Page 551 | Good Times

Fate of Washington Statue Goes Before Watsonville Parks Commission

-

October 23, 2020

Fate of Washington Statue Goes Before Watsonville Parks Commission

The Watsonville Parks and Recreation Commission will have a tough decision on its hands at its Nov. 3 meeting, as it is expected to make a recommendation to the city council on the fate of the much-debated George Washington bust in the City Plaza.

Parks and Community Services Director Nick Calubaquib at a Tuesday night virtual town hall revealed the results of a month-long online survey that asked the community for opinions and suggestions regarding the statue. Calubaquib said the City received more than 1,200 responses to the survey and that roughly 60% of respondents wanted the bust to stay. About 35% of respondents wanted it removed, and the rest were indifferent.

Only roughly 500 respondents were confirmed by the City as Watsonville residents, according to Calubaquib. Responses from Watsonville residents mirrored those of all respondents, Calubaquib said, as 59% of residents wanted it to stay.

Those results did little to sway a contingency of both Watsonville and Santa Cruz residents at the town hall from urging for the statue’s removal. Some called into question the math used to present the results and asked Calubaquib to release the raw data. Others had concerns that the survey skewed toward property owners and people with internet access. Those in attendance were also disappointed the survey did not gather information on ethnicity, gender and age, among other things.

There was no action taken during the meeting, which at times became a heated kerfuffle between supporters and detractors of the statue. The results of the survey and a shortlist of recommended decisions will be presented to the commission next month.

Part of a $100,000 gift from the Alaga Family Estate as a dying wish of Lloyd F. Alaga, the bust has called the City Plaza home since 2001. The city council unanimously approved the gift from Alaga in 1999, using $70,000 to create the bust and the rest to help restore the fountain in the historic park. The accompanying plaque on the pedestal reads “George Washington, 1732-1799, Father of His Country” and “First in War, First in Peace, First in the Hearts of His Countrymen.”

For two decades it sat mostly unnoticed at the park, nestled into the center of the city along with a handful of other historic elements. But the debate around the bust began amid a nationwide racial reckoning and as several monuments to presidents, historic figures and the Confederacy across the country were removed—both voluntarily and not.

Revolunas, the group leading the campaign to remove the bust, circulated an online petition and staged a sit-in protest around the bust on July 17 to call for its removal. That group was met by a counter-protest consisting of several local veterans led by former Watsonville Police Chief Manny Solano and his father Alex Solano, a well-known local veteran and community leader.

Soon after that protest, Manny Solano circulated his own online petition and organized a rally on July 31 back at the City Plaza.

That second meeting between the groups was reportedly contentious. Members of Revolunas said one member of Solano’s group shouted “white power” and another told a member of Revolunas to go back to Mexico.

In addition, a photo of a person flashing an “OK” hand gesture, which the Anti-Defamation League has said can sometimes be associated with white supremacy, surfaced from the July 31 rally. That rally caused concerns among several community members that the statue was attracting people who support white supremacy.

Survey responses echoed those concerns. The majority of respondents who want the bust removed said it is a symbol of white supremacy and racism. They also said that it does not reflect the values of the community and that Washington’s support of the genocide of Indigenous people and ownership of slaves were also reasons for it to be removed.

Those who want to leave the statue in its place said in the survey that it honors Washington’s actions that created and improved the country and that it is a reminder of the country’s history that should not be replaced.

Some who replied to the survey said they would be willing to compromise by adding an adjoining plaque to the statute that would put Washington into historical context—flaws and all. But about a dozen speakers at Tuesday’s meeting were not willing to accept that option and wanted it removed and placed elsewhere, a compromise that most supporters of the bust at the meeting said they would not accept.

Exploring the California Ballot Measures: Data Privacy, Cash Bail

The Pajaronian Staff

-

October 23, 2020

1

Exploring the California Ballot Measures: Data Privacy, Cash Bail

Editor’s note: This is the final entry in a series exploring the California propositions going before voters in the Nov. 3 election.

California voters will make a decision on 12 propositions in the upcoming election. The initiatives cover various issues, including the California tax code, rent control and voting rights. Here’s a look at three of the 12 propositions:

Proposition 23

When voters cast their vote on Proposition 23, it will not be the first time they have decided on a law governing dialysis clinics. Nearly 60% of voters in 2018 rejected Proposition 8, a nearly identical measure.

The proposed law would require a physician to be onsite at dialysis clinics during treatment and require them to report infections to the state. It would also prohibit them from refusing services based on payment source.

Supporters include the California Democratic Party and the California Labor Federation. They say that the law would improve safety and sanitation at dialysis clinics, and stop patient discrimination based on insurance.

Opposition to Prop. 23 includes the California Medical Association, the American Nurses Association of California and the American Academy of Nephrology PA’s.

They say that the law would threaten the lives of an estimated 80,000 patients by forcing many dialysis clinics to close. The lion’s share of these, opponents say, would be in rural and low-income areas where it is difficult to recruit doctors.

This would worsen the state’s doctor shortage, cause ER overcrowding and increase healthcare costs by hundreds of millions annually, opponents say.

Proposition 24

Proposition 24 would expand the reach of the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (CCPA), a first-of-its-kind set of regulations that among other things allowed consumers to opt out of having their data collected.

Prop. 24 would also create the California Privacy Protection Agency to oversee the new law.

Under the proposed law, consumers could tell businesses not to share their personal information. In addition, businesses would be required to provide an opt-out option for having their personal information used for marketing.

Companies would have to get permission to collect data for consumers over age 16, and get parental information for those younger than 13. The law would triple fines for companies that violate this provision.

They would also be required to correct inaccurate information upon the consumer’s request.

Prop. 24 would reduce the number of companies that must follow privacy laws. Currently, rules apply to those with 50,000 customers or more. The new law would raise that number to 100,000, and would not apply to devices such as cell phones and tablets.

Analysts say the law would cost at least $10 million annually for the new state agency.

Supporters include the NAACP, Common Sense Media, Consumer Watchdog and several labor unions. They say the law would give consumers an important tool in an era when businesses track nearly every aspect of daily life.

Opponents of the law include the ACLU, the California Nurses Association and civil rights leader Dolores Huerta. They say that the law was written by a tycoon, and establishes a pay-for-privacy system that would allow businesses to charge higher fees to stop sharing confidential information.

They also say that the law would place the onus of privacy on the consumer by requiring them to ask each company, instead of relying on automatic settings.

Proposition 25

If passed, this proposition would allow Senate Bill 10 to go into effect. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed that law on Aug. 28, 2018, but it still needs voter approval.

The law would eliminate the state’s cash bail system. Instead, defendants would either be held in jail or released based on their danger to the public and their flight risk. Most misdemeanor offenses are subject to automatic release.

Supporters say the new law dismantles a system in which wealthy defendants can pay to get out of pre-trial detention, while low-income ones suspected of the same crimes languish in jail.

But opponents, including the law enforcement community, the NAACP and, predictably, the bail bond industry, have come out strong against the law, saying that it reduces public safety. They also say the law would rely too heavily on a computer-generated algorithm and predictive models in determining a suspect’s potential for release.

Learn more about all of the statewide ballot measures at the California Secretary of State website.

Click here to see all of our ongoing 2020 election coverage.

Santa Cruz METRO Boosts Safety Measures Amid Pandemic

Tarmo Hannula

-

October 22, 2020

0

Santa Cruz METRO Boosts Safety Measures Amid Pandemic

In an effort to meet public transit safety standards set during the Covid-19 pandemic, Santa Cruz METRO officials showcased the safety and precautionary measures they have put in place during a Wednesday press conference.

Santa Cruz County Supervisor John Leopold and METRO Board of Directors Chair Mike Rotkin joined METRO officials in the brief ceremony flanked by two buses that were on display to give a first-hand view of how the buses are geared to protect passengers and drivers.

METRO has installed hand sanitizer dispensers, between-row sneeze barriers and clear plastic operator curtains on its busses. It has also posted all preventative guidelines.

METRO CEO and General Manager Alex Clifford welcomed the crowd of around 30 people.

“Today we relaunch our pledge and welcome back our customers in helping them to feel good about the protective measures that we put in place for both our customers and for our employees,” he said.

On Oct. 12 METRO announced that it joined the American Public Transportation Association’s Health and Safety Commitments Program, tabbed as the industry’s pledge to passengers that transit systems are taking the necessary measures to operate safely during the pandemic.

“By signing the pledge we are joining 150 other transit agencies in the country who are actively working to instill confidence in riders by committing to protect their health and safety,” said Leopold, who is also a member of METRO’s Board of Directors.

The pledge was developed after organizers talked to riders across the country to understand what they needed to feel confident while returning to public transit. METRO also conducted a similar survey.

“If we can avoid things like the tragic outbreak that we had at the Watsonville Post Acute Center and continue to practice the simple rules we can keep our community safe and we can think about other things that might be able to reopen,” Leopold said.

James Sandoval, general chairperson for SMART Local 23, the union representing METRO operators, said the agency and the union have only one goal in mind: “to make sure our employees, our operators and our customers are safe while using our services.”

“We want our community and our customers to know that we are taking all necessary steps to safely transport them while using our services and encourage riders to return back to METRO,” Sandoval said.

For information on METRO’s safety guidelines, visit scmtd.com/safety.

Apple Harvest Wraps Up Following Challenging Growing Season

Johanna Miller

-

October 22, 2020

0

Apple Harvest Wraps Up Following Challenging Growing Season

It has not been an easy harvest season for California apples.

When temperatures shot up into the 100s in August and September, sparking wildfires across the state and harming numerous agricultural commodities, apples were one of the hardest-hit crops. The fruit is susceptible to high heat, especially when it lasts for more than a couple of days.

“It’s basically like putting the apples into a convection oven—they literally bake right off the trees,” said Karell Reader, owner of Luz de Valle Farms in Corralitos. “If they’re not protected by enough leaf cover, they just turn brown and fall onto the ground.”

Reader estimates that about one-quarter of their apple crops were lost this season due to the scorching temperatures.

“Really, all we could do was stand by and watch,” she said. “It’s kind of a helpless feeling … but that’s farming. There’s always some sort of pestilence or foul thing from Mother Nature that wants to come get you.”

Reader’s family has owned Luz de Valle Farm since 1880, when her great-grandfather, who was part of the Silva family, settled in what is now Pleasant Valley. After her uncle used the orchard as a retail outlet, it was eventually leased out—leading to it falling into disrepair.

That is until Reader and her husband, Phil Reader took it over in 2012.

“When we inherited [the farm], it was kind of a disaster,” she said. “It hadn’t been maintained … the barn roof was collapsing, the shop was falling apart. We started tossing around ideas about how to renovate and bring it back.”

Luz de Valle now covers about 17 acres of land off of Hames Road in Corralitos and boasts more than 26 varieties of apples, including many rare heirloom varieties. They grow standards such as Fuji and Gala, as well as Newton Pippins, which they mainly sell to Martinelli’s and Santa Cruz Cider Company.

Reader said that they inherited the farm “amongst a multitude of disasters,” from labor shortage issues to high water costs due to the drought. They were also dealing with low soil fertility due to neglect, and switching from conventional to organic farming.

“The orchard had been let go for so long that a lot of the bigger trees were tapped out,” she said. “We’ve had to rip some older trees out, go back in and plant.”

When ash began to fall over Santa Cruz County in August due to the CZU Lightning Complex fire, Reader said she was reminding customers to wash the fruit as much as possible. While ash does not harm the apples, it can affect the taste.

Luz de Valle became a temporary evacuation site for friends of the Readers who had evacuated from the fires, setting up an outdoor kitchen and tents on the property.

“They were here for almost a month,” Reader said. “It was a crazy time … but absolutely the right thing to do.”

Reader said that the Covid-19 pandemic has compelled the farm to focus on its community U-Pick days, which had families coming to the farm for apple-picking and to learn more about the crop.

“People have been looking for positive, constructive things to do,” she said. “We really enjoy meeting and educating people … helping deepen their understanding about their food.”

The 2020 apple season will soon be coming to an end. By the end of October, most apples at Luz de Valle will be harvested, and the Readers will take a short break before jumping into plans for next year.

“Right before Halloween, we take a deep breath,” she said. “We kind of have to force ourselves to take a day off …. The work never really ends on a farm. But we really love what we do.”

Bartolo Wines’ Bold, Fruit-Forward Petit Verdot 2012

Josie Cowden

-

October 21, 2020

0

Bartolo Wines’ Bold, Fruit-Forward Petit Verdot 2012

Barry Jackson is the winemaker of this 2012 Petit Verdot. Better known for his fabulous sparkling wines under his Equinox label, he also makes excellent wines under his Bartolo label, often searching out lesser-known grape varieties such as Petit Verdot—rare in both Bordeaux and California.

“Petit Verdot produces rich, dense wines with aromas of cassis and intense flavors of ripe blackberry,” Jackson says. Grapes were sourced from the Mann Vineyard in Gilroy, and Jackson added a touch of Merlot (13%) to this full-bodied red wine, then barrel-aged it for 30 months. Bold and fruit-forward, the Bartolo Petit Verdot ($25) goes well with barbecue, aged cheeses, portobello mushrooms, eggplant dishes and more.

Jackson and his wife Jennifer run a welcoming tasting room on the Westside of Santa Cruz. Check if they are running any specials. The last time we visited, we bought a whole case for an excellent price.

And do taste the Equinox sparkling wine as well as the Bartolo. After all, Thanksgiving and Christmas will be here before you know it—and we’ll certainly need some bubbly.

Bartolo and Equinox Wines, 334 Ingalls St., Unit C, Santa Cruz. 831-471-8608, equinoxwine.com.

Galante Vineyards’ Halloween Costume Contest

Galante Vineyards in Carmel is doing a Halloween costume contest on Zoom on Oct. 30 at 4pm. There will be spooktacular bingo prizes and frightfully fun giveaway prizes for their favorite costume. The Zoom ID is 664494604. RSVP to ma****@**************ds.com. Galante Vineyards tasting room is open for outdoor tasting Friday 1-9pm, Saturday 1-7:30pm, and Sunday-Thursday 1-6:30pm.

Galante Vineyards Tasting Room, Dolores Street, Carmel-by-the-Sea. 831-624-3800, galantevineyards.com.

Twisted Roots Hallow-wine Party

Wear your favorite Halloween costume and pair some candy with your favorite Twisted Roots wine or cider. Then do a Hallow-wine Zoom meetup on Oct. 29 at 6pm with Twisted Roots Vineyard and share why this combo is your Twisted favorite. To get the Zoom login, just email your receipt or proof of purchase to in**@******************rd.com. There’s a full moon on Halloween night, so have a howlin’ good time!

Twisted Roots Vineyard, 12 Del Fino Place, Carmel Valley. 831-594-8282, twistedrootsvineyard.com.

Things To Do in Santa Cruz: Oct. 21-27

GT Staff

-

October 21, 2020

0

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******@*******es.sc.

ARTS AND MUSIC

VIRTUAL EXHIBITION TOUR: QUEER SANTA CRUZ Celebrate LGBTQ pride month in a 35-minute virtual tour of Queer Santa Cruz. Travel back to the 1970s to uncover our local queer history, from early trailblazers to modern day movements. Time for questions and conversation will follow the event. Free. Wednesday, Oct. 21, 3-4pm. Learn more at: santacruzmah.org/events/virtual-tour-queersc/2020/10/21.

IMAGINE DISABILITY FILM FESTIVAL Friday, Oct. 23: Save the Date! Imagine is happy to announce our Ninth Annual Disability Film Festival to be held at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk River Parking Lot. Imagine hosts an annual film festival event meant to empower artists with disabilities and raise awareness in our community. Each film is either directed by, starring, or about people with disabilities. This year we have put together a very special event unlike any of our past film festivals. The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk has helped us create an event that you can safely attend and participate in from your vehicle. We will be reprising some of the films shown in our past film festivals and adding a very moving feature film, “The Peanut Butter Falcon.” We hope that you will join us in celebrating the work of artists and creators with disabilities and their stories. This event is free of charge! Our goal is to create awareness that reaches as much of our community as possible. If you are able to make a donation to keep this event going please do so when registering for tickets. Don’t forget to register for your free tickets! Only vehicles with tickets will be allowed into the event. If you are an individual with a disability and require accommodations in order to attend this event, please feel free to contact pa***@********ls.org! We look forward to seeing you there! Learn more at: imaginesls.org/film-festival.

ANNUAL LIVE OAK GLASS PUMPKIN PATCH The Santa Cruz Glass Pumpkin Patch at Live Oak Grange Returns with golden leaves and autumn breezes! Beautiful handmade glass pumpkins and gourds created in the glass blowing studio of local glass artist Chris Johnson. A dazzling array of colors, in all sizes and for every budget. We are delighted to again be in the heirloom fruit garden at historic Live Oak Grange on 17th Avenue. Five percent of all proceeds will be donated to the Grange to sustain their awesome work in the community. Join us Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 24-25, 10am-4pm. No purchase required. All are welcome to come enjoy the outside garden of beautiful art glass! One weekend only. Live Oak Grange, 1900 17th Ave., Santa Cruz. Come by and put your name in the box to win a pumpkin handmade by Chris Johnson.

CATAMARAN ART SHOW AT R. BLITZER GALLERY Starved for real live artwork? Then don’t miss the Seventh Annual Catamaran Show at the R. Blitzer Gallery, featuring a curated array of original artwork from Linda Christensen, David Ligare, UCSC alumna Julie Heffernan, Frank Galuszka, Noah Buchanan, Joao De Brito and Philip Rosenthal. While you’re there don’t miss artworks by Robert Blitzer, Alan Sonneman, Rand Launer and handmade stringed instruments by luthier Charles Sutton. Open now through Nov. 27. Tuesday and Thursday noon-5 pm or by appointment. Strict Covid-19 protocols followed (masks, five or six people at a time, social distancing). R. Blitzer Gallery, 2801 Mission St., Santa Cruz. 831-458-1217.

CLASSES

THE BASICS OF TAXIDERMY Learn what you need to know to dive into taxidermy as a hobby. During this webinar, Alex Krohn will share the basics of preserving animals, the laws surrounding the process in California, and an overview of necessary tools, before diving into an example on an Acorn Woodpecker specimen. Register for link to Zoom webinar: santacruzmuseum.org/10-27-the-basics-of-taxidermy-with-alex-krohn. This program is part of the Halloween series, Museum of the Macabre, presented by the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History. Alex Krohn is the Assistant Director of the Kenneth S. Norris Center for Natural History at UCSC. While he is a reptile and amphibian specialist, he loves helping connect people with all aspects of nature, both in the museum and across the natural lands of Santa Cruz County. Tuesday, Oct. 27, 1-2pm.

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, Oct. 21, 6:30-8:30pm.

NAMI FAMILY-TO-FAMILY CLASS NAMI’s Family-to-Family Class is an eight-week educational program for family and friends of adults with mental health challenges. Learn about how to support your loved one, gain valuable communication and coping skills, and become educated on the latest mental health research. Class is led by two trained volunteers with lived experience caring for someone with mental health conditions. Sign up online and learn more at namiscc.org/family-to-family.html. Mondays and Wednesdays at 6pm.

CHILDBIRTH EDUCATION WEEKEND EXPRESS CLASS This Saturday and Sunday virtual class from Dominican Hospital 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 on these days: Oct. 24-25, Nov. 14-15, Dec. 19-20.

COMMUNITY

ACCESS TO EMPLOYMENT JOB FAIR Join us for Santa Cruz County’s largest job fair! Free for employers and job seekers! Explore local employers, staffing agencies, and community resources. Discover a broad range of open positions, including: entry-level or mid-level positions for recent graduates and young alumni; high-level careers for applicants with leadership and experience; and internships and volunteer opportunities for students. Register today at: eventbrite.com/e/job-fair-tickets-104370358552. For additional information, visit access2employment.com. Thursday, Oct. 22, 1pm.

PARENTING WORKSHOP SERIES This is a free series of workshops to support parents during these difficult times. There will be a Kids Zoom Hour run at the same time so that you can attend the workshop. Each Kids Hour will be sponsored by a different organization, such as the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Santa Cruz Children’s Discovery Museum, and Santa Cruz Public Library. All workshops will take place from 3-4:30pm on Zoom. Tuesday, Oct. 27, workshop: Supporting Children with Special Needs in Distance Learning. Register at: santacruz.k12oms.org/1284-191085.

2020 BE THE DIFFERENCE AWARDS ONLINE CELEBRATION The Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County is excited to host the 2020 Be The Difference Awards! This event annually brings together civic and business leaders, nonprofit champions, and trailblazers for good to celebrate the top individuals, groups, nonprofits, and businesses who do the most to transform our community through volunteerism. While there will be no in-person gathering this year for the annual gala, the Volunteer Center and partners will honor all selected nominees through the Be The Difference Awards Online Watch Party Celebration on Wednesday, Oct. 21, at noon. You can expect an hour of entertainment and inspiration with local musicians, community leaders, and your favorite local heroes—all in celebration of volunteers. Do you want to take an extra step to honor volunteers and help the Volunteer Center sustain this great event? Become a Friend of the Be The Difference Awards. Donate $50 or more to be entered into a drawing to win a Warriors jersey signed by Draymond Green. Also, thanks to a meal deal with Woodstock Pizza, you can order your lunch on the day of the event and support the Volunteer Center at the same time! Learn more at: scvolunteercenter.org/events-2/be-the-difference-awards.

EVENING TOASTMASTERS ONLINE OPEN HOUSE The Evening Toastmasters Club 3802 invites residents to its online open house to meet members and watch special guest speaker, Belinda Mei, a seasoned project manager, talk about how Toastmasters has brought change to her life. The open house will be hosted online using the Zoom video sharing. Meeting begins at 6:30pm, and attendees are encouraged to join at least 15 minutes prior to start. After hearing from special guest Belinda Mei, members and guests will enjoy a regular Toastmasters meeting that will include prepared speeches, Table Topics™ (impromptu speeches) and evaluations. Lisa Hamil, who has served in various club positions, will be the Table Topics master. Alex Hardy, Owner of Hardy Roofing, Inc., will also be speaking. Monday, Oct. 26, 6:30-8pm. Online via Zoom. For more information, email co**********@***************bs.org or use the Contact Us link on the club’s website at evening.toastmastersclubs.org.

TALES TO TAILS GOES VIRTUAL SCPL’s early childhood literacy program, Virtual Tales to Tails, has moved 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***@*************er.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

BIRDS AND FARMS: FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS Homeless Garden Project presents an online conversation with Jo Ann Baumgartner and Jonathan Franzen. Join Jo Ann Baumgartner, the executive director of the Wild Farm Alliance, and author Jonathan Franzen in a conversation about the mutually beneficial relationship between sustainable agriculture and the birds around us on Thursday, Oct. 22, at 5pm. Jo Ann Baumgartner will talk about the latest research on birds as natural pest-control allies, and give practical remarks about how to sustain and encourage healthy bird populations on healthy farms. Jonathan Franzen will discuss the critical role that farming can play in nature conservation. This special, online presentation is free and open to the public. Be sure to register in advance at bit.ly/FarmsBirds to receive the Zoom link. Jo Ann and Jonathan will answer questions following the presentation.

AN EDIBLE EVENING WITH DEBORAH MADISON Homeless Garden Project presents the first event of Sustain in Place: A series of at-home tastings, Saturday, Oct. 24 (6:30-7:30pm), begins with a keynote video presentation from Deborah Madison. A pioneer in the farm to table movement, Deborah will share some secrets to the art of bringing out the best in farm-fresh produce, by leading us through making some of her favorite salad dressings. Guests will also have the chance to come to the farm to harvest your own salad greens, vegetables and herbs along with an accompanying gift bag featuring a bottle of wine and fresh, delicious, gourmet pasta from La Posta restaurant, in a reusable tote bag. Guests will be able to pick up bags from the HGP Farm anytime from 12-6pm on Saturday, Oct. 24. The presentation will be online and be premiered at 6:30pm at a link sent exclusively to attendees. See the full set of ticket options at bit.ly/Deborah4HGP. The Sustain In Place series of at-home tastings are generously sponsored by New Leaf Community Markets, La Posta Restaurant and Mutari Chocolate.

ROCKIN’ POP-UP: CAVES In honor of Halloween, we’re exploring the curious, the scary, and the strange all week during our series, Museum of the Macabre. And what’s scarier than a deep, dark cave? For the special Halloween Pop-Up, Gavin and Graham will explore the different ways that caves form. Wednesday, Oct. 28, 3pm. Watch live on Facebook: facebook.com/SantaCruzMuseumOfNaturalHistory/live_videos. Join the Geology Gents, Gavin and Graham, for monthly conversations about rocks live on Facebook. Each month 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 Ph.D. candidates in geochronology with the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at UCSC.

LABSIDE CHATS: CONVERSATION WITH A SCIENTIST Tune in for the Seymour Center’s next Labside Chat with Caroline Casey, research associate at UCSC, on Thursday, Oct. 22, at 11am, to explore the fascinating behavior of northern elephant seals. Join the conversation! Submit your questions in advance for Caroline, then watch the conversation to hear the answers during the live streamed chat. Visit the Seymour Center’s website to submit your questions in advance and to access the livestream: seymourcenter.ucsc.edu/learn/ongoing-education/labside-chats. Labside Chats are offered at no charge. Please support the Seymour Center by becoming a member or making a donation today at seymourcenter.ucsc.edu/get-involved/join or seymourcenter.ucsc.edu/get-involved/donate/make-a-donation.

JUST TRANSITION: RESTORATIVE ECONOMICS AND THE FUTURE Winona LaDuke is an environmentalist, economist, and writer, known for her work on tribal land claims and preservation, as well as sustainable development. She co-founded Honor the Earth to create awareness and support for Native environmental issues and to develop needed financial and political resources for the survival of sustainable Native communities. Honor the Earth develops these resources by using music, the arts, the media, and Indigenous wisdom to ask people to recognize our joint dependency on the Earth and be a voice for those not heard. Part of the Environmental Justice and Sustainability Speaker Series at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies. Free, open to public, no registration required. Learn more at: middlebury.edu/institute/events/just-transition-restorative-economics-and-future-winona-laduke-10-22-2020. See all lectures in the series at: go.miis.edu/sustainability. For questions, contact Rachel C., Center for the Blue Economy, cb*@**is.edu or 831-647-4183 (leave message to receive call back). Thursday, Oct. 22, 12:30pm.

WHEN LOVE LEADS TO LAWS: HOW TO SAVE CALIFORNIA’S COAST The ocean draws people to it for restoration and relief from inland heat. But our beaches are predicted to vanish, our coastal cliffs to erode. The battle between those who hold title to coastal land and those who hold only a constitutional right is, like our climate, only getting hotter. Join speaker Amanda Sackett, California policy coordinator at the Surfrider Foundation, as she discusses how interpretation of the California Coastal Act will determine whether or not our beloved beaches and coastal habitats survive the rising seas. Part of the Center for the Blue Economy Speaker Series at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies. Free, open to public, no registration required. Online via Zoom. Learn more at: go.miis.edu/sustainability. For questions, contact Rachel C., Center for the Blue Economy, cb*@**is.edu or 831-647-4183 (leave message to receive call back). Tuesday, Oct. 27, 6pm.

Manuel’s Serves Classic Mexican Food Tied to Family Traditions

Andrew Steingrube

-

October 21, 2020

0

Manuel’s Serves Classic Mexican Food Tied to Family Traditions

Manuel’s Restaurant in Aptos has been serving up classic Mexican food based on the owners’ family traditions since 1965.

Founded by the late Manuel Santana, the place is renowned for not only their food, but also their warm and friendly service. The restaurant started with just nine tables and has since expanded to become a favorite spot among locals. GT caught up with co-owner Patricia Santana, who talked about the restaurant’s food, service, and more.

What is your philosophy on service and hospitality?

PATRICIA SANTANA: We want our servers to treat guests like a guest in their own home. We want them to feel comfortable, like friends or family. When people walk into a restaurant and aren’t acknowledged in a minute, it feels much longer to them. We try to connect with people right off the bat, so they feel that we really appreciate them being here. We try to make every guest feel welcomed, whether they are first-timers or long-time regulars.

What are some of the most popular menu items?

Our specials are always popular; they are different for every night of the week. Different days have different followings. People often come just for the specials. On Sundays we have a molé poblano, a traditional Oaxacan sauce made with 27 ingredients. My husband (Manuel’s son) wakes up at 2am on Sundays just to make the molé. The process takes about eight hours. It’s a dark and slightly spicy sauce with a hint of chocolate and is served over chicken. Another popular special is the Friday night snapper. It’s a breaded and pan-seared fresh snapper topped with a cool sour cream-based sauce.

How has the restaurant been doing amid the pandemic?

We’re basically making it, thanks to our loyal regulars who have really come through with takeout orders and recently coming back to dine-in. We never had outdoor seating before July, but we have recently added seven outdoor tables in our back patio and can currently sit six of our 28 tables inside with proper distancing. We are surviving. It’s not ideal, but we are going to make it through this. Our main focus has been to retain our 39 employees and help support them and their families. Our employees have really pulled together. Many have been here for 10 years or more. We see them as family.

261 Center Ave., Aptos. 831-688-4848, manuelsrestaurant.com.

Opinion: Oct. 21, 2020

Steve Palopoli

-

October 21, 2020

0

EDITOR’S NOTE

I guess we can have some nice things in 2020 after all, because Santa Cruz Restaurant Week is back! It wasn’t a sure thing, believe me, but I see it as local restaurants and GT taking a stand for a little normalcy—and for the community’s dining scene, which has been devastated by the pandemic. We have made some changes to our annual event—for which all the participants will feature a special prix-fixe menu beginning today and running through next Wednesday, Oct. 28—like a takeout option (you can read about all the particulars in our pullout section in this issue, and at santacruzrestaurantweek.com). But despite the changes, I found I get a lot of comfort just flipping through this issue and reading the quotes from locals chefs and restaurateurs talking about what they love to do, and feeling the excitement of an actual dining event. Every year, this issue makes me hungry; this year, it makes me feel better about life in general.

Also, I want to remind you that our election coverage continues on our website goodtimes.sc. This week we’ll have a closer look at all the state propositions, so if you’re still undecided on some of the many complex measures on the ballot, let us help you sort them out. Meanwhile, hope to see you on a patio for some SCRW dining this week!

STEVE PALOPOLI | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Read the latest letters to the editor here.

Rebuild With Equity

My heart sank as I walked by two shuttered, beloved locally-owned businesses, apparently ravaged by the pandemic: Buttercup Cakes and Bad Animal bookshop. I thought about 99 Bottles, Poet and Patriot, Nourish, also closed in the heart of Santa Cruz. I fear community businesses will be replaced by cookie-cutter chains, losing not only our character, but also revenue—local ownership circulates three to four times more money.

Employee ownership has proven adaptive, resilient and a valuable resource for preserving Covid-challenged businesses. Last year, Santa Cruz City Council approved a resolution affirming support for “the development and growth of worker cooperatives throughout the region,” declaring the month of October Cooperative month. The Main Street Employee Ownership Act —national legislation spotlighting worker cooperatives—also took effect, facilitating funding sources, mandating that SBA actively engage.

Let’s rebuild—with equity—through employee ownership. Oakland-based Project Equity offers free consultations and has available masterful webinars that can point the way and identify funding sources.

Sheila Carrillo | Santa Cruz

Leopold’s Agenda

Re: Voter Guide (GT, 10/14): As a business owner in Pleasure Point for the past 25 years I have worked with many local government agencies and representatives to improve our business community. No person has been more helpful than John Leopold, especially these past six months through the shelter-in-place. John has worked tirelessly to help local merchants find ways to survive. He is the most approachable county supervisor I have ever known. He has provided our business community with the most up-to-date information regarding Covid restrictions from the local and state level. When our services could no longer be offered in our studio John helped pave the way for free county permits to be issued so our business could continue running curbside. It is no secret that John Leopold has an agenda: to build, support, and nurture Santa Cruz County. I endorse John Leopold for County Supervisor.

Rocky Snyder | Santa Cruz

No on Prop. 22

Why are Uber and Lyft spending $100,000,000.00 to pass Proposition 22? They would rather spend that kind of money to continue to exploit their drivers who they refuse to acknowledge work for them. AB5, passed by the Legislature, declared that those who drive for Lyft and Uber—as well as thousands of other workers—are entitled to benefits such as unemployment insurance and workers compensation if they are hurt while working. These app companies would rather have the burden of providing these benefits fall on the taxpayer and not on them.

Their claims of wanting to help their drivers is disingenuous. Drivers can be employees entitled to benefits like all other employees and still maintain flexibilities in their schedules.

Years ago, farmworkers were denied standard benefits that were provided to most workers, but we ended that discrimination in California. Let’s not let the billionaires at Lyft and Uber continue to exploit many of our most vulnerable Californians.

Also, keep in mind that their business model calls for these drivers to be eventually replaced by self-driving cars, thus putting them out of work anyway.

Gil Stein | Aptos

PHOTO CONTEST WINNER

The Original Paint Nite: Unleash your inner artist

YOU WILL NEED THE FOLLOWING MATERIALS FOR THIS EVENT:

– CANVAS (*SIZE OPTIONAL)

– ACRYLIC PAINT or your favorite medium (2 oz minimum per color) Blue, Yellow, Red, Black, and White

– PAINT BRUSHES (Reccomended Short Handle Value Pack brush set from Walmart, Michael's, or your favorite craft store. Make sure you have a veritty of brush sizes)

– WATER CUP (10oz tap water)

– PAINT PALETTE OR A COATED PAPER PLATE

– PAPER TOWEL/NAPKIN

– APRON or OLD CLOTHES

– TABLE TOP EASEL (*Optional)

-TABLE COVER (*Optional)

Event will be held on ZOOM.US Please check your email the day of the event for your webinar invite and instructions. Please login 15 minutes in advace so that you are ready to go at showtime.

Canvas Optional Size – Canvases come in many different sizes. From thumb nail to the size of a wall. Canvases are either streched to a frame or come with a cardboard backing. You can use almost any surface to paint on, canvas, wood, plastic, glass, the options are unlimited. The artist will be instructing on a 16×20 stretched canvas.

Table Top Easle Optional – Although painting on an easle is reccomended, it is not always necessary. If you do not have a table top or standing easle, don't stress. You can also work flat on a table and stand to make sure your image is not distorted or pile up a couple of books/shoe boxes to raise the canves to see what you are doing.

Paint – Artist will be using student level/grade acrylic paint.

The Original Paint Nite: Unleash your inner artist

YOU WILL NEED THE FOLLOWING MATERIALS FOR THIS EVENT:

– CANVAS (*SIZE OPTIONAL)

– ACRYLIC PAINT or your favorite medium (2 oz minimum per color) Blue, Yellow, Red, Black, and White

– PAINT BRUSHES (Reccomended Short Handle Value Pack brush set from Walmart, Michael's, or your favorite craft store. Make sure you have a veritty of brush sizes)

– WATER CUP (10oz tap water)

– PAINT PALETTE OR A COATED PAPER PLATE

– PAPER TOWEL/NAPKIN

– APRON or OLD CLOTHES

– TABLE TOP EASEL (*Optional)

-TABLE COVER (*Optional)

Event will be held on ZOOM.US Please check your email the day of the event for your webinar invite and instructions. Please login 15 minutes in advace so that you are ready to go at showtime.

Canvas Optional Size – Canvases come in many different sizes. From thumb nail to the size of a wall. Canvases are either streched to a frame or come with a cardboard backing. You can use almost any surface to paint on, canvas, wood, plastic, glass, the options are unlimited. The artist will be instructing on a 16×20 stretched canvas.

Table Top Easle Optional – Although painting on an easle is reccomended, it is not always necessary. If you do not have a table top or standing easle, don't stress. You can also work flat on a table and stand to make sure your image is not distorted or pile up a couple of books/shoe boxes to raise the canves to see what you are doing.

Paint – Artist will be using student level/grade acrylic paint.

(10258166)

Grab the kids and unleash your inner artist at the Original Paint Nite. You’ll all go from a blank canvas to a masterpiece of your own, with plenty of laughs along the way.

You’ll be guided by a talented and entertaining artist, who will:

bring all the supplies and set you and your group up with canvases, paints, and brushes
lead you through step-by-step process to paint “Milky way at the Pines”
entertain and delight your group and make it a memorable experience!

You and the kids will love what your create, and how much fun you have doing it. No experience needed. Come early and grab some snacks!

Please Note:

This event is for children ages 6 and up
Each child must be accompanied by an adult
Every attendee(child and adult) need a ticket

Looking for something besides Plant? At Yaymaker, we do a lot more than Plant Nite and Family Events. Check out some of our other experiences like Paint Nite and Candle Making. For all of our events check out: www.yaymaker.com

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

JUST IN TRACE

In anticipation of people wanting to gather for the holiday season, the California Department of Public Health issued new guidance on private gatherings during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. The state guidelines allow for people from no more than three households to gather. The state says the host should collect names of all attendees in case the list is needed for contact tracing, should anyone from the gathering test positive for Covid-19. Learn more at cdph.ca.gov/covid19.

GOOD WORK

REAL DEAL

Santa Cruz County Supervisor Ryan Coonerty’s podcast “An Honorable Profession”—created jointly with the local government network NEWDeal—is going strong. For the 51st episode, NEWDeal CEO Debbie Cox Bultan turned the tables and interviewed Coonerty himself. In the Oct. 8 episode, Coonerty opened up about his Santa Cruz High School years, the power behind national monuments, his new project on anti-Semitism and how a Johnny Cash song changed his life.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“People who love to eat are always the best people.”
-Julia Child

Good TimesGood Times

Good TimesGood Times

Fiesta Virtual de Día de Muertos 2020

Proposition 23

Proposition 24

Proposition 25

Galante Vineyards’ Halloween Costume Contest

Twisted Roots Hallow-wine Party

ARTS AND MUSIC

CLASSES

COMMUNITY

GROUPS

OUTDOOR

EDITOR’S NOTE

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

PHOTO CONTEST WINNER

The Original Paint Nite: Unleash your inner artist

The Original Paint Nite: Unleash your inner artist

GOOD IDEA

GOOD WORK

QUOTE OF THE WEEK