San Lorenzo Valley Post October 2021

Technology Backwoods SAN LORENZO VALLEY POST

By Julie Horner

Achorus of crickets serenade summer’s last moths, which pirouette open-winged upon the glass of a window turned wide to welcome the twilit air. On the hint of a breeze October’s early evenings are rich with the musk of midnight skunks busy with the turning of the season. There’s a look to the light now, westerly and amber hued. The first of the crisp mornings is already on the books. Those in the shadow of the mountains and deeper in the redwoods feel it first. A waning fair weather moon gazes purposefully, and a song about unrequited love springs to mind: “On a quiet street, where old ghosts meet…” Raglan Road, the words from a mid-century composition by Irish poet Patrick Kavanagh set to a traditional melody, Fainne Gael an Lae, or “the dawning of the day.” Dancing in limbo between sunny hikes and mountain music festivals and that first cord of firewood

before we sequester to our nests, we selfishly hold onto the outdoor spaces and find excuses to stay connected no matter what. mountain

Founders/Editors

Technology Backwoods

Like the Future Come True

By Julie Horner

Steve Mead confesses that he is not necessarily a high tech guy. “I was doing LEGOs to have something in common with my sons, and I started volunteering at the library,” he said. “The library approached me asking if I knew anything about robotics, and I said I could try.” So with some research Mead put together a robotics program within the library system using LEGOs.

In Robo Basics, “The kids learn how to program ultrasonic and touch sensors, and it’s all done with pictorial programming, wordplay, and sight and sound recognition, so that they start to learn the terminology of programming,” he said. In the more advanced Robo Sumo class, the kids are paired up in teams and they have to design, build, and program a LEGO robot to battle other team’s robots in a ring like Sumo wrestlers. The next level is Robo X-Games where the kids face sets of mobility challenges with their LEGO bots. Mead’s library robotics curriculum pairs students with kids they don’t know “to overcome just meeting somebody” and allows them to “work together through the obstacles of building and programming robotics.”

Five years into the program that he teaches at the Santa Cruz Main Library and at Boulder Creek, Felton, and Scotts Valley Branch Libraries, Mead is affectionately known as LEGO Steve.

May the 4th Be With You

With a foothold in robotics, Mead started thinking “after my sons grew up and I didn’t,” that he’d get back into Star Wars, and what would be better than to have an actual robot come into the classroom. “After 13 months of woodworking and metalworking and programming and coming up with different sensors and motors that would work right, R2-D2 was born.” The anatomically correct replica of Lucasfilm’s iconic droid, called “Artoosc” (R2 Santa Cruz) to avoid copyright difficulties, became so popular with students and their parents that he was asked to make public appearances in other places in the community. So Mead introduced Artoo at Star Wars Day, May 4th, in downtown Santa Cruz. Attended by Stormtroopers and Jedis of all ages, the event now attracts upwards of 500 kids each year and continues to grow.

Built to Spec

Part of Mead’s drive involves getting kids excited about building something themselves, following the concept that you can’t just buy it from a box. Mead’s Artoosc is built of wood from official blueprints available online. True Star Wars fans know that the original R2-D2 in the movies was painted Ford metallic blue and Chevrolet pure

Artoosc and ChopperBC - Replicas from the Star Wars series complete with Boulder Creek attitude

Steve Mead teaching robotics at the library

PHOTO BY JULIE HORNER continues on page 4

PHOTO BY SEAN MCLEAN

Technology Backwoods

Like the Future Come True (cont.)

continued from page 3

white. “I originally used the right colors,” he said, “but I didn’t like the way the blue came out so I went with Toyota blue.” Mead said the only person who noticed was C. Andrew Nelson, one of the actors who played Darth Vader.

“ChopperBC,” a C1-10P replica from the Star Wars Rebels television series complete with “Boulder Creek attitude,” was created on Mead’s Ender-3 3D printer. Sourcing a more eco-friendly polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG) 3D printer filament, he said “it’s taken me three years to figure it out and get the printer to do what I want it to.”

Both Artoosc and ChopperBC have MP3-enabled voices, and both are operated by a PlayStation PS2 remote. Mead noted that parents worried about their kids spending too much time with their consoles might actually be learning something after all. Mead’s robots have been all the rage at special events throughout the Bay Area and are in demand at Comic-Cons and gatherings of all kinds. There’s no charge for Mead or his droids; it’s all volunteer for the fun of it.

Technology inside Artoosc

“In our generation we went from dot matrix to 3D printing plastic — making objects. That is such a leap in technology. Now you can do anything you want.” Mead’s love of science fiction is the catalyst that sparks kids’ imaginations. It’s like the future come true.

Mead and his robots: @Artoosc

Contact: (831) 466-6262 | artoosc@yahoo.com mountain

PHOTO BY JULIE HORNER

Infrastructure

Power Outages: PG&E Responds

Thanks to citizen outrage and outreach to PG&E over frequent and increasing power outages in the Santa Cruz Mountains, the public utility held an online community meeting on September 24.

Residents and recent outage maps reported dozens of service interruptions lasting from 45 minutes to 9 hours or more. The problem arose after PG&E installed their new “fast trip” safety system that automatically shuts off power when something comes in contact with the line – such as wind, wildlife, and falling branches. Teresa Alvarado, Vice President, South Bay & Central Coast Region, said, “This measure is effectively helping to prevent wildfires, but the lengthy outages that you have experienced are not acceptable.” Alvarado confirmed that recent outages had, in some cases, been triggered by squirrels.

Advocates have long asked for the type of line switches that power companies use in Los Angeles and San Diego. These switches do cut power to lines when there’s any interruption. But they also notify the company of where the interrupted line is. In addition, San Diego has segmented their grid into sections of only a couple of blocks. Not only does this limit the number of people affected by the outage, but it makes it much faster to find the interrupted line and assess it.

PG&E admitted that the reclosers they’re using for their program don’t tell them the location of the outage. And that they needed to do a better job of isolating segments of the grid to limit the size of the outages and the time it takes them to find the fault and fix it. Mark Quinlan, PG&E’s Vice President of Wildfire Mitigation Operations and Execution, confirmed that crews are working on fine-tuning the local system to do just that. “We’ve already made some improvements that make the outages smaller,” he said.

PG&E did note that the new program had halved the number of “ignitions” they would have usually experienced in August and September.

Though they also admitted the outages have been unacceptable — 34 since the program started. Quinlan addressed the utility’s service issues, noting that while the outages will not go away, they will become shorter. In terms of outreach he said, “We understand we missed the mark on communications. We understand we missed the mark on response.”

For those hoping for reimbursement for fuel to run generators or for spoiled food, PG&E representatives said they won’t do that. They recommended customers go to select food banks where you’ll qualify for 3 days’ worth of food. Seniors also qualify for 2 meals a day during outages from Meals on Wheels.

They also urge everybody to:

» Go to pge.com/outage to update your information so you can receive notices.

» Email wildfiresafety@pge.com for updates, questions, or concerns. They committed to respond within 48 hours.

» Go to the App Store to download their reporting app. Use your phone to take pictures of dangerous conditions and send it to them with other information so they can respond.

» Check out pge.com/backuppower to see what types of backups might be right for your needs. They have programs to help customers pay for them, but they’re very limited. You need to be a senior with a well pump and a need for medical devices. Plus, the program has a waiting list.

If you’re still having problems, you can also complain to the California Public Utilities Commission, which regulates PG&E: appsssl.cpuc.ca.gov/cpucapplication mountain

PHOTO BY THOMAS ANDERSEN

Local Government

Redistricting Could Affect San Lorenzo Valley Voters

By Jayme Ackemann

Santa Cruz County is going through a redistricting process. Is anyone paying attention?

If you check out the scant feedback the county has already received you will notice one thing: Three of the five comments submitted, as of this writing, are from Scotts Valley residents interested in moving out of District One and into District Five, San Lorenzo Valley’s district. Scotts Valley is divided into two supervisorial districts. Communities on “the Branciforte side” of Highway 17 are considered part of District One overseen by Supervisor Manu Koenig, and the communities on the west side of the highway are part of Supervisor Bruce McPherson’s District. District Five also includes an interesting little peninsula that stretches

into the Mission Hill neighborhood in Santa Cruz.

The consensus of those Scotts Valley residents is that they would prefer to be unified under the Fifth District Supervisor.

But community preference isn’t the only consideration for commissioners as they review options for changing district boundaries.

The County hasn’t been subject to the kind of gerrymanders some hyper partisan communities have a reputation for carving out. The third district that snakes its way through the middle of Maryland probably deserves that distinction.

But that’s not to say we don’t tinker around the edges in a way that occasionally raises eyebrows in this county.

And there are clear guidelines that

Santa Cruz County’s Five Supervisorial Districts

Santa Cruz County’s Advisory Redistricting Commissioners (ARC 21) are asked to think about as they review the 2020 census data that might affect where county district lines are drawn.

Those guidelines include requirements that the districts must be contiguous, so that they don’t look like the Maryland “snake,” and they must have roughly equal populations.

And that’s where the impacts become tangible for the Fifth District. According to the mapping data, which is still being finalized, the Fifth District may be short by 2,000 people and District Three — Ryan Coonerty’s District — may be over by roughly 2,000 people.

“We still don’t have the final mapping to see how moving various census blocks around would actually affect the district,” said James Mosher, District Five Redistricting Commissioner and Felton resident.

This leaves more questions than answers for Santa Cruz City Councilperson and District Three Supervisorial Candidate Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson as she considers whether those 2,000 residents liv-

ing in the Bonny Doon area might stay in District Three or be consolidated into a mountain district as part of the Fifth.

“One of the things I’ve picked up is that geographic communities of interest want to stick together,” Kalantari-Johnson observed about the considerations affecting these communities. She added, “How would a move impact fire recovery efforts already underway?”

Your Comments Needed

There are three possible proposals that are likely to affect San Lorenzo Valley’s District:

» Add communities near UCSC and Bonny Doon to District Five to balance the populations of Districts 3 & 5.

» “Do Nothing” — Populations in each district may be within plus or minus 5 percentage points of one another. The 2,000 person difference is within the margin of error and therefore no change is required.

» Add the rest of Scotts Valley to District Five — The problem with this is that it creates more

page 7

Zach Friend

Maryland’s convoluted and disconnected 3rd Congressional District continues on

ComMentary

For Fire Recovery SLV Community Council an Idea Worth Considering

By Bob Fultz

By now you may have heard about a proposal to create an SLV Community Council, first introduced in the SLV Post on July 1, 2021. Regardless of the merits of the proposal and irrespective of your position on it, we should all support the importance of creativity and innovative “out-of-the-box” thinking about how to facilitate rebuilding in the wake of the CZU fire. Because, clearly, what is happening at the County Planning Department is not working. And hasn’t worked for some time. The CZU Fire happened to expose their dysfunction to a larger group of people at the same time.

Sadly, such creative thinking and innovation was immediately opposed by a group of people, long politically active in our community, who wrote a letter (SLV Post, August 20, 2021) opposing the idea before there was even an opportunity to give it serious consideration and weigh the pros and cons. Regrettably, this “in-the-box” thinking is what has resulted in County

policies that could very well financially ruin many of our neighbors who lost their homes through no fault of their own. By their homes simply being in the way of the CZU fire as it rampaged through our community. As it stands now, our neighbors must EITHER accept restrictive covenants being placed on their titles that will lower their property values well below market as a condition to rebuild OR accept building remediations that are so expensive as to make the costs of rebuilding rise well above current market values. And most likely not covered by insurance. This no-win choice is unacceptable. A change in the these seriously misguided policies surrounding rebuilds is urgently needed—something that only the County Supervisors can provide.

You may be asking yourself how this affects you. It is true that this policy affects hundreds of our neighbors now. But we live in a place that faces many disasters— torrential rain, earthquakes and wildfire. Should these misguided

policies be allowed to remain in place, the next disaster could result in many more of us facing the same “choices” offered by a Planning Department that is out of control. This is why we must fight to create more community-centered policies that allow for people to rebuild their homes without extraordinary red-tape or extraordinary costs. That enables our neighbors to restore their life to the way it was before the wildfire. Because until every family that wants to rebuild has rebuilt, our community will not be whole. It is time for all of us to stand with them and to tell the Supervisors to do the right thing.

As a candidate for the San Lorenzo Valley Water District Board of Directors in 2018, I ran on a positive “change the course” platform dedicated to finding creative and innovative ways to address our community’s water and finance issues. I’m grateful to the community who responded positively to that message and trusted me to help shape those positive changes. In my experience, we need new

ways of thinking about the many challenges our community faces. As the world changes, so we must change as well. Short-sighted policies that stymie our neighbors from rebuilding are a clear indication that we are falling short of that goal. After all, had misguided policies like this been in place decades ago, how many of us would have homes in this special community?

The idea of an SLV Community Council may or may not be the right solution. But creativity, innovation, engagement, discussion, and brainstorming are essential to moving our community forward. We need more of this at all levels of government. Even if 9 out of 10 ideas ultimately aren’t feasible, the 1 that is feasible is well worth the effort to seriously consider all 10. I urge everyone in our community to bring an open mind to the ongoing discussion and resist the inclination to prematurely reject this or any creative idea.

Bob Fultz is a Boulder Creek resident. mountain

Redistricting Could Affect San Lorenzo Valley Voters (cont.)

continued from page 6

imbalance with other districts. District One, which is currently in proper balance, would then be short roughly 2,000 residents.

It makes some sense to add Bonny Doon residents to District Five, if any change must be made, because ours clearly are “communities of concern” and share similar geographic features. This move also leaves the other districts in balance without creating a “domino” effect.

As the population differences between districts are within the margin of error, there’s also an argument for leaving the boundaries of each as

they are. And it seems hard to accept the Scotts Valley argument that its residents should be consolidated under one district without considering the other downstream implications of that move.

District Five residents should submit their comments and preferred options at the link below: santacruzcounty.us/Redistricting2021/CommunitiesofInterest.aspx

The window for public feedback on the process is tight — public hearings with the commission and the County Board of Supervisors will be scheduled in October and November for final consideration. Meeting details are posted on the

Redistricting website: santacruzcounty.us/Redistricting2021.aspx

Jayme Ackemann is a member of the San Lorenzo Valley Water District Board of Directors and Chair of the San Lorenzo Valley Community Council Steering Committee. She has spent decades working on transportation, water, housing, and social issues in communities throughout the Bay Area. Jayme has been a resident of Ben Lomond for more than 15 years. mountain

Community News

Open Studios: Jennifer Wildermuth Reyes Art

Jennifer Wildermuth Reyes opens her workspace for Santa Cruz Open Studios San Lorenzo Valley. The furthest north on the October tour, Wildermuth Reyes specializes in rendering animals, birds, and insects with a pop art twist. Included in her portfolio are paintings, drawings, and collages that reflect her interest in wildlife. The artist exhibits internationally and teaches locally at Art Lab in Boulder Creek, and she designed the Art Masterpiece program at Boulder Creek Elementary. She has also been tapped to be a lead for SLV to determine whether the community has interest in participating in Create California, a program of the California Arts Council, which promotes creativity and the arts among school age children to embolden future generations.

Jennifer Wildermuth Reyes at Open Studios San Lorenzo Valley weekends October 9 and 10 and 16 and 17, 11:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Location: 696 Quigg Way, Boulder Creek. santacruzopenstudios.com wildermuthreyesart.com

SLV High Alum Wins Advocacy Award

bchambers@baileyproperties.com

SLV High School alum Bijal Patel has won the Asian American Hotel Owners Association Political Forum Award for Advocacy. Patel is currently the Chairman of the California Hotel and Lodging Association and CEO of Coast Redwood Hospitality. He was honored for his work supporting hoteliers statewide throughout the pandemic. His advocacy has included working with Governor Gavin Newsom and regulatory agencies to expedite safe reopening guidelines for hotels and related small businesses. Patel is a 2008 graduate of San Lorenzo Valley High School. He and his family own and operate the Quality Inn in Ben Lomond.

Jennifer Wildermuth Reyes

PHOTO BY JULIE HORNER

List to sell, Bid to win!

Bijal Patel

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY BIJAL PATEL

Local Business

The Joy of Socks

The Best Washing Machines On Planet Earth... Seriously

By Julie Horner

A“laundromat is like a window into the soul of a community,” entrepreneur and longtime “laundry man” Brandon Parker said. “It’s about regular people coming to do this mundane chore all in the same place.” He sees it like cooking a big meal for a family gathering. “People come in with their friends and their dogs — it’s daily life — so making this a really comforting, pleasant place to be is a rad thing.”

The Village Wash, a familiar sight on Highway 9 in Boulder Creek, is now called “The Mat.” The space is open, bright, and clean. Parker has replaced the plumbing, the electrical, and the septic system. “It’s industrial grade everything,” Parker said. He finds inspiration from anything technical. “This to me is the most beautiful thing in the world,” pointing to freshly installed pipe and fittings. The original plumbing “was a nightmare from the 50s,” he said. With the drop ceiling removed and the walls stripped back to the original brick, he said, “the bones of this place are so industrial, so epic now. So much easier to work on and take care of.”

A serious investment to finance, he’s put his entire life savings into the project. “I’m excited and nervous,” he said. He’s not alone. There’s renewed energy in the San Lorenzo Valley with businesses like The Sawmill, Hooligan Smoke Club, and others making similar all-ornothing investments. “The last months feel like we’ve lost everything, like a piece of your soul has been cast away,” Parker said. So what’s left is letting go. “There’s a special community here, people are going harder and doing more and rebuilding together; people are on board with that, like we’re all connected in that way.”

The property has been in the family since 1974. “My parents came here in 1967, in the Summer of Love, thought they’d found a Garden of Eden in Boulder Creek.” Monty and Sherry Parker started the Turquoise Nugget and Jack’s Country Store in downtown Boulder Creek. Parker’s grandfather, Harold Sanborn, was a master plasterer and worked on Disneyland’s Pirates of the Caribbean ride. Harold and his wife Pearl moved up to Boulder Creek and started the laundromat in 1974. Soon the whole family worked there. Parker remembers grandma Pearl sitting him up on the counter to teach him how to count using quarters meant for the machines. “This place has a very special place in my heart, so that’s why I’m going for it.”

Because he grew up in a laundromat, he knows all the challenges. The heat, the quarters getting jammed in machines, machines not turning on,

nowhere to sit — The Mat is what a laundromat should be. “The laundry industry has been stuck in the 60s with few technological advances,” he said. Now there will be music playing and air conditioning. And the wifi will work.

According to Parker, the average person spends 8 hours per month doing laundry. The Mat is on the leading edge of app-based laundromats in the Santa Cruz Mountains with hyper efficient Speed Queen® machines with Quantum® Touch. You can pay with cash, credit card, or your phone. The app tells you which machines are available and how much time is left on a load. “The new machines are so much faster and stronger than the machines we used to have,” Parker said. “You can do all your laundry in an hour…it’s going to be a beautiful thing.”

Veteran attendants Karen Davenport and Tom Wester will be on hand to fluff and fold. The service in the past has been underutilized, Parker said, but in his view it’s one of the cheapest things you can do to feel like royalty.

With a grand opening in October, they will initially be offering free wash for CZU fire families.

BoulderCreekLaundry.com

@BoulderCreekLaundry | 831-338-9966

Open 7:00 am to 9:00 pm. mountain

PHOTO BY JON STALLINGS

Brandon Parker and Erin Hexen at The Mat

Boulder Creek Library Reopening Update

By Julie Horner

Construction at the Boulder Creek Branch Library is nearly complete. The library has been closed since March 2020 but because of the pandemic, and then the fire, the upgrade project was stalled for months. Crews have been busy this summer, and a sneak peek in late September 2021 reveals a refreshingly open circulation area, reading rooms bathed in natural light, and facilities that meet 21st Century standards. “It’s been a lot of hard work,” said

Damon

Adlao, Project Manager at the County of Santa Cruz Department of Public Works. The design, he says, is “simple, clean, and really nice.”

Upgrades include ADA compliant restroom facilities and barrier free access throughout the building, and the staff and patron entry areas are improved. In the great room, an expansive steel beam replaces the original support posts, and the circulation desk has been pushed back, which, Adlao said, “allows the room to be open and light and frees up space.” Areas of wooden slatwall panels act as a baffle to reduce echo and other noises and make the rooms look sleek and modern.

Lighting and electrical systems have been upgraded throughout. And a portion of the original art that was part of the design of the building 40 years ago and recently removed to the Boulder Creek Recreation and Parks District Bear Creek Facility are being returned. Whimsical masks created by ceramic artist Julie Mackie will be framed and installed in the adult reading room.

Adlao indicated that the remodeled Boulder Creek Library includes elements that are consistent with new designs throughout the Santa Cruz Public Libraries system. “We’re trying to update all libraries to this 21st Century model, which involves upgraded technology and creating spaces where students can break out into small learning groups.” Funding for this project is through Measure S and a grant from the Monterey Peninsula Foundation administered through the Boulder Creek Library Friends Chapter and the Friends of the Santa Cruz Public Libraries.

Abe Jayson of Jayson Architecture said, “It has been a wonderful process working with the Library, the County, and the community of Boulder Creek to create a vision for how the library can serve the public for future generations.” He is proud of a design vision that

takes cues from the natural and historical context of Boulder Creek, “with inspiration from the surrounding mountains and redwoods reflected in the use of warm wood finishes and a serene palette of greens.” He describes the children’s area as a “treehouse room wrapped in wood with glowing pendants of light hanging from the ceiling and a mural featuring luminous forest sprites sprinkled among the redwoods.” He also notes how the great room has been expanded by removing an awkward and inefficient entry hallway. The area, he said, will be accented with comfortable seating that can be used for study, reading, and conversation in front of the fireplace. And the history of Boulder Creek will be reflected in wall murals depicting early black and white photographs of the area. “The renovation has given this wonderful library momentum to serve the public for the decades to come.”

Santa Cruz Public Libraries Regional Manager, Laura Whaley said, “It looks like staff will be able to get back into the building in late October. It will take 6-8 weeks to get the building ready for public use so we are hoping for a mid-December opening.” And the Boulder Creek Friends of the Library are starting back up. Contact the Friends of the Santa Cruz Libraries at (831) 427-7716 or email friends@fscpl.org for more information. A reopening event is in the works. mountain

PHOTOS BY JULIE HORNER

Children’s reading room

Great room at the remodeled Boulder Creek Library

Community Calendar

October 2021

Bonny Doon Wine Festival

Saturday, Oct. 2 from 1:00 to 6:00 pm. Bonny Doon Equestrian Center, 3675 Bonny Doon Road. An afternoon of tastings with local wineries and breweries, artist and craft vendors, food trucks, three bands, and all around good vibes. bonnydoonartandwinefestival.com

Harvest Faire at Roaring Camp Weekends, Oct. 2-31, 2021. Roaring Camp Railroads, 5401 Graham Hill Road, Felton. Welcome Fall with the Harvest Faire at Roaring Camp! Take the Redwood Forest Steam Train to Bear Mountain. Pick a pumpkin from the town pumpkin patch. Have fun with Covid-safe children’s heritage activities. roaringcamp.com

Open Studios Art Tours

Saturdays & Sundays, Oct. 2 & 3 (South County), Oct. 9 & 10 (North County), Oct. 16 & 17 (All County). All dates 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. Explore creativity in Santa Cruz County. 35 years of connecting artists with people who love art. Artists from the redwoods to the bay open their studios so that friends, neighbors, and strangers from near and far can discover art in this stunning county. It’s all free, and you’re invited! Get the FREE Guide at White Raven, SCM Art Center, Mountain Feed. santacruzopenstudios.com

Beach Boardwalk Chili Cook-Off

Saturday, Oct. 23, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, 400 Beach Street, Santa Cruz. Bring your appetite and join the fun as both professional and amateur chefs work their culinary magic and compete for the “Best Chili” title.

Steampunk Picnic 2021

Saturday, Oct. 23 from 1:00 to 4:00 pm at Felton Covered Bridge Park. Now in its 5th year, organizers request costumes and a BYO picnic lunch. facebook.com/ events/288643349391299

Annual Glass Pumpkin Patch

Saturday & Sunday, Oct 23 & 24 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm at the Live Oak Grange 1900 17th Ave. in Santa Cruz. Beautiful handmade glass pumpkins and gourds created by glass artist Chris Johnson. A dazzling array of colors, in all sizes and for every budget. Five percent of proceeds will be donated to the Grange. No purchase required - all are welcome to come enjoy the outside garden of beautiful art glass! Each pumpkin is one of a kind.

Dia de los Muertos Celebration at Evergreen Cemetery

Saturday, Oct. 31 all day. Join this community celebration of traditional music, dance, and art at Evergreen Cemetery 261 Evergreen St. Santa Cruz. Live performances by Senderos’ Centeotl Danza y Baile and Ensamble Musical de Senderos. Stroll through the Cemetery in a self-guided presentation of community altars. Free, Hosted by the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History.

Halloween Trick-or-Treat at the Boardwalk

Sunday, Oct. 31 from noon to 7:00 pm at

400 Beach St., Santa Cruz. $12 package includes:

» Collectible Boardwalk Candy Bag: Fill your bag with candy from participating food and shopping locations on the Boardwalk

» $10 MyBoardwalk Card: Play fun outdoor midway or arcade games

Costume Contest: Stop by the Neptune’s Stage to take your photo and enter the costume contest for your chance to win a MyBoardwalk Card.

Felton Halloween Downtown

Trick-or-Treat

Sunday, Oct. 31 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. Halloween festivities and treats for the kids. downtownfelton.com

Boulder Creek Trick-or-Treat Street

Sunday, Oct. 31 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. Mask up in your scariest finery and join the fun in Boulder Creek this Halloween! Always a treat as kids and the costumed take over Historic Downtown Boulder Creek.

Boulder Creek Recreation and Parks

Halloween Afterparty

Sunday, Oct. 31 from 7:00 to 10:00 pm. The Boulder Creek Recreation & Park District will be throwing their Halloween after party in the gym at 13333 Middleton Ave. in Boulder Creek. Fun and safe event for teens and families. Dance the night away next to a live band and don’t worry about dinner, food truck on site! mountain

Entertainment Calendar

SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS

Big Basin Vineyards

830 Memory Lane, Boulder Creek. (831) 621-8028 bigbasinvineyards.com

Cement Ship

FRI | OCT 1 | 5:30 TO 9:30

Scott Cooper/Fred Rodriguez

FRI | OCT 8 | 5:30 TO 9:30

Pablo Riviera

FRI | OCT 15 | 5:30 TO 9:30

The Pullball Quartet

FRI | OCT 22 | 5:30 TO 9:30

David Cameron

FRI | OCT 29 | 5:30 TO 9:30

Brookdale Lodge

11570 Highway 9, Brookdale. (831) 609-6010 brookdalelodge.com

Elie Mabanza

FRI | OCT 1 | 6:00 TO 9:00

Women Who Rock Festival

SAT | OCT 2 | 12:00 TO 9:00

Alex Lucero

SUN | OCT 3 | 2:00 TO 6:00

Vito and Friends

FRI | OCT 8 | 6:00 TO 9:00

Groovy Judy

SAT | OCT 9 | 1:00 TO 5:00

D’oh Brothers

SAT | OCT 9 | 6:00 TO 9:00

One Country

SUN | OCT 10 | 1:00 TO 5:00

The Joint Chiefs

FRI | OCT 15 | 6:00 TO 9:00

Wildcat Mountain Ramblers

SAT | OCT 16 | 5:30 TO 9:00

Apple City Slough Band

SUN | OCT 17 | 1:00 TO 5:00

Ted Welty Band

FRI | OCT 22 | 6:00 TO 9:00

Alabama Annie

SAT | OCT 23 | 1:00 TO 5:00

The New Horizons

SAT | OCT 23 | 6:00 TO 9:00

Vintage Point

SUN | OCT 24 | 1:00 TO 5:00

Ripatti & Rose

FRI | OCT 29 | 6:00 TO 9:00

Witches Ball w/ Groovy Judy

SAT | OCT 30 | 6:00 TO 9:00

Halloween w/ Alex Lucero

SUN | OCT 31 | 6:00 TO 9:00

Davenport Roadhouse

1 Davenport Avenue, Davenport. (831) 426-8801 davenportroadhouse.com

Ugly Beauty

FRI | OCT 1 | 6:00 TO 9:00

Funkanauts

SAT | OCT 2 | 1:00 TO 4:00

Dave “Nomad” Miller

SAT | OCT 2 | 6:00 TO 9:00

T Bone Mojo

SUN | OCT 3 | 1:00 TO 4:00

Robert Elmond Stone

FRI | OCT 8 | 6:00 TO 9:00

Michael Vincent Hollingshead

SAT | OCT 9 | 1:00 TO 4:00

T & E

SAT | OCT 9 | 6:00 TO 9:00

Star La’Moan & Les Petite Kitchenettes

SUN | OCT 10 | 1:00 TO 4:00

Lauren Wahl

FRI | OCT 15 | 6:00 TO 9:00

Lloyd Whitley Blues Band

SAT | OCT 16 | 1:00 TO 4:00

Nicole Wilson Quartet

SAT | OCT 16 | 6:00 TO 9:00

Alex Lucero & The Live Again Band

SUN | OCT 17 | 1:00 TO 4:00

October 2021

Brian Fitzgerald Trio w/ Keith Wieland & Etienne Franc

FRI | OCT 22 | 6:00 TO 9:00

Sigmon & The Sea Monsters

SAT | OCT 23 | 6:00 TO 9:00

T Bone Mojo

SUN | OCT 24 | 1:00 TO 4:00

Dirt Rakers

SAT | OCT 30 | 1:00 TO 4:00

Irish Twins

SAT | OCT 30 | 6:00 TO 9:00

Halloween w/ The Swirly Girls

SUN | OCT 31 | 1:00 TO 4:00

Felton Music Hall

6275 Highway 9, Felton. (831) 704-7113 feltonmusichall.com

The English Beat

FRI | OCT 1 | 8:00

The Felice Brothers

SAT | OCT 2 | 8:00

An Evening with JD Souther

SUN | OCT 3 | 8:00

Jesse Royal

WED | OCT 6 | 8:00

Pimps of Joytime

THURS | OCT 7 | 8:00

The Purple Ones

Insatiable Tribute to Prince

FRI | OCT 8 | 8:00

Tennis

SAT | OCT 9 | 8:00

Mary Gauthier

TUES | OCT 12 | 8:00

Todd Snider

WED | OCT 13 | 8:00

Todd Snider

THURS | OCT 14 | 8:00

Wet

FRI | OCT 15 | 8:00

Robert Earl Keen

THURS | OCT 21 | 8:00

Entertainment Calendar

(FELTON MUSIC HALL CONT’D FROM PAGE 12)

Robert Earl Keen

FRI | OCT 22 | 8:00

Marty O’Reilly

THURS | OCT 28 | 8:00

David Starfire & SOOHAN

FRI | OCT 29 | 8:00

AJ Lee & Blue Summit

SAT | OCT 30 | 8:00

Halloween w/ Pacific Roots

SUN | OCT 31 | 8:00

Henflings of Ben Lomond

9450 Highway 9, Ben Lomond. (831) 586-0606 henflingsbar.com

Flingo

WEDNESDAYS AT 7:30

Karaoke

THURSDAYS AT 8:00

Sunday Jam Band

SUNDAYS AT 5:00

The FOG

FRI | OCT 1 | 8:00

Blue

SAT | OCT 2 | 8:00

Buffalo Blues Trio

FRI | OCT 8 | 8:00

Aardvark

SAT | OCT 9 | 8:00

One Country

FRI | OCT 15 | 8:00

Redwood Road

SAT | OCT 16 | 8:00

Lil’ Pea & the 3rd Degree

FRI | OCT 22 | 8:00

Serious Condition

SAT | OCT 23 | 8:00

What’s Good

FRI | OCT 29 | 8:00

Andre Thierry

SAT | OCT 30 | 8:00

Halloween w/ Spun

SUN | OCT 31

Joe’s Bar

13118 Highway 9, Boulder Creek. (831) 338-9417 facebook.com/joesbouldercreek

Karaoke

TUESDAYS AT 8:00

Neighborhood Night

WEDNESDAYS AT 8:00

Pool Tournament

THURSDAYS AT 8:00

The Next Blues Band

FRI | OCT 1 | 8:30

Jefferson’s Revival

SAT | OCT 2 | 8:30

Gary Blackburn Band

FRI | OCT 8 | 8:30

The Kevin Hamm Band

SAT | OCT 9 | 8:30

The New Horizons

FRI | OCT 15 | 8:30

Blue Ocean Rockers

SAT | OCT 16 | 8:30

The Avi Zev Band

FRI | OCT 22 | 8:30

Cougar Unleashed

SAT | OCT 23 | 8:30

Cooper Street

FRI | OCT 29 | 8:30

Wall of Blues

SAT | OCT 30 | 8:30

Halloween w/ The FOG

SUN | OCT 31 | 7:30

lille aeske arthouse

13160 Highway 9, Boulder Creek. (831) 703-4183 lilleaeske.com

First Friday w/ Lasers Lasers Birmingham

FRI | OCT 1 | 5:00

Pat Hull + Alex Dunn + Aviva Le Fey

Blue House Stage

SAT | OCT 2 | 7:00

October 2021

The Lowest Pair

FRI | OCT 15 | 8:00

Calvin Arsenia w/ Food by Chicken Foot

SAT | OCT 16 | 8:00

Diwali Celebration with Aki Kumar Brookdale Lodge

THURS | NOV 4 | 5:00

Shanty Shack Brewing Company

138 Fern Street, Santa Cruz. (831) 316-0800 shantyshackbrewing.com

DJ Monk Earl & General Phlint

FRI | OCT 1 | 6:00

Trianna Feruza

SAT | OCT 2 | 6:00

Dave “Nomad” Miller

SUN | OCT 3 | 5:00

Salsa Hotspot

WED | OCT 6 | 5:00

Kai Killion

THURS | OCT 7 | 5:00

Familia De Calle

FRI | OCT 8 | 6:00

Jive Machine

SAT | OCT 9 | 6:00

Mokili Wa

SUN | OCT 10 | 5:00

Paul Dynamite

WED | OCT 13 | 5:00

Dave Shaw

THURS | OCT 14 | 5:00

Droolpigs

FRI | OCT 15 | 6:00

Grateful Dads

SAT | OCT 16 | 6:00

Jordan Talbot & Olivia Clark

SUN | OCT 17 | 5:00

Salsa Hotspot

WED | OCT 20 | 5:00

Dirt Rakers

THURS | OCT 21 | 5:00

Entertainment Calendar

Trianna Feruza

FRI | OCT 22 | 6:00

Big Trees

FRI | OCT 23 | 6:00

Dave “Nomad” Miller

SUN | OCT 24 | 5:00

DJ Yers Truly

THURS | OCT 28 | 5:00

Birdo

FRI | OCT 29 | 6:00

North Coast Rovers Album Release + Arcane Lullaby

SAT | OCT 30 | 6:00

Halloween at Shanty Shack

SUN | OCT 31 | 5:00

Steel Bonnet Brewing Company

20 Victor Square, Scotts Valley. (831) 454-8429 steelbon.net

Blue

FRI | OCT 1 | 5:30

Steel Bonnet Anniversary Party Coffee Zombie Collective + more

SAT | OCT 2 | 12:00 TO 9:00

Big Trees

SUN | OCT 3 | 5:30

Trivia on Tap

THURS | OCT 7 | 5:30

Preacher Boy

FRI | OCT 8 | 5:30

For The Love of the Land

SAT | OCT 9 | 5:30

Servo 7

SUN | OCT 10 | 5:30

Gary Blackburn

THURS | OCT 14 | 5:30

Olde Blue

FRI | OCT 15 | 5:30

Manny Swan

SAT | OCT 16 | 5:30

Brian Fitzgerald Trio

WED | OCT 20 | 5:30

Trivia on Tap

THURS | OCT 21 | 5:30

Shady Rest Band

FRI | OCT 22 | 5:30

Rick Stevens

THURS | OCT 28 | 5:30

Nomad

FRI | OCT 29 | 5:30

MID COUNTY

Capitola Wine Bar

115 San Jose Ave, Capitola. (831) 476-2282 capitolawinebar.com

Thirsty Thursday Trivia

THURS | OCT 7 AND 21 | 6:30 TO 8:00

Kip Kip

FRI | OCT 1 | 6:00 TO 9:00

Vinny Johnson

FRI | OCT 8 | 6:00 TO 9:00

Levy Jack Trio

SAT | OCT 23 | 6:00 TO 9:00

Djangatos

SAT | OCT 23 | 6:00 TO 9:00

Big Town Blues Boys

SAT | OCT 30 | 6:00 TO 9:00

Michael’s on Main

2591 S Main St, Soquel. (831) 479-9777 michaelsonmainmusic.com

Grateful Sundays

SUNDAYS AT 5:30

Hump Day w/ Ted Welty and Guests

WEDNESDAYS AT 5:00

R&R w/ Ripattit & Rose and Guests

THURSDAYS AT 5:00

Now’s the Time

FRI | OCT 1 | 5:00

October 2021

Wild Iris “Dinner & A Show”

SAT | OCT 2 | 6:30

Livin’ Easy

FRI | OCT 8 | 5:00

Girls With Guitars “Dinner & A Show”

SAT | OCT 9 | 6:30

Bill Kirchen & Five Lost Planet Airmen

Fly Again

FRI | OCT 15 | 8:00

Anthony Arya Band “Dinner & A Show”

SAT | OCT 16 | 8:00

The Puffball Collective

THURS | OCT 21 | 5:00

Dave Stamey w/ Annie Lydon

FRI | OCT 22 | 6:30

Be Natural Music Youth Concert

SAT | OCT 23 | 12:30

The Village Green A Tribute to The Kinks

SAT | OCT 23 | 8:00

China Cats

SAT | OCT 30 | 7:30

SOUTH COUNTY

El Vaquero Winery

2901 Freedom Blvd, Corralitos. (831) 607-8118 elvaquerowinery.com

Los Hermanos Postizos

SAT | OCT 2 | 6:00 TO 9:00

Singer, Songwriter, Survivor Music

By Michele Murphy

When asked when she started singing, beloved local singer-songwriter Ginny Mitchell said, “I think I was always singing, but when I was three my mother put me in the church choir.” Her brother Bill was her idol. He played drums in the school band, so she did too, then he took up guitar, so she had to do that as well. She took lessons in sixth grade, learning all she could and playing all the time. “Music meant everything to me,” she said.

At the tender age of 14, Ginny lost both of her parents within the same year, bringing her to Santa Cruz to live with relatives.

Ginny carried her guitar - the last birthday present her parents gave her - everywhere and continued to play and sing at every opportunity.

As a young newlywed living in Banff, she got a gig singing at the posh Banff Springs Hotel where she was approached by a producer from Nashville who offered her recording time at his studio. She met industry greats and opportunities arose to play at increasingly better venues, like the Calgary Stampede. Soon after, she won the Canadian Country Music Associations

Rising Star Award for the best new artist of the year. Television shows and longer tours including gigs with popular musicians followed. Ginny said, “My fondest memories are recording with Alison Krauss, opening for Merle Haggard, and writing and singing with Peter Rowan.” During her busiest years she was playing six nights a week, five sets a night, saying “you either burnt out or got pretty good, real fast.”

When asked what it was like to be a woman in the music industry she said, “To get anywhere in the business, even now, you had to have great players, which means keeping them working. The hardest thing was trying to do that while keeping my marriage together. I failed pretty miserably at that.” Her bandmates supported her and schooled her. Attending Cabrillo College in later years, she says her real education came from being on the road.

But touring gets old. Ginny said,

“To the club owners your value was reflected in the amount of alcohol you sold. There were times we broke into better venues with higher visibility, but to keep the cash flowing, smaller clubs kept us going. There came a point where I just had to rethink my future.” Taking a different direction, she joined the Mount Madonna Choir and paid the bills by teaching and performing for the Young at Heart Project singing for seniors. Going back to being a “seeker” and a server, someone who made music for the sake of making it and sharing it, and less for selfpromotion and advancement, felt right.

Ginny met Marty Collins, her second husband and love of her life, on a music video shoot here in the San Lorenzo Valley. “Marty loved music and the arts and understood what it took to thrive as an artist,” she said. Ginny was able to focus more on writing her

own songs and collaborate with Marty on video projects. But, as they were about to launch a music television show, Marty fell ill and the project was shelved. Losing Marty 5 years ago, she has had to set about rebuilding her life again. Including working on getting the precious footage she has preserved completed for air. (Visit santacruzlive.tv to see the first episode.) She’s also staying busy producing an album, teaching (piano, vocals, and guitar) and playing around town. She says, “Life is pretty full, pretty sweet right now. And it wouldn’t be possible without the support of my family, friends, and musical community.”

ginnymitchell.com

Michele Murphy is a singersongwriter from Buffalo, NY and a resident of the Santa Cruz area since 2005. She lives in the beautiful San Lorenzo Valley and is entrenched in the local music scene both as a performer and a fan. mountain

Ginny Mitchell

Ginny with her guitar as a teen

Books

Big Basin: You Must Never Forget This Story

By Julie Horner

Traci Bliss’ new book, Big Basin Redwood Forest, California’s Oldest State Park chronicles the individuals and organizations over the generations who dedicated themselves to preserving Big Basin Redwoods State Park. Connected to the park through her own ancestors, William Jeter and Jennie Bliss Jeter, Bliss keeps a decades-old promise to her great-great aunt to remember past conservation efforts and to champion ongoing ones. She also tears down the myths of the “origin stories,’’ and through rare photographs and

“This is what Big Basin was, this is what Big Basin will be again,” Bliss said. “It is ineffable.”

tales previously untold, invites a reimagin ing of the park for future generations.

“Up until a year ago this book had been a solitary adventure,” Bliss told the gathering at a recent reception to celebrate the many contributors. The CZU fire changed the course of the narrative. Her publisher gave her a six-month extension to rework content. In her research it became clear that she must tell the story of the Indigenous people who once lived in the Santa Cruz Mountains, unravel a bitter fraud, and make these truths integral to the restoration of the park. The trail was difficult to trace. “In all my years in and out of academia and elsewhere,” Bliss said, “I’ve never done a harder piece of research.”

Included in the Epilogue is a series of personal accounts from State Parks staff who were in Big Basin while the park was burning. The story of Susan Blake, 14-year park interpreter, and what she and her husband decided to rescue. Ranger and Operations Manager Alex Tabone, who had to evacuate a park filled to capacity with visitors. And the one historical artifact that survived the fire in pristine condition though all else was utterly destroyed. “Those are the stories that I wanted to tell,” Bliss said.

She opened the book to a marked page to read Tabone’s recounting of his return to Big Basin with the salvage and damage assessment team:

“The landscape in every direction was totally cooked. We continued on with fires all round us and trees falling too fast to count. But there were no firefighters anywhere. Maybe one or two engines that had been out all night on the way to get water and to refuel, but that was it. We used chainsaws to cut our way through the downed trees covering Highway 236. Once we got close enough to Park Headquarters we could see the historic

the early preservationists who never gave up on their fight to establish the first permanent park in California. Through exhaustive research, family photographs that have never been seen publicly, and firsthand accounts from inside the park, the book celebrates at every facet the victory of Big Basin. “This is what Big Basin was, this is what Big Basin

Traci Bliss’ new book on the history of the preservation of Big Basin Redwoods State Park

PHOTO BY JULIE HORNER

Recipies from a Mountain Garden

Autumn Okra Stew

By Alison Steele

Moving into fall with afternoon warmth still lingering, the magic of Okra Stew is captured entirely on the stovetop. Layering the flavors of the garden in one pot along with poultry or pork, and ladling it over a steaming bowl of rice is what I think of as comfort food. I’ve chosen to celebrate the vegetables in this recipe, but where I’m from, a handful of leftover roasted chicken, a bit of chopped country ham, or peppery sausage would be a quick addition for meat lovers at the table. My grandmother would’ve used big fresh lima beans and served it up with hot biscuits and greens alongside the rice. My husband’s family, from the Chesapeake Bay region would heap fresh blue crab on top with a dollop of sour cream topped with hot sauce. This versatile stew moved up and down the Southeast, eventually transforming into what we know as gumbo in Louisiana, with Cajun and Creole influences. Okra, along with the hot sauce that flavors it, first made its way into Lowcountry cuisine with the food culture of enslaved West Africans, who were made to work in the Carolina Gold Rice plantations. Many southern

dishes have evolved this way, and are food for thought and conversation at the dinner table.

Okra Stew serves 6

» 4 T butter

» 2 large sweet onion, diced small

» ¾ c sweet peppers, diced small

» 1 large celery rib, diced small

» 4 garlic cloves, minced

» 2 t smoked paprika

» 3 T flour

» 4 c chicken stock

» 4 c tomatoes, diced large

» 1 lb fresh okra*, destemmed and sliced in ½ inch rounds, reserve 6-8 tender pods

» 2 cups lima beans*

» 1 apple or pear, cut in half and cored

» 1 T hot sauce

» 3 t salt

» ½ t freshly ground black pepper

» 6-8 padrons or small sweet peppers, whole for garnish

» Garlic chives and blossoms

» Hot sauce

Traditionally served with Carolina Gold Rice*

Melt the butter in a cast iron dutch oven, or other heavy bottom soup

pot. Add the onion. Cook for five minutes, stirring occasionally. Add in peppers, celery, and garlic. Cook on medium heat until soft and translucent, but not browned, another 5 minutes or so. Add in the okra, reserving the additional cup. Sprinkle paprika and freshly ground pepper, stir, and allow the spices to bloom. Stir the flour into ½ cup of stock and pour over vegetables. Stir for a few minutes to incorporate and allow the flour to cook. Next, add the tomatoes, beans, and salt. Finally, pour in the rest of the stock, add the apple or pear and cover. The fruit will balance the acidity of the tomatoes. Once the stew comes to a boil, quickly turn down heat, and let simmer for about 30 minutes or until vegetables are soft.

While the stew is simmering, gather a handful of chives and chop fine, leaving blossoms whole. Cook the rice with stock, salt, black pepper, bay leaf, and butter. In a small cast iron skillet, dry saute the small peppers on medium high, turning

until just blackened and soft. Sprinkle with a big pinch of salt, drizzle with olive oil, turn off the heat and let cook a few minutes longer while slicing the rest of the okra. Pour peppers into a bowl, and reuse the skillet, adding a drizzle of oil, a pinch of salt, and medium high heat to brown the remaining okra. Once the stew is finished, remove the fruit, scoop some hot rice into a bowl, and spoon over twice as much stew. Top with pan-roasted peppers and crispy okra. Sprinkle with garlic chives, blossoms, and a few drops of hot sauce to taste. Dig in!

A native of Virginia, Alison Steele lives with her husband, two children, and cat in Boulder Creek where she raises quail, chickens, fruit trees, vegetables, and herbs. Alison plays banjo and sings in Sugar by the Pound. mountain

PHOTO BY ALISON STEELE

Ben Lomond Gardener

Wildlife in the Garden

By Josh Reilly

You don’t have to encourage wildlife in the garden. It’s there already. In fact, you are probably trying to do the opposite, at least when it comes to raccoons, mice, squirrels, insects, birds that eat seedlings and those twin scourges of SLV gardens, gophers and deer.

Other visitors, however, are most welcome, if some are a bit hesitant or scarce. Let’s start with earthworms, without whom, there is no garden. Yes, they are ubiquitous, but not evenly distributed. Remedy this with generous applications of organic matter. Bagged organic soil amendments, such as mulch, compost, coir, conditioners and bedding mixes all help, especially if high in organic matter. Making and spreading your own compost adds nutrition and tilth. Compost consumes kitchen scraps and leaf litter sustainably and feeds your

earthworms, who graciously respond with a population explosion. Easiest of all is to simply let organic matter accumulate. Where leaves fall, just leave some or all of them. And watch carefully over the coming year. Unless you look closely you won’t see the earthworms, but you will see a lot of last year’s leaves disappear into the dirt, as if by magic.

Earthworms will continue this cycle in perpetuity, as they have done, since long before Homo erectus got up and walked and will do, long after future paleontologists are done indexing our fossilized bones. No reason, however, not to help them out a little.

Predators, like owls, kestrels, red tail hawks and other raptors will summarily and sustainably dispatch your less watchful rodents. Cats do the same, but are, unfortunately, more likely to catch migratory songbirds. Some of these birds are rare or becoming rare due to climate change, urbanization, etc.

I don’t discourage my predatory neighborhood felines, but I have few illusions about their efficiency as gopher predators. BTW, a wellfed cat is actually a better hunter. Well-fed cats have more energy for the hunt. And please remember that almost all predators have their own predators. Bring Fritz in for the night or tempt your local coyotes.

To attract owls, some local gardeners, bird watchers and wildlife lovers have built and installed owl nesting boxes (audubon.org/ news/how-build-screech-owl-nestbox), with some success. Similarly, bat nesting boxes may encourage those unjustly stigmatized, crepuscular hunters. Any animal that eats that many mosquitoes and gnats, deserves our undying love and gratitude. My skies here in Ben Lomond are home to many other common raptors without any encouragement from me, but you may find helpful ideas here: (thespruce.com/how-to-attractbackyard-hawks-386258). Remember that a large population of prey is required to sustain a few raptors at the top of your local ecosystem. Owls may help control mice, but never eradicate them.

If you want butterflies, you must feed caterpillars. They swarm all over my apple-blossom Penstemon right before bloom time. These insects do most of their eating as

larvae, but adult stage tiger swallowtails will linger in Summer and Monarchs will alight in Fall for the nectar in Butterfly Bush (Buddleia sp) flowers. Monarchs, as many of you know, are at risk due to climate change, deforestation, urbanization and dwindling food supplies. Gardeners can help by planting food for Monarch larvae. Milkweed (Aesclepias sp) is a key food source for Monarchs. I planted Aesclepias fascicularis, a California native milkweed, this Summer, in the hopes of hosting a banquet for the Monarchs. There is some debate regarding the most sustainable species of Aesclepias, which is why I picked the California native. Try planting milkweed, but don’t be surprised by the armies of aphids and scale insects covering your plants. Blast them off with a hose, scrape them off by hand or apply insecticidal soap sprays, available at Mountain Feed & Farm Supply and Scarborough Garden Center Scotts Valley. You’ll have to keep after the Aesclepias. The aphids like it more than the caterpillars.

Lastly, moles and possums are your friends. Don’t chase them off. Moles eat the grubs that eat your lawn. Possums eat ticks. Nuf sed.

Josh Reilly, aka Uncle Skip, writes about seasonal gardening from his home in beautiful Ben Lomond. mountain

Santa Cruz Mountains Barn Owl

PHOTO BY CAROLINE LEGG

DRE#01468388

M.C. Dwyer, MBA, REALTOR

Local Haunts

Committed to the Earth

By Julie Horner

They dig everything by hand at the Felton Cemetery, according to groundskeeper, grave digger, and headstone setter Jim Anderson. Anderson is a member of the Felton Cemetery Association Board of Directors and has been the go-to for getting business done at this rustic memorial park at the corner of Felton Empire Road and Love Street since 2015. The “old side” of the cemetery was purchased from the Hihn Company back in the early 1900s by the Felton Cemetery District for just a few dollars. In the early 70s the District purchased the “new side” from the Cowell Foundation for a few grand. Nothing above six inches is supposed to be installed on the new side, so monuments hug the soil. On the historic side, traditional granite and wooden markers tilt like crooked teeth, mottled and moss covered, beneath the oaks. “There are people buried from back in the 1800s here,” Anderson said.

Anderson spent his formative years in Boulder Creek. He grew up at the Santa Cruz Lumber Company Mill 12 miles north of

town. “My grandfather was a blacksmith back when the Ley brothers were partners in the lumber company.” Big property owners in the mountains, and after whom Ley Street off

“The only coffins that give us pause are the handmade ones.”

Felton Empire Road is named, the Ley family is buried at the Felton Cemetery. Dr. Farmer was one of the first doctors in Felton and was an impetus for getting the first community hall built, Anderson said. She is buried in the Felton Cemetery and has a street nearby named after her as well. A veteran of the American Civil War — Colby is the family name — and one of the area’s first constables, according to Anderson, is also buried at Felton.

You must live in Felton, Ben Lomond, Zayante or Mount Hermon to purchase a plot at the Felton Cemetery. Boulder Creek is excluded because they have their own cemetery. Standard sized coffins are acceptable, even burial

shrouds, though Anderson has never encountered one. “The only coffins that give us pause are the handmade ones.” He said they had a handmade coffin once that came apart during interment.

Anderson and childhood friend, fellow caretaker, and historian David Wildman take turns making the rounds minding the stones. “They say families stop visiting by the second generation,” he said. Footsteps crunch in the thick oak mulch. “It’s a labor of love for Dave and I.”

The Roaring Camp steam engine whistle blows, the sound haunting on the late afternoon breeze. In dappled sunlight, a pair of deer pick their way around the gravemarkers. Anderson knows the story of nearly everyone who has been laid to rest here, young and old, and has forged some lifelong connections with family members. “I just buried Mr. Ordway over there,” he said, “one of the original vaqueros.” The man’s family called during the CZU fire to see if Anderson was okay. “That’s the kind of thing that really touches me.”

Learn more about the Felton Cemetery: feltoncemetery.org mountain

A quiet moment at the Felton Cemetery

PHOTO BY JULIE HORNER

Jim Anderson, member Felton Cemetery Association Board of Directors

PHOTO BY JAIME ANDERSON

Astrology

October’s Scorpio Season

By Catie Cadge, PhD

Welcome to the Santa Cruz Cosmic Weather Report – Evolutionary Astrology of the moment, your moment in time, our collective moment of change! This month we move from Libra into Scorpio season, the sign most evocative of autumn, the falling of the leaves, a necessary time of death and decay, so that we can all start anew come springtime. The two zodiacal signs seem so different; Libra is about beauty, harmony and balance, while Scorpio wants to face the whole truth, the dark shadows as well as the light, and the complex and mysterious sides of life.

The month starts with Venus in Scorpio, a time of passionate feelings, while the Sun and Mars are in Libra. Mars doesn’t enjoy being in Libra and neither does Venus like Scorpio. Mars rules Scorpio, Venus rules Libra, so each is trying to reconcile with their positions now. The New Moon on October 6th is at 13° Libra and Sun and Moon both conjunct

Mars. Meanwhile, Mars opposes Chiron, the Wounded Healer, in Aries, just days before on October 1st. Mercury, now retrograde, squares Pluto also on the 1st, with Pluto stationing direct on October 6th.

This is a period when we can reflect upon the psychological underpinnings of why people say what they do, or why they act in ways that seem deliberately confrontational or combative. In order to get along with the folks in our lives, it often takes some coming to terms with what drives them, what pains lie below the surface, what emotional issues move people to interact as they do. Take advantage of Mercury moving retrograde in Libra to analyze one-on-one encounters. What needs to give in myself and/or in my relationships? Chiron in Aries calls us to be warriors and reminds us to address our own needs in order to be healers and game changers in our community.

When Venus enters Sagittarius on October 7th, the collective mood lightens up; a good time for going out to some parties and enjoying a little social time. A few days later, Saturn stations, and then turns direct, on the evening of

the 10th. Look to see where 6° of Aquarius falls in your birthchart. If you have been feeling Saturn’s call to hard work and effort now, you might notice an intensity of the planet’s impact as it appears to stop in the sky and then move ahead. Jupiter also “stations direct” at 22°on October 17th. Somewhere in our lives (check your chart for house location), radical new, perhaps innovative, opportunities are possible, but they require discipline, maturity, and commitment to put into place. Things may seem to move ahead in late October. Though still in its “shadow” until November 3rd, Mercury moves direct on the 18th, also helping to make communication better and plans to move forward.

The Full Moon in Aries at 27°26’ occurs the morning of October 20th , just after the Moon squares Pluto. That same week, Mars in Libra squares Pluto in Capricorn, 24°, exact on the 21st. It is in close range during the Full Moon, making for some tension and possible outbursts. An Aries Moon can be assertive and willful in spirit. Then add the possible conflicts and power issues of Mars in ninety-degrees to Pluto. Be careful of acting too quickly, blurting out inappropriate words, or getting into disagreements over petty squab-

bles that have more to do with a feeling of control or about one’s ego than about real negotiation.

Halloween promises to be fun.

First Venus sextiles Jupiter on the 28th, then Mercury trines the same planet of hope and opportunity on the 31st. With Jupiter in Aquarius and Mercury in Libra, Halloween brings a playful, creative “air” energy that should make parties engaging and pleasant. Sun enters Scorpio on the 22nd, Mars goes into the sign just before Halloween on the 30th. The Scorpio vibe is perfect for celebrating life after death, macabre subjects and weird taboo things. Share a few good ghost stories! Or set an altar for El Dia de Los Muertos. Scorpio season reminds us that life is short and time fleeting. Good to make the most of it while we can!

Happy Halloween everyone!

Catie Cadge is a master-certified Evolutionary Astrologer and is the Dean of Instruction for the Forrest Center for Evolutionary

Astrology. Read about Catie and her work at caraevolutionaryastrology. com mountain

PHOTO BY DREW HAYS

Local History

Brookdale Jazz

By Randall Brown

Before Brookdale there was Clear Creek. Two families - the Logans and Grovers - held title to a tract of land through which the creek flowed into the San Lorenzo River. Their plan was to clear space for camping and picnicking, then expand by building a hotel. To start with, they built their own cottages — one on each side of the county road. Logan, noticing the waterfall behind his cottage, called it “the Cascades.” The Grovers called theirs “Minnehaha.”

The partnership broke up about the time the post office insisted on the address “Brookdale,” because there already was a “Clear Creek” in the state. Judge Logan bought out the Grovers and expanded their cottage, opening “Hotel Minnehaha” in 1903. Before long, the name was changed to “Hotel Brookdale.”

The Cascade cottage stayed in Logan’s family. His adopted daughter, Josephine Turcot, voted “Queen of the Water Carnival” in 1897, graduated from Stanford before marrying John F. Sheehan, another alum. Their daughter, Alice, was a favorite of the Judge, and when the young family found refuge in Brookdale after the 1906 San Francisco Disaster, he gifted her with his old cottage.

For two decades, the hotel not only attracted summer visitors, but served as a community center. The dining room overlooking Clear Creek offered good meals at reasonable prices and many locals often gathered there for Sunday specials. There was a good-sized hall, suitable for meetings, which also hosted dance parties. In the summer of 1919, the music was provided by the Brookdale Jazz trio, featuring violinist Henry Hartman and Alice Sheehan on piano. “After their performance,” noted the Santa Cruz News, “the floor was cleared and dancing with music was enjoyed by the younger set until a late hour.”

In 1922, the Brookdale Hotel was purchased by a Stockton couple, Mary and William Shier. The new proprietors expanded the main building, adding rooms with private baths. They continued to welcome local events, like a card party to benefit St. Michael’s church of Boulder Creek.

The following year, a couple visiting from Pasadena, Dr. Foster K. Camp and his wife Janet, were enchanted by the resort and its surroundings. On the first night of their stay, Dr. Camp was “lulled to sleep by the murmur of Clear Creek.” The next morning, “he told Mrs. Camp he would buy the hotel and build a dining room through which the creek should run.” That October, the Shiers agreed to sell. To protect his investment, Camp insisted on a non-compete clause, covering the next 5 years.

After the dramatic new dining room opened for business in the spring of 1924, Dr. Camp hosted a gala dinner for summer residents and other community members. Over 200 guests showed up. A string orchestra provided the entertainment, the highlight being a rendition of “Indian Love Call.” The show and its corny music, however, did not appeal to two particular guests - Josephine and Alice Sheehan. It was obvious that the Camps disapproved of jazz and did not share the local tolerance for alcohol. “They were very strict people,” recalled Bill Irwin. “Sometimes we had wine and they didn’t like it.” According to historian Tom McHugh, “Dr. Camp had a habit of circulating among the tables and sniffing at the glasses. Whenever he came across the scent of the banned liquid, he would dump the glass’ contents into the creek.”

Josephine Sheehan decided on a plan of action to challenge the proprietors of the newly-named Brookdale Lodge. The Sheehan family still owned adjacent properties along the county highway - the Cascades and a building known as “the Chateau,” across Clear Creek. Contractors were hired to expand the old cottage. A second story was added to the structure, more than doubling its capacity. The plans included a large dining room and modern kitchen, indoor plumbing and new electrical wiring. Although Mrs. Shier was barred from participation in the project, Mrs. Sheehan hired her sister, Katherine O’Neil, to manage daily operations.

In July 1925, “Clear Creek Villas” welcomed its first guests. It was immediately evident that there would be nothing old-fashioned about the entertainment offered there. There were nightly dances during the summer season featuring “The Red Hot Four,” playing “jazz numbers as they should be did.” The leader of the quartet, ragtime pianist Oscar Young, enjoyed a fine reputation among his fellow musicians. In fact, his band had recently been invited to Chicago to provide musical entertainment at the wedding of fellow pianist Lil Hardin and her beau, Louis Armstrong.

(To be continued.)

Randall Brown is an author and historian. He lives in Boulder Creek and works in Felton. mountain

Clear Creek Villa, Brookdale

Real Estate

SLV Homes

Fall Housing Outlook

By M.C. Dwyer

Let’s look at the reasons why home prices keep rising in Santa Cruz County.

Pandemic mass migration – People were home more than ever, home schooling and working. If their employers allowed working at home, those who were financially able reevaluated where they wanted to live. Some left cities looking for rural areas with more outdoor activities, larger homes and bigger yards. Santa Cruz County is an obvious choice, compared to more expensive Silicon Valley, the Peninsula, or San Francisco. In August, Santa Cruz County had the highest growth rate in California!

Low interest rates – To keep the economy stable during the pandemic, the Federal Reserve adjusted their strategies. As a result, mortgage rates fell to all-time lows. Buyers flocked to lock in these low rates!

Fewer homeowners are selling, but the number of buyers rose – It’s an economic principle that low supply and high demand will force prices up. Across Santa Cruz County, there were about 10% fewer sales during the third quarter 2021 (versus 3rd quarter 2020), and prices rose 12.5%. San Lorenzo Valley bucked the trend: about 10% more homes sold. Still, with more buyers than sellers, average SLV home prices rose about 17%.

Home building lags job growth – Materials prices rose over the last year on high demand plus supply disruptions. Meanwhile, there’s a shortage of construction labor. In California, thousands of homes were lost to fires, increasing the squeeze, and we’re discovering how long it takes to rebuild.

Fall outlook – The pace of home sales began to slow late this summer. Experts expect sales to continue to slow till year end, beyond the normal seasonal slow-down. Lower demand doesn’t mean prices will fall, but it could mean fewer offers on any given house. Still, one leading indicator of buyer demand is the rate of new mortgage applications, which is the highest since April. Once the US economy stabilizes, the Federal Reserve will reverse course leading to higher mortgage rates. Once rates go up, prices could begin to adjust downward because the monthly payment on the same priced home will be less affordable.

Despite dramatic price increases, experts say there’s little reason to expect a crash, since loan criteria became stricter after the last crash. Only about 3% of mortgages are in forbearance despite the pandemic because buyers favored safer fixed rate mortgages. During the speculative years before the last crash, many loans had variable interest rates: when rates went up, buyers defaulted, and lenders foreclosed. Still, there are always unpredictable factors like the specter of US government debt default and real estate risks in China that have international repercussions.

Rebuilding – The Recovery Permit Center has issued only 40 rebuild permits so far, out of about 950 homes lost to the CZU fires. When I asked them what was happening with the rest of the people who lost homes, they said most homeowners are still working on their Pre-Clearance to rebuild.

There’s nothing new happening on my husband’s rebuild; the experts we hired took other jobs while we waited for our pre-clearance. They won’t have time for his project until late October (hopefully). Regardless, his mortgage payments are due now. At least it’s encouraging to see friends sharing pictures on social media as they work to rebuild their homes.

Curious what your home is worth? Just call or text “M.C.” to find out! “M.C.” (MaryCatherine) Dwyer, MBA, REALTOR® , CA DRE License 01468388, EXP Realty of California, Inc. mcdwyer.com mountain

Sources: MLSListings.com Single Family Homes through 9/22/21, REALTOR.com, CAR.org, Mercury News, Mortgage Bankers Association. The statements and opinions contained in this article are solely those of the individual author and do not necessarily reflect the positions or opinions of eXp Realty, LLC, or its subsidiaries or affiliates (the “Company”). The Company does not assume any responsibility for, nor does it warrant the accuracy, completeness or quality of the information provided.

PHOTO BY M.C. DWYER

Pending sale in Lompico asking price $950,000

photography

October Color

A walk on the River Trail at Henry Cowell is always a welcome respite, the San Lorenzo River meandering peacefully on one side, groves of box elder, sycamore, big-leaf maple, and a variety of willow on the other, fragrant and shady, especially after a fresh rain. The urge to explore is too great. Ducking into a silent grove, picnic tables are barely visible buried beneath Fall leaves. Ankle deep in the autumn tide, curiosity wins and time dissolves, every detail revealed.

Photos by Julie Horner at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. mountain