People Who Have Had COVID Should Get Single Vaccine Dose, Studies Suggest

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People Who Have Had COVID Should Get Single Vaccine Dose, Studies Suggest

By Apoorva Mandavilli

Nearly 30 million people in the United States — and probably many others whose illnesses were never diagnosed — have been infected with the coronavirus so far. Should these people still be vaccinated?

Two new studies answer that question with an emphatic yes.

In fact, the research suggests that for these people, just one dose of the vaccine is enough to turbocharge their antibodies and destroy the coronavirus — and even some more infectious variants.

The results of these new studies are consistent with the findings of two others published over the past few weeks. Taken together, the research suggests that people who have had COVID-19 should be immunized — but a single dose of the vaccine may be enough.

“I think it’s a really strong rationale for why people who were previously infected with COVID should be getting the vaccine,” said Jennifer Gommerman, an immunologist at the University of Toronto who was not involved in the new research.

A person’s immune response to a natural infection is highly variable. Most people make copious amounts of antibodies that persist for many months. But some people who had mild symptoms or no symptoms of COVID-19 produce few antibodies, which quickly fall to undetectable levels.

The vaccines “even the playing field,” Gommerman said, so that anyone who has recovered from COVID-19 produces enough antibodies to protect against the virus.

The latest study, which has not yet been published in a scientific journal, analyzed blood samples from people who have had COVID-19. The findings suggested that their immune systems would have trouble fending off B1351, the coronavirus variant first identified in South Africa.

But one shot of either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine significantly changed the picture: It amplified the amount of antibodies in their blood by a thousandfold — “a massive, massive boost,” said Andrew T. McGuire, an immunologist at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, who led the study.

Flush with antibodies, samples from all of the participants could neutralize not only B1351 but also the coronavirus that caused the severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, epidemic in 2003.

In fact, the antibodies seemed to perform better than those in people who had not had COVID and had received two doses of a vaccine. Multiple studies have suggested that the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines are about five times less effective against the variant.

The researchers obtained blood samples from 10 volunteers in the Seattle COVID Cohort Study who were vaccinated months after contracting the coronavirus. Seven of the participants received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, and three received the Moderna vaccine.

Blood taken about two to three weeks after vaccination showed a significant jump in the amounts of antibodies compared with the samples collected before vaccination. The researchers do not yet know how long the increased amount of antibodies will persist, but “hopefully, they’ll last a long time,” McGuire said.

The researchers also saw increases in immune cells that remember and fight the virus, McGuire said. “It looks pretty clear that we’re boosting their preexisting immunity,” he said.

In another new study, researchers at New York University found that a second dose of the vaccine did not add much benefit at all for people who have had COVID-19 — a phenomenon that has also been observed with vaccines for other viruses.

In that study, most people had been infected with the coronavirus eight or nine months earlier but saw their antibodies increase by a hundredfold to a thousandfold when given the first dose of a vaccine. After the second dose, however, the antibody levels did not increase any further.

“It’s a real testament to the strength of the immunologic memory that they get a single dose and have a huge increase,” said Dr. Mark J. Mulligan, director of the NYU Langone Vaccine Center and the study’s lead author.

In some parts of the world, including the United States, a significant minority of the population has already been infected, Mulligan noted. “They definitely should be vaccinated,” he said.

It is unclear whether the thousandfold spike in antibody levels recorded in the lab will occur in real-life settings. Still, the research shows that a single shot is enough to increase the levels of antibodies significantly, said Florian Krammer, an immunologist at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York.

Krammer led another of the new studies, which showed that people who have had COVID-19 and received one dose of a vaccine experienced more severe side effects from the inoculation and had more antibodies compared with those who had not been infected before.

“If you put all four papers together, that’s providing pretty good information about people who already had an infection only needing one vaccination,” Krammer said.

He and other researchers are trying to persuade scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to recommend only one dose for those who have recovered from COVID-19.

Ideally, those people should be monitored after the first shot in case their antibody levels plummet after some weeks or months, said Dennis R. Burton, an immunologist at the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California.

The fact that the supercharged antibodies observed in the new study can fight the 2003 SARS virus suggests that a single dose of the vaccine may have prompted the volunteers’ bodies to produce “broadly neutralizing antibodies” — immune molecules capable of attacking a broad range of related viruses, Burton said.

He and other scientists have for decades investigated whether broadly neutralizing antibodies can tackle multiple versions of HIV at once. HIV mutates faster than any other virus and quickly evades most antibodies.

The new coronavirus mutates much more slowly, but there are now multiple variants of the virus that seem to have evolved to be more contagious or to thwart the immune system. The new study may provide clues on how to make a single vaccine that stimulates the production of broadly neutralizing antibodies that can destroy all variants of the coronavirus, Burton said.

Without such a vaccine, scientists will need to tweak the vaccines every time the virus changes significantly. “You’re stuck in a kind of Whac-a-Mole approach,” he said. It will probably take many months if not longer to develop and test that sort of vaccine against the coronavirus, but “that’s the longer-term way to approach this virus.”

Copyright 2021 The New York Times Company

Pandemic Hits Leisure, Hospitality Industries Hardest in Santa Cruz County

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Pandemic Hits Leisure, Hospitality Industries Hardest in Santa Cruz County

The number of unemployed people in Santa Cruz County has nearly doubled since the Covid-19 crisis began in March 2020, rising from 4.8% in December 2019 to 8.5% in December 2020.

That amounts to 16,900 fewer jobs than there were a year ago, said Santa Cruz County Workforce Development Board Director Andy Stone.

This was after the unemployment rate had been slowly decreasing just before Covid-19 struck, Stone said. 

“That would be a significant increase,” he said. “It’s not a normal fluctuation, and it’s definitely related to Covid. Covid is still the primary force behind our high unemployment numbers.”

Hardest hit were the leisure and hospitality industries, Stone said.

The slowdown in business comes in part from changing shopping habits from customers wary of venturing out of their homes and into stores and restaurants, choosing online shopping instead, he said.

According to a report by the research firm Feedback Loop, only 70% of young adults age 18-24 say they are willing to dine at a restaurant, compared to 91% of adults age 55-64 who say they are not.

Jeanne Harrison, who owns Cafe Rio in Rio Del Mar, said she had to temporarily close the business starting Wednesday because she cannot find enough employees, and because the level of business has not allowed her to pay her bills.

“It doesn’t pencil out,” she said. “It’s kind of a pickle for an owner.”

Harrison says she is planning to wait until Gov. Gavin Newsom eases restrictions and allows restaurants to fill 25% of their indoor dining areas.

“We will prevail,” she said. “It’s just a matter of regrouping. Luckily we have the support from the community.”

Ted Burke, owner of Shadowbrook Restaurant in Capitola, says that the strict regulations from the state have forced the business to close, with no idea of when it will reopen.

Burke says that about 90% of his staff have said they will return once the restaurant does open, although many have cited the unpredictability of the industry as their reasons for seeking other careers.

While many out-of-work employees have been able to receive unemployment benefits, some who are not U.S. citizens are disqualified, Burke says. Shadowbrook has provided those employees a stipend to help with ongoing expenses, he said. 

“Loyalty is a two-way street,” he said. “We’re blessed to have loyal employees, so this is a way of returning that loyalty.”

According to the California Employment Development Department (CEDD), there are approximately 2,500 fewer jobs in hotels, restaurants and similar businesses than there were in 2020.

In Santa Cruz County, jobs in accommodation and food service are down 22.3%, according to the CEDD. Farm jobs are down 68.1%, although jobs in that industry typically fluctuate throughout the year based on the harvest.

The greatest losses have been in jobs such as waiters and waitresses, cashiers, chefs and cooks, retail salespersons and maids and housekeeping cleaners, according to a report published Feb. 10 by Pew Research Center.

But there is some hope on the horizon, Stone said. 

“As more people get vaccinated, we will start to see businesses reopen and restrictions lifted, which is going to create the need for employers to ramp up again, but it may be a slow process,” he said.

The pandemic also seriously affected the agriculture industry.

According to a June 2020 report by the California Farm Bureau Federation, the pandemic caused a major disruption to the agricultural supply chain worldwide, with estimated economic impacts estimated between $5.9 and $8.6 billion.

In addition, employment was down 13.4%, or 2.4 million agricultural jobs statewide.

Locally those numbers look slightly better, says strawberry grower Tom AmRhein.

Some commodities, particularly farms that supply vegetables to the food service industry, suffered more than other others, AmRhein said.

In addition, grocery stores were for a time limiting the amount of items they stocked, he said.

But berry growers—particularly those that grow strawberries—are faring well under Covid-19. Horticulture businesses also saw little impact.

“As people tended to eat more at home and were going out to restaurants less they tended to buy more strawberries,” he said.

“(Agriculture) is different from other segments of the economy, probably because people have to eat,” AmRhein added. “You have to keep working.”

According to the Pew report, the pandemic hit the country hard when it started a year ago, resulting in a 14.8% unemployment rate nationwide, the largest increase during the post-WWII era.

That number has since decreased to 6.3% in January, the Pew report states, but the nation is still reeling from the Covid-19 recession.

The Pew survey shows that about half the people who are out of work due to Covid-19 are not confident about their prospects of getting their job back. Many, the survey says, are seriously considering changing their field or occupation.

The pandemic has been especially hard on low-wage occupations, the Pew report shows.

From December 2019 to December 2020, employment in low-wage occupations decreased 12.5%, compared to a 5.3% decrease in middle-wage occupations. Meanwhile, high-wage occupations increased slightly over the same period.

That is vastly different than what occurred during the Great Recession, which took a chunk out of middle-wage occupations, largely in the construction and manufacturing sectors.

Rise in unemployment has been more pronounced for Hispanic workers, younger workers and those without a bachelor’s degree, the Pew report says.

New Pizza Shop Opens in Historic Pajaro Location

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New Pizza Shop Opens in Historic Pajaro Location

The tiny town of Pajaro, nestled on the most northerly corner of Monterey County, just got its first pizzeria.

Thanks to a dream of Pajaro native and resident Eric Ramirez, fresh, homemade pizzas are a new hot item prepared in-house and baked in a brick oven at Idle Hour Cafe Pizza at 3 San Juan Road.

Situated in an older building that once served as a speakeasy for drinking and dancing, and later as a market, the business still features an early day neon sign from the Idle Hour Cafe above its front door. 

“I wanted to keep some of the older, historical parts, but I also wanted a new restored look inside,” Ramirez said. “Though there are new modern lights, furniture and flooring inside, we kept some older elements, like these five old paintings right where they have survived on the walls for so long. It adds to the atmosphere for sure.”

Three employees now keep the doors open, and word of mouth has thus travelled far, evidenced by a steady file of customers.

Ramirez said he features six kinds of pizzas: the Hawaiiano, Classico, Royale, Cheese, Veggie Bomba and Build Your Own. He also offers a variety of cold drinks and papas, or baked potatoes with cheese, sour cream, pepperonis and green onions. Though the pandemic currently won’t allow for indoor dining, the business is well equipped for it. They do offer a few outdoor dining tables.

“I want to eventually expand the menu once we get settled here,” Ramirez said. “With Pajaro Park right around the corner, I think hot dogs would be good for the kids. I want to have different kinds of salads, pastas and local beer and wine. I’m also thinking of breakfast items like scrambles and pancakes. We’ll see. I want to keep the cafe theme alive. ”

Ramirez said the seeds for the business came from a great deal of research, reading and a lot of testing until he narrowed his choices down to what he serves today.

“Our brick oven came all the way from the east coast,” he said. “Then we had to put it together. And now we have pizzas in Pajaro. We hope people come in and give us a try.” 

Less Than Half of Residents Evacuated During Debris Flow Response

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Less Than Half of Residents Evacuated During Debris Flow Response

The first heavy rains of 2021 moved into the Santa Cruz Mountains in late January, prompting Cal Fire and the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office to release preemptive mandatory evacuation orders on Jan. 25 for parts of Ben Lomond, Boulder Creek, Felton and other regions in the Santa Cruz Mountains. 

For many San Lorenzo Valley residents, evacuation fatigue is real; the CZU Lightning Complex fire forced thousands from their homes beginning on Aug. 16, 2020, and some of those families had only recently returned. Santa Cruz County officials recognized the challenge in convincing those same residents that a second evacuation was necessary—this time due to debris flow dangers from denuded mountains and drainage ditches. Boulder Creek Fire Prevention District Chief Mark Bingham worked with local agencies to help coordinate and support those evacuation efforts, but the results were less than desirable.

Based on the Sheriff’s Office data collection that came from door knocking, less than 50% evacuated for those zones that had evacuation orders.

“We reached out to our community in every conceivable way to advise residents of the dangers of staying behind. I don’t think we could have posted more on social media, or talked to any more news programs, reporters or radio shows to get the word out,” he said. “A lot of zones stayed in an advisory or warning mode, and others moved through the first two modes into an evacuation order fairly rapidly. Having less than 50% of households who were ordered to leave ultimately do so is a pretty poor response.”

The debris flow only has to happen once, and the 50% evacuation rate can turn into the casualty rate given the utter devastation of a debris flow event, Bingham says.

Bingham said he understands the self-sufficiency of San Lorenzo Valley residents; he’s lived here his whole life, and he gets it.

“Mountain folks often have the ‘I Can Take Care of Myself’ syndrome that usually serves them well. In this case, it might not be the best approach,” he said. “I sometimes wonder, ‘Who are we to tell them to evacuate?’ I have a similar spirit of hardiness here too, but I’m going to meetings every single week to determine the authenticity of the threat, and that’s the information we use to build the orders.”

Bingham says this evacuation order was a little different than ones before. They coordinated with the Sheriff’s Office and pre-planned the event, where previously, the Sheriff’s Office was brought in at the moment they were needed.

“We work with the department to assess the dangers ahead; the fire department can trigger those evacuation orders, but we needed the Sheriff’s officers to affect them,” he said. “There was a collaborative effort from all the players involved in the decision. We actually had a National Weather Service representative working at a command post that was established before the event even happened. That was a first. Everyone involved wanted to avoid having to do any rescues, and if rescues were deemed necessary, we wanted to know we had the right assets at our disposal.”

Some of that out-of-the-box thinking resulted in entirely new methods of preparing for a potentially catastrophic event. Bingham worked with Cal Fire CZU Chief Ian Larkin, the operational area coordinator for Santa Cruz County fire agencies, to secure a fully functional mobile communications trailer. They borrowed the $2 million trailer from Santa Clara County.

“It came complete with a fire captain who was trained on how to run the system, and we housed it here to create a bubble for a wifi signal up to half a mile in any direction,” Bingham said. “If we had lost communication in the mountains because of the debris flow, that communications trailer would have allowed us to remain in contact. Luckily, we never lost connectivity here during the storm.” 

Since usage of the trailer was designated and approved as a pre-positioned resource, Boulder Creek Fire’s cost for its use was zero. In addition, BCFD requested an O.E.S. Regional Task Force for assistance. A team of 30 first responders came in from Marin County two days before the weather event and were positioned at Skypark, ready to provide support with heavy equipment, search and rescue dogs, and seasoned professionals who specialize in critical response work.

Back at the BCFD, Bingham’s team was ready to go. 

“We had a plans section, a logistics section, operational section and we were a well-oiled machine by the time the rain started,” he said. “We learned a lot of things during the fire last year. We now have better organizational and preparatory skills; within 90 minutes, this station became a command post and was set up to house 60 people with room and board for as long as it was necessary.”

The mapping system that Bingham had incorporated during the CZU event was implemented during the preparation for the debris flow, and the Marin County team was introduced to the intricacies of zones and branches created for that August response. As the rain moved through the mountains, Bingham’s fire crew went out each day to survey the area for hazards, and used our disaster survey app to relay that information to the Marin team. 

The Marin team was so impressed with the technology that the app developer agreed to work with the team leader to generate the same product for that group, Bingham says.

Operational communications also came in the form of hazard stickers for each residence. During an emergency response, special teams will spray paint information regarding search and rescue operations on each home. Bingham decided to introduce a little more courtesy with a sticker that could be affixed to the front of each home, and convey the same information to teams without requiring the residents to power wash or repaint their homes. 

“It was just another way we were looking ahead, and remaining in communication with our partners,” Bingham said. 

One of the civilian partnerships was with the Boulder Creek Parks and Recreation District, housed on the fire department’s campus. District Director, Hallie Greene, agreed to vacate the event hall, allowing the space to become a designated location to house BCFD first responders and support staff.

Although there was some steadily heavy rainfall that met the metrics for mandatory evacuations over the three-day storm, no debris flows occurred. Bingham and his team are relieved, he said, but they realize this is just the beginning.

“It’s going to be a long winter,” he said.

PVUSD to Build Emeril Lagasse-Inspired Kitchen and Garden

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PVUSD to Build Emeril Lagasse-Inspired Kitchen and Garden

The Pajaro Valley Unified School District (PVUSD) Board of Trustees on Feb. 10 approved a project at Starlight Elementary School that will include an industrial-level kitchen and a large garden, which school officials hope will teach students how to grow, prepare and cook their own food. 

The Emeril Lagasse Culinary Garden and Teaching Kitchen, a project founded by the celebrity chef of the same name, was also created to teach life skills and, possibly, launch the careers of aspiring chefs.

The kitchen will be one of just four in the nation.

PVUSD Superintendent Michelle Rodriguez said the idea for the project came in part from discussions with student groups, who told her that they want their lessons to be relevant to their lives.

“We really are focusing on the whole child,” Rodriguez said. “Something that has been important to this board and important to me and the community is really helping our students to find relevance and importance in what they are learning.”

The trustees last year approved accepting a $500,000 grant from the Emeril Lagasse Foundation to help fund the project, which is estimated at $2 million. The district will use developer fees to pay another $500,000 of the remaining cost. 

For the remainder—and to keep the cost away from the general fund—the district will turn to the community for donations. One donor has already given $150,000, Rodriguez said.

As part of those efforts, the trustees approved paying two consultants—one for $10,000 and one for $20,000—which will help with fundraising.

Rodriguez said that “a cadre of other philanthropists” have expressed interest in the project.

Emeril Lagasse Foundation President Brian Kish said the hands-on experiences will be a chance to break away from classroom learning.

“Emeril’s Culinary Garden and Teaching Kitchen paves the way for children from all walks of life to be healthier, to appreciate food and its role in culture, and to serve as role models for healthy eating within their families and communities,” he said. 

Kish said that the project aims to teach students about the source of their food and about nutrition and develop life skills such as culinary knowledge.

The project will include a modular unit with an “industrial-grade” kitchen, along with an expanded garden where students will grow and harvest the food they cook. 

It will also include expanded staff parking.

In addition to the curriculum from the foundation, the program will also draw lessons from Life Lab—a program created at UCSC and already used in PVUSD—that teaches students about healthy eating through garden-based education. Students will engage in 30 hours of instruction annually that will run the gamut from science to language to health and wellness.

“A lot of times students don’t even know the possibilities of what is out there for them,” Rodriguez said. 

District officials are also considering ways to make the kitchen a “community hub,” where groups such as the Teen Kitchen Project could use it, along with older students to mentor younger ones.

The district could also rent the facility, Rodriguez said. 

“We want this to be a community use kitchen and a gathering place for our community,” Rodriguez said.

Trustee Jennifer Schacher said she didn’t mind the expense of the kitchen.

“The benefits really outweigh the costs with this program,” she said. “This is what’s best for the children in our community. This is what our community needs.”

Trustee Jennifer Holm agreed. 

“We do so much work that serves the body and mind of our students, and this really gets to the soul,” she said.

It is not clear when construction will begin. In related action, the trustees approved a construction plan to be completed by AEDIS Architects of San Jose. The estimated $170,653 for construction plans will be covered by the grant.

Local Father-Daughter Music Duo Release First Album

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Local Father-Daughter Music Duo Release First Album

April Bennett was only about 2 years old when she went up on a stage with her father, Steve Bennett, for the first time.

Steve was in the house band at Roaring Camp Railroads in Felton for many years, and April would often join in.

“She pretty much grew up there, surrounded by that music,” he said.

The duo, which since 2015 has gone by the moniker Wild & Blue (named after a track by John Scott Sherrill), has just released its first full-length record, “Restless.” It is a blend of vintage country, R&B, rockabilly, folk and bluegrass sounds.

The album is a culmination of their lifelong musical partnership. Steve wrote a handful of the songs years before April was born, with one dating back to 1976.

“The songs on this record span decades, and all of my life as far as the writing goes,” April said. “We’re sharing a lot of life experiences between the both of us.”

Having grown up in a musical family, Steve would continually supply April with the context of the music they both heard and performed—artists ranging from Sam Cook and Dolly Parton to Ella Fitzgerald and John Coltrane.

“I had the benefit of growing up with a musicologist for a dad,” April said. “We have a really deep shared language when it comes to music.”

Lyrically, the songs reflect various themes and emotions. Some are very personal. “Wedding Dress for Sale,” for instance, was written by Steve about April wanting to rid herself of a wedding dress after an abrupt end to an engagement. 

The track “Being There,” April said, is about her close friend and now-husband who helped her through another difficult time in her life.

“It’s about recognizing that it’s OK to be vulnerable,” she said.

About four years ago, the two officially began putting “Restless” together, which April said was a long and sometimes arduous process. Thankfully, most of the album had been recorded prior to the pandemic and April’s recent move to Brooklyn. They were able to add in other musicians’ parts remotely, and Steve led post-production and overdubs with co-producer and recording engineer Jesse DeCarlo.

“[Jesse] would email me the mixes, I would give him notes, and then I’d send it to April for her input,” Steve said. “So it was a little more complicated than if we were all here, in one place. But we got it done.”

While no gigs are scheduled due to the pandemic, Wild & Blue has been making appearances on live radio shows, including KPIG last week. On Saturday at 4:15pm they will be live on KKUP (91.5 FM) with “Sleepy” John Sandige, and will appear on Boulder Creek Community Radio (90.1 FM) on Feb. 22 at 5:30pm.

April says she hopes listeners are touched by their music, and that they relate emotionally.

“I hope they appreciate the authenticity we offer,” she said. “So they’ll want to hear more.”

“Restless” is now streaming on all major music platforms, and also available to download on Apple Music. Physical copies can be purchased through Wild & Blue’s website at wildandblueband.com.


Hot Wheels: This Mobile Sauna Brings the Heat to You

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Hot Wheels: This Mobile Sauna Brings the Heat to You

“I love heat.”

These three words were the simple inspiration for Driftwood Sauna, a portable sauna dreamt up by Whitney Bulterman.

She now pulls the rolling sauna with her 1998 Dodge Ram pickup to parties, celebrations, retreats and the like and sets up at your door, driveway or yard, where she rents out the hot room.

 “A couple of things led me to this,” Bulterman says. “I felt like there was a lack of spaces for people to just be and relax. And many retreats require so much money and time; I just wanted to provide a simple place for an hour—it’s that simple. I love to traveI, I love nature, and it all just came together.”

Built during summer 2019, the sauna rests on a metal chassis and accommodates up to eight people.

“But most commonly there are two to four people,” Bulterman says. “Primarily, it’s just me running this, but I also do partnerships at various pop-ups. I have several people in Santa Cruz that work with me in setting up and coordination.

Indeed, Bulterman recently rolled the sauna into a parking spot along West Cliff Drive so the door and small rear deck faced the Pacific Ocean.

“This is a perfect spot because guests, after their sauna, can take a cold plunge in the ocean,” Bulterman says. “My friends helped me set out the chairs right here where people can relax after the experience.”

As far as the pandemic, Bulterman says she has arranged her business accordingly. 

“A lot of Covid restrictions have shut down public saunas, like at Well Within in Santa Cruz, and at the gyms. But I only allow members of a pod or ‘quaranteam’—a group of people who are committed to socialize with one another, like a family or household. After each use I have a protocol for cleaning.” 

Bulterman says she typically brings the temperature above 160 and up to 175 degrees. The interior of the sauna is made of tight-knot cedar. The heater is fueled by propane.  

“Cedar is the way to go,” she says. It’s very water resistant, and it is the traditional sauna interior.”

The setup includes a sauna tray with rocks that heat up for people to pour water over.

“The steam opens your pores as it raises the ambient temperature,” she says. “It’s good humidity and it feels really lovely.”

Driftwood Sauna is a portable sauna dreamt up by Whitney Bulterman. PHOTO: TARMO HANNULA

Since Driftwood Sauna does not have brick and mortar expenses, Bulterman says, she can keep costs low. 

“Typically I get by with word of mouth and my website,” Bulterman says. “I have a good Santa Cruz crew, and they help get the word out. I recently set up in the Seabright area, and I did a private party at Waddell Creek.”

Additionally, Bulterman says she wants to give people an option outside of their home.

“It’s a bit of an oasis,” she says. “I want people to feel good, and I want to help them.”

One big takeaway, Bulterman says, is hearing everybody’s story about how they came to saunas.

“I’ve met all kinds of folks—like a Lithuanian beekeeper and Native American who says ‘sweats’ were important to his family as a transition from boyhood to manhood,” she says. “It reminds me of travelling, and the sauna makes it so easy to connect with people.”

When she moved to the area, she had no friends and no job. 

“Instead of complaining, I came up with this,” she says. “Do the thing that connects you with your community. Business has really started to ramp up in the past few months. Heat seekers are great folks to be around. Think less, feel more.”

For more information, visit driftwoodsauna.com.

A Luscious, Layered Merlot 2017 from Comanche Cellars

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A Luscious, Layered Merlot 2017 from Comanche Cellars

The next time you’re in Monterey, I suggest you make a stop at Comanche Cellars to try their 2017 Zajak Vineyard Merlot. Not only will you love this wine, you will be happy with the whole tasting room experience. (Check out the video on the winery’s website to see what fun wine tasters are having.) 

Even if owner and winemaker Michael Simons has sold out of this luscious wine, he makes so many other varieties that you won’t fall short by any means. Just last month he released a Négrette, Grenache, Pinot Noir, and a Merlot—a full workload of winemaking.

The 2017 Santa Clara Valley Zajak Vineyard Merlot ($34) has gorgeous layers of fruit, complemented by notes of leather, cedar and licorice. “Dusty sugar on the nose leads to blackberries, dark cherries and blueberries on the palate,” Simons says. I detected aromas of plums and chocolate, too, with smidgeons of cream and coffee flavors. All told, this is an excellent Merlot with low acidity and a combination of rich flavors.

Simons named his winery after his beloved childhood horse Comanche. And Comanche’s intertwined horseshoes are featured on the winery’s every label.

Comanche Cellars, 412 Alvarado St., Monterey. 831-747-2244, comanchecellars.com.

Electric Kettles

Electric kettles are worth their weight in gold. As a Brit, I can’t imagine being without one. Every household in the U.K. has one, and every hotel room, too. One misconception in the U.S. is that an electric kettle is for making tea, but it’s actually just for boiling water. When my Black & Decker kettle lid broke recently, I contacted the company. Voila! They sent me a new kettle. What terrific customer service. 

Toque Blanche, the marvelous kitchen store in downtown Santa Cruz, carries various brands of electric kettles—Chantal, Smeg, Bodum, Capresso and Breville. Stock is low right now due to slow Covid-related deliveries, but they’re expecting more kettles mid-March. And, by the way, the Good Times office has a Smeg—in a lovely minty green color.

Toque Blanche, 1527 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. 831-426-1351, toqueblanche.com.

Things To Do in Santa Cruz: Feb. 17-23

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Things To Do in Santa Cruz: Feb. 17-23

A weekly guide to what’s happening.

ARTS AND MUSIC

AFRICAN AMERICAN THEATER ARTS TROUPE 30TH ANNIVERSARY GALA: HONORING OUR ROOTS, UPLIFTING BLACK VOICES UCSC’s African American Theater Arts Troupe (AATAT) presents an online gala in honor of their 30th anniversary. This celebration features national leaders of Black theater, including Woodie King, Jr., playwrights, alumni, and representatives of the Black Theater Network. Free and open to the public. More info and registration at cadrc.org. Saturday, Feb. 20, 6-8pm.

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. 17, 7am-11:30pm-Tuesday, Feb. 23, 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. 

CURATOR TALK FOR BEARING WITNESS: MANIFESTING BLACK HISTORY FROM PHOTOGRAPHIC ARCHIVES Join us for this presentation by curator Kathryn Mayo, professor of photography at Cosumnes River College in Sacramento. Mayo has been mining photographic archives for years in search of images that might expand the limited scope of whose stories are told in the telling of photographic history, bringing to light historical images that acknowledge the experiences and cultures of underrepresented communities of color.  Visit our website for the Zoom link at cabrillo.edu/cabrillo-gallery/bearing-witness. Sunday, Feb. 21, 5-6pm.

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 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. 20, 4pm.

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.

JAMES DURBIN: CLASSIC ROCK UNPLUGGED WITH SPECIAL GUESTS James Durbin of American Idol returns to Michael’s On Main’s “Socially Distanced Dinner Concert Series” with Classic Rock Unplugged. Performing crowd favorites from iconic bands like The Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Steve Miller Band, The Beatles, Tom Petty, The Doors, Led Zeppelin and many more. Bring your facemask. Artist sites and sounds at jamesdurbinofficial.com and facebook.com/DurbinRock. View the dinner menu at michaelsonmainmusic.com/dinner_and_a_show_menu.png. Purchase your tickets now by calling 831-479-9777, ext. 2. $45. Saturday, Feb. 20, 6:30pm.  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. 21, 5:30pm. Michael’s on Main, 2591 S Main St., Soquel. 

COMMUNITY

ASK ME ANYTHING: CONVERSATIONS FROM THE FRONT LINE OF HOMELESSNESS Join Housing Matters’ Programs Staff in their newest webinar: “Ask Me Anything: Conversations from the Front Line Of Homelessness.” This is your opportunity to hear what is going on every single day to solve homelessness and ask all the questions you have about working to solve homelessness in our community. Visit the event page for registration information at eventbrite.com/e/ask-me-anything-conversations-from-the-front-line-of-homelessness-tickets-132986749949. Tuesday, Feb. 23, 9am.

CMMU VIRTUAL POSTER SESSION AT UCSC UCSC’s Community Studies Program proudly presents its annual poster session created by students just back from their six-month, full-time field studies working with social justice organizations during the Covid-19 pandemic. Come talk with them about their experiences working for, learning about and analyzing the prospects for social change. Visit the website for more information at sites.google.com/ucsc.edu/cmmupostersession/home. Thursday, Feb. 18, 1:30pm.

LOSE WEIGHT; GAIN JOY! The physical, emotional and health benefits of weight loss can put life on a whole new path. Take that first step: Join us for a virtual seminar to meet the Dominican Bariatrics team and have your questions answered. Dr. Paul Nguyen will discuss surgical options and nutritionist Melissa Devera will discuss healthy eating habits. Learn more about the next steps to take toward better health. This event will be hosted via Zoom and admission is free. Register today, and take that first step toward a healthier future. Hosted via Zoom, register today at tinyurl.com/yaoum83n. Questions? Please contact Sandra Brackle at 805-637-3221. Thursday, Feb. 18, 5:30pm.

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. 18, 7pm.

STORIES FOR BEDTIME: BLACK HISTORY MONTH AND CRAFTJoin us on Facebook or YouTube for Bedtime Stories presented by SCPL Librarian Jackie. On alternating weeks, Jackie will read bedtime stories, sing songs, and chant rhymes for families. New programs will be available every other Wednesday at 7pm and on the library’s YouTube Channel. This week, we celebrate Black History Month with books, songs, activities, and a special craft. Pick up your craft kit during your local Library Grab and Go hours at one of our convenient locations and craft along with Jackie! santacruzpl.libcal.com/event/7381276. Wednesday, Feb. 17, 7-7:30pm. 

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. 18, 10am-2pm, Sunday, Feb. 21, 10am-2pm, Tuesday, Feb. 23, 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. 19, 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. 21, 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. 22, 12:30pm.

WOMENCARE MINDFULNESS MEDIATION Mindfulness Meditation for women with a cancer diagnosis. Meets the first and third Friday, currently on Zoom. Registration required: WomenCARE 831-457-2273. Friday, Feb. 19, 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, Feb. 23, 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. 17, 3:30-4:30pm.

OUTDOOR

DOWNTOWN SANTA CRUZ MAKERS MARKET Come on out and support local makers and artists at the Downtown Santa Cruz Makers Market every third Sunday of the month on Pacific Ave. at Lincoln St. We are now on the 1100 block of Pacific Ave. between Cathcart and Lincoln Streets near New Leaf and alongside so many amazing downtown restaurants. Support local and shop small with over 30 Santa Cruz County artists and makers! Don’t forget to stop in and visit the downtown merchants and grab a bite to eat from the downtown restaurants. Remember to social distance as you shop and wear your mask. If you’re not feeling well, please stay home. There will be hand sanitizing stations at the market and signs to remind you about all these things! Friendly leashed pups are welcome! Sunday, Feb. 21, 10am-5pm.

SCIENTISTS SAVING THE OCEANS VIRTUAL EXPEDITION 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. 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. 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. 17, 2:30-4pm, Monday, Feb. 22, 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. 21, 10:30am.

FIRESCAPING 2021 Join lead presenter Phil Dundas (owner of The Landscape Company and CLCA Central Coast Chapter’s new Education Director), Marco Mack (Aptos La Selva Fire Marshal and Fire Safe Council of Santa Cruz County board member), Martin Quigley (Executive Director of UCSC Arboretum), Liz Kroft (owner of Sol Property Advisors and President of the Women’s County Board of Realtors), Lynn Sestak (Firewise) and Justin White (CEO of K&D Landscaping and Central Coast Chapter CLCA President.) These industry leaders will share what they know about wildfire mitigation in the wildland urban interface, a topic we are all concerned about. Here’s a chance to learn ways to help reduce risks related to low intensity wildfires. Concepts to be presented include maintenance of vegetation, awareness and management of combustible materials, thoughtful design, layout and incorporation of fire and ember-resistant construction materials and plants, fire breaks, firescape designs, and the importance of neighborhood and community involvement. Contact Phil Dundas if you have further questions: ph**@*****************ny.com. Register at events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07ehinmpvh8eb731e1&oseq=&c=&ch=. Saturday, Feb. 20. 10-11am. 

Water St. Grill Specializes in Handcrafted Farm-to-Table Cuisine

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Water St. Grill Specializes in Handcrafted Farm-to-Table Cuisine

The Water St. Grill is a family-owned restaurant that specializes in handcrafted farm-to-table cuisine paired with a great selection of wine and beer.

They are currently open for takeout and outdoor dining seven days a week, serving dinner from 4-9pm, and serving lunch noon-3pm on Saturday and Sunday. Chef and owner Jonathan DeGeneres, who opened the Water St. Grill in 2014, has worked with and been in love with food all of his life. He has over 20 years of cooking experience, originally learning from his family. GT recently caught up with him about his restaurant.

How would you characterize your menu and the food you serve?

JONATHAN DEGENERES: I would say the cuisine is American/Italian, with most of the American food being classic comfort food. We love to use local and organic ingredients, with lots of greens, and the food is made-to-order to perfection. We focus on not only presentation, but also delicious and flavorful food that brings back memories of childhood home-cooking.

What are a few of your best dishes?

We have a New York steak dish with jumbo prawns that makes for a great surf and turf. The steak has our homemade seasoning blend and is grilled to perfection, and the prawns are done in a cajun-blackened style. The dish is also served with our homemade mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus. Another surf and turf option is either a filet mignon or a ribeye steak served with a lobster tail. The filet is about 8-10 ounces and the ribeye is 12 ounces, and the lobster tails are good-sized, too, at about 8-10 ounces. This dish comes with mashed potatoes, and for a vegetable a choice of either broccolini or asparagus. My favorite Italian dish is our garlic shrimp pasta. It comes with fettuccini noodles, a little red chili flake, chopped garlic, shrimp, and is infused with a white wine, lemon, and butter sauce.

What is the restaurant’s philosophy on service?

Our concept—the whole idea—is that it’s not a large restaurant, but it’s very cozy and homey. We want it to feel just like a person’s home. We have a lot of local and loyal regulars, and we are very grateful to them for helping us through this tough time of the pandemic.

503 Water St., Santa Cruz. 831-332-6122, thewaterstreetgrill.com.

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