I am reaching out to encourage a discussion on banning the retail sale of nitrous oxide (N₂O) in Santa Cruz County, but I am unsure where to begin. My goal is to raise awareness about the extreme recreational use of N₂O in our community, an issue that often flies under the radar.
On a personal note, I struggled with severe N₂O addiction for five years and was caught in possession of a canister on 12/12/24. Since then, I have been in recovery through the support of Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous, and I am thriving within these fellowships. My deepest desire is to be of service to others who are struggling with this substance.
Despite existing regulations under Penal Code 381e (see screenshot), enforcement appears lacking. I can name at least 10 smoke shops within a five-mile radius that, in my experience, do not adhere to these legal requirements. One particularly concerning example is GREAT GAS at 1024 Water St., Santa Cruz, which sells nitrous oxide 24/7, 365 days a year. Yet, due to its proximity to Monarch Elementary (0.2 miles away) and Branciforte Middle School (0.3 miles away), it is prohibited from selling cigarettes or vapes—highlighting an inconsistency in how substances are regulated.
I appreciate the work you do to make Santa Cruz a progressive, sustainable, and safe county, and I would love guidance on how to further this conversation.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Cody Mahler
Bare Necessities
When people told me to start saving up for college, I thought they were talking about tuition. Instead of spending my money on basic necessities like food, I’m limited by the classes that are supposed to be expanding my opportunities. What upsets me the most is that there is a whole industry thriving off of the grocery money of students just like me. As a UCSC student, now in my third year of college, I finally understand how the textbook market has completely monopolized the textbook industry for students. I recently found out that textbook prices have increased at 3x the rate of inflation. That’s a 1041% cost increase since 1977. However, there is hope for the new college age. Quite a few of my professors have started using free, online textbooks known as open education resources. This allows students to access readings and course materials without having to pay. According to US PIRG, 2 out of every 25 students fail a class because they couldn’t afford their textbooks. Every student deserves to have an equal opportunity to succeed in their classes without worrying about the expense of their success. There must be a change in the textbook market for the sake of all students, and I believe that change lies in the support and utilization of open education resources.
Jessica Cortez | Santa Cruz
ONLINE COMMENTS
RE: Bye Bye Bezos
How about a shout-out to Staff of Life, please? Like Shoppers too, but Staff has a lot more organic produce, that that, in turn, supports other local business (farms who are also stewarding the environment).
And where do I go for basic, everyday clothing (sure, REI is good too, and a co-op) but what if I need a pair of sturdy jeans, and don’t have time to dig for my size and fit at Grey Bears (which is also a go-to for me)!
Whoa! What a great thing! I’m past the age of socializing in bars, but when I was younger, I used to worry about leaving my drink unattended. Even if it was just ginger ale. If I had to leave the table to dance or use the restroom, I wouldn’t touch my drink when I returned. I’d have to order another. This coaster test is a great idea, and I hope all the bars and pubs in the county take up on the practice.
Donna Maurillo
Correction In the March 12 issue of Good Times, author Jason Isralowitz’s name was misspelled in an article about Scotts Valley’s Hitchcock Festival. We regret the error.
Ben Lomond has a new mountain classic on its hands as the Guild Kitchen Act 3—which is the opposite of new, as it’s from the same Allen Strong team behind Ciao Bella Act 2, who ran the same location from 2009 to 2013—has debuted Dreamers Restaurant (9217 Highway 9).
It supplants Ristorante Casa Nostra, which shuttered in December of last year.
The main thrust with the old-school, no-frills, satisfaction-forward spot, per Manager Chris Edmonds, is a zero-oil and brief menu of throwback breakfast-lunch hits.
“Breakfast all day, everything done with butter, so burgers, for instance, get that crust in the pan,” he says. “Like grandma used to make.”
That means build-your-own omelets, “triple treats” with three pieces of ham, three sausages, three bacon strips, three eggs, toast and potatoes for $18, and top-selling burgers.
Other rib-sticking elements at work on the succinct menu include Salisbury steak and eggs, fried egg scrambles and fried egg sandwiches. Daily specials also figure in, like chili con carne over a hamburger or omelet with cheddar cheese and red onion, and elevated sloppy Joe barbecued beef sandos on a French roll.
Hours are 9am-4pm daily, with dinner, beer and wine on the way too.
“Heavy portions, big flavors,” Strong says. “It’s a time machine, going back to the ’70s.”
That’s not a figurative flourish: Strong started working in kitchens in the mountains back then, following in the mold of his salt-of-the-Earth parents, which is why the debut feels comforting and familiar for many locals.
“This is in memory of my parents,” Strong says. “I’m just finishing what they started.”
More at (831) 289-3012.
WINE TIMES TWO
FROM ON HIGH Wright’s Station Winery—pictured here during Wines of Santa Cruz Mountains Passport Days, next up June 21—slots in as one of dozens of wineries at March 30’s Grand Wine Tasting. PHOTO: Mark C. Anderson
Double vino destination dates to consider: 1) Wines of the Santa Cruz Mountain Grand Wine Tasting uncorks 12:30–4pm Sunday, March 30, at the stately Mountain Winery in Saratoga, with an educational seminar that follows regional wine roots down to 1800s, and a profound roster of 40 wineries pouring, from A (Alfaro Family Vineyards and Aptos Vineyard) to W (Wargin, Windy Oaks, Woodside and Wrights Station); and 2) “The Perfect Pair” with wines matched with culinary creations by Cabrillo Culinary arts students at the historic Sesnon House, to benefit the Cabrillo College Culinary Arts Program. More on both events via winesofthesantacruzmountains.com.
BIG BALLING
The secret to cooking for bigger groups comes down to one word: Herbs. That was one surprise takeaway from a mission to San Francisco to see the Santa Cruz Warriors play the Mexico City Capitanes at Chase Center for the SeaDubs annual appearance there earlier this month. The thought came courtesy of a kitchen staffer at Chase responsible for cooking for visiting teams (who requested anonymity so she didn’t get in trouble with her PR powers-that-be). Fresh chopped parsley, cilantro, oregano, thyme and other aromatics, she says, are an easy-access super power when it comes to brightening simple, healthy and energizing meals for pro athletes and casual eaters alike. Meanwhile, as the Chase game offers a fun showcase for players, it also gives Surf City epicurean partners some shine, splashing the likes of West Peak Sparkling Spirits, Pono Hawaiian Grill and Woodstock’s Pizza on the stadium’s big (make that massive) screen. This weekend marks the end of the regular season of the suddenly red-hot SeaDubs, with a back-to-back March 28–29 versus Memphis Remix. Pro tip: Swing by the Dubs’ winery partner Big Basin Vineyards a few blocks from Kaiser Permanente for signature Argentine empanadas and a glass of wine for $19 on game days, santacruz.gleague.nba.com, bigbasinvineyards.com.
From Cape Cod to Hawaii to Aptos, Shawn Ryberg’s culinary career has spanned the country from side to side, across multiple decades, oceans, time zones and cultures. Born and raised in Massachusetts, he got into kitchen work at age 14 and has followed that path of passion ever since. He moved to Hawaii at age 20, where he became an executive chef and also met chef Nick Sherman. As their friendship grew, so did their ambitious dream of one day opening a restaurant together, planned over a couple years and “usually over a couple beers,” says Ryberg.
A year ago, they manifested their idea into Cavalletta, exuding an ambiance described by Ryberg as casual, warm and welcoming with modern and tasteful no-clutter vibes highlighted by pops of sage green color. The Italian-inspired California cuisine menu starts with apps like oven-roasted cauliflower and beef carpaccio with truffle aioli, and signature mains include the Mafaldine Bolognese featuring handmade pasta and a New York steak accompanied by broccolini puree, onion jam, potato pavé and Bordelaise sauce. They also serve popular pizzas, utilizing dough that Ryberg says is “Neapolitan-ish,” very light with nice crisp and topping options like charcuterie and locally cultivated mushrooms. Desserts rotate, current options are classic tiramisu and a chocolate mousse pie with raspberry coulis and seed brittle.
What is your culinary origin story?
SHAWN RYBERG: It started in high school when I was working my first real kitchen job in Cape Cod under a highly accomplished husband and wife chef team. The way that they were able to run an aggressively busy restaurant and their ability to turn this into a controlled chaos really inspired me to want to one day do the same. Cavalletta is the realization of this dream and I am now doing exactly what I’ve always wanted to do, and with one of my best friends, which is icing on the cake.
What is Cavalletta all about?
Creating a casual environment where people can come in, relax, and enjoy themselves and the menu that Nick and I put so much time and passion into. We make everything from scratch, in-house, and focus on seasonal, local ingredients and providing high-quality food and service. We are super thankful for everyone who has come in during our first year and look forward to continuing to serve the community.
I ’m heading to the Crêpe Place to find my buddies Rhan Wilson and Rick Zeek, who take care of the stunning Crêpe Place garden. I park 50 feet from the door, which is amazing because the Crêpe Place is abuzz with 30 construction workers, kitchen staff workers and bar staff workers.
The place is turned as upside down as an Escher painting, and they are all laughing and shouting—“We open in four hours!” … ”Hey, does this painting work over the John Lennon poster?”—while a band of musicians are setting up who look so young they must be carrying fake IDs.
It’s been an epicenter for the independent music scene since returning owner Adam Bergeron started the music in 2007. The place feels as comfortable to me as a friend’s back porch but serves food as good as home, or better. There are small, separate tables in the bar for those who want to chill by themselves, but it is hard not to jump up on a stool at the bar to listen to the stories of trials and tribulations of longtime Santa Cruzans. I’m a pothead and don’t drink much, but for some reason at the Crêpe Place I can drink a Dr Pepper at the bar and get a contact drunk off the infectious, positive vibe.
Adam 2.0
After a seven-year hiatus, former owners Adam Bergeron and wife Jaimi Holker have repurchased The Crepe Place, but this time they also bought the property and the new remodel goes deep: flooring replaced; ceiling rebuilt; windows, kitchen and garden bar all remodeled, all new—but with the intent to make it look like the same Crêpe Place I’ve been walking into for 20 years. The garden in back predates the building. Adam estimates the garden has been there since the 1890s.
Rhan and Rick are off somewhere building the back bar, so I join the new owners and new general manager Amy Di Chiro at the round table on the back garden stage. We bathe in late afternoon sunlight that makes the surrounding array of succulents glow.
Adam explains that he and Jaimi came back because they missed it from the moment they sold it to Chuck Platt on Jan. 26, 2018. They feel magic in the Crêpe Place. “It’s one of those kinds of places that is either special to you or not. A lot of people find it special, and we’re two of them.”
STATUS QUO The Crêpe Place was recently remodeled—but with the intent to make it look the same. Photo: Richard Stockton
That’s Crêpe!
When general manager Amy Di Chiro smiles, she goes wide, displaying a healthy set of teeth and a spirit in her eyes that laughs.
I say that I would like to ask about her restaurant food. She beams that smile and says, “That would be crêpe.”
“So, Amy Di Chiro, what does a general manager do?”
“You plunge toilets and scrub them. In that order.” Amy beams, “This is our house. We want you to feel welcome, all of you.
“We want to feed you, we want to entertain you, and we want to keep you safe. And I think that that’s what young people and older people are looking for, especially now.” She says that she is lucky, “because we have a great bar manager doing the liquor orders, Nick Gyorkos.”
‘Crêpes in the Womb’
To bar manager Nick Gyorkos, the Crêpe Place feels like the last bastion of the Santa Cruz he grew up in—a place for everyone, where all are accepted, that is colorful both in personality and actual spectrum of light. “My Santa Cruz is quirky and old, unabashedly gripping its ways, resisting the changes that are going on in the world. And for me, the Crêpe Place continues that forward. It’s all of those things wrapped into one, in an old Victorian building, clinging to Mid-Town.” He laments that so many of the old Santa Cruz restaurants are gone. “We still have the Shadowbrook, the Crow’s Nest and Little Tampico.”
Nick grew up going to the Crêpe Place when it was down by the Clock Tower. “I’ve always loved the Crêpe Place. My parents would go there often. I was fed crêpes in the womb.” He has worked for all the owners—a fixture at the Crêpe Place since Marlene and Gary Keeley owned it.
Nick sees returning owner Adam as a savant, in communicating with people, in booking music and in knowing the way things will work. He admires Adam’s ethos: If you build it, they will come. “Sure, Adam hustles and gets shit done, but I think the big plus that Adam brings is a magnetism and an ability to communicate what he wants. It all gets done, well done.”
Laurence Bedford, owner-operator of the Rio Theatre, up the street from the Crêpe Place, says that Adam has a boundless energy of “can do.” Laurence sees him bringing that to the staff: “In the 10 days since Adam’s return, he’s changed the entire physical space, he’s already got the bands lined up, and you can already feel how the staff is energized. The dude is like running four movie theaters. He really is like The Dude. You can feel his charisma.”
Quintessentially Santa Cruz
Gary and Marlene Keeley opened the Crêpe Place in February 1973, in a small building on the corner of Ocean Street and Soquel. Adam Bergeron started doing salads at the Crêpe Place when he was 20. “I got trained by Marlene Keeley, the original crêpe person, the one who thought of it all.” Adam believes her spirit of “let’s just make this work” still flows through him and the restaurant.
His tenure at the Crêpe Place had a quintessentially Santa Cruz beginning.
Marlene was smoking a cigarette when he came to her with his hippie beard to be interviewed. She said, “Dude, want a beer?” Adam was not yet 21 and of course said yes. She asked him if he wanted a piece of hot chocolate cake. She asked him if he wanted it with whipped cream.
“She put like a shitload of whipped cream on it. Then she took me to the back, and we got stoned. We never spoke about the job. Then she said, ‘Go home and shave that stupid beard and come back tomorrow. Dude, you got the job.’ That was March of 1990.”
PROJECT MANAGEMENT Julian and Luis cut stainless steel for the kitchen. Photo: Richard Stockton
The Mission
Adam sees Santa Cruz transforming into the future really fast. He wants the Crêpe Place to be like a time machine to let people travel backwards to hold on to something that’s really special about Santa Cruz. “What if they could get a taste and appreciation for what Santa Cruz is at a restaurant, with entertainment and events that make it a gathering place for Santa Cruzans?”
All the new high rises don’t align with where he’s at. “I essentially escaped LA to come to Santa Cruz 20 years ago. This intense, dense, high-rise growth is what happened to my little town of LA. Ha! You know, this feels like that did, all over again. But, when you find a place that preserves the magic of a community, I just want the people who are moving into these new high-rise buildings to know about it…to feel the magic that makes this town special.”
Amy thinks it’s great to see that there’s a younger generation coming in and is excited that they have the Grateful Dead community coming together every Sunday. “We’re celebrating Grateful Sundays with the Hartle Gold Band, something that’s, like, really precious to this community.”
Amy says they’re updating the menu offering with new fare for the younger crowd, staying true to their crêpe roots, but looking toward fresher salads.
“I call them high vibe salads, something that appeals to the more gluten-free, organic folks. And expand the menu beyond what we’ve been doing for 52 years.”
They’re also excited about burgers, chicken sandwiches and tacos. “The cooks have been feeding the staff tacos for 20 years, and now on Mondays we serve them to everyone,” she says.
Whole Experiences
Adam is in charge of the entertainment and says that his two stages, the garden stage in back and the bar performance space in front, are stages for all artists, not just musicians. They want to bring in vaudeville, comedy, visual art shows, burlesque, book fairs. Adam says, “Hit me up with your idea—we want to create a community space, a place where you could have a little light in your life right now.”
Even the Crêpe Place background music has changed. No more Spotify playlist; they use two turntables to play complete vinyl albums, so people get a whole album, not just the hits. Adam says, “We want you to experience the whole album of what Stevie Wonder has to say, on the vinyl that he created his sound for. You get all of him, the way he recorded it.”
Much like the old KPIG radio, or the new K-SQuiD, where the jocks bring albums from home, Adam told his staff, “If you have a vinyl record collection, maybe bring a bag with you when you come to work. Maybe today’s your day.” Adam grins as he says his turntables have recently graced the Mantles (a band Adam tells me is ‘Old Crêpe), Kelley Stoltz and the Brian Jonestown Massacre. “People recognize that they are listening to a vinyl album and will stop eating to talk about the artist.”
My wife Julie said, “You can move away for twenty years and whenever you come back, the Crepe Place is where you want to go, someplace where people know your name.” As for me, I’m a fool for this place. I think you ought to be a fool and try it.
The Crepe Place, 1134 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz, 831-429-6994. Open seven days a week. thecrepeplace.com.
County cannabis lovers will be able to sit and smoke together at dispensaries, the way beer drinkers hang in bars.
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a plan that will allow people to smoke pot at local cannabis dispensaries.
The new ordinance will allow onsite consumption of marijuana products at dispensaries in the unincorporated parts of the county.
Advocates say the new rule will give out-of-town visitors the only legal place to consume the products they purchase.
The change to the existing ordinance passed 3-2, with Supervisors Monica Martinez and Kim De Serpa casting dissenting votes.
It will return for a final read and adoption on March 25.
Santa Cruz County Cannabis Licensing Manager Sam Laforti said the new ordinance will likely draw visitors to the county, with an opportunity to tap into the state’s $17.1 billion cannabis tourism industry.
While the decision applies only to 11 dispensaries in the unincorporated areas—and not in the cities of Watsonville, Santa Cruz, Capitola or Scotts Valley—the discussion nevertheless drew praise from advocates saying the lounges would allow a safe and legal place to use THC-infused products, and criticism from others worrying they would normalize marijuana use for young people, and could increase the numbers of stoned drivers on the roadways.
“Our primary responsibility is to ensure that our school environments are safe, healthy and supportive of all students,” said Santa Cruz County Superintendent of Schools Faris Sabbah, reading a letter signed by all the county’s school superintendents. “And the proposed introduction of cannabis lounges directly conflicts with these objectives, posing substantial risks to youth.”
SVPD Capt. Scott Garner said that it’s difficult to detect THC intoxication in drivers, making it tricky to get them off the road.
“Adding marijuana lounges increases the likelihood of impaired driving in these areas, particularly connected to Highway 17,” he said.
Supervisor Monica Martinez said that it was notable that every school district superintendent in the county was in opposition to the proposal, and said that she was concerned about people driving to and from dispensary lounges on windy mountain roads.
“My main priority today is about the safety of the thousands of families and people who drive throughout this county every single day,” she said.
But Supervisor Manu Koenig disagreed, saying that the lounges will create a “viable, legal framework” for the cannabis market. He also pointed out that tourists who visit dispensaries have no legal place to smoke the products they purchase, and likely do so at beaches and parking lots.
“I find this idea that all of a sudden there is going to be all these high people driving around that there haven’t been before sort of laughable,” he said. “There is no legal place for tourists to consume cannabis in our community.”
Jeff Nordahl, president of Jade Nectar, said the lounges will offer an opportunity for people to get together to share in an activity, much like a bar.
“There are a lot of cannabis enthusiasts, and I think making it more of a social, communal, non-stigmatized activity where we have a safe place is going to be a good thing where a lot of people can benefit,” he said.
The ordinance requires the dispensaries to prevent the scent of marijuana from leaving the business, and to keep their employees from areas where the products are being consumed.
Board Chair Justin Cummings said that the sky-is-falling predictions from the 2016 legalization of recreational cannabis have not manifested.
He said that any minor can walk into a convenience store and see alcohol readily available on the shelves. The same is not true for marijuana dispensaries, he said.
“To get into a dispensary you have to go through such a line of defense,” he said. “It is extremely difficult for kids to even get inside a dispensary and get access to these kinds of products.
The retailers that exist here are extremely responsible and they take their businesses and commitments to ensuring safety very seriously.”
Supervisor Kim De Serpa said her no vote came from her concerns for public safety.
“My main concern here is people on the road that are under the influence,” she said. “To have people going into a lounge, getting high and trying to get out onto Soquel Drive is not a good idea.”
Even with the ordinance, residents will have to wait a while for smoking lounges to open.
Dispensaries will have to create a separate space and separate HVAC system, deal with the Planning Department and amend their license and safety plan, which includes getting signed off from the Sheriff’s office, said county spokesman Jason Hoppin.
A tiny home development for 34 homeless people slated for the parking lot of Westview Presbyterian Church in Watsonville can move forward after the City Council on March 11 denied an appeal by a neighbors’ group that has been battling the placement of the project since its inception in October 2023.
The development is officially called Recurso de Fuerza Village and nicknamed the Tiny Village.
The so-called low-barrier navigation center—defined as a temporary shelter focused on providing services and getting people into permanent housing—has drawn alarm from residents in the dense neighborhood who say it’s the wrong place for such a use.
State law allows for expedited review of such projects, and prohibits local governments from requiring conditional use permits and discretionary approval.
As such, the council was limited in its deliberations to whether the zoning administrator erred when it approved the project.
The issue began in 2023, when Monterey County received a $7.9 million Encampment Resolution Funding Grant to build the Recurso de Fuerza Village, which officials from both Santa Cruz and Monterey counties see as a way to reduce the numbers of unhoused people, and to clear encampments along the levees in advance of a major restoration project.
The project was approved in 2024. The Watsonville Zoning Administrator determined the project met applicable zoning standards, a largely ministerial decision that determined only whether it checked all the legal boxes.
The neighbors appealed that decision in October, which was denied the following month on Dec. 3. The group appealed again two weeks later, leading to the March 11 discussion.
Several people addressed the board during the three-hour discussion, many of them in favor of the project.
Officials in both the City of Watsonville and Santa Cruz County have long said that they were blindsided by the placement at the church, whose property is bordered by neighborhoods.
Councilwoman Ari Parker stressed that the city is not against helping the homeless. Instead, the pushback comes from the process that circumnavigated the city’s discretionary approval.
“I am just really upset, and I can’t let that go on the one side of my job to say that this was so poorly done,” she said.
Parker also questioned whether Community Action Board—the nonprofit chosen to manage the Tiny Village despite having no experience taking on such a role—could do the job.
“We feel like the part where we are part of the process in our own city was taken away from us,” she said.
Advocates say the development will be bordered by fences, including security and a set of rules designed to keep both residents and neighbors safe.
But those promises are cold comfort to Catalina Torres, who says that the people who live on the levee have threatened residents, who contend with burglary, drug dealing and trash including syringe waste.
Torres leads the neighbors’ group, which filed the appeals.
“All children’s parks are not safe either, filled with discarded needles, and residents having been chased by people carrying sticks and machetes,” she said. “I am one of them.”
Torres said she and her fellow neighbors agree the homeless population needs help. But the site is in the wrong location, she said.
“We have never opposed this project,” she said. “Our concern is solely about the location. You plan to place a low-barrier shelter in downtown Watsonville. It’s troubling. It feels like you’re creating a conveyor belt of troubles for us.”
Marta Buliach, also part of the neighbors’ group, said that the potential problems at the tiny village could be compounded by a shortage of 15 officers in Watsonville Police Department.
Buliach also said that the city has ignored zoning rules to allow the project.
“This neighborhood deserved better than what you did here,” she said. “This is not competent and virtuous zoning.”
In a letter to the city, attorney William Seligmann—who is representing the neighbors—said that the project “will drastically change the character and intensity of the current use of the properties.”
“Instead of simply providing religious services, the church properties now will also offer transitional housing and navigation services to a currently unhoused population in addition to the current religious services,” Seligmann wrote.
But Interim Assistant Community Development Director Matt Orbach said that the low-barrier navigation center is a new use that was established lawfully and therefore was not a basis to grant the appeal.
Monterey County Homeless Services Director Roxanne Wilson said she was “truly saddened” by the group’s feeling that the neighborhood is “suffering from the results of people experiencing homelessness.”
Wilson acknowledged that the neighbors’ concerns are valid, but said that the Tiny Village offers a solution that will ease those problems.
“While at full capacity, there will be 34 people who are not going to be sleeping in your parks, not going to get food down the street, not lingering in your streets at night looking for a safe place to lay their heads, not digging through the trash looking for survival materials for the night,” she said.
Councilwoman Kristal Salcido said the council’s job was simply to apply the law.
“Listening to the legislative intent, reading the four sections of this code section, I believe that there has been enough evidence shown to justify the planning commission’s denial, and the zoning administrator’s granting of the use of this facility,” she said.
Now, she said, the council is tasked with making sure the Tiny Village is run correctly.
About 80 people gathered March 10 in the Aromas Community Grange after the California Department of Water Resources selected the Pajaro River Watershed as one of five watersheds to pilot the Watershed Resilience Program.
The initiative, which is supported by a $2 million grant from DWR and administered by Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency, will help the watershed prepare for the ongoing effects of climate change.
“We want to hear from people in multiple areas of the watershed to get their perspective of what they want our modelers to focus on, what they want to see out of a resilience plan and how do they define resilience,” said Marcus Mendiola, water conservation and outreach specialist with the PVWMA. “And what will this thing look like in 20 to 50 years.”
Goals of the three-hour meeting aimed to include as many people, groups and organizations as possible, PVWMA said.
Representatives from Watsonville, San Juan Bautista, Gilroy, Hollister, Morgan Hill, Santa Clara Valley Water, San Benito County Water and the Pajaro Regional Flood Management Agency joined members of the Nature Conservancy, Green Foothills and native peoples or reps from the Amah Mutsun Land Trust and Indian Canyon Nation at the event.
“We recognize that our watershed has many unique traditions and history with diverse populations that make our watershed unique,” PVWMA said. “The Pajaro River Watershed is home to Native American Tribes, and more than 35 vital underrepresented communities that call the Pajaro River home.”
At one point, the crowd broke into subgroups and rotated between them to brainstorm at seven stations set up about the hall. Those stations were labeled as Water Supply, Groundwater, Flood Management, Cultural Resources, Water Quality, Ecosystems, and Recreational Uses.
In the “Potential Climate Change” portion of the meeting, speakers addressed adverse health issues from degraded water quality levee failures, increased maintenance of operations, post-fire debris impacts on water, and extended power shutoffs. In the land use chapter, they spoke of damage and permanent loss to cultural resources, agricultural pests and diseases, recreational loss and disruptions and permanent habitat loss.
Future workshops in 2025 are slated for June 10, Aug. 20 and Oct. 23, with the final meeting on March 3, 2026.
“This is the first of five workshops,” Mediola said. “We want people to understand what a watershed is and understand the scale of a watershed. This is an opportunity to meet each other in these cities, and counties, water agencies, farmers, ranchers, land owners and hopefully see that we are all interconnected.”
The event concluded with a visioning exercise imaging what the watershed should aim to achieve, and how each attendee defined resilience.
“The next workshop, on June 10 from 9am till noon, will focus on the vulnerabilities of the watershed and will be fully remote to allow access to more members of the public,” Mendiola said. “The third workshop will be in person, focusing on how public agencies should plan to adapt to the previously defined areas of concern that are most vulnerable to climate extremes.”
I had high hopes for Jeff Bezos when he bought the Washington Post in 2013. Before the days of mega corporations owning media, newspapers were owned by wealthy entrepreneurs who were members of their communities and invested in their well-being, supporting charities, and building museums.
I thought Bezos would follow those traditions and keep his newspaper following journalism’s most revered tradition of bringing light into the darkness and making truth its highest standard.
At first, it seemed that Bezos was doing that. Famed editor Martin Baron wrote a book, Collision of Power: Trump, Bezos and the Washington Post, which praised Bezos’s management and gave us reason for hope.
But things changed with Trump’s second term, Baron says. Bezos overruled his staff’s endorsement of Kamala Harris and he limited the scope of his editorial pages to focus only on “personal liberties and free markets,” quashing what was once an exchange of ideas.
“ It’s been infuriating to observe the damage he has inflicted in recent months on the reputation of a newspaper whose investigative reporting has served as a bulwark against Trump’s most transgressive impulses,” Baron wrote in The Atlantic, noting also that Bezos has offered Melania Trump $40 million for a documentary of her life.
That’s one more reason to stop those ubiquitous Amazon boxes. The others should be obvious: why give money to a rich scallawag who cares nothing about us and why not help our neighbors who own our local businesses?
Joan Hammel’s cover story shows the difficulties and benefits of shopping locally; among the benefits, the kind and knowledgeable help you get in our local stores. I hope it inspires you to drop the box and visit our great local businesses.
Our upcoming Best Of magazine, which comes out the last week of March, is a guide that will help you find our best shops and services. It’s a roadmap to thinking and shopping locally.
Let’s support our neighborhood businesses and free speech at the same time.
We’ve got two fun dog stories in this issue: One on literal hot dogs, the other on dog movie stars. That’s a barking good time.
Enjoy and thanks for reading.
Brad Kava | Editor
PHOTO CONTEST
HUM BABY This hummingbird was shot at the UCSC arboretum March 8. Photograph by Jo Koumouitzes
GOOD IDEA
The Watsonville Center for the Arts (375 Main Street) presents the Eclose Art Exhibit, a solo exhibition by Jaime Sánchez. This showcase runs through May 3 and celebrates artistic transformation and cultural exchange in Watsonville. The gallery opens Mondays and Tuesdays, 3-7pm, with an artist talk March 28 at 6:30pm. Also, Arts Council Santa Cruz County, in partnership with regional arts organizations, has been awarded a $250,000 workforce development grant as part of Uplift Central Coast’s Catalyst Funding Program. This initiative will help build career pathways for arts educators, addressing the growing demand for credentialed arts teachers.
GOOD WORK
Jennalee Dahlen, founder of Yoso Wellness Spa, has been named the 2025 Esthetician of the Year at The Skin Games, the most prestigious international esthetics competition, recognizing the industry’s top professionals from around the world. Competing against hundreds of estheticians, Dahlen secured 1st and 2nd place rankings in six case study categories before earning the ultimate honor as Esthetician of the Year. This victory is the culmination of three years, 19 case study categories, and 15 top-three placements, showcasing Dahlen’s expertise in advanced skincare, holistic healing, and results-driven transformations.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“Democracy Dies in Darkness.” —The Washington Post’s motto
As a resident of Santa Cruz, I am outraged by the recent dismantling of USAID, an agency that has worked for over six decades to promote peace, stability and global prosperity. The person most responsible for this reckless move is Elon Musk, who, through his Department of Government Efficiency, has pushed the agenda to slash USAID’s funding.
Musk’s involvement in this effort is particularly troubling. His businesses, from SpaceX to Tesla, benefit from global markets that USAID has helped create. For Musk to attack an agency that supports American businesses by fostering international partnerships is a betrayal of U.S. interests. It’s not just about aid—it’s about economic growth and security.
USAID’s work is far from “wasteful,” as Musk claims. It’s an essential investment that strengthens diplomatic ties, promotes U.S. business abroad, and prevents crises that could lead to military interventions. Musk’s reckless campaign to cut USAID will only embolden adversaries like China and Russia, who are more than willing to fill the void left by the U.S.
We must demand that our leaders restore USAID’s funding. The harm caused by Musk’s actions is not just to the most vulnerable populations—it’s a direct threat to our national security and economic future.
Robin Baker | Santa Cruz
ONLINE COMMENTS
NEW PERFORMANCE COLUMN
I’m glad to see your new Performance column. I wonder if you are aware of our classical string orchestra, the Concertino Strings, that meets and performs regularly in Boulder Creek.
I’m Joanne Tanner, the director. I have been listing our concerts regularly in the GT events, but would love to have a little more about the orchestra in Good Times. We play a new program about every two months and have been increasing in size and quality for the last four years; we began as a pandemic group when many dedicated string players had no place to play for several years because the Cabrillo performing groups shut down.
I especially wanted to direct you to our website, concertinostrings.com, to learn more about Concertino Strings. We now regularly have 25 members, string players from all over Santa Cruz County, and often incorporate harpsichord, organ or piano and sometimes guest wind or percussion.
Our next concerts are at our “residence,” the historic 150 year old Boulder Creek United Methodist Church, 12855 Boulder St., on April 9 at 11:30am and April 12 at 3pm. The theme is “Celebrate Spring with Strings.” The program will be Edward Elgar’s Serenade for Strings, Op 20, subtitled “Spring Serenade”; Vivaldi’s Concerto for Violin and Organ, Joanne Tanner and Robert Jackson, soloists; Renata Bratt’s Joy in the Day, an upbeat mashup of fiddle tunes mixed with “Singing in the Rain” and “Blue Skies”—the audience will have an opportunity to join in on vocals!
Admission is always FREE with donations gratefully accepted. Concerts are an hour long. For more info about the orchestra, go to concertinostrings.com.
Cheetahs are the fastest land animals. From standing still, they can be running at 70 miles per hour three seconds later. But they can’t sustain that intensity. After a 20-second burst, they need to relax and recover. This approach serves them well, enabling them to prey on the small creatures they like to eat. I encourage you to be like a metaphorical cheetah in the coming weeks, Aries. Capitalize on the power of focused, energetic spurts. Aim for bursts of dedicated effort, followed by purposeful rest. You don’t need to pursue a relentless pace to succeed. Recognize when it’s right to push hard and when it’s time to recharge.
TAURUS April 20-May 20
Inside a kaleidoscope, the colored shards of glass are in an ever-shifting chaotic jumble. But internal mirrors present pleasing symmetrical designs to the person gazing into the kaleidoscope. I see a similar phenomenon going on in your life. Some deep intelligence within you (your higher self?) is creating intriguing patterns out of an apparent mess of fragments. I foresee this continuing for several weeks. So don’t be quick to jump to conclusions about your complicated life. A hidden order is there, and you can see its beauty if you’re patient and poised.
GEMINI May 21-June 20
Spiders spin their webs with meticulous care, crafting structures that are delicate, strong and useful. Their silk is five times more robust than steel of the same diameter. It’s waterproof, can stretch 140 percent of its length without splitting and maintains its sturdiness at temperatures as low as -40 degrees. With that in mind, Gemini, I bid you to work on fortifying and expanding your own web in the coming weeks—by which I mean your network of connections and support. It’s an excellent time to deepen and refine your relationships with the resources and influences that help hold your world together.
CANCER June 21-July 22
Chichén Itzá was a large pre-Columbian city from around 600 to 1200 CE. It was built by Mayan people in what’s now Mexico. At the city center was a pyramid, the Temple of Kukulcán. During the equinoxes, and only on the equinoxes, sunlight fell on its steps in such a way as to suggest a snake descending the stairs. The mathematical, architectural and astronomical knowledge necessary to create this entertaining illusion was phenomenal. In that spirit, I am pleased to tell you that you are now capable of creating potent effects through careful planning. Your strategic thinking will be enhanced, especially in projects that require long-term vision. The coming weeks will be a favorable time for initiatives that coordinate multiple elements to generate fun and useful outcomes.
LEO July 23-Aug. 22
Fireflies produce very efficient light. Nearly all the energy expended in their internal chemical reactions is turned directly into their intense glow. By contrast, light bulbs are highly inefficient. In accordance with astrological omens, Leo, I urge you to be like a firefly in the coming weeks, not a light bulb. You will have dynamic power to convert your inner beauty into outer beauty. Be audacious! Be uninhibited! Shower the world with full doses of your radiant gifts.
VIRGO Aug. 23-Sept. 22
Brazil nut trees grow in the Amazon—but if only they are in the vicinity of orchid bees, their sole pollinators. And orchid bees thrive in no other place except where there are lots of blooming orchids. So the Brazil nut tree has very specific requirements for its growth and well-being. You Virgos aren’t quite so picky about the influences that keep you fertile and flourishing—though sometimes I do worry about it. The good news is that in the coming months, you will be casting a wider net in quest of inspiration and support. I suspect you will gather most, maybe all, of the inspiration and support you need.
LIBRA Sept. 23-Oct. 22
In 1858, businessperson James Miller Williams was digging a new water well on his land in Ontario, hoping to compensate for a local drought. He noticed oil was seeping out of the hole he had scooped. Soon, he became the first person in North America to develop a commercial oil well. I suspect that you, too, may soon stumble upon valuable fuels or resources, Libra—and they may be different from what you imagined you were looking for. Be alert and open-minded for unexpected discoveries.
SCORPIO Oct. 23-Nov. 21
I’ve been through the US education system, and I can testify that our textbooks don’t give the French enough of the credit they deserve for helping our fledging nation gain independence from Great Britain. The 18th-century American Revolution would not have succeeded without extensive aid from France. So I’m a little late, but I am hereby showering France with praise and gratitude for its intervention. Now I encourage you, too, to compensate for your past lack of full appreciation for people and influences that have been essential to you becoming yourself. It’s a different kind of atonement: not apologizing for sins, but offering symbolic and even literal rewards to underestimated helpers and supporters.
SAGITTARIUS Nov. 22-Dec. 21
As I survey the astrological aspects, I am tempted to encourage you to be extra expansive about love. I am curious to see the scintillating intimacy you might cultivate. So, in the hope you’re as intrigued by the experimental possibilities as I am, I invite you to memorize the following words by author Maya Angelou and express them to a person with whom you want to play deeper and wilder: “You are my living poem, my symphony of the untold, my golden horizon stretched beyond what the eye can see. You rise in me like courage, fierce and unyielding, yet soft as a lullaby sung to a weary soul. You are my promise kept, my hope reborn, the infinite melody in the heart of silence. I hold you in the marrow of my joy, where you are home.”
CAPRICORN Dec. 22-Jan. 19
Four facts about a mountain goat as it navigates along steep and rocky terrain: 1. It’s strong and vigorous; 2. it’s determined and unflappable; 3. it’s precise and disciplined; 4. it calls on enormous stamina and resilience. According to my astrological analysis, you Capricorns will have maximum access to all these capacities during the coming weeks. You can use them to either ascend to seemingly impossible heights or descend to fantastically interesting depths. Trust in your power to persevere. Love the interesting journey as much as the satisfaction of reaching the goal of the journey.
AQUARIUS Jan. 20-Feb. 18
The Swiss Army knife is a compact assemblage of tools. These may include a nail file, scissors, magnifying glass, screwdriver, pliers, blade, can opener and many others. Is there a better symbol for adaptability and preparedness? I urge you to make it your metaphorical power object during the coming weeks, Aquarius. Explore new frontiers of flexibility, please. Be ready to shift perspective and approach quickly and smoothly. Be as agile and multifaceted as you dare.
PISCES Feb. 19-March 20
Coast redwoods are the tallest trees on the planet. If, Goddess forbid, lumber harvesters cut down one of these beauties, it can be used to build more than 20 houses. And yet each mature tree begins as a seed the size of a coat button. Its monumental growth is steady and slow, relying on robust roots and a symbiotic relationship with a fungus that enables it to absorb water from fog. I propose we make the redwood your power symbol for now, Pisces. Inspired by its process, I hope you implement the magic of persistent, incremental growth. Treasure the fact that a fertile possibility has the potential, with patience and nurturing, to ripen into a long-term asset. Trust that small efforts, fueled by collaboration, will lead to gratifying achievements.
Homework: Henry James said, “Excellence does not require perfection.” Give an example from your own life. Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com
Dreamers Restaurant offers throwback breakfast-lunch hits, like omelet with cheddar and red onion, and elevated sloppy Joe barbecued beef on a French roll
The Crepe Place has been an epicenter for the independent music scene since returning owner Adam Bergeron started the music in 2007. The place feels as comfortable to me as a friend’s back porch.
Before the days of mega corporations owning media, newspapers were owned by wealthy entrepreneurs who were members of their communities and invested in their well-being...
As a resident of Santa Cruz, I am outraged by the recent dismantling of USAID, an agency that has worked for over six decades to promote peace, stability and global prosperity.
