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Community Foundation Aids Farmworkers During Crisis

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August 24, 2020

Community Foundation Aids Farmworkers During Crisis

With a continuing housing crisis on the horizon due to Covid-19, residents from nearly every background and region of the county are facing dire straits.

But perhaps the hardest hit have been farmworkers—many of whom were struggling long before the pandemic hit.

“[Farmworkers] are making little to no money, which means they can’t pay rent, they can’t buy food and on top of this, some are afraid of being deported,” said Ann López, executive director of the Center for Farmworker Families. “The coronavirus pandemic has created panic in this community.”

The Center for Farmworker Families is one of many organizations that have recently been aided by the Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County’s (CFSCC) Covid-19 Relief Fund. As of Aug. 19, the foundation has awarded a total of $8.1 million in grants, with 100% of the money going directly into the community.

“The virus has devastated this county,” said foundation CEO Susan True. “We are honored to be in a position to help.”

In South County, CFSCC has been focusing on those who cannot access unemployment or federal CARES Act funding. Many farmworkers are in that position, True said. On top of that, they are more susceptible to getting sick, as many live in close quarters and carpool to work.

The foundation has partnered with a number of donors, both groups and individuals, to award workers with monthly rent checks, as well as provide them with resources and access to community services.

“What I’ve noticed is that a lot of these people have never asked for help before,” True said. “They are hardworking individuals with multiple jobs. But especially in the past few years, they have been afraid to ask for support.”

Other organizations that have been working with CFSCC to help farmworkers include Pajaro Valley Prevention and Student Assistance, Monarch Services, the Community Action Board, Community Bridges, Catholic Charities, Second Harvest Food Bank, Loaves and Fishes, and more.

“It has become a true network of volunteers, banding together to make sure the need is met,” True said.

López expressed her gratitude for CFSCC and everyone who has helped her clients during this difficult time.

“All the joy and relief I’ve seen on people’s faces … the fact they’re going to make it another month without worrying about rent. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart,” she said.

This month, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors approved a temporary eviction moratorium in unincorporated parts of the county through Sept. 30. The decision came less than a week after the Judicial Council of California voted to end the statewide eviction moratorium by Sept. 1.

The Watsonville City Council will also weigh an eviction moratorium at its Aug. 25 meeting.

True said that the foundation is “very concerned” about future evictions and is keeping a close eye on the situation—especially in Watsonville, which has the highest share of coronavirus cases and the highest unemployment rate.

“None of us know what will happen,” True said. “We don’t know about the long term right now. We’re just trying to bring people together and fill in the gaps.”

According to True, the majority of funding for the Covid-19 Relief Grants comes from everyday residents. More than $2.5 million has been donated by individuals and families.

“I think that goes to show the generosity of this community,” she said. “We’re only able to do what we do because of everyone working together.”

Local Farmers Share Thoughts on Climate Change, Sustainability

Tony Nuñez

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August 24, 2020

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Local Farmers Share Thoughts on Climate Change, Sustainability

Pajaro Valley’s agriculture businesses and the employees that keep them running are starting to feel the heat, literally.

Rising temperatures and more frequent heat waves and wildfires are growing concerns for farmers in the typically cool, coastal stretch of land that overlaps Santa Cruz and Monterey counties.

That’s according to a recent survey conducted by Regeneración-Pajaro Valley Climate Action, a nonprofit that seeks to make agriculture both more sustainable for farmers and safer for the workers toiling in the fields.

Earlier this month at its second Climate of Hope forum, conducted virtually because of the Covid-19 pandemic, Regeneración released the results of its 2019 survey that asked local farmers about their experiences with changing weather patterns and how that might be affecting their crops and employees.

The majority of respondents said they are experiencing more heat waves and higher day-to-day temperatures. Those warmer days have elongated California’s fire season, according to Cal Fire, producing more instances in which wildfire smoke has filled the air. That, in turn, is leading to damaged crops and more frequent work stoppages, both of which have hurt farmers’ profits.

“Those temperatures are not only bad for humans, but they’re bad for the crops that grow in the area,” said JSM Organics owner Javier Zamora, who joined the virtual conference from his Royal Oaks farm where he grows strawberries, heirloom tomatoes, summer squash, peppers and cut flowers.

The survey, conducted in unison with Cal State Monterey Bay’s graduate environmental studies program, also gauged farmers’ interest in initiatives that could improve their farms’ sustainability. Most said increasing innovation in rainwater capture and adding protections and financial support for farmworkers during work stoppages would make the largest impacts. Receiving funding to make the switch from traditional sprinkler irrigation to a drip irrigation was also a top priority.

Zamora also championed organic farming and said that many people have become more conscious of their food and how it is grown, which he said is a critical step to making agriculture more sustainable.

“What we do now will make our future generations more successful or will make them fail faster—it could ruin what we have here,” he said.

Zamora was one of three panelists who spoke during the conference. Dr. Flavio Cornejo of Salud Para la Gente and Claudia Tibbs, a sustainability professional and conservation communicator for La Eco Latina, joined Zamora on the panel.

Watsonville Mayor Rebecca Garcia gave the introduction. Yana Garcia, the deputy secretary for environmental justice, tribal affairs and border relations at the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA), and State Assemblyman Robert Rivas were the keynote speakers.

Five farmers participated in the survey, which was available in English and Spanish. It was part of the Regeneración’s Heat Stress Prevention Campaign, which was partially funded through the CalEPA’s Small Environmental Justice Grants program. Regeneración also developed a brochure of how people can protect themselves from heat exhaustion during brutal manual labor—commonplace for farmworkers during the peak of the summer season.

Regeneración Executive Director Nancy Faulstich said the 2019 survey was the natural progression of the organization’s previous survey that shone a light on how climate change—especially warmer summer and fall weather—is disproportionately affecting the poorest of the poor in the Pajaro Valley.

That survey polled dozens of area residents, many of whom identified as farmworkers. Faulstich said she hopes the two surveys will start a conversation about climate change that will produce innovative solutions that can help farmers and their employees.

“We hope the forum connected the dots about thinking holistically in making agriculture more sustainable,” she said.

Evacuees Reflect on Loss and Uncertainty as CZU Fires Burn

Jacob Pierce

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August 21, 2020

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Evacuees Reflect on Loss and Uncertainty as CZU Fires Burn

This story was updated with additional information about shelters at 8pm on Friday, June, 21.

“This is the worst-case scenario,” Karrie Gaylord, an evacuee of the CZU fires in the Santa Cruz Mountains, said Thursday afternoon. “This is the fire that we’ve all feared. We have neighbors that have been there, 40, 50 years. There have been two fires in the area, but nothing like this. It was a confluence of the worst factors all at once—insane heat, fuel everywhere, low humidity.”

Those factors, combined with high winds and atypical dry lightning strikes, made for a frightening perfect storm last weekend, one that ignited the CZU Lightning Complex fires and subsequently fanned their flames. Similar fires are raging from the Salinas area to Napa County.

After clearing out, Gaylord and her boyfriend Ryan Eastwood reserved a hotel room. They stopped by the evacuation center at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium Thursday with their two dogs to pick up toiletries and food. Eastwood says he had watched on a webcam the night before as their neighborhood in Bonny Doon went up in smoke.

Although they’ve lost nearly everything they owned, Eastwood says he and Gaylord are more fortunate than some of their neighbors. He and Gaylord are still young, they say, and they’ll have time to build a brand new home from scratch.

At this point, they say they’ll still have to decide whether or not they’re interested in doing so.

TENTATIVE SOLUTIONS

As of an update issued Friday morning, the CZU Lightning Complex fires have burned 50,000 acres, or roughly 78 square miles, and prompted 64,000 evacuations. Meanwhile, in the Bay Area, two separate fires are now on the list of 10 largest fires in California history.

Three of Santa Cruz County’s evacuation shelters, including the Civic Auditorium, are now full. Spaces remain at several other sites, including Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, Simpkins Family Swim Center and Lakeview Middle School. A full list of local resources is available on Santa Cruz County’s website. San Mateo County has set up shelters at Half Moon Bay High School and San Mateo County Event Center.

Inside the Civic, crews set up tents, allowing evacuees to shelter in isolation and avoid spreading the novel coronavirus that causes Covid-19.

In the auditorium lobby, Lenora Fitzmaurice, 78, sits patiently, curious where she’ll be going next. The Boulder Creek resident, who lives on Two Bar Road, was with other medically vulnerable evacuees, while they waited to be transferred to other facilities specifically catered toward those most susceptible to the Covid-19 pandemic.

It was Fitzmaurice’s caregiver who first called for law enforcement to help evacuate her. Fitzmaurice says a deputy arrived and told her, “It’s time to go.” Fitzmaurice had enough time to grab one tote bag before getting in the car.

At this point, she’s taking everything one minute at a time.

“I am accepting and trying to understand and helping when I can,” she says. “And I’m wondering where I’m gonna go next.”

GREAT ESCAPE

A few yards from Fitzmaurice, Buzz Tatro, a two-time cancer survivor, sat staring into the distance, notebook at his side.

A bout with throat cancer five years ago left Tatro unable to eat or speak. He has a gastronomy tube that pumps food into his stomach. He communicates with others by writing down notes.

Tatro said the fire seemed to come out of nowhere Wednesday morning. “I saw it coming the night before but slowly. I thought maybe there was a chance,” he wrote in his notebook.

Suddenly, the fire was breathing down on his house. It got within 20 feet of him, he says, as he tried to fight it off with a garden hose. Although his neighbors got out sooner than he did, Tatro says no one told him to evacuate. “I live in the middle of 50 acres, so nobody looked, I guess,” he wrote.

At the end of the day, he feels lucky to have survived the experience. Tatro, who recently celebrated a birthday, called being alive “a pretty nice birthday present.”

I asked Tatro if I might give him my email address, so he could get in touch if he had anything else come up. He shrugged quizzically, and started scribbling again in his notebook, now one of his few worldly possessions.

“I don’t have anything,” he wrote.

Follow continuing in-depth fire coverage here and in our live blog.

Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Sets Up Shelter for Fire Evacuees

Johanna Miller

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August 19, 2020

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Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Sets Up Shelter for Fire Evacuees

Cal Fire has ordered more than 22,000 residents in Santa Cruz and San Mateo counties to evacuate as the CZU August Lightning Complex fires spread through the Santa Cruz Mountains.

Temporary shelters have been set up across the region to house evacuees. This includes one at Pescadero High School, one at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium and one at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds in Watsonville.

Fairgrounds CEO Dave Kegebin said he, staff and volunteers have been hard at work setting up the shelter, which as of Wednesday morning had checked in about 75 people. Tents and single cots are currently situated in Crosetti Hall and the Harvest Building, and the Fine Arts Building is ready for overflow. Livestock areas were also being prepared to house displaced animals.

“It’s been a mad scramble,” Kegebin said. “Since we weren’t having the fair this year, many of our buildings were full of equipment … we had to clear everything out and clean up pretty quickly.”

Fair Board Director Lori Estrada said that tents had already been set up in the Crocetti building as possible emergency shelter during the Covid-19 pandemic. Estrada recalled that it had been about 11 years since the fairgrounds had been used as a shelter—and now it was happening twice in six months.

“Nothing about this was planned, but that’s how life is,” she said. “We just do what we can.”

Boulder Creek resident Melissa Leon said she was able to get herself, her four dogs and two cats, and a car load of supplies out safely. But her house was a lost cause.

“I might not be able to go back until September … to take photos and all that,” she said. “Then will come dealing with insurance companies.”

Leon said she was grateful for the emergency shelter. Friends had been offering to help, but the shelter offers a safe environment with plenty of supplies and assistance.

“This is really the best place to be,” she said. “It has the funding to help us for the long term.”

Another evacuee, who asked not to be named, said he had left home at about 5am. So far, the fires have not reached the duplex he lives in with his girlfriend, and he is confident they are far enough away from the fire line.

“But it’s always good to be careful,” he said. “We’re playing it safe.”

Fire resources:

Visit fire.ca.gov/incidents/2020/8/17/czu-august-lightning-complex for more information on evacuation orders, evacuation warnings, evacuation centers and road closures.
For those unable to secure other accommodations, the following shelters have been set up:
- Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, 307 Church St., Santa Cruz
- Santa Cruz Fairgrounds, 2601 E. Lake Ave., Watsonville
- Pescadero High School, 360 Butano Cutoff Road, Pescadero
Pets are welcome at evacuation sites, but it is requested that they be under owner’s control. Bring a pet carrier if you can.
Shelter staff will assist people with special needs. Behavioral health specialists will be on site for support.
For information on accommodations for evacuees, call the Red Cross at 1-866-272-2237.
For assistance evacuating animals, call 831-471-1182.
Find the current evacuation map at smco.community.zonehaven.com.
To list yourself safe go to redcross.org/safeandwell.
The county is taking contributions of large, family-sized tents at the Emeline Warehouse, 1082 Emeline in Santa Cruz (rear of the property behind 1080 Emeline Health Clinic).
Sign up for Cal Fire email updates at tinyurl.com/czulightning. The Cal Fire public information line for the fire incident is 831-335-6717.
Follow the Cal Fire’s San Mateo-Santa Cruz unit or follow the hashtag #CZUAugustLightningComplex on Twitter for breaking info.
The Santa Cruz County Human Services benefits hotline is 1-888-421-8080 (toll free). Residents impacted by the fire who are enrolled in benefits programs may be eligible for replacement benefits.
For the latest traffic advisories or restrictions visit cruz511.org.
Find local air quality information at air.mbard.org.

Follow continuing in-depth fire coverage here and in our live blog.

Supervisors Approve Eviction Moratorium Through September

Todd Guild

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August 19, 2020

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Supervisors Approve Eviction Moratorium Through September

The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved a temporary moratorium on evictions in the unincorporated parts of the county through Sept. 30.

According to Supervisor John Leopold, the County first approved an eviction moratorium in May, when the county saw 8,000 new requests for unemployment benefits after Covid-19 forced businesses throughout the county to close.

That ended May 31, and at that time a similar statewide rule protected renters. That moratorium will end Sept. 1, Leopold said, which prompted the action by the county.

“That doesn’t mean that the crisis has gone away,” he said. “It is our hope … that action in the state legislature will create a statewide response for people to stay in their homes, the best tool to prevent homelessness in the state of California.”

The moratorium is not a rent holiday. Renters will be responsible for paying the rent they owe when the moratorium has ended.

Supervisor Zach Friend added an amendment that directs county staff to study a payment plan, which would give renters a 6- or 12-month repayment option.

“I think the concern as we all know is that at the end of the moratorium you end up with a balloon payment that really makes it pretty infeasible for people,” Friend said.

The moratorium expires on Sept. 30. It prevents evictions for people experiencing financial losses associated with Covid-19.

Evacuations Ordered As Lightning Complex Fires Grow

Tony Nuñez

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August 19, 2020

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Evacuations Ordered As Lightning Complex Fires Grow

UPDATED at 4pm Wednesday, Aug. 19, with additional evacuation info:

Cal Fire has ordered more than 22,000 residents in several areas of northern Santa Cruz County and south San Mateo County to evacuate as fires have spread throughout the Santa Cruz Mountains, scorching at least 10,000 acres as of Wednesday morning.

The CZU August Lightning Complex, a series of 22 fires burning at various locations near the counties’ shared border, started Sunday morning during an atypical lightning storm.

The fires are threatening 6,000 structures and are 0% contained, Cal Fire said.

Three first responders have suffered minor injuries. Nearly 600 first responders are battling the fires, according to Cal Fire.

The fires are heading in a southeastern direction and spreading down the Santa Cruz Mountains, Cal Fire San Mateo-Santa Cruz Deputy Chief Jonathan Cox told reporters Wednesday morning.

“The unfortunate turn of events yesterday was the wind,” Cox said. “That’s why we’ve gone so quickly from a small-growing fire in the middle of the remote parts of the county to a fire front that has pushed southward fairly quickly.”

Cal Fire has identified five large fires, including the Waddell and Warenella fires. Combined, those two have ripped through 620 acres in the northern reaches of Santa Cruz County near Highway 1.

Three other fires have charred at least 9,000 acres, causing Cal Fire to order mass evacuations. Cox said several of the fires merged overnight.

Cal Fire said residents of communities adjacent to Bonny Doon and San Lorenzo Valley should also be prepared to evacuate.

Evacuation centers have been set up at Pescadero High School, located at 360 Butano Cutoff Road in Pescadero, and at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, located at 2601 E. Lake Ave. in Watsonville.

Gov. Gavin Newsom late Tuesday declared a statewide emergency as several fires have arisen throughout the state, including a trio in Monterey County.

Current Santa Cruz County evacuation orders:

Waterman Gap Loop
Upper Highway 236
Boulder Creek Golf Course
Heartwood Hill Lodge Road
The community of Little Basin
Upper China Grade
Lodge Road
The community of Kings Highway
Lower Jamison Creek
Gallion Heights
Fallen Leaf neighborhood
Foxglove Lane
Saratoga Toll Road
San Lorenzo Park
Riverside Grove-Community of Telih Drive
Wildwood Road
Everyone on Empire Grade Road, from Felton Empire north
All of Pine Flat Road
All of Ice Cream Grade
Bonny Doon Road, between Pine Flat Road, Martin Road and all side streets
Bonny Doon south of Ice Cream Grade, to include Pine Flat Road South
Evacuation warnings:
- Areas west of Highway 9 to Empire Grade
- South from Bear Creek Road to Felton, including Ben Lomond

Visit fire.ca.gov/incidents/2020/8/17/czu-august-lightning-complex for more information on evacuation orders, evacuation warnings, evacuation centers and road closures.

Follow the Cal Fire’s San Mateo-Santa Cruz unit or follow the hashtag #CZUAugustLightningComplex on Twitter for breaking info.

Follow continuing in-depth fire coverage here and in our live blog.

Villa del Monte Winery’s Smooth Merlot Reserve 2010

Josie Cowden

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August 19, 2020

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Villa del Monte Winery’s Smooth Merlot Reserve 2010

It pays to check when Villa del Monte’s spot in the Santa Cruz Mountains is open for tasting—so you can avail yourself of their delectable wines. But you can always buy online—it’s pretty easy to order a few bottles and try them out. If Villa del Monte is new to you, then all the more reason to try their varied creations.

Villa del Monte’s winemakers, John Overstreet and Neil Perrelli, make quite a few different wines—everything from Cabernet Rosé and Chardonnay to Malbec and Pinot Noir, and their own Vintner’s Select Special Blend, a hearty mix of Merlot and Cabernet “with a bit of Malbec and Syrah to finish it off.” And if you love dessert wines, check out VDM’s delicious 100% Zinfandel. Grapes are left on the vine to naturally raise the sugar, resulting in a lip-smacking mouthful of sweet wine.

Right now, VDM has some wines on sale. The 2010 single-varietal, single-vineyard 100% Merlot Reserve from the Moon Vineyard in the Carneros District of Napa Valley is a mere $10—too good to miss! Hints of blackberry, cherry and blueberry enhance this smooth Merlot—and a great fruit nose and sultry aromas add to its charm.

Villa del Monte’s next wine tastings are noon to 5pm, Aug. 29-30. Visit their website for more info and Covid-19 protocol. Reservations are recommended.

Villa del Monte Winery, 23076 Summit Road, Los Gatos, 408-353-0995 or toll free at 888-788-4583. villadelmontewinery.com.

Persephone’s New Outdoor Patio

The delightful Persephone Restaurant in Aptos now has a new outdoor dining area. Redwood trees in the background make this a wonderful spot to enjoy the superbly prepared food of Chef Cory Goudge-Ayer. Learn more at persephonerestaurant.com.

Artichoke Festival

If you love all things artichoke, then mark your calendars for a two-day event celebrating this delicious edible thistle, June 5-6, 2021. Yes, folks, this wonderful festival will be sorely missed this year. Already postponed from May to August, it will now take place next year at the Monterey County Fair and Event Center. Visit artichokefestival.org for more info.

Things To Do in Santa Cruz: Aug. 19-25

GT Staff

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August 19, 2020

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Because many in-person events across Santa Cruz County have been canceled or postponed during the pandemic, Good Times is compiling a weekly list of virtual events hosted by local nonprofits, artists, fitness instructors and businesses. To submit your virtual event, send an email to ca******@go*******.sc.

ARTS AND MUSIC

THEN, NOW AND ONWARD: 115 YEARS OF THE SANTA CRUZ MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY Celebrate 115 years of the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History! Explore highlights of our history, the current state of the museum, and our plans for the future during this webinar event. We will hear from community members, dig into the archives, and our Executive Director Felicia B. Van Stolk will present the annual Laura Hecox Naturalist Award to Amity Sandage, environmental literacy coordinator for the Santa Cruz County Office of Education. Aug. 21, 6-7pm. Learn more at santacruzmuseum.org/then-now-and-onward.

CLASSES

BREASTFEEDING BASICS This is a virtual class that will help you learn the information you need for getting breastfeeding off to a good start. This one-session class will cover how to ensure a good milk supply, techniques for getting a good latch, how to know if your baby is getting enough, and ways you can avoid common problems. Recommended for mothers in mid-to-late pregnancy. Support person welcome. Please register for the PEP class session. Only after you have completed this process, the Zoom meeting information will be provided to you via email prior to your class. For further information, please call the Dominican Lactation Warm Line at 831-462-7862. Wednesday, Aug. 19, 6:30-8:30pm.

CHILDBIRTH EDUCATION WEEKEND EXPRESS CLASS This Saturday and Sunday virtual class is intended for expectant mothers and their labor support team. Focus will be on the birth process, including the stages of labor and when to go to the hospital. Non-pharmaceutical coping techniques for pain, including breath work, mindfulness practices, supportive touch and positions for labor and birth, along with standard hospital procedures, pain medication options, medical interventions, cesarean birth, postpartum recovery, newborn procedures and breastfeeding basics. In this class, we will actively practice positions and coping techniques for pain, so please be dressed for movement. Please register for the PEP class session. Only after you have completed this process, the Zoom meeting information will be provided to you via email prior to your class. Classes run 1-5:30pm: Aug. 22-23, Sept. 26-27, Oct, 24-25, Nov. 14-15, Dec. 19-20.

HOLISTIC STRATEGIES FOR YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM Traditionally, fall and winter can be a challenge for your immune system, but it doesn’t need to be. If you get sick all the time or catch every cold that goes around, it would be worthwhile to assess your habits and environment and make some changes. Come learn some holistic strategies to boost your immunity. In this class you will learn about foods, herbs and other lifestyle choices and habits that will support your overall health. Come learn about new habits you can adopt to optimize your health. $15. Pre-registration required. Zoom link will be provided after you register. Call PEP at 831-457-7099.

SALSA SUELTA IN PLACE: Free weekly online session in Cuban-style Salsa Suelta for experienced beginners and up. Contact to get a Zoom link. Thursdays at 7pm. salsagente.com.

COMMUNITY

2020 BE THE DIFFERENCE AWARDS CALL FOR NOMINATIONS Friends, it is that time of year again! At the Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County, we are excited to announce the call for nominations for the 2020 Be the Difference Awards. Each year we reach out, asking you to share your extraordinary stories of volunteers, businesses, and nonprofits who make our community a happier, healthier place to live through volunteerism. This year is no different. Despite all of the challenges we have faced, volunteerism has not faltered. We know without a doubt that volunteers uplift our community and often give hope when there is little. If ever there was a year to celebrate volunteers and the power of community connection, this is the year. This year, the Be the Difference Awards Celebration will go entirely online so that community members can participate safely from home. The Volunteer Center in partnership with their presenting sponsor Santa Cruz Community Credit Union, KION-CBS, and fellow sponsors will present a virtual lunchtime watch-party on Wednesday, Oct. 21. Learn more and nominate now through Aug. 21 at scvolunteercenter.org/events-2/be-the-difference-awards.

LUMA BOOK CLUB This is a time of seismic shift, and yet also one of opportunity. Luma Yoga is a community center operating on principles of inclusion, compassion, and, yes, reflection, but make no mistake—also of action. The first step in effective action is gaining knowledge. To this end, Luma is hosting a book club on the topic of racism and social justice issues. The reading groups will be held remotely (for now) over Zoom Thursday nights 7-8:15pm. The purpose of the groups is to learn the endless shapes oppression can take in the world, to recognize our own biases within ourselves, and to move from discomfort to action in support of Black and non-white POC. The groups will be facilitated by Steven Macramalla, a professor of psychology at SJSU. The Club will work on a 3- to 4-week cycle, reading one book per cycle, with several chapters covered each week. For more info visit lumayoga.com. Thursdays at 7pm.

TALES TO TAILS GOES VIRTUAL Beginning Aug. 10, SCPL’s early childhood literacy program, Virtual Tales to Tails, is moving to a new time slot: Mondays, 3:30-4:30pm. At the end of your school day, hop online and have fun reading at your own pace to an audience of therapy dogs, cats and other guest animals. Have math homework? Good news! Your furry audience would also love to learn how to count, add and subtract. Register online. Registrants receive reminders, links to the live program, and fun (educational) activities to complete and have showcased on future sessions Learn more at santacruzpl.libcal.com/event/6764938.

GROUPS

VIRTUAL YOUNG ADULT (18-30) TRANSGENDER SUPPORT GROUP A weekly peer support group for young adults aged 18-25 who identify as transgender, non-binary, genderqueer, agender, or any other non-cisgender identity. This is a social group where we meet and chat among ourselves, sharing our experiences and thoughts in a warm, welcoming setting. Our meetings will be held on Discord during the shelter-in-place order. For more info, contact Ezra Bowen at tr***@di*************.org.

LGBTQNBI+ SUPPORT GROUP FOR CORONAVIRUS STRESS This weekly LGBTQNBI+ support group is being offered to help us all deal with stress during the shelter-in-place situation that we are experiencing from the coronavirus. Feel free to bring your lunch and chat together to get support. This group is offered at no cost and will be facilitated by licensed therapists Shane Hill, Ph.D., and Melissa Bernstein, LMFT #52524. Learn how to join the Zoom support group at diversitycenter.org/community-calendar.

OUTDOOR

VIRTUAL ROCKIN’ POP-UP Join the Geology Gents, Gavin and Graham, for weekly conversations about rocks live on Facebook. Each week we’ll explore a different geologic topic, from Santa Cruz formations to tips for being a more effective rockhound. Graham Edwards and Gavin Piccione are PhD candidates in geochronology with the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at UCSC. Submit your questions ahead of time on Facebook or by emailing ev****@sa*************.org, or during the program live on Facebook. Feel free to include pictures of rocks you’d like identified! Pro-tip: the better the picture, the better the ID. Wednesdays at 3pm. Learn more at santacruzmuseum.org/upcoming-events.

NATURALIST NIGHT: SANTA CRUZ HABITATS AND HISTORY Santa Cruz Public Libraries and the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History have partnered to bring you Naturalist Night! Join fellow nature enthusiasts for monthly explorations of the biodiversity of Santa Cruz County. Each month, Marisa Gomez from the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History will share the stories of a specific Santa Cruz habitat as we develop our skills as naturalists. This series will feature a presentation as well as an interactive session. This program occurs monthly on the fourth Tuesday from 6-7 pm, with upcoming events Aug. 25 and Sept. 22. Registration is required for Zoom access link. Your registration confirmation email will have the Zoom link in it. Register online: santacruzpl.libcal.com/event/6857442.

BIRD BEHAVIORS Take a close look at behaviors of acorn woodpeckers, Steller’s jays, and Anna’s hummingbirds in the Sandhills. Learn about feeding behaviors, why they skip, hop, and jump, and how they protect themselves and their young. This interactive program will be broadcast as a Zoom webinar. Registration is required. To register, visit tinyurl.com/SantaCruzJuniorRangers. Free event. Saturday, Aug. 22, 10am. California State Parks in Santa Cruz County are offering virtual junior ranger programs for children ages 7-12 during the Covid-19 pandemic. These fun, free Zoom webinars are scheduled Friday through Monday at 10am each week in August. Children receive a digital stamp for each program they attend; after receiving a certain number of stamps, they can earn prizes!

MARVELOUS MURRELETS Learn about a day in the life of the marbled murrelet, the challenges they face, and how you can help protect this marvelous bird! This interactive program will be broadcast as a Zoom webinar. Registration is required. To register, visit tinyurl.com/SantaCruzJuniorRangers. Free event. Sunday, Aug. 23, 10am. California State Parks in Santa Cruz County are offering virtual junior ranger programs for children ages 7-12 during the Covid-19 pandemic. These fun, free Zoom webinars are scheduled Friday through Monday at 10am each week in August. Children receive a digital stamp for each program they attend; after receiving a certain number of stamps, they can earn prizes!

Opinion: Aug. 19, 2020

Steve Palopoli

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August 19, 2020

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EDITOR’S NOTE

I suppose there isn’t a business sector that hasn’t been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic (except toilet-paper manufacturing and the stock market, which definitely have something in common). Still, I was surprised we hadn’t yet written about the plight of local gyms, which have faced some of the most intense risks and restrictions. Andrew Steingrube rectifies that in this week’s Health and Fitness Issue. As with so many of the local businesses we’ve written about since shelter-in-place orders came down in March, I feel for what much-loved local gyms like Toadal Fitness and Rocky’s are going through at the same time that I’m inspired by how quickly they’ve adapted and innovated.

I also recommend Maria Grusauskas’ story on how we are (or should!) be changing how we think about our health in this slowed-down time of quarantining, unquarantining and requarantining. Importantly, it’s as much about mental health as it is physical health, but please take to heart its advice about safety and rejecting all of the dangerous anti-mask disinformation out there right now.

Lastly, I’m happy to report that Santa Cruz Gives is returning for another campaign of holiday giving—and I know that of all the years we’ve done it, this one will be the most important to the local nonprofits it supports. If you would like to make your nonprofit one of them, SCG is accepting applications through Monday, Sept. 14. Apply online at apply.scgives.com.

STEVE PALOPOLI | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Read the latest letters to the editor here.

Gift of Don

I wanted to thank Good Times and Wallace Baine for the excellent article on Don McCaslin (GT, 8/12). It was written with such warmth (no pun intended) that I felt like I was watching and listening to his band playing in front of the Cooper House one more time. It brought back many wonderful memories, including the early days of Kuumbwa and, more recently, following the well-deserved recognition of his son Donny. What a gift Don was. Thanks to his legacy, his is a gift that keeps on giving.

Jeff Rockwell | Soquel

Long Live the Sounds

Thanks for the great tribute story to Don McCaslin. I remember first seeing him and his band one afternoon in the late ’70s outside Cooper House and being mesmerized by this long-haired bearded musician who clearly dominated the fabulous sound! Then I gazed up to a mural on the wall and there he was in it. I knew then I was seeing a Santa Cruz legend. Alas, the earthquake took down that great mural. Long live the jazz sounds of Don McCaslin!

Julie Bitnoff | Santa Cruz

ONLINE COMMENTS

Re: Don McCaslin

Nice article, thanks for it. I was one of those “rotating” members of Don’s band, playing bass for many years during the Jamie Brudnick era, as I also joined up shortly after the ’89 earthquake. I’ll miss him and the huge rotation of players and his loyal fans at the Wharf House, Severino’s and at the “new” Cooper House where we played for a few years. Some of my best memories were when Donny Jr. came down and sat in with the band. To all of those in Santa Cruz who knew and loved Don, there really aren’t adequate words. To all of those who didn’t, check out his son.

— David Schnittman

Re: Recall and Race

I couldn’t agree more about working to end institutional racism, but must object to the inaccuracies in Mr. Schnaar’s letter. (GT, 8/5). His description of the successful recall of Councilmen Krohn and Glover is full of inaccuracies. There were a dozen reasons the recall was initiated, and the recall effort was already underway when the HR complaints were filed by city staff and subsequently charges substantiated against each council member. Mr. Schnaar blames those charges on race, omitting the fact that one of the women filing the charges was our first African-American mayor and conveniently leaving out the fact that Mr. Krohn is white. Rather than strengthening his argument, these inaccuracies serve to undermine it. Mr. Glover was recalled not because he is biracial, but because he harassed city staff, testified in court on behalf of the plaintiffs in a law suit against the city, voted to keep the Ross Camp open long after the health department chief, fire chief and police chief declared it dangerous, and voted to place homeless encampments in neighborhoods throughout the city, among others. It was not about race, it was about bad policy and bad behavior on the part of both councilmen. As far as white landlords buying the election, that is also inaccurate and disrespectful to the majority who voted for the recall, but since we are talking about race here, I will leave it at that.

— Carol Polhamus

Last week’s cover story about Don McCaslin misspelled Jamie Brudnick’s name. GT regrets the error.

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GOOD IDEA

ELECTING TO SHARE

County Clerk Gail Pellerin will hold a Voting Matters event via Zoom on Thursday, Aug. 20, at 6pm to discuss plans for the Nov. 3 presidential general election, with a special emphasis on addressing concerns over postal issues and ballot receipt and return. For information on how to join the Zoom call, visit facebook.com/votescount. To participate via phone, call 1-669-900-9128. The meeting ID is 846 2321 6255 and the passcode is 523889.

GOOD WORK

TUNE IN, WORK OUT

The city of Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation Department is now offering educational and active classes for all ages for the Fall 2020 season. New virtual classes for kids include Kidz Love Soccer, Chess for Kids, and Thanksgiving Mini STEAM Camp. Exploring Watercolors, Crafting Your Life After 55 and Pilates on the Walk are returning. There are also Korean language classes. The Fall Activity Guide is available at santacruzparksandrec.com.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.’”
-Muhammad Ali

Local Gyms Get Creative to Keep Members Safe and Fit

Andrew Steingrube

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August 18, 2020

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Local Gyms Get Creative to Keep Members Safe and Fit

In the midst of a catastrophic paradigm-shifting pandemic, fortune favors those who innovate and adapt.

Directly and negatively impacted by lockdowns, government regulations, economic contraction, consumer safety concerns, and a growing workout-from-home trend, gyms are undergoing a mass-extinction event. Countless gyms across the country will never reopen, and even nationwide chains such as 24 Hour Fitness and Gold’s Gym have filed for bankruptcy due to the pandemic. As local gyms and exercise businesses strive to thrive, if not simply stay alive, they battle myriad challenges on multiple fronts. As an industry, the survival of fitness will depend on survival of the fittest.

“We’re extremely busy just trying to survive,” says Christophe Bellito, co-owner of Toadal Fitness. “We’ve been doing whatever we can to get people to work out.”

The scope and scale of the changing restrictions that gyms face is dizzying, and puts in perspective the challenges it takes to simply open the doors of a business during the pandemic. Bellito says that within 3-4 days after being initially shut down in March, his team members created numerous virtual classes.

“We’re doing at least 10 classes a day, and about 100 per week,” he says, adding that it’s helped him retain around 70-80% of his staff.

But virtual classes are only the beginning of Toadal’s adaptations, as the business seeks to display an amphibian-like level of versatility to stay afloat. One progressive idea that Bellito instituted was an equipment loan program—offering things like elliptical machines, spin bikes, treadmills, benches, and free weights for members to use at home for no additional cost.

“We have also renovated the clubs, adding plexiglass shields and making sure the equipment is far apart,” adds Bellito. “We have moved equipment outside at all our clubs, take the temperature of every employee and guest, and have invested in UV light technology that makes our spaces safer.”

Bellito says that member feedback has been mostly good, but that some aspects have been challenging. “A lot of people have cancelled their membership without even coming to see what we’ve done. Before you make a decision, come see for yourself and then decide based on facts, not perceptions. The most difficult part has been seeing people give up without giving us a try. They’re giving up on themselves, too.”

Rocky’s Fitness Center is another local gym doing its best to navigate the ever-changing landscape of the pandemic. “Initially, it only took us about three hours to go virtual,” says owner Rocky Snyder, adding that they offer around 25 virtual classes per week. “Then when we opened, we spaced out equipment and workout areas to be socially distant and still effective at the same time. The biggest change for us has been to keep the ‘personal’ in ‘personal training,’ even when done at a distance.”

The requirement that in-person workouts now be done outside has had an unexpected lemonade-from-lemons type of effect, Snyder says. “We’re actually gaining more clients now because of our outdoor classes and more exposure,” he says. “Because people can see what we’re doing, there has been increased interest and the phone is ringing again.”

He says that they currently offer multiple daily outdoor workouts in the form of one-on-one and small-group personal instruction. “Instead of curbside pickup like at a restaurant, we offer curbside training.”

Snyder says that member feedback has been about 50/50 in terms of people who feel safer staying home doing online training, and others who are happy to exercise in-person outdoors in the fresh air. “Initially, some people quit,” he says, “but many guests also reached out and expressed the feeling of, ‘You’ve supported us for so long, it’s time for us to support you.’” Snyder says that he has been able to keep all of his staff employed during the pandemic, and he requires that they wear masks at all times.

“The overall uncertainty is the most difficult part of all of this,” says Snyder, “not knowing every day that you wake up if the other shoe will drop.”

However, he is striving to make the best of a bad situation by focusing on outreach and building community. “One of the silver linings is opening up and broadening our online services—we can now accommodate people from all over the country, if not the world,” he says.

His gym offers online educational workouts targeted specifically for older people, children, and Latino populations. These workouts are free to access, even for non-members.

The children’s programs are listed on the Santa Cruz County School’s website resource page, and can help parents homeschool their children with regards to fitness and physical education.

“I think this is a time where the community really needs to come together,” says Snyder. “We have knowledge, experience, and information that we can share to help people get through this time.”

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