, fully present and well-fed.
Elizabeth Borelli is an author and Mediterranean lifestyle expert. Visit ElizabethBorelli.com for free resources, news and events.
Singer/songwriter Aaron Blyth grew up playing in the surf of Hawaii and tramping about the mountains of the Pacific Northwest, two very different regions of America. Still, both are known for their beauty and their stubbornly independent identities. He split the difference and settled in California, where he’s spent the last decade strumming and singing into microphones, building a following and honing his sound—an eclectic upbeat mix of folk, blues, rock, and even funk, stripped down and set behind his heartfelt and hopeful lyrics. KEITH LOWELL JENSEN
INFO: 5:30pm, Discretion Brewing, 2703 41st Ave., Suite A, Soquel. Free. 316-0662.
ROCK
JANE WIEDLIN
Can you hear them? They’re talkin’ about Jane Wiedlin. The legendary guitar player for the 1980s multi-hit group the Go-Go’s is coming to this town (which is our town), Santa Cruz. Presented by Event Santa Cruz along with the Museum of Art and History and author Jennifer Otter Bickerdike, Wiedlin is the first guest in a new series called “Legends Live & Local.” The night kicks off with cocktails and visuals, followed by a candid discussion with Wiedlin about growing up in the Los Angeles punk scene. Then, Wiedlin will perform a special three-song set. Get the beat and finish the night off with a New Wave Rave dance party. MAT WEIR
INFO 6:30pm, Santa Cruz Museum Art & History, 705 Front St., Santa Cruz. $33-$54. 429-1964.
FRIDAY 7/18
INDIE ROCK
SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE
Philly-born Spirit of the Beehive combine a standard rock band setup with a well-constructed pool of samples to create a lush, almost symphonic, psychedelic sound. They are wildly experimental with touches of ambient veering into noise, complementing their core shoegaze-indie-rock sound. The finishing touch is their richly textured voices, earthy and ghostly all at once. Bass player Rivka Ravede has a voice that’s easy to imagine being conjured by laying a microphone on a Ouija board and asking the right questions. They’re joined by Her New Knife and Sour Widows. KLJ
In a magical forest filled with meddling fairies, love triangles and enthusiastic thespians, and peppered with quippy dialogue and whimsy, Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream remains a classic for a reason. The play brings a lot of laughter in the interplay between reality and fantasy, the absurdity of human behavior, and Nick Bottom’s famous transformation into an ass. Although it seems all chaos ensues, the morning brings new clarity, a trio of marriages, and a delightfully amateur play performance—all brought to life by Santa Cruz Shakespeare with direction by Paul Mullins. The show runs through Aug. 31. SHELLY NOVO
INFO: 8pm, Audrey Stanley Grove, 501 Upper Park Grove, Santa Cruz. $23-$86. 460-6399.
JAM
CHUM
To the unconverted and unconvinced, the enduring popularity of Phish remains an impenetrable mystery: Didn’t, one might well ask, the Grateful Dead say everything that needed to be said within that particular musical idiom? But for the faithful, the appeal of Phish—who effectively co-opted much of the Dead’s fan base—is beyond question. And while Phish remains active, the foursome from Burlington, Vermont, can’t be everywhere all the time. That helps explain the existence of an estimated 20-40 active Phish tribute bands across the country. And at the head of that pack is San Francisco-based CHUM, pleasing, er, “phans” since 2010. BILL KOPP
Ever think, “Life is excellent? The tap water tastes like excrement. The skies rain poison, but I gotta pay the rent?” Bobby Joe Ebola has and even wrote an incredibly catchy song about this dystopian late-stage capitalist society called, well, “Life Is Excellent.” Formed in 1995 by singer Corbett Redford and Dan Abbott after Redford tried to impress a girl in high school by telling her he had a band (he didn’t), Bobby Joe Ebola is an Americana style rock act with a knack for satirical humor. Their song titles say it all: “This is How We Get Ants,” “Naked Beach Party (On The White House Lawn)” and “Spending Christmas on Crack.” MW
INFO: 8pm, Blue Lagoon, 923 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $10. 423-7117.
HIGHLIFE
GYEDU-BLAY AMBOLLEY
Ghana-born musician, singer, band leader and composer Gyedu Blay Ambolley is the originator of Simigwa-Do, a hybrid of funk, soul, jazz, proto-rap and West African highlife. Ambolley was among the first artists—perhaps the very first—to bring rap to the mainstream worldwide. His pioneering single “Simigwa-Do” predates the Sugarhill Gang by more than half a decade. A prolific recording artist, Ambolley has released nearly three dozen albums, among which his 1975 debut Simighwa is held in the highest esteem. For his first-ever tour of the U.S., Gyedu Blay Ambolley and his band will perform that landmark work in its entirety. BK
INFO: 7:30pm, Kuumbwa Jazz Center, 320-2 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. $70. 427-2227.
TUESDAY 7/22
LITERARY
BRIDGET A. LYONS
The natural world has so much to teach. Lyons asks thoughtful questions about plants and animals while providing a provocative literary examination of them. In doing so, she reveals how all our lives are entangled. The choices humans make impact their lives. Because of this, it is imperative to make choices to preserve the planet. The essays in her new book, Entwined, give room to relate to and build empathy for even the most foreign creatures. Lyons will further discuss how to build empathy for nature. Together, we can find new ways to think about even the most ordinary of animals. ISABELLA MARIE SANGALINE
INFO: 7pm, Bookshop Santa Cruz, 1520 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. Free. 423-0900.
WEDNESDAY 7/23
BLUES
PAUL THORN
In true Americana fashion, Paul Thorn takes listeners beat by beat through true stories of love, heartbreak, hardship and humor. Lines about sweeping the floor, eating ice cream with a buddy, or buying a first-date dinner on a 2-for-$20 coupon reveal the beauty in simplicity. The son of a Pentecostal pastor, Thorn includes glimmers of gospel roots in his newest album, Life Is Just a Vapor, which includes guest appearances by New Testament and the Shoal Sisters. Enjoy Thorn’s ruddy voice, rock rhythms and country guitar all mixed with a bit of lyrical encouragement. SN
For the Dagara people of Burkina Faso, the element of fire has profound cultural meanings. It’s a symbol of innovation and inspiration. It’s a mediator between the physical and spiritual worlds and a conduit for communication with the ancestors. Through rituals, fire is a purifying and renewing force that helps people reconnect with their purpose, heal relationships and catalyze positive change in the community. In the coming weeks, Aries, I hope you will be deeply aligned with all these symbolic meanings. What are you ready to ignite for the sake of nurturing and care? What truths need light and heat? What future visions would benefit from surges of luminosity?
TAURUS April 20-May 20
In the Nahuatl language spoken by Indigenous Mexicans, the word nepantla describes an in-between space. It’s a liminal threshold where a transition is in process. The old ways have fallen away, but the new ways are not yet fully formed. It’s unsettling and perhaps confusing, yet seeded with the potential for creative change. I suspect you are now in a state resembling nepantla, Taurus. Please understand that this isn’t a crisis. It’s a chrysalis. Any discomfort you feel is not a sign of failure, but a harbinger of the wisdom and power that will come by molting the identity you have outgrown. I hope you will honor the rawness and speak tenderly to yourself. You are not lost; you are mid-ritual.
GEMINI May 21-June 20
The sea slug Elysia chlorotica is a small, unassuming creature that performs a remarkable feat: It eats algae and steals its chloroplasts, then incorporates them into its own body. For weeks afterward, the slug photosynthesizes sunlight like a plant. I believe, Gemini, that you are doing a metaphorical version of this biological borrowing. Some useful influence or presence you have absorbed from another is integrating into your deeper systems. You’re making it your own now. This isn’t theft, but creative borrowing. You’re not copying; you’re synthesizing and synergizing.
CANCER June 21-July 22
Ancient beekeepers in Anatolia carved hives directly into rock faces, coaxing honey from the cliffs. This practice was designed to protect bees from harsh weather and predators while maximizing honey production. The bees adapted well to their unusual homes. I suspect, Cancerian, that in the coming weeks, your sweetness and bounty may also thrive in unlikely structures. It could take a minute or two for you to adjust, but that won’t be a problem. Your nectar-making instincts will guide you. So I advise you not to wait for the perfect container before beginning your work. Make honey in the best available setting.
LEO July 23-Aug. 22
I laughed until I sobbed as you earnestly played the game of love even after the rules had changed. I sighed till I panted as you dredged up a new problem to avoid fixing an overripe hassle. I rolled my eyes until I got dizzy as you tried to figure out the differences between stifling self-control and emancipating self-control. But all that’s in the past, right, Leo? Now I’m preparing to cheer until my voice is raspy as you trade in a dried-up old obsession in favor of a sweet, fresh, productive passion—and outgrow all the fruitless nuisances.
VIRGO Aug. 23-Sept. 22
The ancient scribes of Mesopotamia etched records onto clay tablets with styluses, pressing wedge-shaped marks into wet earth. Once baked, these tablets endured for thousands of years. Some are still readable today. In my astrological assessment, Virgo, you are undergoing a metaphorically comparable process. Messages and expressions that are forming within you are meant to last. They may not win you immediate attention and applause. But you already suspect how crucial they will be to both your own future and the destinies of those you care for. Be bold, decisive and precise as you choose your words.
LIBRA Sept. 23-Oct. 22
Is there any aspect of your life or character that is still unripe even though it is critical to your lifelong journey? Have you held on to your amateur status or remained a bit dilettantish beyond the time when you might have progressed to the next highest level? Are you still a casual dabbler in a field where you could ultimately become masterful? If you answered yes to these queries, now is a perfect moment to kick yourself in the butt and leap to the next level. Waiting around for fate to kick your butt would be a mistake.
SCORPIO Oct. 23-Nov. 21
Many astrologers rightfully say that Virgo is the most detail-oriented, meticulous sign. I think you Scorpios may be the most methodical and thorough of all the signs, which means that you, too, can be meticulous and detail-oriented. A prime example is the Scorpio sculptor Auguste Rodin (1840–1917). Eventually, his work became world-renowned, but his career developed gradually because of his painstaking patience and scrupulous devotion to excellence. I propose we make him your role model for now. Inspired by him, resist pressure for immediate results. Trust in the slow, steady refinement process.
SAGITTARIUS Nov. 22-Dec. 21
Here are half of your words of power for the coming days: windfall, godsend and boon. The other half are potion, remedy and healing agent. If you’re lucky, and I think you will be, those terms will blend and overlap. The blessings that come your way will be in the form of cures and fixes. I’m being understated here so as to not sound too wildly excited about your immediate future. But I suspect you will wrangle at least one amazing victory over hardship. Your chances of a semi-miraculous visitation by a benevolent intervention are as high as they have ever been.
CAPRICORN Dec. 22-Jan. 19
The ancient Chinese character for “listening” contains symbols for ears, eyes and heart. I interpret this to signify that it’s not enough to seek the truth with just one of your faculties. They must all be engaged and working together to get the full story. You are wise to survey the world with your whole being. Keep these meditations in mind during the coming weeks, Capricorn. Your natural inclination is to be practical, take action and get things done. But for now, your main superpower will be listening to everything. So my advice is to listen with your skin. Listen with your breath. Listen with your gut. Let your attention be so complete that the world softens and speaks to you about what you really need to know.
AQUARIUS Jan. 20-Feb. 18
If you would like to glide into rapt alignment with astrological rhythms, give gifts to your two closest allies. These offerings should inspire their ambitions, not indulge their cravings to be comfortable. They shouldn’t be practical necessities or consumer fetishes, but rather provocative tools or adult toys. Ideally, they will be imaginative boons that your beloved companions have been shy about asking for or intriguing prods that will help beautify their self-image. Show them you love both the person they are now and the person they are becoming.
PISCES Feb. 19-March 20
Piscean photographer Ansel Adams is so renowned that he’s in the International Photography Hall of Fame. We know the moment that his lifelong passion erupted. At age 14, his family gave him a simple camera and took him to Yosemite National Park in California. “The splendor of Yosemite burst upon us, and it was glorious,” he wrote later. “One wonder after another descended upon us. A new era began for me.” In the coming months, I foresee you encountering a comparable turning point, Pisces—a magical interlude awakening you to a marvel that will become an enduring presence in your life. Be alert for it. Better yet, declare your intention to shape events to ensure it happens and you’re ready for it.
Little Uvas Vineyards—or LUV, as it’s called—is a fun place to visit.
On a recent trip there with my Wild Wine Women group, prawn cocktails awaited, followed by a tasty lunch of homemade pizzas—all reasonably priced and delicious, especially paired with Uvas’ excellent wines.
The Little Uvas 2020 Santa Clara Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($40) is one I highly recommend. Bold and bright with flavors of cassis, cranberry and blueberry, it makes a perfect pairing with hearty food.
Named LUV The One You’re With, this Cabernet won a Gold Award at the 2024 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition—not an easy feat when up against hundreds of other wines. And in the same competition, the 2020 LUV Bug merlot won Double Gold. Yes, you got it, proprietors and former restaurant owners Rich and Rosy Bergin have given every wine a LUV name, including LUV Me Tender for their chardonnay, and LUV at First Sight for sauvignon blanc.
Little Uvas holds an abundance of wine and food events. And don’t miss taking a stroll around the LUV garage—which also acts as a tasting room in inclement weather—to check out the antique cars and a vintage Airstream. Little Uvas Vineyard, 255 Fitzgerald Ave., San Martin, 408-337-1329. littleuvasvineyards.com
In the Pink
Regan Vineyards Winery has a new rosé which goes by the colorful name of Pink I Am. A tasting of Regan’s wines and “perfectly paired snacks” is $25—and it’s held in a shady gazebo surrounded by thriving grape vines. Proprietor John Bargetto will also give you a tour of his bucolic property. Email him for a reservation at jb*******@******to.com. Regan Vineyards Winery, 1660 Green Valley Road, Watsonville. Open Sundays through November.
Published in cooperation between casino.org and Good Times Santa Cruz
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For the Dagara people of Burkina Faso, the element of fire has profound cultural meanings. It’s a symbol of innovation and inspiration. It’s a mediator between the physical and spiritual worlds and a conduit for communication with the ancestors. Through rituals, fire is a purifying and renewing force that helps people reconnect with their purpose, heal...
The Little Uvas 2020 Santa Clara Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($40) is one I highly recommend. Bold and bright with flavors of cassis, cranberry and blueberry.
