Page 457 – Good Times

Volunteers Needed to Help Landscape New Ramsay Park Pumptrack

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February 12, 2021

Volunteers Needed to Help Landscape New Ramsay Park Pumptrack

Work continues on the new Ramsay Park Pumptrack, including the addition of a layer of asphalt to the lumpy bicycle and skate course.

Being built by Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz (MBOSC), crews are currently installing new split rail fencing. When completed, the park will provide an arena for bicycling, skating, rollerblading and scootering for all ages in a landscaped setting.

“We’re looking at an early March opening,” said MBOSC spokeswoman Katie Poniatowski. “We’re hoping folks come out and help put on the final touch of this great project with volunteering in our landscape effort. It’s the perfect opportunity to help beautify their community and learn as much as possible about this project.”

Sierra Azul of Watsonville is helping supply plants for the project while Delta Blue is supplying grass sod that will punctuate the track.

“(The sod) will look really nice; it’s a great final touch,” Poniatowski said.

The pump track, which replaces the old skatepark at the rear of Ramsay Park, will be the largest in Santa Cruz County.

Due to ongoing pandemic safety restrictions, Poniatowski said a grand opening event will take place virtually.

The project is the first paved pump track built by the MBOSC team, and will feature nearly 20,000 square feet of pristine rollers, berms and jumps. The park is designed to be nearly maintenance-free, with underground storm drainage and native and drought-tolerant plants.

Organizers are reaching out to the community for help with the landscaping phase of the project. People can sign up for any of these slots:

Feb. 16, 3-5pm
Feb. 18, 3-5pm
Feb. 21, 9am-noon and 12:30pm-3:30pm
Feb. 23, 3-5pm
Feb. 25, 3-5pm
Feb. 28 9am-noon and 12:30pm-3:30pm

For more information, visit mbosc.org/watsonville-pumptrack.

Pedestrian Struck and Killed by Semi in Santa Cruz

Todd Guild

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February 11, 2021

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Pedestrian Struck and Killed by Semi in Santa Cruz

A woman was killed Wednesday afternoon when she was struck by a semi near the intersection of River and Water streets, the Santa Cruz Police Department announced.

Witnesses said the woman was walking a dog around 3:15pm when she was struck. The driver stopped and was cooperating with police. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Her identity was not available Wednesday evening.

There have been several pedestrian fatalities locally in recent years, and pedestrian fatalities in the U.S. have skyrocketed by 46% since 2009, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Allison Endert, who worked for county Supervisor Ryan Coonerty, was struck by an allegedly intoxicated driver and killed on an afternoon walk in Seabright on June 15, 2020.

In December 2019, former San Jose City Council candidate and Bay Area Women’s March founder Jenny Higgins Bradanini was driving to a doctor’s appointment in Los Gatos when she hit 66-year-old Timothy Starkey on the 900 block of Blossom Hill Road in Los Gatos, according to police reports. Authorities pronounced Starkey dead at the scene.

Scotts Valley Weighs Whether to Curb ‘Targeted Picketing’

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February 11, 2021

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Scotts Valley Weighs Whether to Curb ‘Targeted Picketing’

The Scotts Valley City Council will weigh whether to halt “targeted picketing” within 300 feet of a particular person’s residence at its Feb. 17 meeting.

At the Feb. 3 City Council meeting, City Attorney Kirsten Powell introduced Ordinance No. 197, which prohibits picketing within a football field’s length of a person’s home and makes the action punishable with up to “six-month imprisonment and/or a fine up to $1,000.”

The ordinance would go into effect March 19, if adopted by the city council next week.

It shares many similarities with ordinances in other jurisdictions, according to Vice-Mayor Jim Reed.

“We didn’t try to reinvent the wheel,” he said. “We used language similar to other ordinances that have been regularly upheld in court.”

In the council meeting Attorney Powell said, “The ordinance as drafted is narrowly tailored to protect the safety and tranquility of residents while leaving open ample alternative channels of communication.”

The proposed ordinance was originally suggested by Reed, who also serves as the chief of staff for San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo. After witnessing protests escalate and involve neighbors outside of the mayor’s home in San Jose, Reed proposed the ordinance.

“Mayor Liccardo has had quite an issue with protests in his neighborhood,” he said. “There are protestors but also blatant vandalism and flag burning …. It’s not just impacting him, it’s impacting his neighbors. They’re getting vandalized as well, at times assaulted.”

Reed said he does not expect similar incidents in Scotts Valley, but he supports adoption as a preventative measure.

“I don’t think for a second that the kind of activity we’re seeing in San Jose is likely to happen in Scotts Valley,” he said. “At the same time, the quality of political discourse is seemingly degraded by the day. People can debate whether elected officials should have protests at their homes, but neighbors shouldn’t have to pay a price for that.”

Reed also said it is the right time to adopt this ordinance.

“If one were to pass an ordinance like this, after regular specific picketing, groups can contest that they were singled out,” he said. “If you pass it now, when things are quiet, then that gives a tool. Protest as much as you want but do it at a public forum, not in a residential neighborhood in the middle of the night.”

Although city officials don’t expect to enforce the ordinance soon, incidents of targeted picketing have previously occurred in Scotts Valley. In 2006, Dene Bustichi was targeted due to his position on the Transit District Board during a bus drivers’ union strike. About 30-40 protestors picketed outside his residence throughout the evening. Coincidentally, Vice-Mayor Reed covered the incident for the Press Banner.

“The daughter [of Bustichi] was very traumatized by it,” Councilmember Donna Lind said at the Feb. 3 meeting. “You don’t want children and families to be hurt by this, so I thank the Vice-Mayor for bringing this up.”

To comment on proposed ordinance No. 197, attend the next virtual Scotts Valley City Council meeting on Feb. 17.

Santa Cruz Groups Support Older Adults During Pandemic

Johanna Miller

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February 11, 2021

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Santa Cruz Groups Support Older Adults During Pandemic

Earlier this month, Santa Cruz County announced the opening of a new mass vaccination center in downtown Watsonville, and officially welcomed residents 65 years and older to sign up for their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.

The new OptumServe site, located at the old City Hall at 250 Main St. in Watsonville, will be open Thursday through Monday from 9am-6pm and aims to vaccinate up to 210 people per day. An appointment is necessary to receive a vaccination.

It was created in partnership with the Santa Cruz Public Health Division and the City of Watsonville.

“We are extremely excited about this continued partnership,” said Jen Herrera, chief of Public Health.

Eligibility now includes people in Phase 1A, all county residents age 75 and older, and residents 65 and older who reside in the 95019, 95076 and 95077 zip codes, three areas of the county that have been heavily impacted by the pandemic.

English and Spanish speakers who meet eligibility criteria can make appointments at myoptumserve.com/covid19 or by calling 877-218-0381. Residents 75 and above must bring proof of their date of birth. Those 65 and older must also have a proof of residence.

Both Herrera and County Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel emphasized the importance of getting vaccines to the county’s older adult community.

“Older folks are much more likely to be hospitalized, and die if they get [the virus],” Newel said at last week’s press conference. “We feel strongly that this is the most important group to prioritize.”

“Vaccines administered to elderly residents are 300 times more likely to save a life than one administered to healthy adults under age 50,” county spokesman Jason Hoppin said in a press release. “Due to ongoing vaccine scarcity, vaccines administered out of order delay the delivery of vaccines to vulnerable populations, risking further loss of life.”

With nearly everyone sheltering at home to slow the spread of Covid-19, older adults have been more isolated from the community than ever. Lois Sones, Director of Elderday Adult Day Health Care, says she has seen a major decline in local older adult’s conditions during the pandemic.

“Senior isolation was already a problem before Covid,” Sones said. “But it’s quite shocking to see how many of our participants have declined in the past year. Not to mention, we’ve lost a number of people …. It’s very discouraging, heartbreaking.”

Sones and her team at Elderday, a program of Community Bridges, have been looking for ways to help. Last summer they launched the Senior Center Without Limits (SCWL), a program offering older adults free virtual classes, workshops and support.

The program recently received a $25,000 grant from the Joseph and Vera Long Foundation, which will help them expand their services, creating new classes and reaching more participants. A couple months ago, they also received a grant from the Community Foundation Santa Cruz County to purchase more hardware, such as Amazon Fire tablets for residents.

Overcoming the digital divide is one of the main goals of the Senior Center Without Limits. The program aims to make things as accessible as possible, but it has been a challenge.

“We’ve had lots of issues,” Sones said. “Many people don’t even have internet connection …. Some people who get so angry with the devices. It takes a lot of time and patience for everyone.”

Once a participant joins, they can sign in to a multitude of classes, from cooking and tai chi to art workshops and sing-alongs. The physical classes are especially imperative, Sones said, as older adults who are normally limited in their mobility are now even more inactive.

“They are stuck at home, they aren’t getting out and moving,” she said. “They aren’t able to do that small bit of activity they usually would.”

Tim Brattan, executive director of Grey Bears, a 48-year-old organization based in Santa Cruz, said he has also noticed the community struggling.

“Change is hard, but especially when you’re older,” Brattan said. “You’re set in your ways, you have a routine … and suddenly you can’t do those things. It’s a big concern.”

Grey Bears aims to improve the health and well-being of older adults in the community through food distribution, voluntarism, resource conservation and recycling. At first it sounds an unlikely combination, but Brattan explains that the focuses do intersect.

For instance, the food the organization distributes is “rescued” from local markets and bakeries, orchards and gardens, and food banks. Any food they don’t use, they turn into compost, which they sell at the Grey Bears Thrift Store. In addition, they help refurbish old computers and other technology, reselling them at much cheaper prices.

“It’s about sustaining our community and preserving items that would otherwise go to waste,” Brattan said.

Grey Bears distributes about 36,000 meals a year. Its Healthy Food for Seniors program has about 55 driver routes throughout the county, sending food to about 1,400 older adults. People can also visit the headquarters to pick up bags of food and other items.

They have started online classes, too, some being their own and others with partner organizations. Their chair yoga classes, Brattan says, are especially popular—at least 150 people participate every week.

Brattan says the classes are vital to keeping people connected.

“The isolation happening is hard on everyone, let’s face it—it’s not good at any age,” he said. “But particularly for our aging community. We’re seeing unprecedented levels of depression, a lack of hope. That’s why having some sort of social connection is so important.”

Brattan invites anyone who is interested to reach out to Grey Bears if they need anything.

“We’ve been here for 48 years now, we’re still going to be here tomorrow,” he said. “You can come here and feel safe, with distancing and masking, come if you want to volunteer, or just have lunch …. We’re here for you.”

With the vaccine continuing to roll out in Santa Cruz County, Sones said she sees a “light at the end of the tunnel,” but knows it will be a while before everyone can return to the Elderday center. Next month they are planning a drive-thru “friendship parade” and are currently accepting more people to their general program.

“Our goal is to keep people as engaged as possible, physically and mentally,” she said. “To give them hope.”

UCSC Researchers Win Grant to Develop More Sustainable Aquaculture

Erin Malsbury

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February 11, 2021

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UCSC Researchers Win Grant to Develop More Sustainable Aquaculture

New vegetarians often get asked where they get their protein. The U.S. Department of Agriculture just gave two UCSC professors half a million dollars to answer that question for farmed trout.

Their project involves creating algae-based fish feed for aquaculture and recycling wastewater to grow vegetables. If successful, it could offer sustainable solutions for one of the largest food sectors.

“Aquaculture is the world’s fastest-growing food sector and has been for at least the last couple decades,” says Anne Kapuscinski, one of the project leaders and a professor of environmental studies and director of the coastal science and policy program at UCSC.

Farmed fish are raised in captivity, but their feed contains fish meal and fish oil made from small, wild-caught fish like anchovies, herring and mackerel. These smaller species—called forage fish—make up an important part of the marine food web. Seabirds, larger fish and even humpback whales depend on them.

“A lot of those marine organisms are themselves already endangered or their populations are declining. And with climate change starting to have impacts on our oceans, there is a growing concern and uncertainty,” Kapuscinski says. “It’s really not wise to be taking a bunch of those fish.”

Aquaculture is the largest consumer of fish meal and fish oil in the world. Over 19 million tons of forage fish are harvested for it each year.

“These are highly unsustainable practices,” says Pallab Sarker, an environmental studies associate research professor and aquaculture expert at UCSC who is leading the project with Kapuscinski. “It’s our obligation to do better for our planet.”

*UCSC scientists Pallab Sarker and Anne Kapuscinski working on their previous tilapia project. Photo: Devin Fitzgerald*

Fish in a Barrel

Sarker and Kapuscinski won the grant for their novel research into creating fish feed using microalgae—single-celled marine organisms also called phytoplankton that make up the base of the food web in all aquatic ecosystems.

“What we want to do is allow aquaculture to develop in a more sustainable way and uncouple it from this fish meal and fish oil,” Kapuscinski says.

The scientists will develop and process their own fish feed using a small-scale version of commercial feed mills.

“It’s like making fancy spaghetti and then cutting it up and drying it,” Kapuscinski says. The researchers and their students will then feed groups of trout different formulas and monitor their health and growth.

The project builds on previous work that Sarker and Kapusckinski led, where they focused on tilapia. But while tilapia already feed on algae in the wild, trout eat insects and other fish. This makes it harder to create nutritious and palatable feed for them using the single-celled phytoplankton.

“We’re confident that we could eliminate the oil, or at least a lot of it,” Kapuscinski says. “It may be a little harder to eliminate all the fish meal. But part of why we won this grant is because we have some innovative ideas for how to blend different microalgae.”

The researchers chose trout for their study, but they plan to apply what they learn to salmon farming as well. The two species have similar food needs and make up a large portion of the aquaculture sector.

“This is a really exciting opportunity,” Sarker says. “I’m optimistic that we could develop a more ocean-friendly feed formula.”

Farmed Fish as Farmers

The scientists will take their sustainable aquaculture plans a step further than just shifting the feed of farmed fish. They also plan to recycle their water. The system will circulate water through the tanks several times before the runoff goes to grow organic vegetables at the UCSC F arm.

The wastewater from aquaculture contains nitrogen and phosphorus that plants need. “Instead of treating it as a waste, we have to think of it as a resource out of place,” Kapuscinski says. And by creating a closed-loop system, the researchers minimize the risk that runoff will create algal blooms or throw off the balance in natural ecosystems.

Kapuscinski and Sarker’s trout will be the first fish at UCSC’s new aquaculture facility. The pandemic delayed the start of the project and made finding trout for the experiment difficult. But the scientists plan to begin in the next few weeks. They expect the project to last a few years and hope to use it to teach students and community members about sustainable fish farming.

“[Aquaculture] is going to remain an important part of the human food system,” Kapuscinski says. “So we have to steer it in an environmentally sustainable as well as socially-just direction.”

Arte del Corazón Brings Open-Air Exhibits to Watsonville

A&E
Art

Tarmo Hannula

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February 11, 2021

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Arte del Corazón Brings Open-Air Exhibits to Watsonville

How can art be exhibited in the time of Covid-19? Ask Watsonville artist Monica Galvan. Take it outdoors is her simple reply.

That’s part of the mission of Arte del Corazón, a Watsonville-based organization that has been staging open-air art shows around the city to showcase artists, from paintings and drawings, to jewelry, installations, photography, sculpture, knitting and more.

“I love art, and I continue to study art,” said Galvan, who earned a bachelor’s in art from UC Berkeley. “All this came together through talking with friends and finding a way to show people’s art.”

Teaming up with Vanessa Ledesma and others, Galvan said Arte del Corazón (art from the heart, translated to English) has already been staged four times between Romo Park on Main Street across from the City Plaza and at a vacant lot at 1997 Freedom Blvd.

Adding more steam to their movement, Galvan said she applied for and received a grant from the Arts Council Santa Cruz County. Now, Arte del Corazón typically welcomes around 20 artists from around the county—and beyond—at each show.

“I particularly wanted to bring Latino artists because I’ve found there just aren’t a lot of venues out there for us,” Galvan said. “Our numbers keep growing. Here at the Romo Park a lot of folks stop by on their way to or from the farmer’s market: It’s a good mix.”

Galvan, who is currently working on getting a master’s in fine art from San Jose State, said the exhibits take place every first Friday of the month at Romo Park and every third Saturday at 1997 Freedom Blvd. from 10am-4pm.

Ladesma, who creates ear rings and paintings, said she has enjoyed the exhibitions.

“I had the idea of sharing our shows with the First Friday that mostly happens in Santa Cruz,” Ladesma said. “Since I’ve been teaching at various schools through the Arts Council SPRECTRA and Mariposa programs these shows seemed like a natural fit. I’ve always liked this kind of partnership. This exhibit is another way of getting our art out there.”

Santa Cruz artist Evan Siegesmund, who excels in gallery art and murals, said he has taken part in Arte del Corazón’s shows since November.

“It’s a great way to connect outdoors where it’s safe,” he said. “It feels really good to do shows because, before Covid hit, I had so many shows lined up that were cancelled. Since I teach at H.A. Hyde School, being out here is just another way of connecting with this community, and I like that.”

The current exhibition series artists are reflecting is “For the Love of Plants.” That exhibition runs through March 20. Galvan said coming soon will be virtual art classes put on by participating artists. The family-oriented classes will include kits with supplies that will help people delve into art.

“I’ve been studying art for over 10 years, starting at Cabrillo College,” Galvan said. “We’re looking into more grants to keep this going. Participating artists pay a small fee to be in the show and that seems to work well.”

Watsonville City Councilman Lowell Hurst took time to wander through the 20 tables at a recent show that was running in tandem with the farmers’ market downtown. The tables and tents were widely spaced for Covid-19 safety reasons.

“I think it’s a great idea,” Hurst said. “Anything we can do to promote local art and help bring color and style to our community is a great thing.”

For more information, visit artedelcorazon.com or email Monica Galvan at ar***************@gm***.com.

Watsonville City Council Votes to Move George Washington Statue

Tony Nuñez

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February 10, 2021

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Watsonville City Council Votes to Move George Washington Statue

The Watsonville City Council at Tuesday night’s meeting voted to move the George Washington statue from the City Plaza to the Watsonville Public Library.

The motion, put forth by councilwoman Rebecca Garcia, passed 5-2 with council members Ari Parker and Lowell Hurst dissenting. Parker and Hurst said they wanted the issue to be placed on the ballot for voters to decide the bust’s future.

A hot-button topic since the killing of George Floyd in May 2020 sparked national social unrest, the fight over the donated sculpture of the nation’s first president has elicited an outpouring of opinions about its preferred location, as well as historic preservation, racial oppression and social justice, among other things.

Dueling petitions and protests got it on the city’s radar, and subsequent heated Parks and Recreation Commission meetings further drove a wedge between people on opposite sides of the issue.

The Parks Commission recommended the City Council remove the statue. That was despite the results of a survey in which 60% of roughly 1,200 respondents said they wanted to keep the statue in its current location at the historic park in the heart of the city.

City parks staff recommended that the City Council leave the statue where it is and add a “bilingual plaque on the podium of the bust that describes a broad historical perspective about George Washington.”

Garcia’s motion included the addition of the plaque. She said she made the motion because of Washington’s role in the genocide of Indigenous people and enslavement of Black people. Those actions, she said, did not make him a “man who practiced the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

“His bust is a reminder of the dehumanization experienced by slaves and natives,” she said.

The relocation will cost the city between $7,000-9,000, Parks and Community Services Director Nick Calubaquib said. The fabrication of the plaque will cost about $2,000, Calubaquib added. That does not include the cost associated with creating the written historical perspective of the nation’s first president.

It is unclear when the city will move it and where in the library it will be placed.

Part of a $100,000 gift from the Alaga Family Estate as a dying wish of Lloyd F. Alaga, the bust has called the City Plaza home since 2001. The council unanimously approved the gift from Alaga in 1999, using $70,000 to create the bust and the rest to help restore the fountain in the park. Alaga, a Watsonville native and immigrant from Croatia, also donated $200,000 to the Watsonville Public Library.

For two decades it has sat mostly unnoticed at the park nestled into the center of the city, but debate around the bust began as several monuments to historic figures across the country were removed as a result of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Online petitions—both in favor of and against the bust—were circulated, prompting city officials to bring the item to the Parks Commission for a “study session” in August 2020. The majority of the commission voiced its support for removing the bust, and called for the issue to be agendized by the City Council. The city instead circulated the aforementioned online survey to gather more input and held a town hall in September 2020 to release the results.

The majority of respondents who wanted the bust removed said it had turned into a symbol of white supremacy and racism. Many of them have cited a reported cry of “white power” that rang out during a rally organized by supporters of the statue in July 2020. In addition, a photo of a person flashing an “OK” hand gesture, which the Anti-Defamation League has said can be associated with white supremacy, surfaced from that rally.

Respondents also said that the statue does not reflect the “values of the community.”

Those who wanted to leave the statue in its place said in the survey that it honors Washington’s actions that created and improved the country, that it is a reminder of the country’s history that should not be removed, and that his actions should not be judged under the lens of today’s societal norms.

About 25 people talked during the public comment portion of Tuesday’s virtual meeting. At least five of them were in favor of keeping the statue in the Plaza. That included Rory Odegaard, who said he was a fourth-generation Californian and a longtime resident of South County.

“Why are we discussing this when we have a slam dunk 2-to-1 survey that said keep the bust?” Odegaard asked.

But the majority of the callers were in favor of removing the statue, and most of those in favor were return callers from previous meetings over the last seven months. As they have before, they said the survey was incomplete because it did not tally race and age—something councilwoman Garcia also said was essential to understanding if the vote was reflective of Watsonville’s largely young Latinx population—and that many people did not receive the survey.

They also said that a vote to keep the bust would be a “tone-deaf” decision after just two hours earlier unanimously voting to fly the Black Lives Matter flag during Black History Month in February.

Victoria Bañales, a Cabrillo College English professor, said that the survey results might be indicative of today’s social climate in Watsonville, but added that many social justice and civil rights causes are largely unpopular in the moment.

“It might not be popular, but it is the right thing to do,” Bañales said. “When you look back, historically, you’re going to say that was the right thing to do.”

Mayor Jimmy Dutra said the real issue is not the bust itself but the racial divide that the city has seen since the two sides began circulating petitions last year.

“We need to get back to a point of healing—this community needs to heal,” he said.

Soquel Vineyards’ Pinot Noir Rosé 2020 Is A Knockout

Josie Cowden

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February 10, 2021

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Soquel Vineyards’ Pinot Noir Rosé 2020 Is A Knockout

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Soquel Vineyards has released a beautiful Pinot Noir Rosé. This delightful pink-hued wine is all estate grown—and it’s a knockout.

Lovers of Rosé will be thrilled with the wine’s flavors of pomegranate and strawberries, and its floral aromatics. This terrific Rosé is only $16 and comes with an easy-to-open screw cap.

Soquel Vineyards is very well-known for its superb Pinot Noirs, but this is the first time they have made a Rosé of Pinot Noir. I think they should have done it much sooner!

Wineries of the Santa Cruz Mountains are known for their generosity—and Soquel Vineyards is no exception.

“A portion of sales (of the Rosé) will be donated to two nonprofit organizations—Meals on Wheels and Grey Bears. We are honored to be giving back to our community,” say winery owners Peter Bargetto, Paul Bargetto and Jon Morgan.

A perfect afternoon on Valentine’s Day would be a wine tasting at Soquel Vineyards—leaving, of course, with a bottle of Pinot Noir Rosé. Good thing there’s time to get some for Valentine’s weekend!

Soquel Vineyards, 8063 Glen Haven Road, Soquel. 831-462-9045, soquelvineyards.com.

Valentine’s Dinner

Many local restaurants are preparing special dinners for Valentine’s Day. Chocolate on Pacific Avenue is doing a delicious dinner for two for $100, with black truffle rosettes, chicken breast with mole sauce, a “dessert orgy,” and a bottle of Brut Rosé. Learn more at chocolatesantacruz.com. Cafe Rio in Aptos is also doing a Valentine’s menu from 4-8pm on Sunday, Feb.14, for $65 per person. Visit caferioaptos.com for details. And Persephone in Aptos has a fabulous Valentine’s menu—plus, you can dine outside on the patio. Go to persephonerestaurant.com.

Wine Tasting on Valentine’s Day

The countdown is on to do something fun on Valentine’s Day. Integrity Wines will hold a wine-tasting event from 1-3pm on Sunday, Feb.14, led by winemaker Mark Hoover. Wines can be delivered to your doorstep, or you can pick them up at the tasting room. The cost is $40—with add-on chocolate and cheese pairing available. Visit integritywine.com for more info.

Things To Do in Santa Cruz: Feb. 10-16

GT Staff

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February 10, 2021

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A weekly guide to what’s happening.

ARTS AND MUSIC

GRATEFUL DEAD TUNES WITH MATT HARTLE AND FRIENDS New weekly link: Grateful Sundays live online can be found every Sunday at facebook.com/gratefulsundays. We need everyone to help us all stay safe. We are asking that everyone hang at their tables. Masks are required at all times unless you are seated at your table. Socially distanced dancing will be allowed at your tables only, not in the spaces between the tables. Artist sites and sounds. facebook.com/gratefulsundays. Purchase your tickets now: Call 831-479-9777, ext. 2. $15. Sunday, Feb. 14, 5:30pm. Michael’s on Main, 2591 S Main St., Soquel.

TED WELTY HUMP DAY HAPPY HOUR WITH BOB O’NEILL Native Santa Cruz musician Ted Welty, a guitarist and singer/songwriter, is best known as co-founder of 1990s alternative rock band Iguana Jive. The group was signed in 1994 by indie label Maddog Records, and went on to record their first album at A&M Studios. A second album was recorded and released in 1997. Ted is currently a member of the popular bands Locomotive Breath and Spun. No cover; bring your face mask. 831-479-9777, ext. 2. Wednesday, Feb. 10, 5pm.

DINNER AND A SHOW: A SINATRA VALENTINES FEATURING JOHN MICHAEL Join John and his ensemble for a romantic evening of Sinatra’s greatest love songs. Dinner starts at 6:30 and showtime is at 8pm. When John Michael sings Sinatra you would think Frank is in the room. John, from Dún Laoghaire Ireland, is an eclectic and proficient vocalist. He began vocalizing at the age of four and has been performing ever since. He is extremely versatile in many genres including jazz, swing, rock, Celtic, heavy metal, blues, funk, soul and opera. More than just a vocalist, John is adept at creating an atmosphere with his audience. He has opened up for national touring acts like Chris Isaak, Third Eye Blind, The Fix, Berlin, Huey Lewis, Greg Khin, The Pointer Sisters and more. $45 for dinner and show. 831-479-9777, ext. 2. Saturday, Feb. 13, 6:30pm.

ART SHOW Emerging from sheltering in place, Ben, a lifelong artist, photographer, actor and writer, was always looking for the next opportunity to translate everyday experiences into artistic expressions. At the start of shelter-in-place in mid-March, Ben began painting as a hobby but his painting has since evolved into one of his favorite artistic forms of expression. Meet and greets will be held Saturdays and Sundays 8:30am-10:30am with face masks and proper distancing. Ben’s paintings and fine art prints can also be viewed and purchased in the comfort of your home through artevolutionstudio.com. Wednesday, Feb. 10-Tuesday, Feb. 16, 7am-11:30pm.

BANFF CENTRE MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL VIRTUAL FESTIVAL New lineup of films announced! This year, 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. 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 at filmfest.banffcentre.ca/?campaign=WT-163945. $28.

CALL FOR COLLABORATION: MLK DAY JUSTICE JOURNAL Share your dreams and submit a page into a community journal in celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. You can write and draw your responses by hand or digitally. Written responses can be of any language. Submitted pages must fit within 10 inches by 10 inches. Per submission, please include a note with your name, address, email or phone number, and selected prompt available on the event page. At the end of February, all the submissions will be compiled and pieced together. The completed journal will be displayed the week of March 1 as a close to Black History Month and continuation of a Black future. Submissions accepted through Feb. 19. Guidelines can be accessed on the event page: santacruzmah.org/events/justice-journal.

SALSA SUELTA FREE ZOOM SESSION SALSA SUELTA FREE ZOOM SESSION Keep in shape! Weekly online session in Cuban-style Salsa Suelta for experienced beginners and up. May include Mambo, ChaChaCha, Afro-Cuban Rumba, Orisha, Son Montuno. No partner required, ages 14+. Contact to get the link. salsagente.com. Thursday, Feb. 11, 7pm.

TWDCC’S WINTERDANCE FEST 2021 Throughout the month of February, Tannery World Dance and Cultural Center (TWDCC) will return with their fifth annual Winter Dance Fest (WDF), featuring four premieres from a lineup of world-renowned and emerging choreographers, airing for free every Saturday via the TWDCC website. Winter Dance Fest 2021 will feature returning artists Gregory Dawson (dawsondancesf), Taliha Abdiel (Abdiel Dance Project), and debut Winter Dance Fest features Norwood Pennewell (Garth Fagan Dance), and Angela Chambers (TWDCC). Winter Dance Fest 2021 honors Black History Month by centering and highlighting a full lineup of Black choreographers. Gregory Dawson’s fifth consecutive appearance at WDF offers an excerpt from his new work, “The Human Project,” exploring themes of change, sacrifice, community, and death. Taliha Abdiel, in her third WDF feature, will premiere “This is Why I Can’t Go Home,” a self-choreographed solo exploring the complex freedoms of longing, escapism and finding a destination. Norwood Pennewell, renowned principal dancer with Garth Fagan Dance, choreographed a solo for TWDCC’s own Artistic Director and Fagan principal alum, Micha Scott, titled “…And Still She Moves,” to find the balance between opposing elements. And TWDCC’s well-beloved teacher and administrator, Angela Chambers, will make her WDF debut with Ode, a dancerly dedication to her students, who have shared their moments of uncertainty, heaviness, and resilience. Angela has incorporated youth dancers into Ode, uniting her dedication with some of the dancers who inspired it, for the first time TWDCC youth have performed for WDF. These four artists are an inspired cast for Winter Dance Fest 2021. To read more about the WDF features, please visit tanneryworlddance.com/winterdance-fest. Artist videos will premiere on each Saturday of February, along with interviews of each artist on the podcast Speak For Change, hosted by Thomas Sage Pederson. Saturday, Feb. 13, 4pm.

VIRTUAL FAMILY DAY: FOLDABLE BUTTERFLY VALENTINE’S DAY CARDS Grab your art supplies and creative kiddos to get ready for Valentine’s Day with the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History (MAH). Hop on Zoom as MAH History Learning and Engagement Manager, Jamie Keil, takes you through a hands-on art activity. For this love-edition of Virtual Family Day, we will be making Valentine butterflies. Design and create your own beautiful butterfly and perfectly folded cocoon envelope to give to someone special in your life. Plus, we’ll be joined by special guests, “In These Uncertain Times” exhibiting artists Dana Peters and Sarah Bianco, as they share more about their art practice. This event is good for all ages but may hold the attention of 5-12-year-olds best. We recommend bringing at least two pieces of paper, coloring utensils, and scissors. $5 per household/free for MAH members. After registration, a Zoom link will be sent to access the event. More info at santacruzmah.org. Thursday, Feb. 11, 3-4pm.

WEST CLIFF OUTDOOR VALENTINE’S MARKET Enjoy a socially distanced outdoor market with unique artisans and food trucks while taking in the spectacular view of the ocean. This one-of-a-kind market will be held in two parking lots along West Cliff Drive. This is always a popular spot for locals and tourists, as it overlooks the famous Steamer Lane surf spot. The market will feature one-of-a-kind gifts and a chance to see many unique artisans while enjoying an amazing view overlooking the ocean. The market will follow all social distancing guidelines and all vendors and attendees will be wearing face masks. Please come and join us and enjoy this outdoor shopping experience! Saturday, Feb. 13, 10am-5pm.

COMMUNITY

CHINESE NEW YEAR DISCUSSION: YEAR OF THE OX DISCUSSION WITH DOCTOR LETA Join Chinese Doctor LeTa for a Year of the Ox Discussion and discover what’s in store for you! This in-depth presentation will take a look at the new energies that affect us. Let’s take a look at what the Year of the Ox means for us on a global and local scale, the astrology for the year plus the Feng shui energies affecting your home, workspace and more. You will learn about four different animals that affect you: your year (most of you know this one), your month, your day and your hour animals. So when you listen, you will be listening to four animals for yourself and this new year, not just one. Handouts will be given to all attendees by email. We are starting a new decade. Be prepared by knowing where to put your Qi (attention) and how to side-step the energies that may not be worthy of your time. All ages welcome. Please have paper, writing implements, tea on hand! Teach yourself how to surf life’s synchronicities and become a master of your own destiny. Visit eventbrite.com/e/year-of-the-ox-chinese-new-year-talk-online-tickets-129584188797 for more information. Saturday, Feb. 13, Noon-1:30pm.

COCKTAILS & CUPCAKES Join Save Our Shores as we mix up karma for our life-giving sanctuary with a fun virtually-connected evening of cocktail and mocktail making led by a local mixologist, cupcakes from your favorite local bakery, music curated by DJ Mai Girl, a collaborative ocean love songwriting experience led by The Brothers Koren, Ocean Love Trivia, inspirational videos exemplifying our organization’s vital work, and more! Your ticket contributions will support our ongoing education, action, and advocacy work to help us save all that we can in our ocean ecosystems while protecting our shared future during these challenging times. Since you will be providing your own refreshments for the evening, your entire ticket contribution is tax-deductible! Buy tickets here: saveourshores.salsalabs.org/cocktailscupcakes/index.html. Thursday, Feb. 11, 6pm.

FOR THE LOVE OF CHILDREN VIRTUAL EVENT A free virtual one-hour event to learn more about CASA of Santa Cruz County and the Children’s Fund. Hear from our advocates, former foster youth, and a family member about how CASA and the Children’s Fund helped make a difference in the community. The CASA Children’s Fund is used by our volunteer advocates to purchase special items to enrich or just add normalcy to a CASA child’s life. This year, we have supplied dozens of tablets and laptops for online schooling. We have purchased bikes, bike helmets, camping supplies, rollerblades, and scooters so kids can get out and exercise safely. We also helped with essential items that many of us take for granted such as eyeglasses, braces, bedding, strollers, car seats, and tutoring. Register here: zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0ufu-orT4oGdXj0lO21_TGzZlimVH6Xl6a. Wednesday, Feb. 10, 4pm.

TENANTS’ RIGHTS HELP Tenant Sanctuary is open to renters living in the city of Santa Cruz with questions about their tenants’ rights. Volunteer counselors staff the telephones on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from 10am-2pm. Tenant Sanctuary works to empower tenants by educating them on their rights and providing the tools to pursue those rights. Tenant Sanctuary and their program attorney host free legal clinics for tenants in the city of Santa Cruz. Due to Covid-19 concerns, all services are currently by telephone, email or Zoom. For more information visit tenantsanctuary.org or follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/tenantsanctuary. 831-200-0740.Thursday, Feb. 11, 10am-2pm. Sunday, Feb. 14, 10am-2pm. Tuesday, Feb. 16, 10am-2pm.

GROUPS

ENTRE NOSOTRAS GRUPO DE APOYO Entre Nosotras support group for Spanish-speaking women with a cancer diagnosis. Meets twice monthly. Registration required, call 831-761-3973. Friday, Feb. 12, 6pm.

OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS All our OA meetings have switched to being online. Please call 831-429-7906 for meeting information. Do you have a problem with food? Drop into a free, friendly Overeaters Anonymous 12-step meeting. All are welcome!Sunday, Feb. 14, 9:05-10:15am.

WOMENCARE ARM-IN-ARM Cancer support group for women with advanced, recurrent, or metastatic cancer. Meets every Monday at 12:30pm via Zoom. All services are free. Registration required. Contact WomenCARE at 831-457-2273 or online at womencaresantacruz.org. Monday, Feb. 15, 12:30pm.

WOMENCARE TUESDAY SUPPORT GROUP WomenCARE Tuesday Cancer support group for women newly diagnosed and through their treatment. Meets every Tuesday currently on Zoom. Registration required. Contact WomenCARE at 831-457-2273 or online at womencaresantacruz.org. Tuesday, Feb. 16, 12:30-2pm.

WOMENCARE: LAUGHTER YOGA Laughter yoga for women with a cancer diagnosis. Meets every Wednesday at 3:30 via Zoom. Registration required by contacting 831-457-2273. Wednesday, Feb. 3, 3:30-4:30pm.Wednesday, Feb. 10, 3:30-4:30pm.

OUTDOOR

UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP PRESENTS DEFENDING DARKNESS: A BRIEF HISTORY OF LIGHT POLLUTION Gain a new appreciation for darkness on a planet dominated by a species enamored with light in this Zoom presentation by Andy Kreyche, local astronomy educator and member of the Santa Cruz Chapter of the International Dark Sky Association. The dark sky movement, originally started by astronomers, has become a worldwide effort to protect all species from the ill effects of excessive artificial light at night, also known as light pollution. After Andy’s presentation (and weather permitting), amateur astronomer Mike Jerry will be your guide for a real-time telescopic tour of astronomical sights from his home in Death Valley National Park, which has been designated as the largest Dark Sky National Park in the country by the International Dark Sky Association. Register at uufscc.org. Thursday, Feb. 11, 7pm.

CHANGING CLIMATE: THE ROLE OF ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE Please join us on Feb. 10 as we discuss meaningful climate policy and environmental justice reform. In this conversation, Rhiana Gunn-Wright,director of climate policy at the Roosevelt Institute and an architect of the Green New Deal, will speak to why climate policy must include environmental justice, why climate must be part of our post-Covid economic recovery and opportunities for the Biden administration to tackle climate change and environmental justice. Moderated by Sikina Jinnah, associate professor of environmental studies at UCSC. Welcome and opening remarks by Valentin Lopez, chairman of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band. Register for this free event at transform.ucsc.edu/events. Wednesday, Feb. 10, 5:30pm.

COMMUNITY PERMACULTURE CALLS WINTER 2021 Practice permaculture each week at our village campfire of ongoing interactive group calls. Hosted by experienced permaculture mentors including Santa Cruz Permaculture founder David Shaw, Lydia Neilsen of Rehydrate the Earth, and John Valenzuela of Cornucopia Food Forests. The goal of this program is to create thriving and resilient individuals and communities. We do this through supporting people to connect with nature, community, and themselves more deeply, and use permaculture as the vehicle for doing so. Each call includes a keynote talk on a relevant and seasonal topic. This is followed by a small group conversation for reflection, and a whole group conversation and Q&A. We close the calls with invitations for how you can apply what you’ve learned in your home and community. The next call begins with a check-in about how it went applying what you learned. Our curriculum is ever-evolving, changing with the seasons, and influenced by the topics people want to cover. It is dialogical and co-creative. We include and also transcend the topics covered in our permaculture design course, listed here just to get the flavor of typical topics. For example, during a 10-week cohort, we may spend two weeks on composting (home or commercial), two weeks on no-till agroecology and food forests, a week on habitat and pollinators, a week on designing disaster resilience (personal and neighborhood), a week on economics and right livelihood, and a week on policies to support ecological living. Overall, our goal is to help you and your community thrive using a community-based approach to permaculture as the means. Winter cohort topics include winter pruning, grafting, observing water, greenhouses and composting. Learn more about and register for the 10-week call series at santacruzpermaculture.com/communitypermaculture. $25 per call, $250 for the series. Tuesday, Feb. 16, 7-8:30pm.

SCIENTISTS SAVING THE OCEANS VIRTUAL EXPEDITION Expedition 1: Protecting Dolphins and Whales from Oceanic Noise. Join the Seymour Marine Discovery Center for a unique virtual expedition as we go behind the scenes with UCSC’s Marine Mammal Physiology Project at Long Marine Lab to explore how Dr. Terrie Williams is racing to protect dolphins and whales from oceanic noise. Attendees will have the opportunity to interact with Long Marine Lab’s expert animal trainers and researchers to learn how they care for and train dolphins and seals to voluntarily participate in conservation science, observe team research in action and learn how new technologies are developed to investigate animals in the wild and understand how lab science underpins field research aimed at protecting narwhals and other marine mammal populations around the world. Facilitated live through Zoom, this expedition consists of six engaging 90-minute classes. Each class session includes livestreaming time with the staff and resident animals cared for by the Marine Mammal Physiology Project at UCSC. Fees: Seymour Center members $250, non-members: $320, note that members receive priority registration. For more details and to register, visit: seymourcenter.ucsc.edu/learn/ongoing-education/scientists-saving-the-oceans. Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2:30-4pm. Monday, Feb. 15, 2:30-4pm.

VIRTUAL YOUNGER LAGOON RESERVE TOURS Younger Lagoon Reserve is now offering a virtual tour in both English and Spanish. This virtual tour follows the same stops as the Seymour Marine Discovery Center’s docent-led, in-person hiking tour, and is led by a UCSC student! Virtual Younger Lagoon Reserve tours are free and open to the public. Part of the University of California Natural Reserve System, Younger Lagoon Reserve contains diverse coastal habitats and is home to birds of prey, migrating sea birds, bobcats, and other wildlife. See what scientists are doing to track local mammals, restore native habitat, and learn about the workings of one of California’s rare coastal lagoons. Access the tours at seymourcenter.ucsc.edu/visit/behind-the-scenes-tours/#youngerlagoon. Sunday, Feb. 14, 10:30am.

Maya Mexican Restaurant Crafts Dishes with Original Family Recipes

Andrew Steingrube

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February 10, 2021

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Maya Mexican Restaurant Crafts Dishes with Original Family Recipes

Maya Mexican Restaurant has many loyal local regulars and has been a favorite for Mexican food in Scotts Valley since owner Ricardo Magana purchased it back in 2003.

Family owned and operated, they are open seven days a week for lunch and dinner from 11am-9pm, and are currently offering outdoor dining and takeout. GT recently caught up with Magana, who talked about the food that makes Maya stand out and his thoughts on the pandemic.

What sets your food apart, and where do the recipes come from?

RICARDO MAGANA: We serve quality and consistent food. All of our ingredients are fresh. We try to use the freshest produce and meats we can find, and most of our food is freshly made to order. Our recipes come from Mexico, from the state of Aguascalientes. They are original family recipes that are very authentic and have been passed down throughout multiple family generations.

What are a couple of your house specialty dishes?

Our fajitas: They come with chicken, beef, shrimp, or a combination, and have onions, bell peppers, and tomatoes that are sautéed and served on sizzling plates. They are unique because everything is completely fresh and made to order, and we add secret family recipe ingredients that make them very flavorful. They come with rice, beans, and choice of tortilla. And our Chile Colorado is just the best. It has tender chunks of pork, with a house-made Colorado red sauce that’s simmered for hours to integrate all the spices and flavors. It also comes with rice, beans, and choice of tortilla. We have traditional refried beans as well as ranchero beans, which are whole beans cooked with tomatoes, onions, cilantro, and olive oil.

How has the restaurant been doing amid the pandemic?

We’ve been getting by during this past difficult year thanks to the support of the local Scotts Valley and San Lorenzo Valley communities. We are very appreciative of all their support—we wouldn’t have been able to make it without them. We really look forward to continuing serving these local communities, and with on-site dining returning, also look forward to serving more of our best-in-town margaritas. We have over 100 different kinds of tequila and always use fresh ingredients. Our sweet and sour mix is locally and freshly made, and we always make a strong drink.

3115 Scotts Valley Drive, Scotts Valley. 831-438-7004, mayasv.com.

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