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Things To Do in Santa Cruz: Oct. 13-19

GT Staff

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October 13, 2021

A weekly guide to what’s happening.

ARTS AND MUSIC

BANFF CENTRE MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL VIRTUAL FESTIVAL Bring the adventure home! Fluff up your couch cushions, grab a snack of choice, and make sure you have a good internet connection because the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour is Virtual! Travel to the most remote corners of the world, dive into daring expeditions, and celebrate some of the most remarkable outdoor achievements, all from the comfort of your living room. Films can be purchased individually or as a bundle. Banff will also be screening Award Winners: Monthly Film Series; join us online for a mixed program of award winners from the 2020, 2019 and 2018 Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festivals. Catch up on missed films or relive some of the best that Banff has to offer. Just announced is the Encore Classic Films from the past 10 years. Audience favorites. Don’t miss out! Screening until Oct. 24, 2021. Visit riotheatre.com for more information about the online programs and how you can support your local screening. You may also go directly to the Banff affiliate link for the Rio filmfest.banffcentre.ca/?campaign=WT-163945. Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz.

BLACK HEALTH MATTERS INITIATIVE: ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY On Oct. 16 from 1-5 pm, Santa Cruz County’s Black Health Matters Initiative (BHMI) will celebrate its one-year anniversary with a day-long festival on the Tannery Arts Campus featuring performances, live music, food, a health clinic, artists, family fun activities, and vendors. The BHMI anniversary celebration is open to all community members and is free of charge. SCC Black Health Matters Initiative promotes equity through a network of community trust, advocacy, and collaboration to improve the quality of life for Black residents in Santa Cruz County. Throughout the last year, BHMI has curated dynamic programming and direct services to elevate Black voices and representation. In collaboration with various partnerships, BHMI hosted hikes, surfs, movement classes, and more in Santa Cruz County parks, developed a Youth Ambassadors program for Black youth to network and rise as emerging leaders in the community, and sponsored local activists, leaders, and artists to effectively build a bridge for all Santa Cruzians to find connection, community, resources, and care. More info at tanneryworlddance.com/black-health-matters. Saturday, Oct. 16, 1-5pm. Tannery Arts Center, 1050 River St., Santa Cruz.

DOWNTOWN SANTA CRUZ MAKERS MARKET Come on out and support local makers and artists at the Downtown Santa Cruz Makers Market every third Sunday of the month on Pacific Ave at Lincoln St.! We are now on the 1100 block of Pacific Ave. between Cathcart and Lincoln Streets near New Leaf and alongside so many amazing downtown restaurants. Support local and shop small with over 30 Santa Cruz County artists and makers! Don’t forget to stop in and visit the downtown merchants and grab a bite to eat from the downtown restaurants. Remember to social distance as you shop and wear your mask. If you’re not feeling well, please stay home. There will be hand sanitizing stations at the market and signs to remind you about all these things. Friendly leashed pups are welcome. Sunday, Oct. 17, 10am-5pm. Downtown Santa Cruz Makers Market, Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz.

DÍAS DE LOS NUESTROS: A CELEBRATION OF ART, CULTURES, AND COMMUNITY Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, by celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. This year, we welcome Ensamble Folclórico Colibrí, celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month and LGBTQ+ History Month through dance and discussion. All Ensamble Folclórico Colibrí performances begin at 3pm on the event dates. A small exhibit of Folclórico costumes and light refreshments will be provided from 2-5pm on the performance dates. The exhibits will be available Oct. 1-9 at the Felton Branch, Oct. 10-16 at the downtown branch, and Oct. 17-23 at the Capitola branch. The event explores the art and cultures of our immigrant communities, and is followed by a Día de los Muertos Program in early November at three branch locations. Sunday, Oct. 17, 2pm. Capitola Library, a Santa Cruz City County Public Library Branch, 2005 Wharf Road, Capitola.

I’M YOUR MAN: THE FILM I’m Your Man is a small art film with great reviews and awards but no support from the studio. It’s a film that deserves to be seen. In a love story that transcends “modern romance,” a woman must navigate her relationship with the robot designed to be her ideal partner. Alma (Maren Eggert) is a scientist coerced into participating in an extraordinary study in order to obtain research funds for her work. For three weeks, she must live with a humanoid robot tailored to her character and needs, whose artificial intelligence is designed to be the perfect life partner for her. Enter Tom (Dan Stevens), a machine in human form created solely to make her happy. A playfully romantic tale, I’m Your Man questions what love and longing really mean in the modern age. Wednesday, Oct. 13, 7pm. Santa Cruz Cinema, 1405 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz.

SHE ADVENTURES FILM TOUR Born out of a desire to showcase the strong, inspirational, adventurous women of the outdoor world, the She Adventures Film Tour presents a carefully curated selection of short films that will entertain, inspire and enlighten. The tour showcases a two-and-a-half hours program of the most heartfelt, inspiring and entertaining films celebrating adventurous women from independent filmmakers around the globe. Featuring a unique selection of films of varying lengths and styles, covering topics relevant to women in the outdoors, the She Adventures Film Tour will connect with both the avid adventurer and the armchair adventurer alike. The 2021 tour will take you around the globe by bike in an attempt for the speed record, longboarding in the French Alps, getting big air and grinding rails. Dive into the world of Sri Lanka’s first competitive female surfer, push the limits with the uniquely French-Canadian sport of ice canoeing and join Lucy Barnard on her walk around the world. Ride the trails with some rad mountain bikers in Vermont and run the muddiest known time in remote Australia. These amazing stories of courage, grit, determination, and outdoor inspiration are focused on bringing the female adventure experience under the spotlight. With eight inspiring films in the lineup, this year’s tour is full of adventure and trailblazing female adventurers. Friday, Oct. 15, 7pm. Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz.

COMMUNITY

COAST FUTURA STREETCAR DEMO IN WATSONVILLE Take a ride on the Coast Futura!

This free demonstration of a clean-energy, affordable, accessible streetcar on the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line is happening in Watsonville and Santa Cruz. For the first time, our community will get to experience a rail vehicle that you can see, touch and ride in. The demonstration event is happening in Watsonville on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 16-17 at Beach and Walker streets. The route includes a portion of the city and sloughs. Tickets are required to ride the streetcar. For your free ticket, visit: coastfutura.org. The schedule includes hourly departures for rides that will last about 40 minutes. Each ride will include about 30 passengers. And all rides will be free! All health mandates will be followed, including masks. Saturday, Oct. 16, 9am-7pm. Sunday, Oct. 17, 9am-7pm.

COMMUNITY DRUMMING WITH JIM GREINER IN PERSON Percussionist/educator Jim Greiner will conduct the next in his monthly third Friday series of community drumming sessions at the Inner Light Center in Soquel in person from 7-8:30pm. The cost is $10. Masks and social distancing requirements will be honored. Jim makes it fun and easy for people from all walks of life to play drums and hand percussion to release stress, to uplift and energize yourself, and to reinforce positive life rhythms through percussion playing. Friday, Oct. 15, 7-8:30pm. Inner Light Center, 5630 Soquel Drive, Soquel.

CUÉNTAME UN CUENTO Acompáñanos para una hora de cuentos, actividades y canciones en español. Este programa es para niños de 0-8 y sus familias. La hora será miércoles a las 4:30pm. Nos reuniremos en el porche exterior. Cuéntame un Cuento se llevará a cabo en Capitola durante el período de construcción de Live Oak. En caso de mal clima, se cancelará la hora de cuentos. Join us for Spanish Storytime, activities, and music! This program is best suited for kids ages 0-8 and their families. Storytime takes place on Wednesday at 4:30pm. We will meet on the outside porch. Storytime will take place at Capitola during Live Oak’s construction period. In the event of bad weather, storytime will be cancelled. Wednesday, Oct. 13, 4:30pm. Capitola Library A Santa Cruz City County Public Library Branch, 2005 Wharf Road, Capitola.

EVERGREEN AT DUSK: CEMETERY HISTORY TOURS Welcome back to our second year of Evergreen at Dusk historical tours. We invite you to discover the stories and secrets found within Evergreen Cemetery, one of the oldest public cemeteries in California, on a self-guided or private tour of the grounds. Bring your curiosity as you explore the final resting place of Santa Cruz’s early settlers. The 45-minute tour uncovers the stories and tombstones of the people who made Santa Cruz what it is today. Designed for the daring, the curious, and the history-loving. This tour is great for all ages! Each tour should take 30-45 minutes to complete. The time you select is when your group/household tour begins, we recommend arriving five-to-ten minutes early to ensure you can begin right on time. Upon arrival, find the MAH table near the iconic Evergreen Arch. We will give you the printed map and guide with a brief introduction to Evergreen. Following the welcome, you are then free to follow the scavenger hunt like map and travel back in time uncovering the stories buried across the grounds. Go at your own pace and begin your adventure. We’ll be there on-site to help you get from tombstone to tombstone if assistance is needed. This tour will be led by a MAH staffer and is available to two households per night. Dig deeper into the stories and history of the cemetery. This tour has to be on your Santa Cruz Bucketlist. Please be sure to wear your mask if you are not vaccinated and maintain a 6-ft distance when around other explorers or MAH staffers. Thursday, Oct. 14, 4-7pm. Evergreen Cemetery, 261 Evergreen St., Santa Cruz.

FAMILY BIKING VIRTUAL WORKSHOP Of all the barriers people face to biking, kids usually land at the top of the list. How early can you get your kiddo on a bike with you? What are the different ways you can carry your kids or ride with them? Is a cargo bike better than a trailer? Can you really manage the school, work, store and extracurricular point-to-point by bike? In this new workshop, Ecology Action staff will guide you through the many options for family biking. Topics will include gear, family testimonials, riding through developmental stages and recommendations for riding with kids safely, conveniently and having fun along the way. Find out how parents are replacing the minivan with the bike and why kids can’t seem to get enough.

Register today at bit.ly/2XADpC9. Tuesday, Oct. 19, Noon-1pm.

FELTON TODDLER TIME Join Librarian Julie on our beautiful Felton patio for Toddler Time. Toddler Time is a weekly early literacy program for families with children ages 0-3 years old. Music, movement, stories, fingerplays, rhymes, and songs are a fun way for your child to learn. Let’s play and learn together! Make sure to bring something to sit on. We ask that adults please wear a mask. Repeats weekly. Wednesday, Oct. 13, 11am. Felton Branch Library, 6121 Gushee St., Felton.

GREY BEARS BROWN BAG LINE Grey Bears are looking for help with their brown bag production line on Thursday and Friday mornings. Volunteers will receive breakfast and a bag of food if wanted. Be at the warehouse with a mask and gloves at 7am. Call ahead for more information: 831-479-1055, greybears.org. Thursday, Oct. 14, 7am. California Grey Bears, 2710 Chanticleer Ave., Santa Cruz.

KNITTING AT THE FELTON LIBRARY Join us every Monday afternoon at the Felton Branch for a knitting party. All you need to do is bring some yarn and knitting needles. All ages are welcome. Monday, Oct. 18, 12:30pm. Felton Branch Library, 6121 Gushee St., Felton.

LA SELVA BEACH PRESCHOOL STORYTIME Join us for a fun interactive storytime. We’ll read books, sing songs and use rhythm and movement. This event is suitable for children ages 3-6 years. There will be an arts and crafts project to take home. This event will be held outside on the back patio. Please bring something to sit on and dress for the weather. Masks will be required. Repeats weekly. Tuesday, Oct. 19, 11am. La Selva Beach Branch Library, 316 Estrella Ave., La Selva Beach.

PRESCHOOL STORYTIME IN THE SECRET GARDEN Join us in the Secret Garden in Abbott Square at the MAH for storytime! We’ll share stories, songs and rhymes in a safe environment. This 30-40 minute program is intended for children aged 2-6. Do it yourself craft kits will be provided every week. Every other week we will feature STEM-related stories and concepts. Tuesday, Oct. 19, 11am. Abbott Square, 118 Cooper St., Santa Cruz.

R.E.A.D.: REACH EVERY AMAZING DETAIL @ CAPITOLA R.E.A.D. is one-on-one reading comprehension instruction for readers 2nd through 12th grade. Instructors are California credentialed teachers. Sessions are 25 minutes long. By appointment only. Contact SCPL Telephone Information if you have any questions: 831-427-7713. Wednesday, Oct. 13, 3pm. Capitola Library A Santa Cruz City County Public Library Branch, 2005 Wharf Road, Capitola.

VEGAN COOKING & WINE PAIRING CLASS: A TASTE OF SPAIN ON YOUR PLATE Greetings foodies and wine lovers! Join me for a delightful afternoon enjoying the beautiful art of vegan Spanish cooking and wine pairing at the gorgeous FlipJack Ranch, in Bonny Doon nestled in the magical Santa Cruz Mountains. We’ll be going on a delicious journey to Valencia, Spain through our culinary adventures together! You’ll enjoy your exquisite culinary creations with a delicious red wine, the Mas Donis Old Vines 2014, Montsant, Spain, which beautifully complements Spanish cuisine! Class runs for four hours and is limited to 10 students to ensure the most spectacular experience for all. Since space is limited, early registration is highly encouraged. Please note: as a safety precaution for everyone, all registered students in my culinary and wine pairing classes must be fully vaccinated. I look forward to seeing you in class! Saturday, Oct. 16, 1-5pm. FlipJack Ranch, 4600 Smith Grade, Santa Cruz.

GROUPS

CLIMATE, LAND & WATER OUTDOOR MEDITATION Share this public, multi-faith meditation/demonstration, to raise our spirits, raise awareness, and raise the vibration in these troubled times. We will begin with Land Acknowledgement and opening ceremony, and then 30 minutes of silent meditation, followed by a brief closing and ending around 4:30. All are welcome! Please arrive early to find parking (you may need to park some distance away) and get settled in. We will gather on the lawn near the Lighthouse; look for the Novasutras signs. This is being offered as part of the Faiths4ClimateJustice days of action. Learn more at novasutras.org/santacruz/santa-cruz-events/#om. Sunday, Oct. 17, 3:30pm.

COMMUNITY PILATES MAT CLASS Come build strength with us. This very popular in-person community Pilates Mat Class in the big auditorium at Temple Beth El in Aptos is in session once again. Please bring your own mat, small pilates ball and theraband if you have one. You must be vaccinated for this indoor class. Suggested donation of $10/class is welcome. Thursday, Oct. 14, 10am. Tuesday, Oct. 19, 10am. Temple Beth El, 3055 Porter Gulch Road, Aptos.

ENTRE NOSOTRAS GRUPO DE APOYO Entre Nosotras support group for Spanish speaking women with a cancer diagnosis. Meets twice monthly. Registration required, please call Entre Nosotras 831-761-3973. Friday, Oct. 15, 6pm. WomenCARE, 2901 Park Ave., Suite A1, Soquel.

S+LAA MENS’ MEETING Having trouble with compulsive sexual or emotional behavior? Recovery is possible. Our small 12-step group meets Saturday evenings. Enter through the front entrance, go straight down the hallway to the last door on the right. Thursday, Oct. 14, 6pm. Sutter Maternity & Surgery Center, 2900 Chanticleer Ave., Santa Cruz.

WOMENCARE ARM-IN-ARM WomenCARE Arm-in-Arm Cancer support group for women with advanced, recurrent, or metastatic cancer. Meets every Monday, currently on Zoom. Registration is required, call WomenCARE at 831-457-2273. All services are free. For more information visit womencaresantacruz.org. Monday, Oct. 18, 12:30pm.

WOMENCARE MINDFULNESS MEDITATION Mindfulness Meditation for women with a cancer diagnosis. Meets the first and third Friday, currently on Zoom. Registration is required call WomenCARE at 831-457-2273. Friday, Oct. 15, 11am-noon.

WOMENCARE TUESDAY SUPPORT GROUP WomenCARE Tuesday Cancer support group for women newly diagnosed and through their treatment. Meets every Tuesday currently on Zoom. Registration required, call WomenCARE 831-457-2273. Tuesday, Oct. 19, 12:30-2pm.

WOMENCARE: LAUGHTER YOGA Laughter yoga for women with a cancer diagnosis. Meets every Wednesday, currently via Zoom. Registration is required, please call WomenCARE at 831-457-2273. Wednesday, Oct. 13, 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, Oct. 15, Noon-6pm. Tuesday, Oct. 19, Noon-6pm. Cowell Ranch Historic Hay Barn, Ranch View Road, Santa Cruz.

CONCRETE SHIP HISTORY WALK Learn about Seacliff State Beach’s fascinating history on this one-mile, one-hour stroll to the Aptos Creek Bridge and back. Get the lowdown on the Concrete Ship, the development of Aptos, “The Madman of Seacliff,” and much, much more. Bring water and layered clothing. Pre-registration required at santacruzstateparks.as.me. Meet at the shaded picnic tables next to the visitor center. Free event. Vehicle day-use fee is $10. For more information, call 831-685-6444. Friday, Oct. 15, 11am-noon. Seacliff State Beach, State Park Drive, Aptos.

GUIDED COASTAL WALK On this two-and-a-half mile family friendly walk, we’ll explore the plants, animals, and geology of our 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, Oct. 16, 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. Saturday, Oct. 16, 1-2pm. Sunday, Oct. 17, 1-2pm. Wilder Ranch State Park, 1401 Coast Road, Santa Cruz.

OUT AND ABOUT: FALL FOODS AT LIVE EARTH FARM Out and About is a monthly series by the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History of family-friendly, small group get-togethers exploring Santa Cruz’s diverse natural spaces through guided activities. For this month’s Out and About family day, we’re visiting Live Earth Farm! The team at Farm Discovery will lead families through seed saving and pumpkin carving as we visit with farm animals. Let’s strengthen connections with our local food system and community as we fully embrace the fall season! Registration includes one pumpkin and apple snack per person. Feel free to bring a picnic lunch to enjoy on the farm after the program ends; recommended for ages 5-10, but all ages are welcome. All youth must be accompanied by an adult. Saturday, Oct. 16, 10am-noon. Live Earth Farm, 1275 Green Valley Road, Watsonville.

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, Oct. 19, 6:30-7:30pm. Moran Lake Park & Beach, East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz.

YOU PICK ROSES We are growing over 300 roses, deeply fragrant, lush and in every color, and we want to share them with you! Get out of the house and enjoy cutting a bucket of roses for your pleasure or to share with family and friends. Visit birdsongorchards.com to make a reservation. Once you have made a purchase, you will be sent a calendar link to pick a time for your reservation and directions to our farm in Watsonville. Friday, Oct. 15, 11am. Sunday, Oct. 17, 11am.

Yearlong Everchanging Exhibit ‘Landscape and Life’ Debuts at Tannery Arts Center

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October 13, 2021

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Yearlong Everchanging Exhibit ‘Landscape and Life’ Debuts at Tannery Arts Center

Canadian artist Paul Walde once composed a requiem for a melting glacier in British Columbia—and then invited a small chamber orchestra to perform to that glacier. Another time, he made art pieces using mushroom spores, and invited musicians to perform along to those paintings, each interpreting them in their own unique way.

“He’s thinking, ‘How can we collaborate and create music with life forms other than human beings?’” says experimental musician Gabriel Saloman Mindel, who is working with local organization Indexical to create the yearlong exhibit Landscape and Life at the Tannery Arts Center. Walde is one of the artists contributing to the exhibit, which seeks to explore our relationship to the physical landscape in a totally new way.

“One of the problems with landscape painting is that it often depicts the world as a thing in the distance. It’s beautiful to look at, but doesn’t always capture the way that life, in all its different forms, is there,” Mindel says. “Rather than looking at it from a distance, [these artists] were getting right into it and treating the landscape as a living place.”

This exhibit also begins a new era of Indexical, an organization that formed in Brooklyn in 2011, then relocated to Santa Cruz in 2015, and is dedicated to experimentation in music. They’ve hosted music and art events in several local spaces, such as Peace United Church of Christ, Veterans Memorial Building, Kuumbwa Jazz, and Radius Gallery at the Tannery Arts Center. Now they have a dedicated location, after recently signing a year lease at the Tannery. In addition to Landscape and Life, they hope to host 40-50 more events.

“The Tannery offers them an opportunity to be more proactive about hosting events, and a wider array of events, because it’s a lot of work to start setting up a venue for each individual show,” Mindel says.

Initially, Mindell, who is an independent curator with Indexical, wanted to assemble a project that would explore how the various experimental musicians he knew were mixing visual arts into their work. After selecting the four artists—Walde, Suzy Poling, Paige Emery and Raven Chacon—he saw a theme emerge. They were each interacting with the physical world in unique ways and commenting on a lot of the issues we currently face in society.

“What I saw was a really important way of rethinking how we relate to landscape, because it affects the ways that we relate to not just the living creatures, but also our relationship to First Nation and Native American folks and their existence in this landscape. And the way we think about climate change. All those things are interconnected,” Mindel says.

It’s not clear yet what Walde has planned specifically for Landscape and Life, because his submission won’t be up until next year. But Poling, who likes to visit strange landscapes for her work, is set to go. For this exhibit, she visited Mono Lake in the Eastern Sierras. The rock formations, known as tufa, seem strangely alien and alive. She took photos of the rock, often including herself in the photos in costumes that mimic the texture of the weird geological formations. She has videos, photos, and music she has composed to accompany the visuals.

“I think that the music is meant to almost be the voice of that landscape, as if the landscape itself is speaking,” Mindel says.

Members of Indexical are hoping that this will mark a whole new era of bringing art to the city, and sparking conversations. In addition to the exhibit, they plan to host a whole speaker series this coming year.

“The way we view a world without humans as “empty space” is a reflection of our political and theological frameworks, says Indexical Executive Director Andrew Smith. “This speaker series is about ensuring that the broader argument of the exhibition series connects, and drawing some specific and practical examples that extend beyond the artwork. Currently, we expect to have six talks throughout the season, and I hope they’ll truly be community conversations.”

The first exhibits of Landscape and Life, by Suzy Poling and Paige Emery, continue through Nov. 13. A closing reception for both will feature performances by the artists and a Q&A on Saturday, Nov. 13 at 8pm at Indexical, 1050 River St. #119, Santa Cruz, (831) 621-6226.Tickets for the closing reception are $18, available at indexical.org.

Singer-Songwriter Harpist Calvin Arsenia to Perform Lille Aeske Arthouse

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October 13, 2021

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Singer-Songwriter Harpist Calvin Arsenia to Perform Lille Aeske Arthouse

As a young singer-songwriter playing coffee shops in Kansas City, Calvin Arsenia had big plans. He pictured himself backed by an eclectic band that included, among other instruments, a harp.

“I have always been a bit more ambitious than I ought to be,” Arsenia says. “I was trying to put a little orchestra together inside of Starbucks. And obviously, harpists are quite rare, and the instruments are expensive and hard to move. That didn’t quite work out as I planned.”

His harp dreams got a second wind when he realized he could rent one himself and be the harpist. This was the better option because Arsenia wanted to experiment with how the harp sounded and not just create angelic overtones.

“I’ve always had a vast appreciation for different styles of music. I remember being a 13-year-old boy and downloading yodeling tutorials,” Arsenia says. “I’ve always had a deep love for different ways that people express themselves.”

In an unexpected twist, Arsenia became an accomplished harpist. He was sent to Scotland, where the harp is the national instrument, for missionary work by the controversial evangelical Christian church International House of Prayer. The freedom he experienced there helped him find himself and move away from the church. He met the principal harpist for the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, who agreed to mentor him. When he moved back to the U.S., he prioritized writing and performing his own music.

“The harp has been a bit of a Trojan horse for me,” he says. “As a singer-songwriter, there’s a lot of people who play guitar or piano, and I wanted to do something a little bit different. I like to pull the harp into places that it isn’t normally invited. I want to have it be a very sexy instrument, to be able to express romance and Eros. And I want to be able to express anger and frustration and sadness. And not just like this very idealistic sweetness. I want it to feel dangerous.”

A critical moment for him came with the release of Cantaloupe in 2018 with producer Ashley Miller. He envisioned an album that would blend elements of Frank Ocean’s Channel Orange and the work of Sufjan Stevens, with his voice smooth as John Legend. But he also wanted to completely reimagine how he could blend acoustic and electronic elements, both sonically and thematically.

“We as individuals are living in this kind of hybrid, bionic time where we need our cell phones to exist and to be a part of society, and we need computers and technology to receive and send out information. It is how we communicate it, and yet we still have to eat and grow food in our gardens,” Arsenia says. “We are hybrid individuals, and I wanted to reflect on those ideas on the record.”

He has a new record planned for early 2022, and will perform some of these songs when he comes to Lille Aeske this week. He also will be bringing his recently published book Every Good Boy Does Fine to the venue, and will be reading excerpts at the gig.

“The album is very much inspired by revelations that I had in 2020, particularly around the origins of America and what my narrative is in the middle of that.”

He has a song called “Scars and Stripes,” which was inspired by reading an article about one of his ancestors who was born into slavery in 1859. He says he wanted to answer the question, “What does that mean for me in 2021? And looking around at the Black Lives Matter movement and singing about these things on the harp. It’s a little bit awkward, but at the same time, it feels good to get it out. This is the truth. And this is my story.”

Calvin Arsenia performs at 8pm on Saturday, Oct. 16 at Lille Aeske Arthouse, 13160 Hwy 9 Boulder Creek. $30. 831-703-4183.

Letter to the Editor: A Better Way to Vote

Letters to the Editor

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October 13, 2021

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Letter to the Editor: A Better Way to Vote

Re: “Re: Districting” (GT, 9/22): Currently both Watsonville and Santa Cruz use plurality voting to elect its city council. Plurality at-large is used in Santa Cruz, and was used in Watsonville before 1989. Each citizen can only vote for a number of candidates equal to the positions open. If four must be elected, citizens must vote for no more than four. The four candidates who receive the most votes are elected. The problem is that plurality frequently allows less than 50% of the citizens to elect all the winners. Therefore, it prevents the remaining votes from helping to elect candidates of their choice. This is illustrated by the election results for the existing Santa Cruz Council:

All Winners All Losers

2018 47.05% 52.95%

2020 44.04% 55.96%

About 53% and 56% of the votes were prevented from helping to elect a representative of their choice.

When this happens to members of a Black, Latino, or other minority, the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA) refers to these wasted votes as being “diluted.” It requires cities to change their voting methods to reduce this dilution as much as possible. Watsonville’s change to by-district elections reduced the vote dilution somewhat because districts could be drawn containing enough Latino voters to elect their councilmember by a plurality. The same seems not to be possible in Santa Cruz. At the same time, see how many votes can also be diluted in a district in which candidate C is elected with 34% of the votes when candidates A and B received 33% each–66% of the votes diluted.

Unfortunately, a majority of the Santa Cruz Council are locked within a plurality mindset. They have not even considered the two better alternatives that use modified at-large elections, but not plurality: Single transferable voting (STV) dilutes about 12%. An improved STV method called evaluative proportional representation (EPR) dilutes 0%. Each of these ballots can be as easy to use as a plurality ballot.

Democratically, EPR is the most attractive because it guarantees that every citizen’s vote will proportionally increase the voting power in the council of the elected candidate judged suitable for office by that citizen. If 30% of the voting population in Santa Cruz vote for a Latino candidate, that candidate will have 30% of the votes in the council. There are more details at https://www.jpolrisk.com/legislatures-elected-by-evaluative-proportional-representation-epr-an-algorithm-v3/.

Stephen Bosworth

Santa Cruz

This letter does not necessarily reflect the views of Good Times.To submit a letter to the editor of Good Times: Letters should be originals—not copies of letters sent to other publications. Please include your name and email address to help us verify your submission (email address will not be published). Please be brief. Letters may be edited for length, clarity and to correct factual inaccuracies known to us. Send letters to le*****@*******es.sc.

Opinion: The Runway Returns

GT Staff

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October 13, 2021

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EDITOR’S NOTE

Even though I wrote a feature story last year on the rebirth of drive-ins during the pandemic, I ironically didn’t actually get to any of Santa Cruz’s drive-in events until Pivot’s show in the wide expanse of the Boardwalk parking lot in November. I was already impressed that Tina Brown and Rose Sellery had added a new layer of meaning to their event’s name by suddenly taking this outrageous fashion show they produce every year and turning it into a film to be shown to a drive-in audience. I thought the leaps of faith it must have required to get from “We produce an annual live runway event” to “We are making a film about fashion” were remarkable, since they are entirely different mediums. I wondered what it would even be—just footage of models walking runways? Nah. I knew Brown and Sellery wouldn’t be satisfied with that.

Still, I wasn’t expecting what they were able to create. As thoughtful and relevant as it was stylish, the Pivot film was a beautiful piece of work. The closing segment in particular—a somber metaphorical meditation on the state of the world that featured Sellery’s designs—was incredibly moving. Remembering the power the Pivot crew were able to channel even in the sealed-off drive-in setting makes me excited for the return of their live event. Johanna Miller’s cover story on the Saturday, Oct. 23 show will get you in the mood, too. If you’ve never seen a Pivot show, I can tell you two things from experience: 1) it’s not what you expect a fashion show to be, and 2) you won’t forget it.

STEVE PALOPOLI | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Read the latest letters to the editor here.

ONLINE COMMENTS

Re: Sutter Shift

I feel sad for all of us residents in the mountain area. It was great that we didn’t have to go into Santa Cruz for our urgent care. A lot of us residents up in these mountains don’t have a ride all the way into Santa Cruz, especially for urgent care. Sure wish this decision would have considered us elderly mountain folk.

— Candy Frantz-Crafton

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GOOD IDEA

BEAR NECESSITIES

Santa Cruz Community Credit Union is matching all donations to Grey Bears, the organization that provides food and meals to seniors across the county. Last year, Grey Bears delivered more than 2.7 million pounds of food to those in need during the pandemic and CZU Complex fire. As we enter the winter season, Grey Bears is gearing up to increase its food deliveries, and will hopefully provide more meals than ever with the help of donations. Donate at https://www.grapevine.org/nonprofit/GwSny7p/Grey-Bears

GOOD WORK

MINDFUL SPENDING

Santa Cruz County is set to receive $3 million in federal grants to help those experiencing homeless who also face mental-health-related issues.

About a third of the homeless population has a serious mental illness, according to the Treatment Advocacy Center. In a county that has one of the highest per-capita rates of homelessness in the state, this money is much-needed. The funds will go to the County of Santa Cruz Behavioral Health, which connects homeless with resources that address substance abuse, mental illness or both.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“Fashion is the armor to survive the reality of everyday life.”
-Bill Cunningham

Santa Cruz’s Unique Fashion Show Pivot Returns to the Runway

Johanna Miller

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October 12, 2021

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Santa Cruz’s Unique Fashion Show Pivot Returns to the Runway

For the past six years, artist and designer Tina Brown and stylist Rose Sellery have joined forces to bring a different kind of fashion show to Santa Cruz County.

Pivot: The Art of Fashion was first held in 2015, after Brown and Sellery were looking for a way to expand on what they were already doing at other runway events in the area, and carry on the tradition of the annual Fashionart event they had worked on with Angelo Grova.

“We wanted to do shows in other places,” Sellery says. “We wanted to offer different opportunities for designers, have workshops, marketplaces. We wanted to support them throughout the year, not just at one show.”

Since its inception, Pivot has grown in size and influence, gaining a reputation as a welcoming space for diversity and inclusion. Models—and the consumers the clothes are designed for—range in size, age, race, ethnicity, gender and orientation.

“We’re trying to define beauty in a broader sense,” Sellery says. “It’s not just about the size zero, 6-foot tall models. Beauty is the norm, it’s everywhere, in everyone you look around and see. Clothes are something every person can relate to. They are a mirror of our inner selves.”

“We want to inspire people, so they see the beauty in all kinds of clothes, and know they can have that beauty in their lives, too,” says Brown.

*Artist: Rose Sellery, ‘Party’s Over.’ PHOTO: R.R. JONES*

Pivot returns Oct. 23 with a night of runway presentations, featuring designer fashions and wearable artwork, as well as live music, spoken word, dance, and more at the Tannery Arts Center.

“Everyone is excited to be back,” Brown says. “They were so isolated during the pandemic. They’ve needed something to do, to look forward to and show off their work.”

When last year’s event was canceled due to the pandemic, Brown and Sellery adapted it into a film. A two-day shoot they describe as “intense” had artists and designers film segments at Curated-By-The-Sea and the Rispin Mansion in Capitola.

The film was shown at a drive-in movie event at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.

“We had the best time,” Sellery says. “We were in lockdown for so long. This allowed us to get together with people who were like family to us, connect and create.”

Despite the success of the film, Brown admits there was something missing in the experience.

“At our live shows, the feelings, the excitement is palpable,” she says. “But last year we were in our cars. We couldn’t see people’s reactions. We definitely missed the audience.”

Pivot is back to an in-person event, this time outdoors. Originally the show was going to be at the Rio Theatre, as with previous years. But the Delta variant changed everything.

“We realized we couldn’t jam all those people backstage,” Sellery says. “We didn’t feel good about being indoors, even if we limited the amount of people. What were we going to do? By then we were already heading into August.”

*Artist: Rose Sellery, ‘In Knots.’ PHOTO: R.R. JONES*

Enter the Tannery, which Sellery says was “very eager” to take on the project. Working with Program Manager Mercedes Lewis, they began putting the pieces together for the new event.

“We’ve been scrambling a bit,” Sellery says. “But we’re super excited. The lineup we have, the surprise performances—we think it’s going to be fantastic.”

Pivot highlights both local artists and designers, and some from across the U.S., including Hawaii, Iowa and Massachusetts. Many focus on sustainability and “upcycling,” the process of transforming by-products and other unwanted items into new creations.

Haute Trash, a group that originated in the Sierra Nevada Foothills, creates pieces from recycled materials. Local designer and Tannery resident Asha Tobing will show off her line of kidswear, “Lil’ Jax,” made from salvaged textiles. Sonia Le of Santa Cruz will display her custom pieces made from upcycled sari pieces.

Local favorite I.B. Bayo is also set to present his unique womens and mens creations at the show.

“Everyone waits to see what kind of feather concoction gown [Bayo] is going to put together,” Brown says. “He’s incredible. You never know what he’s going to come up with.”

Rebecca Wendlandt of Davis will be showing off two wearable artworks. The sea-themed pieces, one a jellyfish and the other inspired by coral, utilize LED lighting elements.

Wendlandt says she enjoys how Sellery and Brown blend art pieces like hers with more wearable fashion.

“I really appreciate them providing this unique sort of opportunity for artists,” she says. “I’m sure it’s a lot of work to organize and put on this show. It’s a really great thing to participate in.”

*Designer: Asha Tobing for Liljax. PHOTO: R.R. JONES*

Runway to South County

This year includes some new faces, including designer Sindy Hernandez, owner of Queen’s Shoes & More in Watsonville. Her line, “Sindy,” caught the attention of Brown and Sellery for its simple, clean lines and high quality fabrics.

“She’s fabulous,” Brown says. “Her stuff is very wearable, compared to some of the gowns you’ll see at the show. We do want some pieces that people will look at and say, ‘I would wear that!’”

Hernandez says she learned about Pivot through a customer, who introduced her to Brown.

“They really wanted to bring Watsonville into the mix, which is wonderful,” Hernandez says. “It’s been a rough year, and I haven’t been able to design much, but I do have a small collection of pieces I’ve been working on.”

Hernandez praised Pivot’s focus on diversity and sustainability.

“I’m very excited to be a part of it,” she says. “I’ve had fashion shows but they’ve always been here, in my store. With Pivot, I’ll get to experience the other side of things, with other designers. To see their work.”

A major goal of Pivot, Sellery says, is to educate the public about “slow fashion.” That is, embracing local and quality-made garments instead of mass-produced clothes from overseas.

“It’s about buying less, but better quality,” Brown says. “It’s about valuing and buying clothes made right here. You don’t need to go to Forever 21 to find something cool.”

“The fashion industry is one of the biggest producers of waste in the world,” says Sellery. “This is a big thing we can do to help the planet.”

*Designer: Sindy Collection for Queen’s Shoes Boutique. PHOTO: R.R. JONES*

Pivot will be catered by Emozioni Patisserie, a new Italian pastry shop in Santa Cruz, that will serve up both sweet and savory treats. Local band Los Improviders will act as the soundtrack for the evening; it is the first time Pivot will utilize live music for its runway show.

A catered VIP reception will be held prior to the event, where guests can enjoy food, champagne and mingle with designers and artists, plus have front row seating.

Face masks will be required for all guests and all participants backstage will either be vaccinated or have taken a recent Covid test.

“We usually have quite a big crowd,” Brown says. “So we’re trying to be as safe as possible.”

Both Brown and Sellery have their own jobs apart from Pivot. Sellery is a working artist and designer, while Brown works as a fashion stylist in the region.

But this show is their passion project, and something they look forward to every year.

“This is our labor of love,” Sellery says. “It is a joyful, fun experience where you can meet new people, make new friends and engage with art.”

*Artist: Dag Weiser, ‘The Break Up.’ PHOTO: R.R. JONES*

For Brown, the most rewarding thing about Pivot is the community of artists and designers they have created over the past six years.

“It is very difficult to make a living as an artist,” she says. “Especially in the past year, people have struggled. It’s been rough. So it’s helpful to have a network of people. You can check in with each other, collaborate, or just talk. I think our work has really paid off this past year. We’ve achieved what we set out to do.”

Pivot: The Art of Fashion will be held Oct. 23 at 7:30pm (doors 7pm) at the Tannery Arts Center, 1010 River St. in Santa Cruz. For information and to purchase tickets, visit pivot-artfashion.com.

The Long Road to Watsonville’s $22 Million Ramsay Park Renovation

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October 12, 2021

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The Long Road to Watsonville’s $22 Million Ramsay Park Renovation

In early 2020, the Watsonville City Council approved a plan for how Santa Cruz County’s southernmost city would improve its parks and recreation offerings. The 2020 Parks and Recreation Strategic Plan identified the potential of the city’s parks, but it also highlighted the decades-long deficiencies that have plagued the city’s parks department. It showed that not only was the city’s available park space per 1,000 residents gravely behind the national standard, but also that the park space available was largely in disrepair, with the city facing some $18 million in deferred maintenance because of low revenues.

And yet, just a year-and-a-half later, Watsonville’s parks department is in arguably the strongest position it has been in recent memory. Case in point: a roughly $22 million infusion of local, state and federal funding for a complete renovation of Ramsay Park, its largest recreation outlet. The wholesale facelift that will happen over the next five years includes the construction of an inclusive park, a completely reimagined Nature Center, and the long-awaited modernization of the two fields at Sotomayor Soccer Field.

For some, the massive investment of taxpayer dollars—at least a third of which is federal funding from President Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan Act—might seem like a misstep from local elected leaders. But Raquel Pulido, who helped lead the charge in convincing the Watsonville City Council to make the investment, knows exactly how much a renovation of Ramsay will mean to Watsonville’s soccer-crazed community, which has long struggled to find fields to play on.

“It’s a dream come true,” said Pulido, as politicians, community leaders and city employees took photos after a Sept. 17 press conference recognizing the renovation’s milestone. “We had the plan, but obviously didn’t have the funds. Now that it all came together, I’m really excited for what it’s going to do for our community.”

Soccer City

There are few things that are more synonymous with Watsonville than soccer, and yet the limited locations to play the beautiful game within city limits paints a different portrait of the community’s connection to it.

As it stands today, Ramsay Park is one of the few spots under the city’s 143 acres of park space that offers a full-sized soccer pitch. But the two fields there are often unplayable because of excessive usage, flooding from poor drainage and a lack of lighting as fall and winter set in and sunlight dwindles. As a team manager for her son’s competitive squad, Pulido knows firsthand how difficult it is to find a place for a team to practice, let alone play. Sometimes, Pulido says, that means moving practice to hardwood basketball courts for games that will take place on grass fields.

This predicament, says Pajaro Valley Youth Soccer Club (PVYSC) coach Gladys Mondragon, is nothing new. The Watsonville High School and Cabrillo College alumna remembers having to practice on the corner of a softball field when she was young, and her youth team often played on the road because there were no fields available to host games. Even now, as the head coach of the Watsonville High girls’ team and the Cabrillo College women’s team, Mondragon says space and time to practice remains tight around Watsonville because of the high demand of youth, school and adult teams that operate in the area.

Despite all of this, Watsonville’s youth soccer teams have consistently found success. Pulido boasts that her son’s team has placed first and second at state tournaments. PVYSC teams, also known as Pajaro Valley United, have won several championships and traveled around the country to play in high-level tournaments. And the Watsonville High boys’ team is often tops in the state and among the best in the nation some years.

That success, Mondragon says, speaks to the love for the game that permeates through many facets of the community. It’s commonplace to see people playing a pick-up game of soccer on the street with random items—shoes, traffic cones, sweaters or plants—placed as goalposts. So, too, is it to see a group playing deep into the night with car headlights dimly illuminating a field, or using an empty tennis court to play futsal—a compact version of soccer typically played indoors.

“I think it shows the commitment of the coaches, the commitment of the parents and the commitment of the athletes, regardless of the resources that we have, to manage to figure things out and continue to do what we love to do most,” Mondragon says. “[They find] an open space; if it’s a futsal [court] or a corner on a grass field, they manage to continue playing. Sometimes street soccer makes good players, too.”

Soccer, Mondragon says, is many times a common language that brings people together. And that is important for a city that has prided itself on welcoming immigrants. For many people that have decided to move here and call the U.S. home, soccer has been the connective tissue that has given them a chance to find a community.

“It’s not just a sport. It provides so many different things,” she says. “The connection you have with your teammates, your coaches and the connection that it creates with the community. The feeling of belonging to something, you know?”

Dream Big

On top of the Ramsay renovations, the city recently partnered with the Pajaro Valley Unified School District (PVUSD) on a joint-use agreement that will allow the municipality to use the fields at three schools when class is not in session. The hope, officials from both institutions have said, is that the agreement will lead to a long-range plan of how PVUSD can open up more of its fields for public use. The city is also weighing whether it will implement a sales tax that would solely benefit its parks department, and working to update the fees it charges developers that feed back into its parks.

City officials are not alone in trying to solve the community’s field shortage dilemma.

The Pajaro Valley Sports Foundation (PVSF), a committee of community leaders gathered for the sole purpose of creating more soccer fields in Watsonville, is a couple of months away from unveiling a renovated soccer mini-complex at Freedom Elementary School. The project, says local attorney and Watsonville Rotarian Tom House, is the result of years of grassroots organizing and fundraising supported by numerous donations big and small, from people volunteering to dig trenches at the field on weekends to farmers and businesses in Watsonville giving monetary gifts.

“This was not a hard sale to raise the funds. It was just the matter of asking enough people, and very few said no,” House says. “I think [they] understand this is good for the community.”

House says the calls for additional soccer fields—and the benefits they would provide for Watsonville’s young people—were hard to ignore. A few years ago, legendary Watsonville High soccer coach Roland Hedgpeth and revolutionary community leader and probation officer Gina Castaneda spoke to Watsonville Rotary within two months of one another. At the end of their respective presentations, Rotary asked the soccer community giants what they could do to support their mission.

“They both said the same thing: ‘We don’t have enough soccer fields for the kids that want to play in the area,’” House says.

So the Rotarians rolled up their sleeves and got to work, creating PVSF and drafting a plan of how to solve the issue. They first dreamt big, House says, trying to find vacant land on the outskirts of the city that could be converted into a sports complex similar to sprawling sports centers in Morgan Hill and Sunnyvale. But restrictions on land use, specifically on the conversion of agricultural land, made that a difficult proposition.

PVSF pivoted to another, smaller option: refurbishing an existing field within city limits to show what they were capable of. Working with PVUSD, Pajaro Valley United and the Community Health Trust of Pajaro Valley, PVSF got the OK to move forward with the project. They would turn the gopher-hole-riddled field at the school in the heart of the north side of the city into a sparkling three-field soccer complex, and in return, Pajaro Valley United would have a place where more than 200 youth soccer players can practice and play games.

Initial estimates put the project around $270,000. House says they raised roughly $350,000.

House says bringing a larger sports complex is still PVSF’s ultimate goal. At the moment, there is no clear path forward for the project, but he believes the benefits of a sports complex will make the project too good for the community to say no.

“I think Watsonville can use lots and lots more parks with fields and activities for kids to be engaged in constructive stuff and away from doing bad stuff,” House says.

True Equity

Mondragon says the fields at Freedom Elementary will serve as a home base for Pajaro Valley United, and allow the program to continue to grow at a key inflection point in which more girls locally have become interested in playing competitive soccer.

Since taking the helm at Watsonville High shortly after graduating in 2002, Mondragon has helped the local landscape of the girls’ game evolve. When she played youth soccer, there were no local programs that gave Watsonville’s girls an opportunity to move up the competitive ranks. Many of the girls who wanted to keep playing competitively had to move to programs that played and practiced in Santa Cruz—a dealbreaker for those who had no transportation.

Through PV United, Mondragon pushed in 2007 for the start of more competitive teams for Watsonville’s girls.

“My thing was to provide for the community and have more girls be able to travel and have the exposure that I had when I was young,” she says. “And it’s happening now. Some of them are playing college, some of them are transferring out.”

Back then, that wasn’t an easy sell, Mondragon says. After all, she wasn’t only trying to convince young girls that through playing soccer they could get a portion—if not all—of their college expenses paid for; she was also tasked with breaking Latinx cultural barriers that still exist in some families today.

Local artist Jessica Carrasco knows those barriers all too well. When she played youth soccer in the early 2000s, the girls’ competitive scene in Watsonville was still in its fledgling stage, so she decided to play on boys’ teams. She remembers hearing “Futbol es para hombres” (soccer is for men).

“I feel like a lot of us who played who are [in] our 30s and 20s right now, we grew up with that mentality, but at the same time we loved it so much that we didn’t care,” she says. “You could label us as tomboys, whatever you wanted to label us. We loved playing.”

Carrasco says that the recent explosion of girls’ competitive teams in Watsonville has given her hope for the future, but adds that more needs to be done to make sure the game continues to grow. The former Watsonville Parks and Recreation Commissioner says that as the city adds soccer fields she hopes it will also start up a women’s soccer league as well.

“This is awesome that you’re advocating for these fields, but how equitable are we going to be?” she asks. “Are these fields going to be again for the men and youth, or are you going to open them up for women?”

To donate to PVSF’s renovation of the Freedom Elementary School field or for information about their cause, visit their Facebook page.

3rd District County Supervisor Ryan Coonerty is Applying for Santa Cruz City Manager

Todd Guild

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October 12, 2021

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3rd District County Supervisor Ryan Coonerty is Applying for Santa Cruz City Manager

When Santa Cruz County Supervisor Ryan Coonerty announced in April that he would not run when his 3rd District seat came up for reelection in 2022, he explained that, among other things, he was looking forward to spending time with his family. So his decision to apply for the Santa Cruz City Manager position, which opened this year when former manager Martín Bernal announced his retirement in February, came as a surprise—even to them.

“My wife had the same question,” says Coonerty, 47, when asked what prompted his decision. He says it came after he was asked to apply for the position by several of his supporters in the county.

“This wasn’t on my radar at all,” he says. “I was looking forward to stepping away, but this is a critical moment in the city.”

Coonerty has nearly 20 years of experience in local government. He was elected to the Board of Supervisors in 2014, a tenure that followed eight years as a Santa Cruz City Councilmember—including two terms as mayor, in 2008 and 2011.

News of Coonerty’s application was leaked to GT through a confidential source.

Santa Cruz Human Resources Director Lisa Murphy says that “multiple” people have applied for the position in the nationwide search, but declined to elaborate. Candidate searches are typically guided by strict confidentiality rules.

Murphy says that the city held its first round of interviews in July, and plans on another round later this month.

A decision is possible in November, she says.

Murphy adds that competition is high among cities nationwide for qualified candidates after the past year saw a record number of city managers retire. The Covid-19 pandemic and corresponding budget crises are a big factor, she says.

“I’ve never seen this many retirements of city managers,” says Murphy.

Coonerty acknowledges that the position will be a tough one, with the city’s growing homeless population, the ongoing drought, several infrastructure projects, the housing crisis and UCSC looking to increase enrollment from 19,000 to 28,000 by 2040.

On top of all of that, the city will also have to find a new police chief after Andy Mills announced Tuesday that he was resigning at the end of the month to accept the position of Chief of Police for the City of Palm Springs. He was appointed Chief of the Santa Cruz Police Department in July 2017.

“There is a lot going on, and you have a council that wants to address it,” he says. “And it’s critical who they pick to help guide the city towards their vision.”

Before venturing into politics, Coonerty worked on two national commissions that worked to address election reform and civil liberties. He has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Oregon, a master’s from the London School of Economics and a law degree from the University of Virginia. He is currently a legal studies lecturer at UCSC, and is a University of California 2020-21 Fellow for the National Center for Free Speech and Civic Engagement.

“I’m happy to serve if the council thinks it’s the right way to go,” he says. “I love Santa Cruz and I’m always happy to serve my hometown if I can.”

The beginning of 2023 will mark the first time in 16 years that a Coonerty won’t be on the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors; his father Neal held the same seat from 2007 to 2014. It will also mark the first time in 18 years that there won’t be a Coonerty holding a major local elected office in the county. (Coonerty’s aunt Sheila remains a trustee on the Santa Cruz City Schools Board.)

In addition to his work navigating the compounding crises of the past year, Coonerty told GT in April that he’s proud of what he’s done to help expand drug treatment options, improve the county’s response to homelessness and expand support for young mothers and working-class families. Coonerty also spearheaded the creation of the Nurse Family Partnership and the Thrive By Three Fund—both of them aimed at improving opportunities for babies and young children.

Two candidates—both Santa Cruz City Councilmembers—have launched campaigns to fill his impending vacant seat on the Board of Supervisors: Justin Cummings and Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson.

Momentum Continues to Build Behind the Live Oaks Affordable Housing Project

Jacob Pierce

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October 12, 2021

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Momentum Continues to Build Behind the Live Oaks Affordable Housing Project

Momentum is building behind an affordable 11-unit housing development in Live Oak.

First-time home-buyer families have now moved into the first two houses at Habitat for Humanity’s Rodeo Creek Court development, where things are off to a good start.

“It’s going really well,” says Satish Rishi, CEO for Habitat for Humanity Monterey Bay. “The families moved in. They’re feeling grateful and getting settled.”

Habitat for Humanity has also chosen the applicants for the next two homes, which are under construction. And now, local families have a shot at the next half-dozen homes. The nonprofit is opening up applications for the next six homes on Rodeo Creek Court.

Habitat Monterey Bay is hoping to get more housing applications for new units than it ever has before. Even though Rishi knows that there’s enormous need for affordable housing in Santa Cruz County, Habitat only received 20 applications in the initial application window. And not all of those worked out.

Some households made too much money—more than 80% of the local area median income (AMI)—to qualify. Others made too little—less than 60% of AMI. And then, some applicants were too sluggish in dotting their I’s and crossing their T’s.

“The ones who were in the middle—between 60% and 80% of AMI—some of them were slow in providing the paperwork, or they didn’t have the credit,” Rishi says. “There’s a culling process.”

At the end of the day, Habitat had four qualified applicant families—enough to fill the first four homes. Rishi hopes that Habitat can get enough applicants this time around to create a lottery and randomly choose the lucky households from a pool of qualified families. To do that, Rishi says Habitat is upping its outreach efforts, including through the media and local schools.

In order to prove eligibility, qualified applicants should demonstrate their need for housing, verify their ability to pay an affordable mortgage, and show their willingness to put in sweat equity. Each chosen family will partner with Habitat to help build their new home.

Interested applicants should first register for a virtual application orientation, which will walk potential applicants through the process, and allow them to ask questions.

For more information, visit habitatmontereybay.org/applications.

Rob Brezsny’s Astrology: Oct. 13-19

Rob Brezsny

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October 12, 2021

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Free will astrology for the week of Oct. 13

ARIES (March 21-April 19): According to my understanding of the upcoming weeks, life will present you with unusual opportunities. I suspect you will find it reasonable and righteous to shed, dismantle, and rebel against the past. Redefining your history will be a fun and worthy project. Here are other related activities I recommend for you: 1. Forget and renounce a long-running fear that has never come true. 2. Throw away a reminder of an old experience that makes you feel bad. 3. Freshen your mood and attitude by moving around the furniture and decor in your home. 4. Write a note of atonement to a person you hurt once upon a time. 5. Give yourself a new nickname that inspires you to emancipate yourself from a pattern or habit you want to leave behind.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Taurus poet Donte Collins’ preferred pronouns are “they” and “them.” They describe themself as Black, queer and adopted. “A lover doesn’t discourage your growth,” they write. “A lover says, ‘I see who you are today, and I cannot wait to see who you become tomorrow.'” I hope you have people like that in your life, Taurus—lovers, friends, allies and relatives. If there is a scarcity of such beloved companions in your life, the next eight weeks will be an excellent time to round up new ones. And if you are connected with people who delight in your progress and evolution, deepen your connection with them.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Gemini author Lisa Cron advises her fellow writers, “Avoid exclamation points! Really!! Because they’re distracting!! Almost as much as CAPITALIZING THINGS!!!” I’ll expand her counsel to apply not just to writers, but to all of you Geminis. In my astrological opinion, you’re likely to find success in the coming weeks if you’re understated, modest and unmelodramatic. Make it your goal to create smooth, suave, savvy solutions. Be cagey and cool and crafty.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu told us that water is in one sense soft and passive, but is in another sense superb at eroding jams and obstacles that are hard and firm. There’s a magic in the way its apparent weakness overcomes what seems strong and unassailable. You are one of the zodiac’s top wielders of water’s superpower, Cancerian. And in the coming weeks, it will work for you with even more amazing grace than usual. Take full advantage of your sensitivity, your emotional intelligence, and your empathy.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Leo author James Baldwin told us, “You read something which you thought only happened to you, and you discover that it happened 100 years ago to [Russian novelist] Fyodor Dostoyevsky. This is a great liberation for the suffering, struggling person, who always thinks that he is alone.” In that spirit, Leo, and in accordance with astrological omens, I urge you to track down people who have had pivotal experiences similar to yours, either in the distant or recent past. These days, you need the consoling companionship they can provide. Their influence could be key to liberating you from at least some of your pain.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Poet Octavio Paz described two kinds of distraction. One is “the distraction of the person who is always outside himself, lost in the trivial, senseless, turmoil of everyday life.” The other is “the distraction of the person who withdraws from the world in order to shut himself up in the secret and ever-changing land of his fantasy.” In my astrological opinion, you Virgos should specialize in the latter during the coming weeks. It’s time to reinvigorate your relationship with your deep inner sources. Go in search of the reverent joy that comes from communing with your tantalizing mysteries. Explore the riddles at the core of your destiny.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): “We must never be afraid to go too far, for truth lies beyond,” declared novelist Marcel Proust. I wouldn’t normally offer that counsel to you Libras. One of your strengths is your skill at maintaining healthy boundaries. You know how to set dynamic limits that are just right: neither too extreme nor too timid. But according to my analysis of the astrological potentials, the coming weeks will be one of those rare times when you’ll be wise to consider an alternative approach: that the most vigorous truths and liveliest energies may lie beyond where you usually go.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Author William S. Burroughs claimed his greatest strength was a “capacity to confront myself no matter how unpleasant.” But he added a caveat to his brag: Although he recognized his mistakes, he rarely made any corrections. Yikes! Dear Scorpio, I invite you to do what Burroughs couldn’t. Question yourself about how you might have gone off course, but then actually make adjustments and atonements. As you do, keep in mind these principles: 1. An apparent mistake could lead you to a key insight or revelation. 2. An obstruction to the flow may prod you to open your mind and heart to a liberating possibility. 3. A snafu might motivate you to get back to where you belong. 4. A mess could show you something important you’ve been missing.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): In her novel We Have Always Lived in the Castle, Sagittarian author Shirley Jackson wrote, “Today my winged horse is coming, and I am carrying you off to the moon, and on the moon we will eat rose petals.” I wonder what you would do if you received a message like that—an invitation to wander out on fanciful or mysterious adventures. I hope you’d be receptive. I hope you wouldn’t say, “There are no such things as flying horses. It’s impossible to fly to the moon and eat rose petals.” Even if you don’t typically entertain such whimsical notions, the time is favorable to do so now. I bet you will be pleased with the unexpected grace they bring your way.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Capricorn author Susan Sontag wrote about people who weren’t receptive to her intensity and intelligence. She said she always had “a feeling of being ‘too much’ for them—a creature from another planet—and I would try to scale myself down to size, so I could be apprehendable and lovable by them.” I understand the inclination to engage in such self-diminishment. We all want to be appreciated and understood. But I urge you to refrain from taming and toning yourself down too much in the coming weeks. Don’t do what Sontag did. In my astrological opinion, it’s time for you to be an extra vivid version of yourself.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): “I am diagnosed with not having enough insanely addictive drugs coursing through my body,” joked comedian Sarah Silverman. Judging from current cosmic rhythms, I’m inclined to draw a similar conclusion about you. It may be wise for you to dose yourself with intoxicants. JUST KIDDING! I lied. Here’s the truth: I would love for you to experience extra rapture, mystic illumination, transcendent sex, and yes, even intoxication in the coming weeks. My analysis of the astrological omens suggests these delights are more likely and desirable than usual. However, the best way to arouse them is by communing with your favorite non-drug and non-alcohol inebriants. The benefits will last longer and incur no psychological cost.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): “The truth is,” writes cartoonist Bill Watterson, “most of us discover where we are headed when we arrive.” I sense this will describe your life during the next six weeks. Your long, strange journey won’t come to an end, of course. But a key chapter in that long, strange journey will climax. You will be mostly finished with lessons you have been studying for many moons. The winding road you have been following will end up someplace in particular. And sometime soon, I suspect you’ll spy a foreshadowing flash of this denouement.

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