Page 563 | Good Times

PVUSD Set to Start Next School Year Online, Offer Parents Training

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July 17, 2020

PVUSD Set to Start Next School Year Online, Offer Parents Training

Pajaro Valley Unified School District will begin the year with distance learning for all students when classes begin on Aug. 17, a measure meant to keep students and staff safe from Covid-19 as the virus continues to spread throughout the state.

PVUSD Superintendent Michelle Rodriguez said that the move will come with training and resources for teachers, students and parents as they get ready to teach and learn from home.

“PVUSD’s contingency plan for reopening schools, created in collaboration with classified and certificated staff and administration, is intentionally and thoughtfully designed to provide flexibility and therefore allows us to fully shift and open with a TK-12 Distance Learning model in this moment,” Rodriguez stated in a press release.

The district can shift to a hybrid model—in which students attend in-person classes for some days—if health conditions permit, Rodriguez said.

“Distance Learning is the right thing to do to ensure the continued safety of our students, staff and community,” she said.

The announcement, which came late Tuesday afternoon, was the latest shift in a saga that began June 17, when the district said it was looking to bring younger students back to the classroom for two days per week, while grades 4-12 attended only online classes.

After Santa Cruz County Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel said she would not support a model that included all-distance learning for any students, the Board of Trustees on July 8 was set to vote on a hybrid model that allowed two days of in-person learning per week.

But the trustees balked at that plan, saying they were concerned about the increased risk from the virus.

PVUSD spokeswoman Alicia Jimenez said the district, and others throughout the state, used guidance recently released by the California departments of Public Health and Education, both of which say that school districts can make their own decisions on how to reopen in the fall.

The Board of Trustees will consider the plan for final approval on July 29.

In many ways, the infrastructural framework is in place for online classes to begin.

Teachers are used to delivering instruction remotely, after having done so during the latter half of the 2019-20 school year after the novel coronavirus began its worldwide spread.

Rodriguez said that all students in PVUSD from grades 2-12 have received Chromebook computers, and that many have been issued wireless hotspots for internet connections.

Moreover, Gov. Gavin Newsom on June 29 signed Senate Bill 98, which provides funding to schools for distance learning activities.

Pajaro Valley Federation of Teachers President Nelly Vaquera-Boggs said she supports the decision.

“Securing the safety of our staff and students is critical and has always been our top priority,” she said. “Given the current health conditions, distance learning is the right option. We know that this will be a challenge for everyone going forward but teachers always rise to the occasion. I have no doubt our teachers will exceed all the added requirements from the State.”

PVUSD Teacher Abel Mejia said he agrees with the district’s plan for a slow return to classes.

“School should be taught remotely this fall so that we can really come back together in the coming year,” he said in a Facebook post. “If we break things this fall—a forced reopening, done in pieces, some kids today, some tomorrow—and of course the sickness follows and finds us in classrooms and bad things happen, we may not be able to make schools work again for a very long time. We need to wait and get it right.”

Wetlands Watch Marches Forward Through Covid-19 Restrictions

Johanna Miller

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July 17, 2020

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Wetlands Watch Marches Forward Through Covid-19 Restrictions

Like other nonprofits in Santa Cruz County, Watsonville Wetlands Watch has had to adapt to a new normal amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

When shelter-in-place restrictions went into effect in mid-March, the organization immediately started working on putting all of its programs and field trips online, and participants of its Wetlands Stewards program were given a virtual graduation.

“As a nonprofit involved in education, it’s been a really significant change for us,” said Jonathan Pilch, executive director of Watsonville Wetlands Watch (WWW). “But it has also emphasized how important the work we do is … Stewardship of open spaces, and youth engagement has never felt more important.”

Moving into summer, WWW began concentrating and deepening its programs, finding ways to expand its impact and outreach in new ways. Pilch said the organization wanted to focus on programs that not only support the environment but public health, as well.

One new endeavor is the Climate Corps Leadership Institute, which kicked off this week. Twelve students from three high schools in Watsonville will learn leadership skills with a focus on the environment, such as addressing climate change, tree planting at schools and parks and slough restoration.

The institute, which grew out of WWW’s Green Careers program, was organized with support from other nonprofits and leaders both locally and at the state level. Students will participate virtually and in-person.

Pilch said the institute will be a paid internship—something the nonprofit thought was “vital” during the pandemic.

“With unemployment so high, especially for older teens … it is so important to provide some economic benefits,” he said.

In addition to the Climate Corps, WWW recently worked with the Pajaro Valley Unified School District in providing thousands of take-home kits for middle school students as part of its Extended Learning Program. The kits give students a chance for hands-on learning—along the slough trails, or even in their own backyard.

“We wanted to make nature as accessible to them as possible,” Pilch said. “It gets them out of the house, gives them exercise, some peace of mind and a chance to notice things they normally wouldn’t.”

WWW has also continued its work with the city to invigorate the Watsonville Community Forest project, which aids Watsonville’s Urban Greening Plan. A grant from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection has helped fund the planting of hundreds of trees across the city.

Watsonville’s wetlands are the state’s third-largest remaining coastal freshwater wetlands, running through the city until they connect with the Pajaro River and the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. They support over 270 bird species, and 23 of its native plants and animals are listed as threatened, endangered, or species of special concern.

With so many residents using the slough trails to exercise and get fresh air during shelter-in-place, WWW wants to remind everyone to be courteous of each other and the natural habitats. This includes staying on the trails themselves as much as possible, using pet waste bags and maintaining a six-foot distance from others.

Also, Pilch encouraged: Observe the environment around you. Wildlife can be viewed from the trails if you stop and look closely. Bird watching is a popular activity in the Pajaro Valley; in a couple of months, fall migration will begin, and a diversity of birds from as far north as the Arctic Circle will stop in Watsonville’s wetlands.

“There has never been a more appropriate time than right now to enjoy this amazing resource,” Pilch said.

New Eateries Navigate Settling Into Aptos Village Amid A Pandemic

Johanna Miller

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July 17, 2020

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New Eateries Navigate Settling Into Aptos Village Amid A Pandemic

A group of business owners from the new Aptos Village complex gathered for a meeting in early March. They discussed possible events and projects they wanted to do together, aiming to bring the community into the blooming hub.

But days later those plans fell through as shelter-in-place restrictions were adopted countywide to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.

One of those business owners was Penny Ice Creamery founder Zachary Davis, who had planned to open the new Aptos location of his Santa Cruz-based creamery in late March.

“Our contractor was literally on the final steps when shelter-in-place started,” Davis said. “Things slowed way down, and even once we were allowed to continue, things took a lot longer.”

Finally, on June 29, Penny Ice Creamery opened its doors—figuratively, as it is currently offering window service only. The creamery, established in 2010 by Davis and Kendra Baker, has two other locations in downtown Santa Cruz and Capitola. It has earned a loyal following with its unique ice cream flavors, made entirely in-house and with fresh, local ingredients.

Davis said that bringing the business to Aptos was a long time coming. They had put in a “letter of interest” to developers as far back as 2013.

“We’ve been following the [Aptos Village] project for a long time,” Davis said. “We were committed to coming to Aptos well in advance of the pandemic. As a small business, it has been challenging… but we didn’t want to give up.”

A couple of blocks over, Betty Burgers is also settling into the new complex. The restaurant opened the week that shelter-in-place began. Owner Laurie Negro, who owns all Betty Burgers locations in downtown Santa Cruz, Seabright and Capitola, said that they immediately went into take-out mode.

“We couldn’t let the business just sit there,” she said. “We had an opportunity to open, so we did. We were even able to transfer some employees from our other locations to Aptos. It worked out.”

The restaurant, which offers a number of signature burgers, salads, fries and more, celebrated officially on July 9 with a ribbon cutting, attended by Aptos Chamber of Commerce board members and local residents.

Negro and Davis have been navigating ever-changing Covid-19 restrictions as well as the normal growing pains of starting a business in a brand new complex. They have faced everything from point of sale system glitches to elevator repair, as well as enforcing mask policies.

“It’s been challenging,” Negro said. “There are so many little things you figure out as you open. We weren’t perfect at first. But we’ve gotten a lot better. We really appreciate the support and patience of the community.”

Davis said he was grateful to other Aptos Village business owners for their support.

“I am so appreciative of these other businesses that are in the new development … Mentone, Cat and Cloud, Sock Shop Santa Cruz, the wineries, New Leaf,” he said. “We’ve all come together.”

On Monday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered a closure to all indoor services in restaurants, wineries and other types of businesses. Thankfully, both Betty Burgers and Penny Ice Creamery are built for the pullback.

“It won’t affect us much,” Negro said. “We’ve had strong sales through online and phone ordering, and we have a large patio for outdoor dining.”

Added Davis: “We were prepared for it. Given the current environment, it’s a good balance for us.”

Health Officer: Covid-19 Cases Surging in Santa Cruz County

Jacob Pierce

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July 16, 2020

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Health Officer: Covid-19 Cases Surging in Santa Cruz County

Santa Cruz County’s Covid-19 case count surged this week, and the number of active cases now significantly exceeds the number of recoveries from the disease.

According to the county’s coronavirus page that tracks data on the pandemic, there are 382 active cases, and 321 people have recovered from the disease.

“There is a significant increase in our case rate,” Santa Cruz County Public Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel said at a Thursday morning press conference. “The trend is definitely a steeply rising curve. So we believe that the county is joining the rest of the state of California in entering a surge.”

Newel believes it’s possible that recent events, like the memorial for a slain sheriff’s deputy Damon Gutzwiller and protests, may have contributed to the Covid-19 surge, although she didn’t say that contact tracers have specifically confirmed that. Newel does not think the county is seeing test results yet stemming from activity over the July 4 weekend. In any case, the potential for community spread is now quite high. “There are people out and about in our community who don’t even know they have the disease,” she said.

Newel reiterated the following social distancing guidelines to prevent the spread of disease:

Do not gather outside your household unit, in line with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s orders to stay at home;
If you do gather, it is safer to do so outdoors than it is indoors;
Keep any and all visits as brief as possible;
Try to maintain a six-foot distance from others;
Wear face coverings in public at all times, unless you’re outdoors and far away from other people

Newel says Santa Cruz County is now teetering close to the thresholds that would require many more industries to shut down. At this rate, she expects that to happen within about two weeks, based on the metrics she’s watching.

Newel says she’s not, however, considering issuing new restrictions on beaches.

“The beach decision was complex, with a lot of factors,” she says. “A big factor was that it didn’t make sense to close the beach to disincentivize tourism when the state of California’s promoting tourism and allowing tourism. If the state takes a different tune and closes down tourism, then it may make some sense to do some beach restrictions. But that’s not on the table now. I want to be clear about that before my email inbox fills up with hate mail again.”

Newel said that Santa Cruz County still has one of the lowest per-capita rates of Covid-19 in California. She thanked the community for its commitment to social distancing guidelines for making that happen.

“The community’s willingness to play their part has resulted in us having very low case rates—and more importantly, low hospitalization and especially low death rates,” she said. “The fact that we’ve only had three deaths to date where Covid was a factor is really remarkable. We stand out in the state as one of the safest counties.”

The news around the Covid-19 pandemic continues to evolve quickly. Pajaro Valley Unified School District has signaled that classes will begin online on Aug. 17, and Newsom may make a big announcement tomorrow about education statewide.

All the while, Santa Cruz County’s increase of new cases is steepening.

“This county is no longer on a flat curve,” Newel said. “We did a great job of keeping our curve flat for six months. Those six months were very important. They bought us time to get ready for the surge. It gave us time to get enough PPE, to learn more about the virus, to allow our providers to learn more about how better to treat it, how better to diagnose it, how the disease is spread. So they are an important six months, but the flat-curve days are over. So even though we are better than our neighboring counties, relatively speaking, we are definitely heading into a surge.”

Coast Connect Project Aims to Build Support for Rail Trail

Todd Guild

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July 16, 2020

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Coast Connect Project Aims to Build Support for Rail Trail

A group of local transportation organizers is hoping that, within the span of a decade, a passenger rail will run from Watsonville to Santa Cruz, making stops at hubs where busses will whisk passengers to further destinations.

For commuters who wish to eschew motorized transportation in its entirety, a 32-mile bike and pedestrian path will run alongside the train tracks from Davenport to Watsonville.

This ambitious project is the vision of Friends of the Rail Trail (FORT), which launched Coast Connect, a group tasked with drumming up community interest and support for the project, on June 24.

The rail-trail project would provide an economical way to get to work and reduce traffic, and take a chunk out of the county’s greenhouse gas emissions, more than half of which comes from vehicles, said FORT Board Chair Sally Arnold.

The project, described by supporters as a “complete transportation solution,” could also make cross-county day trips possible for residents, further bolstering the economy, Arnold says.

“Our primary purpose is to help people envision what life could be like if we had a rail-trail service,” she said. “It’s going to make life better for people in the community and it’s going to help the economy.”

FORT has been working to make a bike and pedestrian path next to the rail line since 2002, a project that rail supporters say could connect the Central Coast to the greater Bay Area transportation infrastructure and, by extension, to the rest of the world.

With 20 separate segments of trail stretching throughout the county, each jurisdiction will be responsible for their sections of the trail. In places, that work has already begun.

In Watsonville, a stretch that runs from Lee Road to Ohlone Parkway is slated to open in the fall.

“Not only does the rail line provide our local economy and companies and provide hundreds of jobs, but I’m really excited that it can also bring passenger rail on that very same line,” Watsonville City Councilman Felipe Hernandez said. “Let’s start now, planning now for a solution that truly includes Watsonville with high-quality passenger rail transit.”

In Santa Cruz, a one-mile stretch of trail from Bay Avenue to Natural Bridges Drive is expected to be completed by September.

The trail is slated to be complete by 2030, and the rail line will soon follow, organizers say.

And the plan has largely been greenlighted.

The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) in 2018 approved a plan to allow Lakeville, Minn.-based Progressive Rail, Inc. to take over the rail-freight operations in South County. The company’s plans at the time included possible passenger service.

A Santa Cruz County Superior Court judge rejected a legal challenge to the company’s contract in 2019.

The RTC is now mulling options for what the rail line will look like, and will present the best option to the public in September.

The project also has its detractors, including the groups Santa Cruz County Greenway and Trail Now, both of which hope to see the tracks replaced in their entirety with a bicycle and pedestrian path.

Trail Now Executive Director Brian Peoples says that the county’s system of tracks and aging trestles is not equipped to handle the estimated 60 trains per day traveling 45 miles per hour.

Peoples also says that the rail line is not wide enough to safely hold a train and trail.

“We think the trail is a waste of time and money,” said Peoples, who envisions a future when not rail, but legions of people on foot and bicycle—and a fleet of pedicabs—helps to reduce traffic and lessen greenhouse gasses.

The passenger rail service portion of the project will cost an estimated $325 million. It is funded by Measure D, the 2016 half-cent sales tax created to fund countywide transportation projects, which provides about $1.6 million per year for infrastructure preservation of the rail corridor. In addition, the State Rail Plan identifies $1.5 Billion for projects in the Central Coast area, some of which will be allocated for the project.

The rail-trail will cost $283 million, and will also be funded by Measure D, as well as a mix of state and federal funding. Funding for both portions of the project will also come from donations and local matching funds.

FORT member Mark Mesiti Miller pointed to the fact that the Regional Transportation Commission, in a rare unanimous vote, showed its support for the rail-trail project.

“This project will change the way people get around forever,” Miller said.

Santa Cruz in Photos: Requiem for the Capitola Begonia Festival

Tarmo Hannula

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July 15, 2020

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Santa Cruz in Photos: Requiem for the Capitola Begonia Festival

On July 17, volunteers will hang begonia plants in Capitola Village to commemorate the Capitola Begonia Festival, which celebrated its 65th and final year in 2017.

Continuing the tradition, Laurie Hill and Willard Schwartz raise the tubers at home and place the hanging blossoms in the Village at 331 Capitola Ave. Michael Lavigne Real Estate Services cares for the plants while they are on display.

Designated as Capitola’s City Flower, tuberous begonias are a part of the community’s horticultural history dating back to the 1930s, Hill said.

The Brown Ranch Family provided begonias to the Begonia Festival. The flower hanging gets going at 10am.

See more from the Santa Cruz in Photos series.

Six Women Candidates Line Up for Santa Cruz City Council

Jacob Pierce

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July 15, 2020

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Six Women Candidates Line Up for Santa Cruz City Council

With the November election approaching, the Santa Cruz City Council race now has six confirmed candidates, all of them women.

Santa Cruz City Councilmember Martine Watkins, who served last year as mayor, and Councilmember Sandy Brown are among those running for reelection. There are also four relative newcomers competing so far in the race for four seats.

Maria Cadenas, the executive director for Santa Cruz Community Ventures, formally announced her candidacy Tuesday.

Under her leadership, Community Ventures launched programs like Santa Cruz SEEDS, a college savings account program for newborns. She says the most central issues in Santa Cruz over the next couple years will revolve around the recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. “This is a key moment for us as a community. We’re looking at this moment, and we’re thinking, ‘Where are we?’ We’re all struggling. As hard as it’s going to be, we have to think about equity,” says Cadenas, who recently finished third in a California Senate primary behind John Laird and Vicki Nohrden.

Sonja Brunner, director of operations for the Santa Cruz Downtown Association, is also running. With the country in the grips of the pandemic and a potentially very deep recession, Brunner says the political moment will steer many of the city’ s top priorities. She would like to bring some positivity to the process. “I am very committed to this community, and a lot of my work over the past 20 years has been serving in different ways, and I want to serve in this capacity, and I think I offer a good perspective,” she says.

Another candidate, Kayla Kumar, the development director for FoodWhat?!, says the pandemic has created a turning point and opened up deep discussions about injustice. “We need leaders in our community who are running toward that turning point, and that’s what I’m doing alongside our community,” says Kumar, who serves on the boards for Salud Para La Gente, Santa Cruz Community Ventures and Santa Cruz County Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Commission.

Kelsey Hill, who works at the Romero Institute, a law and public policy nonprofit, is running because she says Santa Cruz has been very generous to her, and she wants to give back. “I can be a part of that fight to build a better world,” says Hill, who hopes to focus on housing affordability, an equitable recovery from the pandemic, climate sustainability and reimagining public safety.

Councilmember Brown says the dueling crises of health and housing affordability put the city at a significant crossroads. That’s part of why she’s running again. “We need to think about how we can protect renters. Mortgage holders and landlords are also suffering. So we need to talk about how we can leverage resources to support them,” she says.

Councilmember Watkins, who made Health in All Policies a focus during her term as mayor, says navigating the challenges that lie ahead will take collaboration. She hopes to be a part of that work.

“It’s a time when our city depends on leadership,” she says, “and so as we enter this next stage, I’m hopeful we can have a good council to do that.”

Armitage’s Classic 2018 Heart O’ The Mountain Estate Pinot Noir

Josie Cowden

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July 15, 2020

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Armitage’s Classic 2018 Heart O’ The Mountain Estate Pinot Noir

Brandon Armitage is one of our best winemakers in the Santa Cruz Mountains. He has a huge following for his wines, particularly his estate Pinot Noirs.

Armitage tends his vines on the old Alfred Hitchcock estate in Scotts Valley, called Heart O’ The Mountain, where he keeps a daily watchful eye on them.

Armitage’s 2018 Heart O’ The Mountain Estate Pinot Noir ($48) is a classic, earthy wine. Enticing aromas of brown sugar, cherries, and tobacco lead to full-on flavors of rich, red fruit with some vanilla and spice. Silky and round with well-balanced tannins and a lingering finish, it’s perfect to enjoy just by itself. For pairing with food, Armitage suggests salmon, chicken, vegetables and cheese. Armitage also makes gorgeous Chardonnay and a delightfully refreshing Rosé of Pinot Noir—one of my favorites.

Armitage has a welcoming tasting room in Aptos Village—nestled between Starbucks and Akira Sushi—with outdoor seating. Check the website for rules and regs before you visit.

Private wine tastings are being held at noon every Saturday on the historic Hitchcock estate vineyard for groups of up to 10 people. Stunning views greet the guest as you begin with a flight of current releases at the outdoor tasting bar. Then visit the cellar for barrel tastings, followed by hors d’oeuvres on the patio. You are welcome to bring your own picnic, too. Cost is $50. Contact Armitage or visit the website for more info and reservations.

Artist Aspen Moon created the intricate artwork labels for many of Armitage’s wines, including the Tiger Element Series of Metal, Water, Wood, Fire, and Earth. The 2018 Estate Pinot depicts the Wood Tiger; the 2018 Estate Reserve Pinot is the Water Tiger.

There will be a total of five tiger labels, each representing one of the five elements—with the last two, Fire and Earth, yet to be finished. Sacred geometry with the Seed of Life is present on all of Armitage’s labels; and the Chinese zodiac sign of the Tiger reflects the year of Brandon Armitage’s birth.

Armitage Tasting Room, 105C Post Office Drive, Aptos. 831-708-2874. armitagewines.com.

Opinion: July 15, 2020

Steve Palopoli

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July 15, 2020

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EDITOR’S NOTE

When the Women’s Marches sprung up around the country after the election of Donald Trump, it was remarkable how many of the organizers of these events that were drawing tens of thousands of people had no real experience in putting together direct actions. The circumstances of the times had made them instant activists, and social media had given them the tools to do it successfully.

Nobody knew back in 2016 if the sudden engagement of new activists on a massive scale would be a historical blip or a new model. But here we are four years later, and circumstances again have created a need for someone to step up to channel the community’s calls for social justice. As the killing of George Floyd at the hands of the police sparked protests around the country, a new generation of activists here in Santa Cruz have done just that.

Even in the ever-evolving world of political protest, people sometimes get used to a certain establishment, the “usual suspects” who have been organizing around many different causes for years. So it’s no wonder that one of the questions we get asked most about the Black Lives Matter movement locally is “Who’s organizing these protests?” In Susan Landry’s cover story this week, you’ll meet three of these young activists: Ayo Banjo, Esabella Bonner and Thairie Ritchie. I hope you’ll take the time to read what they have to say about their inspirations, the continuity of political action from generation to generation, and their visions for a movement.

STEVE PALOPOLI | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Read the latest letters to the editor here.

SO MUCH FOR SAFETY

Re: “The Science of Safety” (GT, 7/8): Wallace Baine’s interesting report on compliance with anti-Covid regulations describes how the county is shrugging off local non-use of masks and carefree meetings of friends. I have seen this in action in daily walks down 30th Avenue to Pleasure Point. Of the 12-15 fellow walkers I meet, at most three or four will have masks, and casual crowds are frequent around the surfer’s beach-entry point. From my conversations with some of them, many people are unaware that masks are required out of doors.

What surprised me most is county health officer Dr. Gail Newel’s breathtaking remark that “people are not willing to be governed anymore in that regard, and we want to recognize that by removing that restriction.” Wow. Equally provocative is the response of Mr. A. Marm Kilpatrick, who argues cogently for masks and social distancing and then observes that, it being summer, “let’s just acknowledge [noncompliance] is going to happen anyway and direct people to do it in a safe way.”

So much for safety. This double message has a far greater effect on compliance than a dim memory of those halcyon March days when we were told not to wear masks. The result of this attitude has been a local spike in coronavirus infections.

If local officials would put less effort into encouraging noncompliance and a little more into broadcasting the need for masks and social distancing via stories in the local press and radio, ads on buses, and freeway warnings—like Arizona’s—insisting on the need for concerted action against the virus, keeping it up day by day, we might see some real progress. Newel and Marm are apparently willing to give up without a fight. You don’t have to cite people—just tell them, over and over, until they get it.

Cliff Barney | Santa Cruz

Pollution is Not on Hold

Re: “Trashed By Covid” (GT, 7/8): Plastics are everywhere—at your home, workplace, favorite take out place, and the deepest depths of our ocean. But did you know it’s also in you? A study done for WWF in the last year found that we ingest an average of a credit card’s worth of plastic each week. Can you imagine being forced to eat a credit card a week? The reality is that we already are, and have been for some time. Instead of breaking down, plastic eventually breaks into tiny microplastics that pollute our ocean, food, water, and even air. The most common plastics found in our ocean are bottle caps, straws, food/drink containers, and single use plastic bags. Pollution is not going anywhere. It will still be here when Covid-19 is long gone, so we need to reduce our use or find non-plastic alternatives like glass or metal straws, reusable bags, and refillable bottles.

Anika Shorr | Santa Cruz

Reality vs. RTC

The RTC (Regional Transportation Commission) is eating lots of crow lately, now that the third train operator on the rail corridor is backing out of their contract to run freight trains, tourist trains and eventually passenger trains on the Santa Cruz Branch line. Hiring Progressive was a mistake from the start. Blinded by an obsession with archaic rail transport, a majority of RTC commissioners voted to sign a 10-year contract, hoping to lock their plan in place for the next decade, essentially preventing any real public use of the corridor in a quest for an infeasible train. Reality has now caught up with bad policy.

Between 2010 and 2021 the RTC will have spent $25 million “maintaining the rail corridor,”

while our roads deteriorate, Hwy 1 is overly congested and METRO is failing. And what’s ahead?

You guessed it—another expensive study that is presented with a bias towards trains.

We need a change in leadership on the RTC.

Buzz Anderson | Santa Cruz

PHOTO CONTEST WINNER

Come join the paint party from the comfort of your own home! For this event you will need:

A canvas or sturdy piece of paper to paint on

A variety of paint brushes from large to small

Paint in the following colors: red, yellow, blue, black and white

A cup of water to wash brushes in

A paper towel or napkin

(10256687)

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

WHEEL GET TOGETHER

Organizers are holding the season’s first of three West Cliff Food Truck Summer Series events Friday, July 17, at 3pm at the Abbott Lighthouse located at 700 West Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz. According to the city’s website, trucks will include Union Foodie, PANA, Drunk Monkeys, Nomad Momos, Rogue Pye, Scrumptious Fish and Chips, and Penny Ice Creamery. Guests should socially distance and wear masks—at least until you start shoveling pie in your mouth, anyway. Then, you may take your mask off, but put it back on once you’re finished.

GOOD WORK

CHICKENS OUT

The Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter (SCCAS) worked with rescue partner, Animal Place of Grass Valley, to take in 96 Lohmann Brown Hens to be adopted out in Santa Cruz County. These hens were living on an organic farm in Redding. The farm is depopulating 13,000 hens, and its management contacted Animal Place. Hens will be available for adoption through SCCAS and interested adopters should call 831-454-7200 to join the adoption waitlist.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“The young, free to act on their initiative, can lead their elders in the direction of the unknown.”
-Margaret Mead

Things To Do (Virtually) in Santa Cruz: July 15-21

GT Staff

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July 14, 2020

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Things To Do (Virtually) in Santa Cruz: July 15-21

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

MAGICAL MOONSHINE THEATRE PRESENTS: PUPPYLOCKS AND THE THREE BEARS What if the Three Bears were really Teddy Bears! And what if Goldilocks was not a little girl at all, but a golden, mischievous little dog? That is exactly the case in this very funny retelling of the traditional fairytale. Watch this impish little dog do everything wrong in the Bear’s house while the bears are off to the Teddy Bear Circus! Puppylocks is presented with traditional Bohemian style marionettes on a tabletop stage. Free all ages library Summer Reading Program: santacruzpl.org/pages/srp. Register online: santacruzpl.libcal.com/event/6780147. Saturday, July 18, 3pm.

MAGICAL MOONSHINE THEATRE PRESENTS THE THREE LITTLE PIGS Three pigs set out to seek their fortunes with a bit of house building. Things don’t go as planned in this creative retelling of the traditional story: houses collapse, pigs and wolves play together, and audience members help the story along with lots of live music, singing, construction and laughter. Presented with traditional Bohemian style marionettes on a tabletop stage. Saturday, July 18, 11am. For more info visit santacruzpl.org.

CONNECTIONS: A VIRTUAL PRINTMAKING EXHIBIT View the virtual Resource Center for Nonviolence “CONNECTIONS” Printmaking Exhibit online through July 31 at rcnv.org/programs/rcnv-exhibits-the-art-of-nonviolence. In this time of the coronavirus and sheltering at home, we yearn for connection. These prints link us to the healing power of nature, our history and our memories. They provide a window of hope for the current moment. The art helps us to remember the past and to face the future. Features eleven artists: Jody Bare, Molly Brown, Marcus Cota, Esmeralda DeGiovanni, Emma Formato, Jane Gregorius, Anita Heckman, Bridget Henry, Glenn Joy, Stephanie Martin and Melissa West. The exhibit has moved online due to Covid-19, since RCNV is temporarily closed to the public. For more information: an***@**nv.org.

SPEED SKETCHING Come with paper and pencil and try your hand at speed sketching: All artistic experience is welcome. Prior to beginning the program, please select an object in your home and place it in view of your computer’s camera, and let’s have fun together and see who can draw the silliest, stylish, true to life, or abstract interpretation of it. Every Tuesday afternoon at 2pm, take a break out of your day for some fun! Register for Zoom at: santacruzpl.libcal.com/event/6780189.

CLASSES

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

COMMUNITY

MONTH LONG HISTORY SCAVENGER HUNT The MAH has teamed up with Ecology Action and local bike shops to bring you an around-the-town scavenger hunt in honor of Santa Cruz bike month, and our current exhibition, “Trailblazers.” In this epic around-the-town scavenger hunt, whiz through local history, solve riddles, and plan your route. Participants will have all month to complete the scavenger hunt and visit as many clues as possible. The top five players will receive epic prizes: more to come. For more info visit santacruzmah.org/events/race-through-time.

LUMA BOOK CLUB This is a time of seismic shift, and yet also one of opportunity. Luma Yoga is a community center operating on principles of inclusion, compassion, and, yes, reflection, but make no mistake—also of action. The first step in effective action is gaining knowledge. To this end, Luma is hosting a book club on the topic of racism and social justice issues. The reading groups will be held remotely (for now) over Zoom Thursday nights 7-8:15pm, starting Thursday, July 16, covering chapters 1-5 of “So you Want to Talk About Race” by Ijeoma Oluo. The purpose of the groups is to learn the endless shapes oppression can take in the world, to recognize our own biases within ourselves, and to move from discomfort to action in support of Black and non-white POC. The groups will be facilitated by Steven Macramalla, a professor of Psychology at SJSU. The Club will work on a 3- to 4-week cycle, reading one book per cycle, with several chapters covered each week. For more info visit lumayoga.com. Thursdays at 7pm.

2020 SUMMER LUNCH PROGRAM Children and youth aged 18 and under can get free lunches this summer at 12 sites throughout Santa Cruz County! The annual Summer Lunch program, sponsored by La Manzana Community Resources, a program of Community Bridges, combats food insecurity and supports good nutritional habits. The Summer Lunch program begins June 8 and serves lunch Monday through Friday from 12-1pm. Free meals will be provided to all children, without eligibility documentation, who are 18 years of age and younger. For more info visit communitybridges.org/lmcr.

KIDS CREATE STEAM PROJECT SERIES Series of STEAM programs through the summer for kids of all ages, presented via Facebook and our YouTube channel. Look for new videos on Tuesdays at 3:30pm and Fridays at 10am through July. Check out our Facebook (facebook.com/santacruzpl) and Youtube channel (youtube.com/user/SantaCruzPL).

LEGO BUILDING CHALLENGE Join our eight-week summer Lego Building Challenge. You will only need common Lego pieces to complete these challenges. To join the fun, register each week via our online calendar, through July 29. On Wednesday, you will receive an email with the weekly challenge. If you would like to share your creation, post a photo on our Facebook SCPL Lego Building Challenge webpage. Bonus building challenges will be posted there for intermediate-level Lego fans. Learn more at santacruzpl.org.

TALES TO TAILS GOES VIRTUAL Tales to Tails goes virtual to create a comfortable, neutral, and fun reading experience. Bring some books, a stuffed animal or your own pet, and come read with us! This is a YouTube livestream event so you might be reading to up to six animals at once. Woo hoo! Caregivers, you can post your child’s first name and city in the comments section, along with the book they are reading, and we’ll read off as many of those names as we can, live, during the break we need to give the dogs. Each week you register we’ll send you your dog bone “punch cards.” These will be dated dog bones your child can color and email to us. The following week, we’ll display them live on the feed. This will also be recorded so if you can’t make it live, the dogs will still be there for you. Every Wednesday, 10-11am. Learn more at santacruzpl.libcal.com/event/6764929.

PEOPLE AND STORIES: READING DEEPLY IN COMMUNITY People and Stories is dedicated to opening doors to literature for new audiences. Through oral readings and rigorous discussions of enduring short stories, we invite participants to find fresh understandings of themselves, of others, and of the world. Please note that some stories contain themes and language of an adult nature. Santa Cruz Public Libraries offers People and Stories regularly in our county jails. We invite you to our special eight-week session on Zoom! Drop in for one or attend all eight People and Stories sessions! Wednesdays through July 29, 1:30pm. Learn more at santacruzpl.libcal.com/event/6760931.

GROUPS

SUNSET BEACH BOWLS Experience the tranquility, peace and calmness as the ocean waves harmonize with the sound of Crystal Bowls. Every Tuesday at 7:45pm. Moran Lake Park.

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

OUTDOOR CIRCLE DANCING We have found the way to come together in a Sacred Circle, 6 feet apart, without holding hands, and dance our Circle Dances! Barbara Thomas invites you: Sunday, August 9, 3-5pm led by Maureen Atkins; Sunday, Sept. 13, 3-5pm led by Maureen Atkins. Each Dance is first taught. By donation. Please bring water, a 4pm little snack for yourself, also your own food to eat together afterwards at 5pm, instead of a potluck. (Sanitizing lotion will be available). Important to RSVP so we can keep count of numbers. Outdoors in the Amphitheater, Ben Lomond Redwoods. 11737 Alba Road, Ben Lomond. For further information and to keep count of our list of attendees, please reply to: Barbara Thomas at ba*****@***********as.info or 831-336-2673, or Juliet Goldstein at sh*********@***il.com or 831-662-0186.

AMAZING TIDEPOOL ANIMAL ADAPTATIONS Local California State Parks in Santa Cruz County are offering virtual junior ranger programs for 7- to 12-year-old children during the Covid-19 pandemic. These fun, free Zoom webinars are scheduled on Mondays and Fridays at 10am each week in July. Children receive a digital stamp for each program they attend; after receiving a certain number of stamps, they can earn prizes! How is it possible to live in the difficult environment of a tidepool? Discover the superheroes of the intertidal zone with a state park interpreter! This interactive program will be broadcast as a Zoom webinar. Registration is required. To register, visit tinyurl.com/SantaCruzJuniorRangers. Free event. Friday, July 17, 10am.

A MOST UNIQUE AMUSEMENT ENTERPRISE Local California State Parks in Santa Cruz County are offering virtual junior ranger programs for 7- to 12-year-old children during the Covid-19 pandemic. These fun, free Zoom webinars are scheduled on Mondays and Fridays at 10am each week in July. Children receive a digital stamp for each program they attend; after receiving a certain number of stamps, they can earn prizes! Why do we have a sunken concrete ship at the end of a pier on our beach? Travel back in time to uncover the answers. This interactive program will be broadcast as a Zoom webinar. Registration is required. To register, visit tinyurl.com/SantaCruzJuniorRangers. Free event. Monday, July 20, 10am.

MYSTERIES OF THE MARBLED MURRELET Join us as we investigate one of the park’s most secretive and elusive residents. Like our Facebook page to receive a notification when this pre-recorded program is premiered: facebook.com/PortolaRedwoodsStatePark. Viewers will be able to post questions and comments during the premiere for a state park interpreter to answer. The program will also be available for later viewing. Free event. Friday, July 17, 7pm.

CONSERVATION, CAMPFIRE, AND COOKIES Join the interpreters of Seacliff and New Brighton State Beaches with songs and games focusing on environmental conservation and a special campfire cookie! Like our Facebook page to receive a notification when this pre-recorded program is premiered: facebook.com/SeacliffStateBeach. Viewers will be able to post questions and comments during the premiere for a state park interpreter to answer. The program will also be available for later viewing. Free event. Saturday, July 18, 7pm.

SEYMOUR CENTER’S OCEAN EXPLORERS VIRTUAL SUMMER CAMP Ocean Explorers experience the thrill of scientific discovery at a working marine lab. Join the Seymour Marine Discovery Center for behind-the-scenes virtual visits, live streaming interactions with scientists and animal trainers, and much more! Children actively learn in a distance learning format. Enjoy a week of fun this summer learning about ocean science. Investigate the incredible creatures that inhabit Monterey Bay. Discover how ocean scientists work with marine animals at the Seymour Marine Discovery Center and Long Marine Lab to help conserve animals in the wild. Space is limited–APPLY NOW! Masterful Marine Mammals, ages 9-11, July 13-17, and August 3-7. Masterful Marine Mammals, ages 12-14, July 20-24. Marine Science for Girls, ages 9-11, (waitlist only), July 27-31. Programs run 10:30am to 2:30pm (1-hour lunch break from 12-1pm): varied activities and mini-breaks. Fees: Members $250 (was $610); General Public $300 (was $650). Learn more at seymourcenter.ucsc.edu/learn/youth-teen-programs/ocean-explorers-summer-camp.

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EDITOR’S NOTE

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

PHOTO CONTEST WINNER

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK

ARTS AND MUSIC

CLASSES

COMMUNITY

GROUPS

OUTDOOR