Some years ago, 2004 or so, there was Michael, usually sitting in front of the main post office, drawing cartoons, Mouse, political, fun, SC characters. Together with my business partner we would see him frequently during the week, mailing our unsuccessful PR materials. Often chatting with Michael, we’d buy his work for a dollar, then $5, then we came up with an idea he could be selling his work to a local newspaper. Oddly enough, no one wanted either our efforts or the relationship to even start, allegedly due to improper or lack of documents on Michael’s part. Can you relate? More awareness 20 years later? I recall stories from the ’60s, there was no paperwork needed to start tamales, hot dogs, or beach ice cream stand, and perhaps, only perhaps there were less homeless people? Who has the stats, or who cares?
Wolf | Goodtimes.sc
WE CARE
Wolf, I do not have the stats, but I CARE. The homeless in Pajaro are in my Cabrillo district. The homeless Cabrillo students searching for a place to live and study are part of my purview as a trustee. We need to build our dorm on the Aptos campus for 300 students. Yes, it matters to me. It is now under Environmental Impact Review. And I want to thank writer Josue Monroy for an EXCELLENT article. This is the kind of journalism we need. The individuals interviewed raised questions about being unhoused that few reporters ever broach.
Steve L Trujillo | Goodtimes.sc
UNHOUSED ART, PT 2
It’s too bad it was only for one day…after all, our unhoused live with this daily; the least they could be given a few weeks of a showing so more people could be impacted by the truth.
Valerie Arno Goodtimes.sc
UCSC DEMONSTRATION
I was just at the base of campus where United Auto Workers Union of UCSC employees and other groups are all at the base of campus and the UCSC police are completely detouring traffic so people don’t actually even see what’s going on.
There is absolutely no reason to detour traffic except to have the entire thing go unnoticed. If you were to drive up there right now, it would look as if nothing is happening. There’s no reason to detour the traffic because this critical and massive action and the wide range of demonstrators are not blocking through traffic.
Please send reporters there right now and what’s happening. There are a lot of reporters who have been there today, but that was before the UCSC police blocked the roads. I was wondering why all of the traffic stopped pouring through. This is telling and notable.
There are a lot of things that have been invented here in Santa Cruz that I bet you might not know about.
The camera phone is one, invented by Philippe Kahn June 11, 1997, while he was awaiting the birth of his daughter at Sutter Maternity and Surgery Center. Then there’s Auto-Tune, the bane of all talented musicians and a boon for rappers, created by local engineer Andy Hildebrand. And, of course, the lightweight headsets that traveled with astronauts made by Plantronics.
This week we feature another local inventor, Bobby Seals, who created the Cool Tool multi-use bicycle fixer and the Kleen Kanteen water jug for hikers. Seals, as the story written by comic and writer DNA shows, is as much a personality as a creator.
He’s outraced a police officer on a horse in a 20-mile challenge. He’s built giant sculptures and made other things dealing with cycles, solar and stages. You will love his story.
Josué Monroy tells the tale of a crucial legal group in the county, one that helps people unfairly evicted from their homes. In a time like this, when rents are unaffordable and housing is short, this is a hugely important service.
We have to feel proud whenever Santa Cruz gets a national spotlight, and that’s how we feel about Beckmann’s Bakery, which won three blue ribbons for its pies at the American Pie Council’s 2024 competition in Florida at the end of last month, as recounted by writer Mark C. Anderson.
The contentious debate over whether city leaders should approve a dispensary operating near Santa Cruz High School has come to a close.
The Santa Cruz City Council voted 6-1 on May 13 to greenlight The Hook Outlet, a dispensary at the former site of Emily’s Bakery on the corner of Mission and Laurel Streets. Read William Woodhams’ story to see the details.
On the hundredth anniversary of the Giant Dipper, Santa Cruzans reflect on their first rides in John Koenig’s Street Talk column.
“In sixth grade I did Boardwalk Summer Camp,” recalls Zack Stack, 20. “My sister loved roller coasters, but I did not, I was terrified. It took a lot of effort to convince me to ride with her, but when I finally gave in, I loved it. I rode multiple times in a row to make faces at the camera.”
BradKava | Editor
PHOTO CONTEST
LOOK, UP IN THE SKY The Beach Boardwalk put on a fireworks show to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Giant Dipper roller coaster. Photograph byMaria Choy
GOOD IDEA
Veteran Surf Alliance, a Santa Cruz–based nonprofit, is holding its sixth annual Memorial Day ceremony and paddle out, Monday, May 27, 9am–4pm on the Capitola Esplanade. All are invited to join.
Ceremonies begin at 9am and include Marine Corps Color Guard, National Anthem, Invocation Ceremony, Brief History of the Origins of Surfers Memorial Circle, and the Significance of Memorial Day. Family members of those
who died in service are invited to bring a photo or military memorabilia of their loved one to the Honor Table. The Memorial Paddle Out begins at 10:30.
GOOD WORK
U. S Rep. Jimmy Panetta secured $474,999 to assist California State University, Monterey Bay in its work to support farmworkers and their families to achieve success in their first year of higher education and beyond. This funding was made possible through the United States Department of Education’s College Assistance Migrant Program.
Institutions of higher education use CAMP grant funding to conduct outreach to students who are migratory or seasonal farmworkers as well as their immediate family members. Additionally, funding will support counseling, tutoring, skills workshops, financial aid stipends, health services and housing assistance for these students.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk.” —Thomas Edison—
In the coming weeks, you will experience uncomfortable weirdness if you do the following: 1. Meander without focus or purpose; 2. give yourself permission to postpone, procrastinate, and engage in avoidance behavior; 3. ignore the interesting though challenging truths that are right in front of you; 4. hang out with people with mediocre ambitions. But you will experience healthy, uplifting oddness if you do the following: 1. Trust your instincts and intuitions; 2. authorize your spontaneity to invigorate and guide you; 3. take the straightforward path that gets you to the destination most efficiently; 4. be crisp and nimble.
TAURUS April 20-May 20
Mysterious energies will soon begin healing at least some of the wounds in your financial genius. As a result, I predict new powers of attraction will awaken in you, making it likely you will add to your wealth in the coming months. To synergize these happy developments, I recommend you give yourself permission to have joyous fun as you lust for more cash. More good news: I will supplement your good fortune by casting a benevolent spell to boost the flow of riches into your bank account.
GEMINI May 21-June 20
When I first got my job writing a horoscope column, I wasn’t looking for it. It found me. My bike had been stolen, and I was looking for a new one in the classified ads of the Good Times, the local Santa Cruz newspaper. There I serendipitously spied a “Help Wanted” ad. The publisher of the Good Times was hiring a new astrology writer to replace Robert Cole, who had just quit. I quickly applied for the gig and got it. Ever since, Robert Cole has been a symbol for me of an accidental and unexpected opportunity appearing out of nowhere. I mention this, Gemini, because when I meditate on you lately, I see the face of Robert Cole.
CANCER June 21-July 22
In myths and legends, the consummate spiritual goal has various names: the Holy Grail, philosopher’s stone, pearl of great price, nirvana, alchemical gold, key of life and many others. I appreciate this profusion of sacred symbols. It encourages us to not be too literal about identifying the highest reward. The old fables are equally equivocal about where the prize can be found. Is it in an empty desert or dark forest? In the deepest abyss, on a mountaintop, or in the backyard? I bring these thoughts to your attention, Cancerian, because the coming months will be an excellent time to conduct a quest for the marvelous treasure. What do you need most right now? What’s the best way to begin your search?
LEO July 23-Aug. 22
I have good news for any Leos who are devoted to pragmatism and rational analysis. Just this once, my horoscope will offer no lyrical teasers or mystical riddles. Your pressing need for no-nonsense grit has moved me to offer straightforward, unembellished counsel. Here it is, dear: Cultivate connections that will serve your passionate ambitions. Make vigorous use of your network and community to gather information that will serve your passionate ambitions. Meditate on what course corrections might be necessary to serve your passionate ambitions.
VIRGO Aug. 23-Sept. 22
For many of you Virgos, your health seems chronically unsettled. You may be constantly hyper-vigilant about the next glitch that could possibly affect your well-being. There’s a problem with that approach: It may intensify your fear of frailty, which in turn saps your vigor. But I’m happy to report that in the coming months, you will have an enhanced power to break out of this pattern. To get started, try this: Every morning for four minutes, picture yourself overflowing with vitality. Visualize every part of your body working with joyful heartiness. Send streams of love and gratitude to all your organs. Do this for the next 21 days.
LIBRA Sept. 23-Oct. 22
Many people regard the word “faith” as referring to delusional hope or wishful thinking. But I ask you to rethink its meaning—and consider the possibility that it could be an empowering force in the coming months. How? Imagine a faith that’s earthy and robust. You actually feel it vibrating in your heart and gut. It literally alters your brain chemistry, fortifying your natural talents and attracting needed resources. It liberates you to feel pragmatically excited as you pursue your goal of fulfilling your soul’s code.
SCORPIO Oct. 23-Nov. 21
When I was born, my parents gave me the name “Robert.” It’s derived from an Old North French word meaning “shining” and “bright with glory.” In Middle English, though, “robert” was a designation for “a wastrel, a marauder, a good-for-nothing.” I use this dichotomy as a reminder that my own nature is a mix of brightness and darkness. A lot of me is shining and inspirational, but there’s also a part that’s ignorant and confused. And what’s true about me is true about everyone else, including you: We are blends of the best and the not-so-best. Now is a good time to draw strength and wisdom from meditating on this reality. Your shadowy aspects have important and interesting truths to reveal to your brilliant aspects—and vice versa.
SAGITTARIUS Nov. 22-Dec. 21
Here are some meditations on emotions. They are as key to our intelligence as our thoughts! But it’s crucial that we distinguish between emotions generated by delusions and emotions that are responses to true perceptions. Let’s say I get angry because I imagine a friend stole money from my room while visiting, but then later I put on my vest and find the supposedly stolen cash in the vest pocket. That is a delusional emotion. But if I am sad because my friend’s beloved dog is sick, that is emotion based on an accurate perception. I bring this to your attention, Sagittarius, because I believe it is essential that in the coming weeks you discern between the two types.
CAPRICORN Dec. 22-Jan. 19
As an adjunct to the Ten Commandments, I have formulated the Ten Suggestions. Here’s Suggestion #1: Wash your own brain at least three times a year. I’m speaking metaphorically, of course. What I mean is that like me and everyone else, you are always accumulating junky thoughts and useless feelings. Some are generated by our old, conditioned responses, and some pour into us from the media and entertainment industries. And it’s best to be proactive about the toxic build-up—not allow it to become monumental. In my astrological opinion, now is an excellent time for a regular mind cleanse.
AQUARIUS Jan. 20-Feb. 18
So many writers have said terrible things about our existence on planet Earth. “Life is a disease,” wrote George Bernard Shaw. “Life is a bad dream,” declared Eugene O’Neill. Life is “a vast cold junkpile,” according to Stephen King. There are thousands more of these unnuanced disparagements. Why? Here are the facts, as I see them: As tough as it can be to navigate through problems and pain, being alive in our miraculous bodies with our dazzling awareness is a sublime gift. We are all blessed with a mysterious and fascinating destiny. In accordance with the astrological omens, Aquarius, I invite you to celebrate being alive with extra gratitude and ebullience. Begin the jubilee by feeling amazement and awe for your mysterious and fascinating destiny. Second step: Identify five sublime gifts in your life.
PISCES Feb. 19-March 20
In the coming weeks, I ask you to refrain from indulging in extreme nostalgia. On the other hand, I encourage you to explore the past and sift through memories with the intention of clarifying what really happened back then. Pluck new lessons from the old days that will help you forge smart decisions in the near future. Use your history as a resource while you redefine the meanings of pivotal events. For extra credit, create a new title for the book you may someday write about your life story.
Local activist, therapist and teacher Rick Longinotti recently published a book titled That Loving Feeling: A Couples Guide to Transform Hurt and Criticism into Kindness and Gratitude. It’s a practical guide to nonviolent communication (NVC). Longinotti will be leading Zoom study groups based on That Loving Feeling on four Mondays 7–8:30pm, beginning June 3; the sliding scale is $90–$180. Register at nvcsantacruz.org. In 2004, Longinotti co-founded NVC Santa Cruz with his wife, Aviva, Jean Morrison and Christine King.
John Malkin: Congratulations on the publication of your book, That Loving Feeling. It’s a unique blend of fiction and workbook that explains NVC practices.
Rick Longinotti: I deliberately made it fiction because a self-help book seems kind of dry. The story adds an emotional connection. My wife and I read a book like this about parenting when our kids were young called Liberated Parents, Liberated Children. It was their own story that was fictionalized. They were two moms of young children that were attending a parenting workshop. I think people can learn more when they feel emotionally connected.
For people who aren’t familiar with nonviolent communication, explain briefly this model that is beyond the usual reward and punishment.
It’s particularly helpful for couples because it removes blame from the equation. It’s a no-blame world. That’s different from the way we habitually think about our relationships. Often if we feel hurt, we think it’s because our partner didn’t acknowledge us or didn’t consider us. NVC offers some tools to get ourselves out of that feeling of hurt, without resentment.
SELF-EMPATHY OVER BLAME
You write about the importance of self-empathy and offering empathy to others.
When we feel hurt, we may respond defensively, angrily blaming. The self-empathy tool is a way to notice, “What’s going on? What are my needs behind this? Why am I feeling hurt?” Part of self-empathy is noticing the chatter in our heads; we’ll call it the “jackal” messages that may be deceptive. We may think we’re being rejected, when in fact our partner just doesn’t like something we did.
The next step is empathizing with our partner to see that they were just trying to get their needs met in a way that I didn’t like. But I see it wasn’t intentional. That combination of empathizing with yourself and being aware of the jackal tricks we play on ourselves, plus empathy out to the other person—this can relieve us of a lot of hurt and defensiveness. And then we’re able to express our needs without any guilt trips. Without any subtle coercion, we can just ask for what we want based on our needs behind it.
Marshall Rosenberg was the founder of NVC and passed away in 2015. I’m grateful he came to Santa Cruz to give workshops and presentations. Rosenberg would sing about empathy and use jackal and giraffe puppets to dramatize NVC. I always loved watching people being surprised by things he’d say like, “The most violent word in the English language is should.”
Rosenberg was a student of Carl Rogers, who was famous for saying that you can hold unconditional, positive regard for the person you’re talking to while also holding unconditional positive regard for yourself. That’s the underlying assumption of NVC; we’re all beautiful inside. And when we don’t act beautifully, it’s because we’re trying to get our needs met in tragic ways. So, it’s a very positive view of human nature. Rosenberg, as you mentioned, had very effective and funny ways to get that across.
ISRAEL AND GAZA
Recently, as part of NVC Santa Cruz, you led meetings called “Building our Muscles for Effective Communication about Israel and Palestine.” Locally there are lots of strong feelings about the ongoing Israeli war on the Palestinian Occupied Territories. What did you learn from the recent discussions?
The issue’s very close to my heart and I devour the news about what’s happening in Gaza. It reminds me a lot of my reaction to the Vietnam War. As a student in a Catholic high school I thought, “This is a war that’s necessary in order to preserve the freedom of religion and democracy in Vietnam.” And I had an evolution; by the time I was in college I felt, “This is a big mistake.” I thought my parents’ generation were ignorant and to blame for this big mistake. In other words, I got kind of self-righteous.
I wrote to my sister in 1972. Richard Nixon was running for reelection, and I knew she was planning to vote for Nixon. I said, “How could you vote for a war criminal?” She wrote me back a letter and said, “How could you be so self-righteous?” I thought, “Well, my effort at communicating over differences did not succeed here!”
Not until I learned NVC 30 years later, did I understand what it meant to be able to communicate in a way that was not self-righteous. It’s really about noticing that the people that are doing such violent and destructive things are people like me.
I’m an advocate for peaceful resolution of conflict. I consider what’s happening in Gaza right now tragic, with Israel’s reliance on indiscriminate military violence. For me the challenge is this: for people I know and care about and respect, who don’t have the same view about this war, how do I not think of them as part of the problem?
It’s just about noticing that we’re all human. We get caught in these traps, and some of them are so destructive. It makes no sense for me to feel self-righteous around this. I can feel a sadness that doesn’t diminish my respect for the people that disagree with me. It was in that spirit that Michael Levy and I attempted to have these workshops where we would invite people to practice in roleplays, taking different sides and talking to each other.
Were there breakthroughs in how people were discussing the violence in Gaza?
We had separate meetings for people with different points of view. We didn’t want to throw people together. Once people get triggered and emotionally upset, it’s very hard to calm down. So, we wanted to do some preparatory meetings with people that are of like mind. And we’re looking forward to trying to get people of opposite points of view together. But that hasn’t happened yet.
Listen to this interview on Thursday at noon on “Transformation Highway” with John Malkin on KZSC 88.1 FM / kzsc.org.
On the asphalt levee of the San Lorenzo River, a half mile from where the river mouth spills into the ocean, a huddle of mustard yellow shirts awaits instructions.
“Listen up, sugarplums!” says Jane Mio, drawing to her the eyes of the roughly dozen volunteers.
Mio gives direction to the group as they begin their weekly restoration efforts along the southernmost levees of the river. She is one of the leads of the River Stewards program, a collaboration between the Santa Cruz chapter of the Downtown Streets Team (DST) and the Coastal Watershed Council (CWC).
On this day, the team is clearing a patch of vegetation where some heavy equipment prolongedly sat, spreading invasive wheat seeds that had taken a ride on the machines.
“We’re doing the tedious work of liberating the plants,” Mio says. “And some of my people planted these yarrows a couple of years ago. The DST program als planted some of the buckeye.”
Mio is a local environmentalist and a fixture in the community. She is a Parks and Recreation commissioner for the City of Santa Cruz and has been involved with the Benchland Estuary Stewardship Program (BEST) amongst other projects. In 2022, the Santa Cruz City Council even dedicated an official day to her, Jane Mio Day.
The River Stewards program is the latest iteration of her ongoing endeavor, an extension of the BEST program, and has operated for the last two years. Unhoused individuals that are already contributing to the beautification of the city through DST are now learning about habitat restoration and river ecology. Participants receive a $20 gift card after each volunteer session.
“We had that root and [the] funding, and we were trying to figure out how to continue this,” Mio explains. “CWC and DST joined and worked together to do this.”
Erin Loury, Communications Manager for CWC, says that the program is funded by the California Coastal Commision through its Whale Tail grant initiative, and county funding sources such as the Fish and Wildlife Advisory Commision.
“With a program like this we get this consistent stewardship from a group of people and you get to see them really build that relationship with the river, which is really wonderful to see,” Loury says.
As the work gets underway, a volunteer that goes by the name “Cheetah”—a reference to the cheetah print cap he dons— says that the River Stewards have helped him meet new friends and stay out of trouble. He followed Mio over from the BEST program.
Cheetah, 59, is currently unhoused and lives in a tent near the work site. He’s decorated the outside of his tent with plants and also has a job keeping the levee corridor from the Laurel Street bridge down to the Boardwalk clean of trash.
“She taught us about how to restore the river. We clean up the trash, we’re planting or pulling up the ones that shouldn’t be there,” Cheetah says. “It’s really amazing.”
As the yellow shirts begin to crouch down and dig with hand shovels, Kaiya Giuliano-Monroy arrives and does a quick check-in with a volunteer. Giuliano-Monroy is a River Ecologist with CWC and team lead alongside Mio.
“I call it extreme gardening,” Giuliano-Monroy says.
There are various endangered species that inhabit the river, including steelhead trout and cliff swallows, she notes, and says their restoration efforts have revitalized this estuary.
“I actually saw a school of [steelhead trout] recently under the Chinatown bridge.”
A goal of the project, according to Giuliano-Monroy, is to build up a lush ecosystem along the levee that will attract pollinators, birds and fish.
“It’s like starting at the baseline to make the river a better ecosystem and then hoping that it works out towards the top,” she says. “It won’t ever be perfect because it’s a levee, but it’s definitely better than nothing.”
For Tom Fleischman, who is a volunteer team lead for Downtown Streets Team, being part of the restoration work signals to the community that unhoused people have much to contribute.
“I think that the people who are in need can have substantial contributions to our city beautification projects. Planting, gardening, all kinds of different things.”
The biggest one that comes to mind is the scene in the restaurant from When Harry Met Sally that ends with “I’ll have what she’s having.”
Amy Dahlen, 53, Educator
Philippe Cartin
The scene in Bruce Almighty with Jim Carey, when he’s trying to divide the waters with the tomato soup. I like that one.
Philippe Cartin, 31, Engineer
Jadyn Polk
The Big Kahuna Burger scene in Pulp Fiction. Samuel Jackson and John Travolta break into a guy’s apartment, and they’re like, “What kind of burger is this, good sir,” and quiz him why a Quarter Pounder in France is called a Royale with Cheese.
Jadyn Polk, 18, Student
Oscar Castro
The scene from Elfwhere Zooey Deschanel is singing “Baby It’s Cold Outside” in the shower and Will Farrell sings along too loud.
Oscar Castro, 20, Political Science major at UCSC
Megan Preuss
In The Big Lebowski, The best is when Walter has Donny’s ashes at the beach in the Folger’s coffee can. He says ‘Goodnight sweet prince,’ opens the can, shakes it out, and the wind blows all the ashes onto The Dude.
Megan Preuss, 20, History of Art and Visual Culture major at UCSC
Robert Huezo
The Other Guys. Samuel Jackson and The Rock are chasing bad guys on a tall building. The bad guys escape on a zip line. Sam Jackson says “Are you thinkin’ what I’m thinkin’?” The Rocks says, “Aim for the bushes!” They jump, a long fall, and splat! There’s no bushes there.
I am dismayed that a police chase on West Cliff Drive resulted in a death. Admittedly I do not know all the circumstances but couldn\’t the officer track vehicle down with a license plate to fine, etc? Endangering the public for an expired vehicle registration? RIP Nathan.
Susie Wood | Aptos
CAPITOLA BLOCKS DRIVEWAY
The city has changed. The current council, the city manager, and the public works director dont give a rats a** what the citizens want. They have their own agenda and no longer listen to the residents. They all need to be removed.
Mick Routh, former Mayor/Goodtimes.sc
DISGUSTED BY CAPITOLA
Tourists bring dollars to Santa Cruz/Capitola but these are local homeowners who pay property taxes and otherwise contribute to Capitola’s services. Put the lumber on a truck bed, park it somewhere nearby (not blocking homes or services) and truck it in when needed. This sounds like a lazy way of dealing with conflicting rights.
William Brigham/ Goodtimes.sc
MORE CAPITOLA
This is unacceptable. Staging for construction projects should not impose on a property owner’s access to their property.
Judi Grunstra/ Goodtimes.sc
CAPITOLA LOSS
I sure do miss Steve Burrell, the former city manager. May he rest in peace. He had the administrative and more importantly, the People Skills needed in today’s world. He would have found a solution to make a project happen without stepping on a homeowner/ taxpayer. You don’t realize how good you have it until it’s over. Charlie/ Goodtimes.sc
UNHOUSED ART, PT 2
It’s too bad it was only for one day…after all, our unhoused live with this daily the least they could be given a few weeks of a showing so more people could be impacted by the truth. Valerie Arno/ Goodtimes.sc
Who can forget their first ride on the Giant Dipper? It’s a rite of passage, a risk of passage for locals and some 2 million tourists a year. It’s hard to believe that in a transient California culture filled with things changing, we’ve had a truly historical landmark hitting the century mark.
Your first time on the ride is a big event, the day you step up to your biggest fears and face them, screaming and shouting and then buying the photo when you get down.
I can’t wait to take my 8-year-old son on his first ride, although for now, he wants no part of it. I already made the mistake of bringing him on the underground Fright Walk and he may never forgive me for it, so I’m patiently waiting for the day he’s ready for the big time.
No rush, because frankly, I remember being scared the first time because I’m no less scared every time I take it.
On that first giant downhill I swore I’d never do it again. But after catching my breath, I was ready for a redux. And here I am, doing it year after year.
Writer Geoff Dunn did it and got to hang out with Charles Canfield, the former big boss of the Beach Boardwalk. I was lucky enough once to get a private tour of Canfield’s old amusement collection of pinball machines and things retired from the arcade. It was unforgettably cool and I would pay for a tour of it again.
Dunn’s summation of his recent ride: “It’s thrilling! It’s life affirming! It’s fun! What an absolute rush!” What more can you say?
As I read this week’s issue I feel privileged to work with Dunn and writer Christina Waters, who wrote about the last production by the Jewel Theater. Unlike every other local publication GT has writers who have lived our local history and know its twists and turns. They don’t need to look up a wiki.
They were there and they know the players.
They can tell stories first hand with a depth and grace you won’t find elsewhere.
Sure, we’ve got plenty of Gen Nows, like Mat Weir, Josué Monroy, Mark C. Anderson, Morgan Guerra, Ruby Lee Schembari and Alexandria Bordas, but our bench is deep with institutional knowledge of Santa Cruz, people who know the people who make local history and have seen much of it firsthand.
I can’t overstate how important that is in the world of journalism.
Check out the depth of this issue and enjoy.
Thanks for reading.
Brad Kava | Editor
PHOTO CONTEST
DWARFED Taken at Bean Hollow State Beach, 5/10/24 (too bad it wasn’t May 4th). Photograph by Ali Eppy
GOOD IDEA
In November 2024, residents will vote on the Water and Wildfire Protection Act, a ballot measure that focuses on protecting water quality, reducing wildfire risk, protecting the health of the Monterey Bay and our beaches, forest preservation, wildlife habitats, and improving parks and natural areas in Santa Cruz County.
Following a signature-gathering effort that resulted in 16,049 signatures turned into the County Registrar in April, supporters will gather to announce the launch of the campaign and its goals.
The gathering is 10am Friday, May 17 at the Live Oak Library (adjacent to Corcoran Lagoon), 2380 Portola Drive, Santa Cruz.
GOOD WORK
When the next disaster strikes, hundreds of Amateur Radio (Ham radio) operators will be ready to assist government agencies in Santa Cruz County and beyond. These volunteers will demonstrate their radio skills on Saturday, June 22, in Aptos during their annual Field Day event.
Every June since 1933, more than 40,000 hams throughout North America set up stations in public places. This year’s is in the field behind Sevy’s on State Park Drive in Aptos. The public is invited. Admission is free.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“Life is like a roller coaster, live it, be happy, enjoy life.”
Polish-born author Joseph Conrad (1857–1924) didn’t begin to speak English until he was 21 years old. At 25, his writing in that language was still stiff and stilted. Yet during the next 40-plus years, he employed his adopted tongue to write 19 novels, numerous short stories and several other books. Today he is regarded as one of the greatest writers in the English language. You may not embark on an equally spectacular growth period in the coming months, Aries. But you do have extra power to begin mastering a skill or subject that could ultimately be crucial to your life story. Be inspired by Conrad’s magnificent accomplishments.
TAURUS April 20-May 20
Hypothetically, you could learn to give a stirring rendering of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 on a slide whistle. Or you could perform the “To be or not to be” soliloquy from Shakespeare’s Hamlet for an audience of pigeons that aren’t even paying attention. Theoretically, you could pour out your adoration to an unattainable celebrity or give a big tip to a waiter who provided mediocre service or do your finest singing at a karaoke bar with two people in the audience. But I hope you will offer your skills and gifts with more discernment and panache, Taurus—especially these days. Don’t offer yourself carelessly. Give your blessings only to people who deeply appreciate them.
GEMINI May 21-June 20
When I lived in San Francisco in 1995, thieves stole my Chevy Malibu. It was during the celebratory mayhem that swept the city following the local football team’s Super Bowl victory. Cops miraculously recovered my car, but it had been irrevocably damaged in one specific way: It could no longer drive in reverse. Since I couldn’t afford a new vehicle, I kept it for the next two years, carefully avoiding situations when I would need to go backward. It was a perfect metaphor for my life in those days. Now I’m suggesting you consider adopting it for yours. From what I can discern, there will be no turning around anytime soon. Don’t look back. Onward to the future!
CANCER June 21-July 22
Cancerian basketball coach Tara VanDerveer is in the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. She won more games than anyone else in the sport. Here’s one aspect of her approach to coaching. She says that the greatest players “have a screw loose”—and she regards that as a very good thing. I take her to mean that the superstars are eccentric, zealous, unruly and daring. They don’t conform to normal theories about how to succeed. They have a wild originality and fanatical drive for excellence. If you might ever be interested in exploring the possible advantages of having a screw loose for the sake of your ambitions, the coming months will be one of the best times ever.
LEO July 23-Aug. 22
Am I one of your father figures, uncle figures or brother figures? I hope so! I have worked hard to purge the toxic aspects of masculinity that I inherited from my culture. And I have diligently and gleefully cultivated the most beautiful aspects of masculinity. Plus, my feminist principles have been ripening and growing stronger for many years. With that as our background, I encourage you to spend the coming weeks upgrading your own relationship to the masculine archetype, no matter which of the 77 genders you might be. I see this as an excellent time for you to take practical measures to get the very best male influences in your life.
VIRGO Aug. 23-Sept. 22
Now that your mind, your heart and your world have opened wider than you imagined possible, try to anticipate how they might close down if you’re not always as bold and brave as you have been in recent months. Then sign a contract with yourself, promising that you will not permit your mind, your heart and your world to shrink or narrow. If you proactively heal your fears before they break out, maybe they won’t break out. (PS: I will acknowledge that there may eventually be a bit of contraction you should allow to fully integrate the changes—but only a bit.)
LIBRA Sept. 23-Oct. 22
I would love you to cultivate connections with characters who can give you shimmery secrets and scintillating stories you need to hear. In my astrological opinion, you are in a phase when you require more fascination, amazement and intrigue than usual. If love and sex are included in the exchange, so much the better—but they are not mandatory elements in your assignment. The main thing is this: For the sake of your mental, physical and spiritual health, you must get your limitations dissolved, your understanding of reality enriched and your vision of the future expanded.
SCORPIO Oct. 23-Nov. 21
Scorpio writer Andrew Solomon made a very Scorpionic comment when he wrote, “We all have our darkness, and the trick is making something exalted of it.” Of all the signs of the zodiac, you have the greatest potential to accomplish this heroic transmutation—and to do it with panache, artistry and even tenderness. I trust you are ready for another few rounds of your mysterious specialty. The people in your life would benefit from it almost as much as you.
SAGITTARIUS Nov. 22-Dec. 21
Have you been nursing the hope that someday you will retrain your loved ones? That you will change them in ways that make them act more sensibly? That you will convince them to shed qualities you don’t like and keep just the good parts? If so, the coming weeks will be an excellent time to drop this fantasy. In its place, I advise you to go through whatever mental gymnastics are necessary as you come to accept and love them exactly as they are. If you can manage that, there will be a bonus development: You will be more inclined to accept and love yourself exactly as you are.
CAPRICORN Dec. 22-Jan. 19
I brazenly predict that in the next 11 months, you will get closer than ever before to doing your dream job. Because of your clear intentions, your diligent pragmatism and the Fates’ grace, life will present you with good opportunities to earn money by doing what you love and providing an excellent service to your fellow creatures. But I’m not necessarily saying everything will unfold with perfection. And I am a bit afraid that you will fail to capitalize on your chances by being too insistent on perfection. Please assuage my doubts, Capricorn! Welcome imperfect but interesting progress.
AQUARIUS Jan. 20-Feb. 18
In his book Ambivalent Zen, Lawrence Shainberg mourns that even while meditating, his mind is always fleeing from the present moment—forever “lurching towards the future or clinging to the past.” I don’t agree that this is a terrible thing. In fact, it’s a consummately human characteristic. Why demonize and deride it? But I can also see the value of spending quality time in the here and now—enjoying each new unpredictable moment without compulsively referencing it to other times and places. I bring this up, Aquarius, because I believe that in the coming weeks, you can enjoy far more free time in the rich and resonant present than is normally possible for you. Make “BE HERE NOW” your gentle, relaxing battle cry.
PISCES Feb. 19-March20
Two-thirds of us claim to have had a paranormal encounter. One-fourth say they can telepathically sense other people’s emotions. One-fifth have had conversations with the spirits of the dead. As you might guess, the percentage of Pisceans in each category is higher than all the rest of the zodiac signs. And I suspect that number will be even more elevated than usual in the coming weeks. I hope you love spooky fun and uncanny mysteries and semi-miraculous epiphanies! Here they come.
Homework: I dare you to utterly renounce and dispose of a resentment you’ve held onto for a while. Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com
The world wasn’t ready for progressive-country band the Flatlanders when they formed in 1972. It wasn’t until after they broke up a year later that the members of the forward-thinking trio garnered a lot of praise and subsequently launched successful careers. One of those members, Butch Hancock, has been hailed as an exceptional songwriter who pens deceptively simple country songs that don’t utilize typical country chords. He’s a great American storyteller, poet and truth-teller with an astounding way with words—everything one wants in a singer-songwriter. Butch will be joined by his son, Rory. AARON CARNES
Violinist and composer Kaethe Hostetter left her native Santa Cruz at age 17 for Boston, where teaming up with Ethiopian American musician Danny Mekonnen led to a deep involvement in music from that African nation. They formed Debo Band and went on to tour internationally, including a performance at a major festival in Addis Ababa. In 2012, Hostetter formed Qwanqwa, which contemporizes traditional Ethiopian folk music with jazz, funk and other modern elements. Qwanqwa is on a major US tour, originally set for 2020, but postponed due to Covid. DAN EMERSON
INFO: 7pm, Kuumbwa Jazz, 320 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. $31.50/adv, $36.75/door. 427-2227.
EXPERIMENTAL
BUCKETHEAD
Get ready for a night of incredible guitar shredding! Buckethead is bringing his sick technical and experimental guitar skills to the Catalyst. He is truly a bizarre and mysterious figure in American experimental music. His ability to command the guitar, playing original music and covers, will leave the audience in awe and completely mesmerized by the anonymous virtuoso. His fast riffs and complex solos will suck you in; you’ll be unable to take your eyes off the guitar. Even with nearly all instrumental songs, Buckethead’s emotion and passion for craft are evident in every note he plays. ISABELLA MARIE SANGALINE
Kyle Field started the band Little Wings in 1998 after earning a BFA in visual art at UCLA. His songs are painterly and old-timey with the occasional blast of zany humor—a recipe for a genre some call “freak-folk.” His whimsical acoustic arrangements put him in the camp of M. Ward, an indie great he once collaborated with, and the band Real Estate, which he cites as an influence. His output has been prolific, with his most recent album, High on the Glade,garnering positive reviews. The Third Eyewrites it’s “an excellent pick if you like your folk music with a heavy dose of weird.” ADDIE MAHMASSANI
INFO: 7:30pm, Kuumbwa Jazz, 320 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. $31.50/adv, $36.75/door. 427-2227.
THEATER
SOMEWHERE: A PRIMER FOR THE END OF DAYS
A lot of it is in the name: it’s a play about the apocalypse, an end-of-days scenario about failing crops and dying insects. But the dystopian-wary shouldn’t shy away from this one; aside from the fall of civilization, it also features a slew of monarch butterflies on their way to the shore. And, there’s a truffle farm! Written by Marisela Treviño Orta, the play premiered at Skidmore during the pandemic, when actors wore N95 masks while gesturing across the stage. It’s a fitting legacy for a play about end times, and there’s a lot of hope tangled up in all that finality. JESSICA IRISH
As the countdown to Pride continues, prepare for a mix of drag, nature and fun! Mother Earth Drag Extravaganza is a celebration of fluidity in art, science and gender sponsored by Santa Cruz Pride and the Cantú Queer Center. This free event will feature performances by local favorite drag performers and several aquarium exhibits at the Marine Center, which will be open to the public. Don’t forget to bring lots of cash because even though it’s free, tipping drag performers is customary and helps keep them looking great with new costumes and makeup. Attendees are also encouraged to donate to the ACLU Drag Defense Fund. MAT WEIR
INFO: 7pm, Seymour Marine Discovery Center, 100 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz. Free. 459-3800.
SUNDAY
AUTHOR EVENT
THE DEEP READ: HERNAN DIAZ
Each summer, the Humanities Institute at UCSC selects a book for the Santa Cruz community to engage with. This year, the book is Trust, Argentinian American author Hernan Diaz’s latest. Diaz has won a Pulitzer Prize, been a PEN/Faulkner finalist, and won the Whiting Award, but joining none other than Dua Lipa for a conversation about the novel was the real honor. Trust is set during the financial collapse of the 1920s, exploring money and politics. Associate professor of literature Zac Zimmer will be conversing with Diaz, and who knows, maybe the two of them will dance the night away. JI
INFO: 3pm, Quarry Amphitheater, 1156 High St., Santa Cruz. Free. 423-0900.
TUESDAY
INDIE
GLITTERFOX
GLITTERFOX
The indie music genre is quite expansive and often used as a catchall to describe a wide range of bands. Some are on the harder, experimental edge, and then there are the soothers, storytellers and healers. On this cathartic side, the Portland-based Glitterfox resides with its melodic tones and blending of influences. Formed in 2012, this prolific quartet has released four brand-new singles since the beginning of the year and dropped a new video for “Portland,” released in March. Opening the show is Oakland’s own Ameriana singer/songwriter Caitlin Jemma. MW
Formed in 2015 in Toronto, Wine Lips exploded into punk and garage-psych glory in 2019 with the release of their album Stressor. After that, they took their uncompromising grit on the road for endless touring, breaking to record their 2021 follow-up, the magnificently titled Mushroom Death Sex Bummer Party. Frontman Cam Hilborn brings psychedelic intensity, while drummer Aurora Evans anchors the sound with impeccable rhythm. They’ve won comparisons to other garage-psych legends like Ty Segall and Osees (FKA Thee Oh Sees). Their latest offering, Super Mega Ultra, does not sound like a band slowing down; if anything, it sounds like a band hitting its peak. AM
The homeless Cabrillo students searching for a place to live and study are part of my purview as a trustee. We need to build our dorm on the Aptos campus...
There are a lot of things that have been invented here in Santa Cruz that I bet you might not know about. This week we feature...local inventor, Bobby Seals
ARIES March 21-April 19
In the coming weeks, you will experience uncomfortable weirdness if you do the following: 1. Meander without focus or purpose; 2. give yourself permission to postpone, procrastinate, and engage in avoidance behavior; 3. ignore the interesting though challenging truths that are right in front of you; 4. hang out with people with mediocre ambitions. But you will experience healthy, uplifting...
ARIES March 21-April 19
Polish-born author Joseph Conrad (1857–1924) didn’t begin to speak English until he was 21 years old. At 25, his writing in that language was still stiff and stilted. Yet during the next 40-plus years, he employed his adopted tongue to write 19 novels, numerous short stories and several other books. Today he is regarded as one...
