Page 514 | Good Times

One Year from Zero: Covid-19 in Santa Cruz County by the Numbers

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February 25, 2021

One Year from Zero: Covid-19 in Santa Cruz County by the Numbers

On March 6, 2020, the county government confirmed that a resident of Santa Cruz County had tested positive for Covid-19. It was the first case of the emerging coronavirus in Santa Cruz. Health officials, media and residents rushed to make sense of the pandemic’s arrival and what it might mean for the county.

“While Covid-19 represents a serious public health threat, the risk to Santa Cruz County residents remains low,” reported NBC Bay Area in an article on March 7. “But officials anticipate there will be additional local cases.”

They weren’t wrong. As of Wednesday, Feb. 25, there have been 14,588 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Santa Cruz County, and 183 county residents have died from the disease.

We are now approaching the one-year anniversary of the arrival of Covid-19 in our community. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Good Times has brought readers the latest information through live blog updates and in-depth reporting. Every week we report the number of cases, deaths, and ICU beds available in the county. Now, we’ve brought this information together in interactive graphs to show you what nearly year one of the pandemic has meant for Santa Cruz.

The first two hospitalizations of Covid-19 patients happened nearly four weeks after the first confirmed case on March 6. Since then, there has always been at least one patient hospitalized with Covid-19 in the county. The peak of the third wave came on Jan. 4, when 86 people were hospitalized with Covid-19. Data from The New York Times (see below) reported 10 more deaths due to Covid-19 the following day.

ICU (Intensive Care Unit) bed availability is a major player in the fight against the pandemic. ICU beds don’t refer to specialized beds, but rather how many patients the ICU can handle. Patients in the ICU are critically ill and require one-on-one nursing. The latest wave of the pandemic overwhelmed ICUs in Santa Cruz County, leaving them with no space for days on end in January and February.

The third wave of the pandemic hit Santa Cruz hard. More people died of Covid-19 in the first 2 months of 2021 than in the entirety of 2020, and most of the people in Santa Cruz who succumbed to the disease in 2020 died in December.

Things To Do in Santa Cruz: Feb. 24 – March 2

GT Staff

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February 24, 2021

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Things To Do in Santa Cruz: Feb. 24 – March 2

A weekly guide to what’s happening.

ARTS AND MUSIC

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 8:30-10:30am 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. 24, 7am-11:30pm-Tuesday, March 2, 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.

WDCC’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 WinterDance 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. 27, 4pm.

COMMUNITY

ALIENS! ESCAPE FROM EARTH During a midnight meteor shower, something mysterious falls from the sky toward Earth—but it’s not a shooting star. Two kids venture out to investigate and soon find themselves mixed up with a family of visitors from another planet! Trapped by a crazy space scientist, the kids must risk everything to rescue the aliens and help them escape from Earth! Throughout this amazing intergalactic story, we will use science experiments to bring the story to life! Don’t miss this action-packed and educational alien adventure. It’s totally out of this world! Virtual event brought to you by Talewise. Register online at santacruzpl.libcal.com. Saturday, Feb. 27, 3-4pm.

BE THE SOLUTION: A WORKSHOP ON HOW YOU CAN HELP TO END HOMELESSNESS IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY Homelessness is a huge issue that needs solving, but where do we begin? Join community activist and former Santa Cruz Mayor Don Lane and Housing Matters Community Engagement Manager Andrea Feltz in an interactive workshop to discover how you can be a part of the solutions to homelessness. We will walk through a simple five-step process, with big and small group discussions, to uncover what you can do today to join us at Housing Matters in solving homelessness in our community. Bring your questions, a notebook and a pen and get ready to make your personal plan to help join the forces in your county and beyond! Learn more at bethesolutionssc.eventbrite.com. Monday, March 1, 9-10am.

LATINO ROLE MODELS 2021- VIRTUAL CONFERENCE Please join us for Latino Role Models Virtual Conference. This 11th annual conference provides an exciting opportunity for Santa Cruz County students (grades six through college) and their families to be inspired to achieve their dreams for college and career. Hear from Latinx professionals and college students about their educational pathways and participate in informational workshops. The free conference is presented in Spanish (with English translation). Register online at tinyurl.com/latin 9 osmodelos. This year USC Distinguished Professor Manuel Pastor will deliver the keynote address: Racial Justice: Education as a Tool of Liberation. For more information, please contact Senderos at 831-854-7740. Saturday, Feb. 27, 9:30am.

TEN O’CLOCK LUNCH WITH SPECIAL GUEST TED WELTY A collaboration of our crossover joy and love of Motown classics and sweet soul music. Jerry Whitney brings his James Jamerson, Motown bass lines and jazz influenced groove to the mix. George Zaferes’ passion for the soul/gospel sounds that have shaped his vocal style and rhythm guitar playing. Joining Ten O’Clock Lunch is special guest, ace guitarist and singer Ted Welty of Locomotive Breath and Spun. Bring your face mask. No cover. Artist sites and sounds available at facebook.com/TenOClockLunchBand. Friday, Feb. 26, 5pm. Michael’s on Main, 2591 S Main St., Soquel.

GRATEFUL DUETS WITH MATT HARTLE AND SCOTT COOPER: DINNER AND A SHOW: Matt Hartle and Scott Cooper of the China Cats get together for a wonderful evening of acoustic duets. Matt and Scott have a 10-year history of playing Grateful Dead music together. Don’t miss this intimate evening of dinner and a show with Matt and Scott. Bring a face mask. Artist sites and sounds available at matthartlemusic.com. Purchase your tickets now by calling 831-479-9777, ext. 2. Saturday, Feb. 27, 6:30pm. $50. Michael’s on Main, 2591 S Main St., Soquel.

GRATEFUL DEAD TUNES 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 by calling 831-479-9777, ext. 2. $15. Sunday, Feb. 28, 5:30pm. Michael’s on Main, 2591 S Main St., Soquel.

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. 25, 7pm.

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. 25, 10am-2pm. Sunday, Feb. 28, 10am-2pm. Tuesday, March 2, 10am-2pm.

URBAN CYCLING VIRTUAL WORKSHOP Are you curious about how to ride your bike safely and confidently around town? Want to learn the rules of the road and how you fit in as a cyclist? How about gear selection, avoiding bike theft, riding during the dark and wet winter months, or choosing a low-traffic route? Get answers to these questions and more at this free urban cycling workshop. Ecology Action staff will run through all the basics of urban cycling and guide curious cyclists of all levels and backgrounds. Register today for this free event at bit.ly/2MPWZFa. Thursday, Feb. 25, Noon-1pm.

WEBINAR: THE AYURVEDA SOLUTION TO TYPE-2 DIABETES Presented by Jackie Christensen, MA-Ayur, Ph.D., an internationally recognized author, clinician, and educator in natural health, herbology, and Ayurveda. Type-2 Diabetes (T2D) represents one of the most significant public health challenges in the 21st century and Ayurveda provides many solutions to the t riddle. Through Ayurveda we can understand the various factors that cause T2D.Personalized medicine is a new concept for modern healthcare, but it is well-established in Ayurveda. In this workshop we will explore how one’s natural constitution affects treatment options. Dr. Jackie will review the foods used in Ayurveda for T2D to balance blood glucose, optimize digestion, and reduce the buildup of toxic internal waste. Through Ayurveda, we can learn how to use food as medicine and reduce our dependence on chemically laden foods. In fact, research shows that 80-90% of T2D cases can be prevented through diet and lifestyle. Learn how to upgrade your lifestyle with proven sleep habits, workouts, stress reduction and herbal support to beat T2D. For more information, visit: eventbrite.com/e/webinar-the-ayurveda-solution-to-type-2-diabetes-tickets-130201260475. Saturday, Feb. 27, Noon.

GROUPS

COMPLEMENTARY TREATMENT FORUM An educational group, a safe place to learn, for women with a cancer diagnosis. Meets every fourth Saturday, currently on Zoom. Registration required: WomenCARE at 831-457-2273. Saturday, Feb. 27, 10:30am-12:30pm.

ENTRE NOSOTRAS GRUPO DE APOYO Entre Nosotras support group for Spanish-speaking women with a cancer diagnosis. Meets twice monthly. Registration required, call 831-761-3973. Friday, Feb. 26, 6pm.

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, March 1, 12:30pm.

WOMENCARE MEDIATION GROUP WomenCARE’s mediation group for women with a cancer diagnosis meets the first and third Friday. For more information and location call 831-457-2273. Monday, March 1, 11am-noon.

WOMENCARE TUESDAY SUPPORT GROUP WomenCARE Tuesday Cancer support group for women newly diagnosed and through their treatment. Meets every Tuesday currently on Zoom. Registration required. Contact WomenCARE at 831-457-2273 or online at womencaresantacruz.org. Tuesday, March 2, 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. 24, 3:30-4:30pm.

OUTDOOR

ROCKIN’ POP-UP Have a rock that needs identifying? Want to learn more about the geology of Santa Cruz? Like digging for fossils? Join the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History for our monthly rock-talk days. Every fourth Saturday of the month, PhD students from UCSC will be at the Museum, ready to ID your local (or not-so-local) geologic finds, as well as show off a rotating collection of specimens. So get ready to talk shop with these rock jocks! Note: Limit of three rocks per visitor. Rockin’ Pop-Ups are free with admission. santacruzmuseum.org. Watch live on Facebook at facebook.com/SantaCruzMuseumOfNaturalHistory/live. Saturday, Feb. 27, 10am.

SCIENTISTS SAVING THE OCEANS VIRTUAL EXPEDITION Expedition one: 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: 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 live-streaming 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. For more details and to register, visit seymourcenter.ucsc.edu/learn/ongoing-education/scientists-saving-the-oceans. Wednesday, Feb. 24, 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. 28, 10:30am.

Storrs Winery’s Perfectly Balanced Zinfandel 2017

Josie Cowden

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February 24, 2021

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Storrs Winery’s Perfectly Balanced Zinfandel 2017

The Sunset International Wine competition awarded Storrs Winery’s 2017 Central Coast Zinfandel a gold medal. And when you taste it, you’ll see why. Abundant flavors of cherry and soft vanilla make this a mouthful of terrific Zin—with “a perfect balance between spice, fruit and oak.”

With its jammy fruit and pepper notes, Zinfandel is one of my favorites. This one made by Stephen Storrs is a winner. Typical aromas of dark fruits and spice round out this well-made Zinfandel ($26), and its dense flavors give it lots of backbone. “Our only regret,” says Storrs of the Zin, “we didn’t make enough.”

Stephen and Pamela Storrs have been in the wine business for a long time—and their tasting room in a country setting in the Aptos Hills is a delightful place to visit. You might even see the Southdown sheep brought in to munch on pesky weeds between the vines—their contribution to biodiversity.

Storrs Winery, 1560 Pleasant Valley Road, Aptos, 831-724-5030; Storrs Winery main tasting room in downtown Santa Cruz, 303 Potrero St., No. 35 (in the old Sash Mill complex), Santa Cruz, 831-458-5030. storrswine.com.

Whiskey Hill Farms

A recent tour of Whiskey Hill Farms in Corralitos was tremendously interesting. A friend of mine is doing some work there and offered to show me around. This wonderful place grows the most amazing produce—mangoes, passion fruit, papaya and a host of beneficial plants such as ginger, turmeric, basil and cilantro, all organic.

Five gigantic greenhouses are heated by pipes that run beneath compost piles—and frogs roam free in collected-rainwater troughs used for irrigation. Inside each of the greenhouses reminds me of the tropics, with the pungent smell of rich earth and damp foliage.

This biodynamic spot of impressive agriculture is also where owner David Blume makes 100% organic sanitizers (with co-founder of the business Tom Harvey) under his label Blume Organics. These sanitizers contain no toxic chemicals and are safe on skin and surfaces.

For more information on these projects and to shop online, visit whiskeyhillfarms.com and blumesorganics.com.

Holy Smokes Country Barbeque Creates Divine Flavors in Smoking Style

Andrew Steingrube

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February 24, 2021

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Holy Smokes Country Barbeque Creates Divine Flavors in Smoking Style

Holy Smokes Country Barbeque and Catering is a family-owned, family-run restaurant and catering business that is all about serving divine flavors in a down-home cooking style.

Owner Janis Cota started catering barbeque 25 years ago as a side business, and after she retired Holy Smokes Barbeque became her full-time passion project. She expanded by opening her restaurant two years ago, and all three of her children work there. They are currently open Wednesday-Sunday from 11:30am-8:30pm for takeout, as well as outdoor dining in their beer garden barbeque patio. Cota tells GT about her barbeque ethos and some of the standout food that makes her business so popular.

What is your philosophy on barbeque, and what style of barbeque do you serve?

JANIS COTA: People ask me a lot what style barbeque we are, and I always tell them that we are truly our own style. Our barbeque smoker is low and slow and has a rotisserie as well. We house-make all of our rubs and sauces. Our sides are all house-made as well. We have a good variety, and most of them are gluten-free and some are vegetarian. We try to use what’s around us, sourcing locally and from farmers’ markets, and for our barbeque we certainly try to get the very best meats. Basically, our philosophy is to serve consistently great barbeque and switch it up and get creative with our specials. I make it all myself, and I wouldn’t serve anything that I wouldn’t eat myself. It’s all about mom’s recipes. We try to make it all taste like mom’s homemade barbeque.

What are a few of the house specialties?

My favorite items are the brisket and ribs. We smoke the brisket for about 13 hours; it has crispy burnt ends and a crunchy crust, which people really love. The meat is very tender and juicy, it just falls apart in the fingers, and people love the seasoning on the crust. It’s also served with a house-made horseradish dipping sauce that people really enjoy as well, and all of our barbeque plates come with a pickle, garlic bread and choice of two sides. The baby-back pork ribs have a prominent smoke ring around the sides and are finished with a barbeque sauce glaze so that it’s really cooked into the meat. They’re very juicy and tender and just melt in your mouth.

21505 East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz. 831-471-8787, holysmokescountrybbqandcatering.com.

Letter to the Editor: Monarchs Here to Stay

Letters to the Editor

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February 24, 2021

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Letter to the Editor: Monarchs Here to Stay

Thank you Adriana Gores for your thoughtful letter (Re: “Losing the Monarchs”) regarding the Monarch decline and ongoing milkweed debate.

As scientists continue to promote a theory of entropy, Santa Cruz locals have a different perspective. While the numbers of Monarchs migrating to overwintering sites have declined, the Monarch population throughout Santa Cruz has had a booming year, creating a “Santa Cruz Paradox.” Monarchs are everywhere!

Thanks to residents planting beautiful pollinator gardens during the pandemic, Santa Cruz has become an ideal habitat for Monarchs to live and breed. The Monarchs are here to stay!!

Fiona Fairchild | Santa Cruz

This letter does not necessarily reflect the views of Good Times.

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

Letter to the Editor: Cold, Hard Proof

Letters to the Editor

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February 24, 2021

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Texas’s power generators and infrastructure were not designed to withstand this past week’s freezing temperatures as low as three degrees; resultantly, people are suffering.

Northern Californians did not plan on having to create forest fire evacuation plans back in June of 2020, but they were forced to. The current effects of climate change on our country and our state are cause for grave, urgent concern. As a California resident, I am constantly worried about the safety of myself, my loved ones and my home. Climate change is caused by the carbon emissions produced when we use dirty energy sources, such as oil and fracking. We’re never really conscious of our usage of these energy sources and the way they destroy our environment, but our political leaders are conscious and fully aware of the damage being done.

That is why we need to directly reach out to our California Governor, Gavin Newsom, and request that he have our state switch over to 100% clean renewable energy by 2030. If we don’t make that switch, the grief climate change is causing will only continue to get worse.

Sarah Boyer | UCSC Calpirg Intern

This letter does not necessarily reflect the views of Good Times.

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

Letter to the Editor: True Grid

Letters to the Editor

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February 24, 2021

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Climate change, Covid, and a collapsing economy are one thing. But a crossword puzzle with the wrong grid? Now I’m mad.

Michael Levy | Santa Cruz

It’s true! We ran the wrong grid for the New York Times Crossword Puzzle last week, and we apologize for the error. You know we can’t stand to see you mad, Michael! Let’s hug it out … after we get vaccinated. — Editor

This letter does not necessarily reflect the views of Good Times.

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

Letter to the Editor: First-Rate Reporting

Letters to the Editor

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February 24, 2021

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Letter to the Editor: First-Rate Reporting

I appreciate the first-rate journalism evident in Liza Monroy’s well-researched and balanced piece “Burn Scars” (GT, 2/17).

An in-depth account of one family’s reluctant decision to relocate to Arizona after the CZU fires and the ongoing threats of debris flow was interwoven with a range of other perspectives, some grounded in science (how nice!) and others in personal and community points of view. And all of this without interjecting any sense of blame or judgment. Great reporting.

Wendy Martyna| Santa Cruz

This letter does not necessarily reflect the views of Good Times.

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

Opinion: The Insightful Interviews That Stick With You

Steve Palopoli

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February 24, 2021

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Opinion: The Insightful Interviews That Stick With You

EDITOR’S NOTE

It’s always important to prepare plenty of questions for an interview, but it’s the questions you don’t prepare that often end up being the most important. Those are the ones that rise organically out of the conversation, and can lead it in a direction I don’t expect. But even though I know it works like that, I still wasn’t prepared for the way talking to Bay Area author Tommy Orange would get my brain working overtime and have me so engaged in the conversation I barely even glanced at my notes. I was too busy trying to hold on to each thing he’d just said, so I could address the new burst of thoughts and questions that it raised before we were on to another topic.

It’s ironic that my first question—an actual planned one!—was about the way Orange’s novel There There is packed with ideas, because based on my experience it’s an extension of how he engages with the world in general. There are certain interviews that stick with you long after you’ve written about them, and I’m sure this will be one of them.

All of this also provides some insight into why Orange was a great choice to be the center of the Humanities Institute at UCSC’s Deep Read this year. They got the program off to an auspicious start with Margaret Atwood last year, and Orange is an exciting follow up. There are details about his March 3 live Zoom event at the end of my cover story. I really encourage you to check it out!

STEVE PALOPOLI | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Read the latest letters to the editor here.

Read the latest letters to the editor here.

PHOTO CONTEST WINNER

The photographer’s dog Gunnar in a field of flowers off Highway 1 near Davenport. Photograph by Rick Ward.

Submit to ph****@*******es.sc. Include information (location, etc.) and your name. Photos may be cropped. Preferably, photos should be 4 inches by 4 inches and minimum 250dpi.

GOOD IDEA

CONNECTING CAPITAL

The number of black-owned businesses across the county dropped by 41% in the first two months of the pandemic alone. The Inclusivity Project, launched on Feb. 16 by the Small Business Development Center of Northern California, will tackle this issue by connecting 1,000 black entrepreneurs with $100 million in capital. Along with supporting existing businesses, the project plans to launch 100 more black-owned businesses in Northern California. For more information about the project, visit theinclusivityproject.com/about/#sbdc.

GOOD WORK

CARD CONNECTION

The I-You Venture through the Family Service Agency thanks the Santa Cruz community for sending 11,000 “Thinking of You” cards and 2,400 gifts to residents living in senior care facilities in Santa Cruz. Many people living in these facilities aren’t permitted visitors, including family members, due to the risk of contracting Covid-19. Cards and gifts can help relieve some of the loneliness caused by social isolation. For more information on sending cards, visit fsa-cc.org/i-you-venture.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“If you can’t say anything nice about anyone else, come sit next to me.”
-Gertrude Stein

Rob Brezsny’s Astrology: Feb. 24 – March 2

Rob Brezsny

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February 23, 2021

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Rob Brezsny’s Astrology: Feb. 24 – March 2

Free will astrology for the week of Feb. 24

ARIES (March 21-April 19): I invite you to think about one or two types of physical discomforts and symptoms that your body seems most susceptible to. Meditate on the possibility that there are specific moods or feelings associated with those discomforts and symptoms—perhaps either caused by them or the cause of them. The next step is to formulate an intention to monitor any interactions that might transpire between the bodily states and emotional states. Then make a plan for how you will address them both with your own healing power whenever they visit you in the future.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Poet Billy Collins describes “standing on the edge of a lake on a moonlit night and the light of the moon is always pointing straight at you.” I have high hopes that your entire life will be like that in the coming weeks: that you’ll feel as if the world is alive with special messages just for you; that every situation you’re in will feel like you belong there; that every intuition welling up from your subconscious mind into your conscious awareness will be specifically what you need at the moment it arrives.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): You’re entering a potentially heroic phase of your astrological cycle. The coming weeks will be a time when I hope you will be motivated to raise your integrity and impeccability to record levels. To inspire you, I’ve grabbed a few affirmations from a moral code reputed to be written by a 14th-century Samurai warrior. Try saying them, and see if they rouse you to make your good character even better. 1. “I have no divine power; I make honesty my divine power.” 2. “I have no miracles; I make right action my miracle.” 3. “I have no enemy; I make carelessness my enemy.” 4. “I have no designs; I make ‘seizing opportunity’ my design.” 5. “I have no magic secrets; I make character my magic secret.” 6. “I have no armor; I make benevolence and righteousness my armor.”

CANCER (June 21-July 22): “The only way to live is by accepting each minute as an unrepeatable miracle,” writes Cancerian author and Buddhist teacher Jack Kornfield. I disagree with him. There are many other modes of awareness that can be useful as we navigate our labyrinthine path through this crazy world. Regarding each minute as an opportunity to learn something new, for instance: That’s an excellent way to live. Or, for another example, treating each minute as another chance to creatively express our love. But I do acknowledge that Kornfield’s approach is sublime and appealing. And I think it will be especially apropos for you during the coming weeks.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): The coming weeks will be a poignant and healing time for you to remember the people in your life who have died—as well as ancestors whom you never met or didn’t know well. They have clues to offer you, rich feelings to nourish you with, course corrections to suggest. Get in touch with them through your dreams, meditations and reminiscences. Now read this inspiration from poet Rainer Maria Rilke: “They, who passed away long ago, still exist in us, as predisposition, as burden upon our fate, as murmuring blood, and as gesture that rises up from the depths of time.” (Translation from the German by Stephen Mitchell.)

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): I’m fond of 18th-century Virgo painter Quentin de La Tour. Why? 1. He specialized in creating portraits that brought out his subjects’ charm and intelligence. 2. As he grew wealthier, he became a philanthropist who specialized in helping poor women and artists with disabilities. 3. While most painters of his era did self-portraits that were solemn, even ponderous, de La Tour’s self-portraits showed him smiling and good-humored. 4. Later in his life, when being entirely reasonable was no longer a top priority, de La Tour enjoyed conversing with trees. In accordance with the astrological omens, I propose that we make him your patron saint for now. I hope you’ll be inspired to tap into your inner Quentin de la Tour.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with your overall health, Libra. In fact, I expect it’s probably quite adequate. But from an astrological point of view, now is the right time to schedule an appointment for a consultation with your favorite healer, even if just by Zoom. In addition, I urge you to consult a soul doctor for a complete metaphysical check-up. Chances are that your mental health is in fair shape, too. But right now it’s not enough for your body and soul to be merely adequate; they need to receive intense doses of well-wrought love and nurturing. So I urge you to ask for omens and signs and dreams about what precisely you can do to treat yourself with exquisite care.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): “Love commands a vast army of moods,” writes author Diane Ackerman. “Frantic and serene, vigilant and calm, wrung-out and fortified, explosive and sedate.” This fact of life will be prominently featured in your life during the coming weeks. Now is a fertile time to expand your understanding of how eros and romance work when they’re at their best—and to expand your repertoire of responses to love’s rich challenges. Don’t think of it as a tough test; imagine it as an interesting research project.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Sagittarian poet and visual artist William Blake (1757–1827) cultivated a close relationship with lofty thoughts and mystical visions. He lived with his wife Catherine for the last 45 years of his life, but there were times when he was so preoccupied with his amazing creations that he neglected his bond with her. Catherine once said, “I have very little of Mr. Blake’s company. He is always in paradise.” I hope that you won’t be like that in the coming weeks. Practical matters and intimate alliances need more of your attention than usual. Consider the possibility, at least for now, of spending less time in paradise and more on earth.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Poet Robert Graves regarded the ambiguity of poetry as a virtue, not a problem. In his view, poetry’s inscrutability reflects life’s true nature. As we read its enigmatic ideas and feelings, we may be inspired to understand that experience is too complex to be reduced to simplistic descriptions and overgeneralized beliefs. In fact, it’s quite possible that if we invite poetry to retrain our perceptions, we will develop a more tolerant and inclusive perspective toward everything. I’m telling you this, Capricorn, because whether or not you read a lot of poetry in the coming weeks, it will be wise and healthy for you to celebrate, not just tolerate, how paradoxical and mysterious the world is.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): The coming weeks will be a favorable time to shed old habits that waste your energy, and create constructive new habits that will serve you well for months and years to come. To inspire and guide your efforts, I offer these thoughts from author and naturalist Henry David Thoreau: “As a single footstep will not make a path on the earth, so a single thought will not make a pathway in the mind. To make a deep physical path, we walk again and again. To make a deep mental path, we must think over and over the kind of thoughts we wish to dominate our lives.”

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Piscean author Anais Nin was a maestro of metamorphosis, a virtuoso of variation, an adept at alteration. She regarded her ceaseless evolution as a privilege and luxury, not an oppressive inconvenience. “I take pleasure in my transformations,” she wrote. “I look quiet and consistent, but few know how many women there are in me.” Her approach is a healthy model for most of you Pisceans—and will be especially worth adopting in the coming weeks. I invite you to be a change specialist whose nickname is Flux Mojo.

Homework: Complete this sentence: “Sooner or later the pandemic will lose its power to limit us. When it does, I will _______________.” freewillastrology.c o m.

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