Most days, you’ll find Andrea Lee sitting in front of a computer at her job at UC Santa Cruz, but she’s a weekend warrior and looked the part on Sunday, June 21, marching along a trail at the Forest of Nisene Marks State Park with a large chainsaw slung over her shoulder.
Full Story page 4
Summer Fire Safety
Full Story page 9
La Pajarosa
Tree Farm
The community of Aptos gathered for the 65th annual World’s Shortest Parade, presented by the Aptos Chamber of Commerce.
Celebrating the country’s 250th birthday, people once again lined the sidewalks and parking lots along Soquel Drive
between State Park Drive and Aptos Creek Road to watch the collection of floats, classic cars, and community groups roll and stroll through the crowd of onlookers celebrating the community, the country and the beautiful summer day. n ... Photo Collage on page 12
Dr. Candace Calsoyas spends half the year teaching environmental literature at the Rachel Carson College at UC Santa Cruz and the other half operating her organic Christmas tree farm in Aptos. Full Story page 5
Shortest Paarade’: Aptos’ Annual Fourth of July Celebration Community News
4 Growing Volunteerism in the Forest: Nisene Marks Non-Profit Gives Nature Lovers Chance to Show It, By Jon Chown
5 La Pajarosa Tree Farm, By Claudia Iseman
6 Grand Jury Urges Santa Cruz County to Overhaul Housing Strategy: Asks for Feasibility Study on Affordability of New Projects, By Jon Chown
7 BSA Troop 599 Celebrates 100 Years of Excellence and Community Service
8 Firefighter Moonlights as Marine Biologist: Wonders of the Ocean Have Always Drawn Fascination, By Jon Chown
9 Summer Fire Safety: Prepare Now Before Wildfire Season Peaks
11 Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music Returns: ‘We the Dreamers’ to Explore Themes on Democracy and Freedom July 26
12 2026 World’s Shortest Parade • 65 th Annual Fourth of July Celebration: Photos Courtesy of Friends and Family of Times Publishing Group, Inc.
14 Santa Cruz County Grand Jury Finds Local Election System Secure, Recommends More Public Education, By Jon Chown • Don’t Miss the Strawberry Festival: Watsonville Downtown to Celebrate Region’s Biggest Crop
16 Measure N Committee Needs Members
17 Carmel Jewish Food Festival Returns: Celebrate Culture, Cuisine and Community on July 26 • ROOTED in Farming: Farm Discovery’s Annual Fundraiser Features Outdoor Feast
18 Supervisors Alter Measure Q Recommendations: Send More Funds to Wildfire Projects, By Jon Chown
19 Sandman Triathlon Returns in August: Event Benefits Santa Cruz State Lifeguard Program, By Jon Chown
21 Capitola Delays Opening of Community Center, Accessible Playground: Grand Opening Now Expected in Mid-August Due to Construction Delays
22 Grand Jury: Santa Cruz County Rail Project Needs Better Planning • Grand Jury Urges County to Take Stronger Steps to Protect Pedestrians, By Jon Chown
23 Rebecca Clark Brings Her Sense of Community to Sister Act, By Darren Jackson-Wilkins Business Profile
10 Center for Youth Mental Health: New Mental Health Center Aims to Expand Access for Youth in Santa Cruz County
20 The Skylight Place: Family-Run Business Offers Complete Range of Glass Services; Serving the Community Since 1971 Letters to the Editor
16 Hospital’s Financial Direction is Very Concerning • Capitola is Being Bullied
Monthly Horoscope • Page 26 – Retrogrades & a Full Moon, Cancer to Leo, the Heart of the Matter, By Risa D’Angeles Community Calendar | Arts & Entertainment • Pages 28, 29
Featured Columnists
25 Pavlov’s Finance, By Marc Cuniberti
30 Do You Want to Be Helped, Hugged, or Heard?, By Dr. Lori Butterworth, Child & Adolescent Psychotherapist SCCAS Featured Pet • Page 31 – Home
Jon Chown
Michael Oppenheimer
Growing Volunteerism in the Forest
Nisene Marks Non-Profit Gives Nature Lovers Chance to Show It
By JON CHOWN
Most days, you’ll find Andrea Lee sitting in front of a computer at her job at UC Santa Cruz, but she’s a weekend warrior and looked the part on Sunday, June 21, marching along a trail at the Forest of Nisene Marks State Park with a large chainsaw slung over her shoulder.
Lee was one of 50 local volunteers who showed up for a trail cleaning day hosted by the Advocates for Nisene Marks State Park.
“I love this park,” she said.
Lee, who lives in Felton, also works with a Big Basin volunteer trail crew. She got more involved in the work after the CZU Lightning Complex Fires in 2020.
She took a Cal Fire Wildland Firefighting Chainsaw class through the Santa Cruz Mountain Trail Stewards soon afterward and then continued her education through handson work and more instruction.
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“I won’t do anything outside of my comfort zone, and that’s why I always work with an assistant,” she said, while strapping on a pair of kevlar chaps. “And I’ve got a stop-bleed kit if something goes bad.”
Lee and her assistant, Ryan Brady, came to a rotted tree that has fallen across the trail. She inspects it and looks at the other trees near it.
“Oh gosh, she’s hollow,” Lee said while looking inside a dead limb. “I could stick my whole hand in there, but something might bite me.”
She looks this tree over, still standing, and decides that when it falls, it won’t hit the trail and leaves it be. Then turns her attention to the tree blocking the trail.
“You have to figure out what you’re going to do and what could happen,” she said. “I’ll cut the high side first. This should be a pretty easy cut here, and then I’ll cut it there,” she said, pointing. “I’ll probably have to do a cut in the middle and then we can kind of roll them into the abyss.”
She made three cuts, turned the obstruction into short logs, and she and Ryan rolled them off the trail.
“There they go, into the sea of ivy,” she said.
The ivy is what the other 48 volunteers were working on.
“Ivy tends to choke out native ferns and other native plants and then when it climbs trees, it’ll choke a tree eventually,” said Robin Stockwell, president of the board of directors of Advocates for Nisense Marks State Park. “And when it climbs a tree, it gets to a maturity that it’s dropping seed from there down into the lower forest area, and then birds spread the seed. So if we can kill the ivy on the trees, we can eliminate that propagator. And if we pull the ivy on the ground, eventually we’re making progress clearing the ground of ivy.”
Stockwell said the group began Native Forest Restoration program just over a year ago, on June 6, and the results are already evident. “You can see where we removed the ivy over the last year, you can really see the sword fern is starting to blossom more. The sword fern really appreciates that exposure, plus they’re not competing for the nutrients and water and all that.”
The Advocates nonprofit has been in existence for about 35 years, Stockwell said, but it’s been recently rejuvenated. He came to the board three years ago. After he’d joined, he discovered the Advocates had lost its 501(c)(3) status.
“It’s been a rebuilding process,” he said. “We’ve rebuilt the vision of what the Advocates is for, what we do and we’re rebuilding the relationship with the park. It’s required a lot of work.”
Brady, who joined the organization two years ago, is an ultra marathon runner who lives in Santa Cruz. He likes to run the trails, but noticed they needed work. He said when he first started coming to help on trail days there were less than a dozen people. “And now it’s like 50 people; it’s grown a lot.”
Volunteers used to meet at kiosk at the park entrance, where a few parking spots would be saved. Now they meet every third Sunday of the month at the Santa Cruz Community Foundation in Aptos at 9:30 a.m. and carpool to the park to claim about 10 spots that are saved.
“Our goal has been to increase numbers,” said Stockwell. “Today we had 50 signed up, so our productivity has gone way up. Our trail day is a fun, exciting event and what we’re tapping into right now is that a lot of people love this park and they’ve never had an avenue to share that. We’re that avenue. We’re the boots on the ground.”
Stockwell said among the Advocates’ future goals are to map the trails and create better signage, improve the interpretive section of the park. n
Cover Photo: Volunteers remove invasive ivy at Forest of Nisene Marks State Park on June 21.
Camisa Composti
Teri Huckobey, Brooke Valentine
Cathe Race
Michael Oppenheimer, Camisa Composti
Michael Oppenheimer photography
Andrea Lee of Felton and Ryan Brady of Santa Cruz remove a tree that was blocking a trail at Forest of Nisene Marks State Park on June 21.
Volunteers cross a seasonal bridge that was recently erected by the volunteer group.
La Pajarosa Tree Farm
By CLAUDIA ISEMAN
While most folks are in summer vacation mode this time of year, Dr. Candace Calsoyas is already thinking about Christmas. Calsoyas spends half the year teaching environmental literature at the Rachel Carson College at UC Santa Cruz and the other half operating her organic Christmas tree farm in Aptos.
“I like to let everything go to seed because it creates more organic matter,” says Calsoyas.” She doesn’t use pesticides, there’s no irrigation system and the trees are never fully cut down. “The trees will re-sprout if you leave green at the bottom,” Calsoyas claims. She calls her farm “La Pajarosa” (red bird) and she’s been working the one- acre farm for over 50 years.
Located at 2020 Pleasant Valley Road, Calsoyas grows over six varieties of trees and says customers come year after year to experience what she calls “tea and trees.” She has a tea house where she serves hot cider to patrons.
“Her trees look unique, says Catherine Segurson. “You don’t find that at other tree farms,” she added. Segurson and her family have made La Pajarosa tree farm an annual holiday tradition, as they have been returning for about 20-years. “Candace always makes it a fun experience. It’s like what Christmas was like in the 1960s. The farm is Christmas in nature.” said Segurson.
In spring and summer Calsoyas is busy pruning and shaping the trees. She uses a weed wacker and a tractor to til the soil to keep the weeds under control and waters only the seedlings. She said she has to be careful not to trim too much, as she doesn’t want to impede the growth of the trees but adds she doesn’t like to shape to the branches to look like they’ve been through a pencil sharpener.
“I don’t have a fence up because I want to this to be a wildlife habitat,” said Calsoyas. She enjoys seeing the deer and coyote roam through the trees but breaks out in song when she sees the occasional Rattle Snake.
“The sound of my voice seems to sooth them and they slither away,” she said.
Last month, Calsoyas attended the annual California Christmas Tree Growers Association conference where Christmas tree growers discuss planting methods. Usually, she’s one of the few organic growers but she said this year there were newcomers who were interested in farming without pesticides. The natural approach to growing also
allows her to keep her prices affordable at $75 to $85 a tree.
“People often tell me that it’s their dream to be a Christmas tree farmer. I love it, it’s like having my own mini forest.” n
Dr. Candace Calsoyas teaches environmental literature at the Rachel Carson College at her organic Christmas tree farm in Aptos.
JoAnn Riniti, Ph.D.
Grand Jury Urges Santa Cruz County to Overhaul Housing Strategy
Asks for Feasibility Study on Affordability of New Projects
By JON CHOWN
SANTA CRUZ — The Santa Cruz County Civil Grand Jury is urging county leaders to fundamentally change how they approach housing production, recommending a comprehensive study to determine why the county remains far behind its state-mandated housing goals despite having an approved housing plan.
The housing crisis was one of five topics studied by the Civil Grand Jury this past year. The jury also released reports on June 25 regarding the county’s dangerous roadways for pedestrians, challenges to behavioral health services, election integrity, and the problematic “free” parking at the Santa Cruz County Superior Courthouse.
In regards to the housing crisis, jurors concluded that while the county has satisfied state planning requirements by adopting a certified Housing Element, it has not created conditions that make housing financially feasible to build.
The report’s central recommendation calls on the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors to direct the Department of Community Development and Infrastructure to conduct and publish a countywide financial feasibility analysis that evaluates whether housing projects can realistically be built under current market conditions and local regulations.
According to the report, the study should determine how many housing units are likely to be constructed during the current Regional Housing Needs Allocation cycle, identify local regulatory barriers to development, recommend policy changes that would encourage construction, and provide measurable information for the public about the county’s progress toward addressing the housing shortage.
The grand jury recommended that the analysis begin no later than Feb. 1, 2027, and be completed by Sept. 30, 2027.
Jurors found that the county has focused on creating enough zoned land to satisfy state requirements, but has not adequately examined whether developers can financially complete projects under existing rules governing density, parking, impact fees, permitting timelines and other local development standards.
The report asks Board of Supervisors, within 90 days, to identify which recommendations they intend to adopt, approve those changes and direct county staff to implement them. The report also recommends the
board instruct county staff to “take all steps necessary or appropriate” to increase the likelihood that housing units assigned under the state’s sixth Regional Housing Needs Allocation will actually be constructed.
The grand jury concluded that the county lacks a framework for understanding how construction costs, financing, rents and county regulations interact to determine whether projects are economically viable.
Instead of relying on broad assumptions contained in the Housing Element, jurors said the county should use standard development financial models to test how changes in local regulations could improve housing production.
The report points to similar studies completed by San Diego County and the cities of Los Angeles, San Francisco and Oakland as examples of jurisdictions using financial modeling to distinguish between housing that is theoretically possible under zoning rules and housing that is likely to be built.
In addition to the feasibility study, the grand jury called for greater public transparency about the county’s housing progress.
Among its recommendations, the report urges the county to publish its Annual Progress Report online immediately after submitting it to the state, beginning no later than Dec. 31. The report tracks housing permits issued under the Regional Housing Needs Allocation process, but is currently difficult for the public to locate, according to the grand jury.
Jurors also recommended that the county update its existing affordable housing and major projects dashboards every quarter beginning by the end of this year.
Finally, the grand jury recommended the county explore creating a single online dashboard that would consolidate information about all housing developments in unincorporated Santa Cruz County and directly link newly permitted units to state housing targets. The board would be asked to direct staff to begin exploring options by Dec. 31, with a report back by April 1, 2027.
The recommendations stem from the grand jury’s conclusion that the county is substantially behind schedule in meeting its current housing allocation.
“Housing Strategy” page 7
BSA Troop 599 Celebrates 100 Years of Excellence and Community Service
WATSONVILLE — Scouts BSA Troop 599 is proud to celebrate its 100th year of continuous Scouting service, leadership development, and community involvement in the Watsonville area.
Founded in 1926, Troop 599 began under the sponsorship of the American Legion.
The Watsonville Rotary Club is the current sponsoring organization. While the troop was founded and met in Watsonville, they moved to Corralitos when the building they were meeting in was closed. The Corralitos Padres welcomed Troop 599 and offered the Corralitos Community Center (Padres Hall) to them as a new home.
Scouts from Troop 599 have earned the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest rank attainable in Scouting America. Among these distinguished Eagle Scouts, two served in the United States Army during World War II, while another currently serves in the United States Marine Corps.
Over the past century, many local youth have participated in Troop 599, gaining valuable outdoor, leadership, citizenship, and life skills that have prepared them for success throughout their lives. The troop’s commitment to service has also made a lasting impact on the community, with Scouts contributing thousands of hours of service to Watsonville and surrounding communities.
A hallmark of Troop 599’s legacy has been its tradition of excellence in leadership and achievement. Since its founding, 93
To commemorate this historic milestone, Troop 599 will host a 100th Anniversary Celebration on Sunday, August 9, 2026, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Padres Hall (Corralitos Community Center). Current and former 599 Scouts and Leaders, their families, and community supporters are invited to attend and celebrate a century of Scouting memories, accomplishments, and service, a RSVP is required for this event.
The event will feature opportunities to reconnect with former troop members, share stories from across the decades, and honor the many volunteers, families, and community partners who have helped make Troop 599 a lasting institution in the Pajaro Valley. n
For additional information and to register for the event, please visit t599.org. Questions may also be directed to celebrate100@t599.org.
The report’s central recommendation calls on the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors to direct the Department of Community Development and Infrastructure to conduct and publish a countywide financial feasibility analysis that evaluates whether housing projects can realistically be built under current market conditions and local regulations.
“Housing Strategy” from page 6
State housing law requires unincorporated Santa Cruz County to accommodate 4,634 new housing units between 2023 and 2031. According to the report, only 279 units had been permitted by the end of 2025, representing about 6% of the overall target despite more than one-quarter of the planning cycle having already gone by.
The grand jury warned that if that pace continued it could expose the county to additional state intervention, including expanded ministerial approval requirements for qualifying housing developments, potential legal
penalties and reduced local control over land-use decisions.
More significantly, jurors said, failing to increase housing production will continue to worsen affordability and make it increasingly difficult for workers and families to remain in Santa Cruz County.
The Board of Supervisors is the required respondent to all six recommendations. Under California law governing Civil Grand Jury reports, the board must provide a formal written response stating whether it agrees or disagrees with each finding and recommendation and describing any planned actions or reasons for declining to implement them. n
Ruth Bates
831.359.2212
ruthbates1@gmail.com
CalBRE#01799929
ACTIVE LISTINGS
61 Active Home listings as of 7/05 (down from 70 last month).
AVG Days on Market (DOM)=69, up from 51. AVG LIST PRICE = $2,087,301. MEDIAN LIST PRICE = $1,750,000. Hight list: 548 Beach - $8,898,000 – 6B/5.5Ba/4344SF, 39 DOM. Low list: 630 Encino - $792,000 – 2B/1.5Ba/1414SF, 53 DOM. Homes near Median: 620 Baltusrol – $1,845,000 - 5B/3.5Ba/2560SF, 67 DOM, 530 Santa Marguarita - $1,799,000 –4B/3.5BA/236SF, 32 DOM, 255 Thunderbird - $1,798,000, 3B/2.5BA/2042SF, 79 DOM, 555 Vista Del Mar - $1,795,000 – 2B/3BA/2138SF, 60 DOM, 348 Spyglass - $1,775,000 –4B/2.5BA/2292SF, 32 DOM, 545 Flume - $1,750,000, 3B/2BA/2327SF, 35 DOM, 645 Skyward – 3B/2BA/2186SF, 132 DOM. SOLD PAST 30 DAYS
25 homes sold in the past 30 days. The MEDIAN LIST PRICE was $1,559,115 and the MEDIAN SALES PRICE was $1,350,000. Homes sold near Median: 1044 Pleasant Valley - $1,365,000, 427Sumner - $1,350,000, 731 Clubhouse - $1,350,000, 716 Seacliff$1,300,000, 562 Cuesta - $1,290,000. Condo 2621 Willow Brook #110 - $727,500 (3B/2Ba/1396SF). Townhomes: 116 Fife$1,210,000 (3B/2.5BA/2301 SF), 137 Atherton Loop – $1,050,000 (2B/2.5Ba/1414SF), 3027 Arlington - $910,000 (3B/2.5Ba/1725SF).
HOME INSURANCE IN CALIFORNIA Santa Cruz County homeowners face a steep wave of insurance rate increases. Due to the county’s significant mountain and forested terrain, approx. 11,000 residents rely on the California FAIR Plan. This plan recently secured state approval for an average 29.1% to 29.8% statewide premium increase taking effect 10/15/26. Residents who have managed to keep coverage with traditional private insurers are also seeing massive increases. Across the board, California property insurance premiums are projected to jump 16%. The Silver Lining: While premiums are rising, state regulators have finalized the Sustainable Insurance Strategy. These new rules allow insurers to use forward-looking catastrophe risk models to set prices. In exchange, major private insurance companies must expand their coverage footprint in highrisk zones, which is expected to gradually make traditional home insurance easier to find in Santa Cruz County.
OPEN STUDIOS – OCT 3-4, 17-18
I will be participating again in Open Studios this year. Come check out original plein-air oil paintings at my studio from 11-5, Oct 3-4 and 17-18. SAVE THE DATE!
Call, email, text anytime and Get Results With Ruth!
Firefighter Moonlights as Marine Biologist
Wonders of the Ocean Have Always Drawn Fascination
By JON CHOWN
He’s no scientist, but Eric Mailander, 60, has learned a lot about marine life during his years. In fact, he’s learned so much that scientists from the Shark Lab at California State University Monterey Bay have come to him for information and now he helps their research.
Mailander owns a cabin Ben Lomond and has worked for the San Jose Fire Department as a firefighter/paramedic for 20 years. He is also an amateur photographer and loves wildlife, especially Marine life. It’s been a passion of his since watching the Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau on TV as a child. At age 11 he was already scuba diving.
“I wanted to be a marine biologist,” he said. “I went a separate route, but it’s still a hobby.”
Mailander is often out in the water taking photos of sharks and other marine life. He’s been studying most everything that swims the Monterey Bay for many years. He would often send photos to the Shark Lab, and then he started doing drone surveys on his own and relaying that information. Eventually he was invited to help with a scientific paper the lab was working on. After that, more work, all of it as a volunteer, followed.
“I get to work under their permits. I get to take pictures and help science. It’s very rewarding,” he said.
Mailander was recently at Ano Nuevo Island helping to tag sharks and complete DNA studies. He was even asked once by the Discovery Channel to take part in a project for Shark Week, but he said it would have interfered with his real job.
Readers might recognize his name from social media. He is often
posting photos of sharks and other animals on Aptosia and other local pages. He will occasionally get his friend Chris Guillarte to help him. Guillarte owns Specialized Aviation in Watsonville and will fly the two up in his helicopter to look at what’s in the ocean. Mailander said he wants to educate people about the ocean and sharks. People should not fear them, he said.
“People really fear our sharks. They get really close, but they’re not here to attack people,” he said. “When people see these sharks I want them to feel privileged to see them, not to fear them.”
Mailander said that if you are in the water and see a shark, stay calm. Don’t paddle or kick. “Don’t go crazy. The shark will check you out and leave.”
One way to be safer is to not swim among seals and sea lions, where you might get mistaken for their prey. Also, Mailander said most shark attacks happen in the fall or winter, when sharks are returning from the deep ocean hungry, looking for food. There’s no reason to shorten your summer fun because of sharks, he said.
This summer is especially interesting, Mailander said, due to the extreme El Niño. With the ocean being so warm in Southern California, a lot of marine life is moving up to the Monterey Bay that we would not normally see.
“The abundance of sea life out there is incredible. We’re getting a lot of vagrants in the area: leather back turtles from New Guinea, tropical birds, bluefin tuna, blue whales. It’s a sure sign El Niño is hitting,” he said. “The water is warmer, so everything that’s usually down there, we are going to see up here. We might even see marlin and sail fish.” n
Summer Fire Safety Prepare Now Before Wildfire Season Peaks
As summer temperatures rise and vegetation begins to dry across Santa Cruz County, fire officials are urging residents to prepare now rather than wait for the next red flag warning or evacuation order.
For many local residents, memories of the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex Fire remain vivid. The fire burned more than 86,000 acres across Santa Cruz and San Mateo counties, destroyed more than 1,400 structures and forced widespread evacuations. While winter rains have helped maintain green hillsides this year, fire experts caution that California’s wildfire threat never truly disappears.
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, commonly known as CAL FIRE, says the most effective protection begins long before smoke appears on the horizon. The agency recommends a combination of defensible space, home hardening and family evacuation planning to improve the odds that homes survive a wildfire.
Defensible Space Remains the First Line of Defense
One of the most important wildfire
prevention measures is creating defensible space around homes and other structures. California law requires property owners in many fire-prone areas to
maintain up to 100 feet of defensible space around structures. The goal is to create a buffer between buildings and surrounding vegetation, slowing the spread of fire and
providing firefighters with a safer area to work.
CAL FIRE divides defensible space into zones, with the first five feet around a home considered the most critical. This area, known as Zone 0, should be kept as emberresistant as possible because flying embers are responsible for igniting many homes during wildfires. Dry leaves, pine needles, wood piles, bark mulch and other combustible materials should be removed from this area.
Officials also recommend mowing grasses, removing dead vegetation and trimming tree branches. Grass should generally be kept at four inches or less during fire season, and combustible materials should be moved away from structures.
For rural property owners in areas such as Bonny Doon, Boulder Creek, Ben Lomond, Felton, Corralitos and the Santa Cruz Mountains, maintaining defensible space can be especially important because homes are often located near dense forests and wildland areas.
“Fire Safety” page 13
ShowerGuard ™ Glass Stays Beautiful For Life
Center for Youth Mental health
New Mental Health Center Aims to Expand Access for Youth in Santa Cruz County
While today’s youth are experiencing higher rates of anxiety, depression and other mental health challenges, a nonprofit organization in Soquel is working to improve the quality and availability of their mental health care.
The Center for Youth Mental Health, known as the Center, was established in 2023 with a mission of expanding access to evidence-based mental health care for youth. Located at 4630 Soquel Drive, Suite 10, the Center serves families seeking mental health support at a time when demand for services continues to outpace supply in Santa Cruz County.
The Center was co-founded by Dr. Lori Butterworth, a clinical psychologist, known for her work with children, including founding Jacob’s Heart Children’s Cancer Support Services; and Dr. Ramona Friedman, a child and adolescent psychologist. The pair launched the organization after recognizing the growing gap between the need for youth mental health services and the availability of qualified providers.
“When COVID hit and kids became isolated, it struck me to the core that we would be facing an unprecedented crisis in youth mental health,” said Dr. Butterworth. “If we have kids suffering with their mental health in the wake of COVID, and we don’t have enough therapists trained to treat it, that’s a problem.”
The Center’s approach is committed to evidence-based treatment, a term used to describe psychotherapies that have been extensively studied and shown through research to be effective. Butterworth says that not all mental health interventions are created equal and that kids and families should have access to treatments supported by scientific evidence.
“Dr Friedman and I saw that access to evidence-based treatments for youth mental health was lacking in Santa Cruz County,” she said. “Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the gold standard treatment for anxiety, but many therapists are not trained to provide CBT in an effective way that is effective for kids. So we decided we would dedicate time to closing that gap.”
The Center provides assessments and counseling services for a range of conditions affecting children, adolescents, and young adults. These include anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression, mood disorders, trauma-related conditions and other behavioral health challenges.
The most common problem she is seeing, said Dr. Butterworth, is anxiety and anxietyrelated disorders. Dr. Butterworth said she also sees a lot of conflicts with friends. “Teenagers have always had conflicts with friends,
but with social media, the bullying and downright meanness is being taken to new levels,” she added.
Dr. Butterworth adds that “bullying” has become a capture term for a lot of behavior.
“Some of it is benign, but some of it is psychologically devastating to the young victims.
I’ve heard so many stories where kids are just downright cruel. This causes anxiety, self-doubt, and depression. Many kids need help building resilience to navigate these challenges,” she said.
Dr. Butterworth said COVID and the response to it was terrible for children’s mental health, but social media is worse.
“People say COVID caused this anxiety surge. But, social media pre-dated COVID, and there was a 134% increase in adolescent anxiety before COVID. Put simply, social
a place for families to share experiences and resources.
“For every chid we see, we do an assessment and provide parents with a treatment plan,” said Dr. Butterworth. “Parenting is part of that treatment plan. Whenever appropriate, the treatment plan should include parents. When therapists and parents work as a team, it helps kids get closer to the goals of care.”
Dr. Butterworth said that founding the Center is another step in her life’s journey in improving the well being of children. When she just a fourth-grader her teacher inspired her to want to help youth learn and grow. “I wanted to be like my teacher, to make a difference in lives of kids,” said Butterworth.
So she grew up to become a teacher herself, teaching high school for 13 years. Then, in 1998, after seeing first-hand how a little boy with cancer needed help, she founded Jacob’s Heart and the Children’s Hospice Coalition of California. And now, with the Center for Youth Mental Health, she’s expanding her life mission and improving the quality of life for thousands of children and families.
“When COVID hit and kids became isolated, it struck me to the core that we would be facing an unprecedented crisis in youth mental health. If we have kids suffering with their mental health in the wake of COVID, and we don’t have enough therapists trained to treat it, that’s a problem.”
—
Dr. Lori Butterworth
media and anxiety are directly correlated. COVID exacerbated it.”
Butterworth adds that not every child with anxiety or depression needs professional help. But if the condition is getting in the way of living life, then it’s right to get help. “For instance, everybody has some anxiety. Humans need some anxiety to survive. But if your child is avoiding things and is unable to do activities they want to do, therapy can help. Or depression, all of us get sad, that’s normal. But if sadness and lack of motivation are getting in the way of living a full life, it’s good to get professional help.”
Beyond therapy for youth, the Center has created the Parent Center, which provides education, support groups and opportunities for parents and caregivers to connect with mental health professionals. Monthly Parent Drop-In sessions allow parents to ask questions and receive guidance from youth mental health experts, while support groups offer
“I’ve dedicated my life to helping kids learn and grow to be strong and resilient,” Dr. Butterworth said. “It’s been a lifelong mission of mine to improve the quality of life for children. That’s why I decided to dive into youth mental health. It’s the crisis of our time.”
The organization’s work has already received national attention. In 2024, the Center received a $100,000 Children’s Mental Health Innovation Award from Morgan Stanley.
As demand for youth mental health services continues to rise, Butterworth plans to expand beyond its current locations and establish additional Centers throughout California. Dr. Butterworth’s long-term vision is a future in which every young person can quickly access effective mental health care and develop the confidence and resilience needed to thrive.
“We owe a lot to this generation of youth. Think about it, when COVID first struck, kids were not at risk. It was older and medically fragile people,” she said. “We shut down the lives of kids to keep others safe, and they paid a heavy price. We did that to them, and we owe them our best efforts to heal their emotional wounds.”
But, she said, thankfully young people can bounce back with support and caring.
“Kids are resilient. In my office I see that inside there is this amazing, beautiful young person just crying to get out. They want to get better and they want to be the best that they can. It’s inspiring to see kids move towards becoming the best version of themselves. To see them break through that, that’s what gives me hope, seeing kids get better and reclaim their lives.” n
Dr. Lori Butterworth and Dr. Ramona Friedman
Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music Returns
‘We the Dreamers’ to Explore Themes on Democracy and Freedom July 26
As the United States marks its 250th anniversary, the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music is preparing a season that asks audiences to consider not only the nation’s history, but its future.
The internationally recognized festival will return to Santa Cruz from July 26 through Aug. 9 with “We the Dreamers,” a two-week exploration of identity, democracy, memory and belonging through the work of some of the world’s leading contemporary composers.
Now in its 64th season, the Cabrillo Festival is a premier showcase for new orchestral music, known for bringing composers and audiences together in a uniquely collaborative environment. This year’s festival will feature four world premieres commissioned by the organization, eight West Coast premieres and two U.S. premieres, along with appearances by more than 20 composers and a diverse roster of guest artists.
Festival leaders say the season’s title was inspired by both the nation’s semiquincentennial celebration and contemporary debates about who is included in the American story.
“We the Dreamers is both an invitation
and a responsibility,” Music Director Cristian Măcelaru said in announcing the season. “At this historic moment, we are asking how music can help us imagine a more expansive ‘we’ — one that listens deeply, embraces complexity and dares to hope.”
The season opens July 31 with “On Freedom,” a program examining the distance between America’s democratic ideals and lived realities.
Among the most anticipated works is the West Coast premiere of Philip Glass’s “Symphony No. 15 Lincoln,” a six-movement work incorporating the words of Abraham Lincoln, including passages from the Emancipation Proclamation and writings on law, democracy and political division. The performance, featuring Grammy Award-winning baritone Zachary James, comes at a moment when questions about civic unity and democratic institutions remain at the forefront of public life.
The concert also includes two world premieres. Composer Vivian Fung will unveil a new work inspired by “The Star-Spangled Banner” and informed by her experiences as a Canadian-American citizen with Chinese family roots. Portuguese composer Pedro Emanuel Pereira’s new Clarinet Concerto, featuring soloist Carlos Ferreira, blends traditional musical influences with contemporary techniques.
The following evening’s concert, “Defiant Dreams,” centers on resistance, cultural continuity and perseverance.
The program opens with Leilehua Lanzilotti’s “of light and stone,” inspired by Hawaii’s “Heavenly Four” monarchs and their role in preserving Native Hawaiian culture. Pianist Alexandra Dariescu will then perform James Lee III’s “Shades of Unbroken Dreams,” a work reflecting on Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech and its enduring call for justice and equality.
A centerpiece of the concert will be the world premiere of a new work by Sarah Hennies, commissioned through the festival’s Creative Lab initiative. Drawing on studies of psychology and cognition, the composition uses the orchestra to explore questions of identity, memory and human consciousness.
The festival’s third major orchestral program, “Control,” takes place Aug. 8 and examines the forces that shape contemporary life.
A highlight will be the world premiere of “Kontrol” by Clarice Assad, a multimedia work combining narration, projections, solo violin and orchestra to investigate the relationship between technology and human autonomy. Violinist Philippe Quint will serve as featured soloist.
The program also includes “Defending Greenwood (Movement III: June 1, 1921)” by Jackson A. Waters, winner of the 2026 Cabrillo Emerging Black Composers Prize. The composition memorializes the Tulsa Race Massacre and seeks to counter historical erasure through music.
“Music Festival” page 21
Here, your heart’s in the right place.
Your heart deserves exceptional care. At Dominican Hospital, we provide just that, with complete cardiovascular services—from diagnostics and treatments to comprehensive rehabilitation, always delivered with personalized attention and compassion. We focus on your well-being, knowing that a healthy heart supports a full life for you and those you love. Offering essential screenings to advanced procedures, we’re dedicated to providing high-quality cardiovascular care. Learn more at DignityHealth.org/DominicanHearts.
2026 World’s Shortest Parade • 65 TH Annual Fourth of July Celebration
World’s Shortest Parade Winners 2026
Animal Group
Patriotic King Charles Spaniels
Old Time Favorite Dave Bennet and his 1904 Oldsmobile
Best Theme
Watsonville Band: March for History
Most Patriotic K & D Landscaping
Best Individual Curtis Reliford
Best Float Seascape Golf Club
Crowd Pleaser Star Wars
Children’s Group Little Learners
Best Band
Samson Nigh — Samson Band
Best Dance Group Worldanz
Photos Courtesy of Friends and Family of Times Publishing Group, Inc.
“Fire Safety” from page 9
Hardening Homes Against Embers
Wildfire preparation does not stop at landscaping.
CAL FIRE officials emphasize that embers can travel long distances ahead of a wildfire and ignite vulnerable parts of a structure even when flames are not nearby. Home hardening focuses on reducing those vulnerabilities.
Among the agency’s recommendations:
• Clean roofs and gutters regularly to prevent the buildup of dry leaves and debris.
• Install noncombustible gutter covers.
• Upgrade attic and crawl-space vents with ember-resistant designs.
• Seal gaps where embers could enter a structure.
• Consider replacing older windows with dual-pane tempered glass windows.
• Remove combustible items stored beneath decks and porches.
• Replace aging or damaged deck materials with ignition-resistant products when possible.
The roof is often considered the most vulnerable part of a home during a wildfire. California building standards now require Class A fire-rated roofing materials for new construction and many roof replacements.
Recent wildfire research has reinforced the value of these measures. A study led by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley found that combining defensible space with home-hardening improvements can more than double the likelihood that homes survive major wildfires.
Have an Evacuation Plan Before You Need One
Emergency planners say one of the biggest mistakes residents make is waiting until a fire is visible before preparing to leave.
CAL FIRE and local emergency officials encourage families to create evacuation plans well in advance. Residents should identify multiple evacuation routes, prepare emergency supply kits and establish communication plans with family members.
Important items to include in a go-bag
include medications, important documents, cell phone chargers, flashlights, clothing, pet supplies and enough food and water for several days.
The City of Santa Cruz also advises residents to monitor reliable local information sources whenever a wildfire threatens the area and to leave early if they feel unsafe rather than waiting for mandatory evacuation orders.
This advice can be especially important in mountain communities where narrow roads and limited evacuation routes can become congested during emergencies.
Outdoor Activities Carry Risks
Summer recreation can also contribute to wildfire danger.
CAL FIRE’s fire safety outreach programs remind residents and visitors to use campfires responsibly, follow local restrictions and fully extinguish fires before leaving recreation areas. Even a small spark from a campfire, vehicle or piece of equipment can ignite dry vegetation under the right conditions.
Residents are also encouraged to pay attention to restrictions on outdoor burning and fireworks. Illegal fireworks are prohibited throughout Santa Cruz County and can quickly ignite vegetation during hot, dry weather.
Community Preparedness Matters
Wildfire experts increasingly emphasize that protecting homes is not solely an individual effort. Neighborhood-wide preparation often produces the best results because fires can spread from one property to another.
Research shows that community-level mitigation efforts, including defensible space and home-hardening projects across entire neighborhoods, can significantly improve survival rates during major fires.
For Santa Cruz County residents, that means talking with neighbors and addressing hazards before fire season reaches its peak.
The lesson from recent California wildfires is clear: preparation works. While no action can guarantee a home will survive a major wildfire, experts agree that creating defensible space, hardening structures and preparing for evacuation can dramatically reduce risk. n
CAL FIRE performs regular controlled burns to try and prevent uncontrolled fires.
Santa Cruz County Grand Jury Finds Local Election System Secure, Recommends More Public Education
By JON CHOWN
SANTA CRUZ — The 2025-26 Santa Cruz County Civil Grand Jury has found that the county’s elections are conducted with complete integrity and without fraud, but recommended more public education about election procedures to reduce skepticism.
In a report titled Election Integrity: An Indispensable System Working Well, the Civil Grand Jury concluded that the county’s Elections Department does just about everything it can to protect the integrity of local elections. The report defines election integrity as a system that allows every eligible person to vote freely, ensures ballots are accurately counted
and reported, and includes safeguards to prevent ineligible individuals from registering or voting.
According to the report, there have been no known cases of voter fraud in Santa Cruz County and no local election has been challenged during the past 50 years. The jury cited those facts as evidence that the Elections Department provides a “textbook example of election integrity.”
The grand jury reviewed department documents and election manuals, interviewed election officials and longtime observers of local politics, attended poll worker training and served as poll workers during the November 2025 election. Jurors
also examined previous Santa Cruz County Civil Grand Jury reports on elections as well as reports from Sonoma, Sutter and Orange counties.
Among the safeguards highlighted by the jury are comprehensive audits of voter registration rolls before and after every election, with registrations cross-checked against state and county records, including death records and Department of Motor Vehicles data. Ballots are mailed only after voter records are verified.
The report also praised the county’s recruitment and training of poll workers, noting that many return election after election, creating an experienced workforce. All poll workers receive in-person training before each election and are provided printed materials and detailed polling manuals. To maintain chain of custody, ballot boxes are always transported to county offices by at least two poll workers.
The jury also emphasized that the county’s voting machines function only as voter aids rather than vote-counting devices. After making selections on the machine, voters receive a printed paper
ballot that they must review before depositing it into a ballot box.
The report notes that the machines neither record how a person voted nor tabulate votes. Ballot counting is conducted publicly at the Elections Department after polls close, allowing members of the public to observe the process.
For vote-by-mail ballots, every signature is initially verified through machine scanning. Any ballot rejected during that process receives a second scan and visual review by at least two Elections Department employees. According to the report, rejected ballots account for less than 0.001% of ballots during each election cycle.
The jury concluded that these procedures, carried out before, during and after elections, have proven to be effective safeguards against fraud and systemic errors.
Although the report strongly endorsed the county’s election processes, it made two recommendations aimed at improving public understanding.
“Local Election” page 17
Don’t Miss the Strawberry Festival Watsonville
Downtown to Celebrate Region’s Biggest Crop
Saturday Aug. 1 and Sunday Aug. 2
WATSONVILLE — One of Watsonville’s signature summer traditions will return to downtown Aug. 1-2 as the Watsonville Strawberry Festival celebrates the region’s most iconic crop while raising money for local nonprofit organizations.
The free, family-friendly festival will take place from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day in downtown Watsonville, centered along Main Street and East Beach Street.
Organizers say the event serves as both a celebration of the Pajaro Valley’s agricultural heritage and a showcase for community organizations.
The festival traces its origins to the Watsonville Strawberry Dessert Festival, which was founded in 1994 as part of efforts to help revitalize downtown following the devastating 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. More than three decades later, the event has grown into one of the city’s largest annual gatherings.
Valley’s largest and most valuable agricultural crop. Organizers also use the event to provide fundraising opportunities for local nonprofit groups while increasing awareness of their work throughout the community.
Food vendors, community booths, entertainment and activities fill downtown streets. The festivities begin Saturday morning with the annual Strawberry Jam 1K/5K Fun Run and Walk, coordinated by the Friends of Watsonville Parks and Community Services.
In addition to providing a safe, familyoriented event in the heart of the city, the festival highlights strawberries, the Pajaro
This year’s race will be held at Landmark Elementary School rather than its traditional location because Ramsay Park is undergoing renovations. The course begins and ends at the school and takes participants through portions of Watsonville’s slough system, including an out-and-back stretch along Ohlone Parkway. Organizers describe the course as easy and family-friendly. Strollers are welcome, though dogs will not be permitted. For more info, call 831-768-3240. n
COMMUNITY NEWS
Measure N Committee Needs Members
Community members are invited to apply to serve on the Pajaro Valley Health Care District’s Measure N Citizens’ Oversight Committee.
Up to three people will be appointed to serve two-year terms beginning in August.
Measure N is the general obligation bond measure approved by District voters to fund capital improvements at Watsonville Community Hospital. The Citizens’ Oversight Committee plays a critical role in ensuring those funds are spent as voters intended — providing independent public accountability for every dollar.
Applications will be accepted through July 31. The District Board will appoint committee members at its August 2026 meeting, with terms running through August 2028. Application materials and requirements are posted at PVHCD.org under the Governance tab. n
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Hospital’s Financial Direction is Very Concerning
To the Board Members of Watsonville Community Hospital:
This letter has also been sent to local media.
I am writing to express serious concern regarding the financial direction, operational oversight, and patient-care implications under the current administration and Board leadership at Watsonville Community Hospital.
Under your oversight, the hospital has reportedly accumulated approximately $16.6 million in debt following bankruptcy. This raises urgent questions about fiscal responsibility, governance, and accountability. The community supported this hospital with the understanding that it would be stabilized, strengthened, and positioned for long-term service. Instead, the public is now being asked to absorb the consequences of continued financial instability, while there appears to be no clear, sustainable recovery plan.
The current financial strategy appears to rely heavily on the hope of future grants, deferred or forgiven loans, federal credits that have already been leveraged, and the possibility of partnering with an outside entity with deeper financial resources. Hope is not a financial plan. Loans are not simply “forgiven” without consequence; they are often shifted elsewhere, including to taxpayers and the community. The public deserves transparency about where the money has gone, what has been accomplished, and what measurable plan exists to prevent further financial deterioration.
At the same time, the hospital appears to have significantly expanded its leadership structure. The number of directors and managers has reportedly more than doubled under the current administration, with more than 40 individuals now in leadership roles,
many with salaries approaching or exceeding levels that are difficult to justify given the hospital’s current financial condition. Departments that did not exist in this form several years ago now carry substantial wage and benefit costs. Meanwhile, frontline staff are being cut, beds and units are being closed, patients are being transferred out, and critical services are being reduced.
This is deeply concerning.
— Penny Lane, Aptos
Capitola is Being Bullied
Did you know?
The City of Capitola is being accused of disenfranchising its citizen’s by what seems to be a gangster law firm, Shenkman & Hughes of Malibu. It’s a lie and an insult to our community. The law firm’s demand letter states, “Capitola is outwardly disturbing and fundamentally hostile....”
Our City disputes the allegations of dilution of a protected class. Yet, the City is unable to defend our reputation because of the prohibitive costs to fight this threatening lawsuit.
Consider, when we are talking about dividing our unique City into small voting districts, we are being forced, threatened and extorted into districting because of legal loopholes.
Districting creates an attitude of separation through division. Unnecessary districting is a costly unwarranted diversion from the real concerns of our small City. The cities “hands are tied” echoes throughout many issues in our state. Housing, battery storage sites, off shore oil drilling and now districting. We are losing the power of local jurisdictions.
Ask why Capitola is being sent such a demand lawsuit letter at this time? Renounce bullying.
— Cheryl Ban, Capitola
COMMUNITY NEWS
Carmel Jewish Food Festival Returns
Celebrate Culture, Cuisine and Community on July 26
The Carmel Jewish Food Festival returns
Sunday, July 26, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Congregation Beth Israel, located at 5716 Carmel Valley Road, Carmel, inviting the community to gather for a vibrant celebration of Jewish cuisine, culture, and connection.
This welcoming summer event offers a flavorful and meaningful experience for guests of all backgrounds. Attendees can enjoy a variety of authentic Jewish foods available for purchase, along with music, cultural experiences, and opportunities to connect with the community in a beautiful Carmel setting.
There is no admission fee and no ticket required. Guests are invited to attend freely and purchase food throughout the day.
In addition to the festival experience, a
curated gift shop booth will feature artsy and culturally inspired items available for purchase.
From June 28 through July 19, guests may place advance online orders for a limited menu of festival favorites. Pre-orders will be available for pick-up on Saturday, July 25 (the day before the festival). This optional offering has been a popular convenience in recent years. No pre-orders will be available on the day of the festival.
The festival is also actively seeking volunteers to support advance baking beginning in May, cooking and preparation during the week leading up to the event, and assistance on festival day. No experience is necessary, and volunteers do not need to be Jewish—everyone is welcome. n
More information and sign-up details are available at jewishfoodfestivalcarmel.org.
ROOTED in Farming: Farm Discovery’s Annual Fundraiser Features Outdoor Feast
WATSONVILLE — Farm Discovery has a nourishing feast in store during its annual benefit dinner. This 5-course feast is crafted from Live Earth Farm produce along with Morris Ranch beef.
During this late summer evening, Chef Pamela Burns and Chef Tyler Riener will work their magic to craft a plant forward adventure for your palette. Each course is paired with a different local wine from J. Lohr, Chesebro, Scheid, and Dot Winery and beer from Discretion Brewing.
Tickets for this five-course farm to table meal with beverage pairing start at $150. The evening begins with live music by the Free Elements, a cocktail from locally sourced ingredients, and interactive stations around Farm Discovery.
Chef Diego Felix’s Argentine empanadas are the highlight of our appetizers, as guests wander through the farm exploring its wonder and collect stamps for a raffle entry.
Farm Discovery at Live Earth is a farm-based education nonprofit in Watsonville. We empower youth and families to build and sustain healthy food, farming, social and natural systems.
“Local Election” from page 14
The jury recommended that the Elections Department expand its website by Oct. 31 to better explain the procedures and safeguards used to maintain election integrity. It also recommended adding information explaining how county voting machines work, clearly stating that they neither record votes nor count ballots.
The Grand Jury felt that if the public were
By developing environmental literacy, teaching farming skills, and transforming food habits that support personal, community and environmental health we encourage students to build a relationship with food that is healthy for people and the environment.
A special emphasis is placed on reaching underserved community members in the Pajaro Valley to bolster individual and whole community health.
All funds raised from this dinner support programming that nourish our community. n
Please reserve your spot by going to our website: https://farmdiscovery.org/event/rooted/.
given more information about the machines it would reduce skepticism about their use.
The jury also found that the Elections Department faces increasing constraints on space needed to meet legal records retention requirements.
The report recommends that the county clerk conduct an annual review of the department’s space needs and report those findings to the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors beginning with the 2027 budget cycle. n
Supervisors Alter Measure Q Recommendations Send More Funds to Wildfire Projects
By JON CHOWN
SANTA CRUZ — Santa Cruz County supervisors approved the first round of Measure Q grants at their June 9 board meeting, altering the recommendations made by the Measure Q Citizen Oversight Advisory Board by redirecting hundreds of thousands of dollars from several South County projects to wildfire resilience efforts.
The Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 on June 9 to approve $2.74 million in grants under the voter-approved Measure Q program. Supervisor Manu Koenig cast the lone dissenting vote after unsuccessfully seeking even greater funding for wildfirerelated projects.
The final package differed from the advisory board’s recommendations by reducing several highly ranked projects, including those in Watsonville and the Pajaro Valley, and increasing funding for the Central Coast Prescribed Burn Association’s Wildfire & Ecology Resilience via Beneficial Fire project.
Measure Q, formally known as the Santa Cruz County Safe Drinking Water, Clean Beaches, Wildfire Risk Reduction and Wildlife Protection Act, was approved by voters in November 2024. The measure generates about $7 million annually through an $87 parcel tax, with 40% of the revenue dedicated to competitive grants.
County staff received 54 applications requesting nearly $8.9 million, more than three times the $2.74 million available.
The grant review process involved county staff, outside evaluators and the ninemember Citizen Oversight Advisory Board. According to the staff report, reviewers scored projects using approved criteria
before the advisory board weighed broader considerations such as geographic equity, community impact and thematic balance.
Dave Reid, director of the county’s Office of Response, Recovery and Resilience, said evaluators worked to make the process as objective as possible.
“Recognizing humans are biased by nature, we tried to create a very strict scoring structure … so if you were meeting a certain process or definition, you were going to get a certain amount of points,” Reid told supervisors.
The advisory board ultimately recommended funding based largely on project scores, while also directing $60,000 to the Central Coast Prescribed Burn Association by reducing the proposed award for Pajaro Valley Unified School District’s Rolling Hills Middle School Track and Field project.
At the June 9 board meeting, supervisors revisited the recommendations after hearing from applicants and community members.
Among them was Tanje Wold-Switzer, executive director of the Long Term Recovery Group of Santa Cruz County, who argued that wildfire projects deserved greater support.
“This measure was built and championed as the Santa Cruz County water and wildfire protection initiative. Voters supported it overwhelmingly in the shadow of the CZU Fire,” she said. “Yet we were deeply concerned to see that vey little funding is recommended for direct wildfire protection and our shovel ready equity-centered project is not recommended for funding at all.”
“Measure Q” page 27
Sandman Triathlon Returns in August Event Benefits Santa Cruz State Lifeguard Program
By JON CHOWN
One of Santa Cruz County’s longestrunning endurance events, the Sandman Triathlon, will be even closer to the water this year when athletes gather Sunday, Aug. 23, at Seacliff State Beach.
“We are changing the bike course a little bit to stay closer to the ocean and avoid big hills and roads with many intersections,” said Veronica Spalekova, race director.
First held in 1985 during the early years of the sport, the Sandman Triathlon has become a local tradition while serving as a fundraiser for lifeguard programs and youth water-safety education.
“The Sandman has been a staple of the Santa Cruz County endurance community since 1985, drawing its classic status from its incredibly unique geography. It kicks off at Seacliff State Beach with a brisk 0.75-mile swim right around the historic S.S. Palo Alto Cement Ship. From there, athletes take on a rolling, scenic 13-mile bike ride through Aptos before finishing with a grueling, but breathtaking, 4-mile run directly on the sand
to New Brighton Beach and back. It’s a pure, gritty, California beach race through and through,” said Spalekova.
The event is sanctioned by USA Triathlon and benefits the Santa Cruz State Lifeguard Association, a nonprofit organization operated
by active California State Parks lifeguards in Santa Cruz County.
Proceeds support state park and lifeguard operations, the Santa Cruz State Junior Lifeguard Program and scholarships that help underprivileged children receive water-safety instruction. The race begins at 8 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 23, at Seacliff State Beach.
Athletes ages 16 to 99 are eligible to compete in the individual triathlon. There is also a duathlon for competitors ages 16 to 99, featuring a run, a 13-mile bike segment and a 4-mile run. Team competition is available for participants ages 12 to 99, with team members completing the swim, bike and run portions collectively.
“We are expecting roughly 200 participants across our individual triathlon, duathlon, and team relay categories, plus all the families, volunteers, and spectators who come out to pack the beach and cheer them on,” said Spalekova.
“Sandman Triathlon” page 31
t he S k Y light P la C e
Family-Run
Business Offers Complete Range of Glass Services; Ser ving the Community Since 1971
For more than five decades, The Skylight Place has served the Santa Cruz County community, building a reputation not only for windows and skylights, but for a range of glass, door and specialty services that continue to change with the needs of local homeowners.
Founded in 1971, the family-run company has grown from a local window and skylight business into a full-service glass, door and home improvement operation serving customers throughout Santa Cruz, Capitola, Aptos and surrounding communities. Today, second-generation owner Paul Eastman continues the locally rooted business with a focus on craftsmanship, customer service and community involvement.
“I feel honored to continue the legacy that my Uncle and Father started when they opened The Skylight Place. In a world that is changing so quickly and moving so fast, it is comforting to know that our small, locally owned, business is still viable, and a vital, part of our community,” said Eastman. “We are a business that customers return to time and time again, because we offer quality work at a reasonable price; and we offer simple solutions for the repair or remodel of our customer’s homes. We have proven our work over the past 50 years in this community, and we are honored to serve multiple generations of local home owners.”
While many residents recognize the company for its skylights and replacement windows, some of its fastest-growing and most in-demand services center around custom shower doors and replacement glass.
“We are proud to be one of the only shops in town that focuses on affordable repair options as our clients have become much more eco conscious through the years. Why replace something when you can repair it for less?” Eastman said.
The Skylight Place specializes in framed and frameless shower door installations, offering custom-designed enclosures for remodels, new construction projects and replacement needs. Customers can choose from tempered glass in multiple thicknesses, including quarter-inch, threeeighth-inch and half-inch options, allowing homeowners to tailor the look and privacy level of their bathrooms.
The company handles the entire process, from design consultation and measurements to manufacturing and installation. Its installers are factory-trained and certified for installation quality and product expertise.
“Since our inception, we have worked hard to be a client focused business. We strive to understand our clients’ needs, and we provides seamless replace, repair, or reimagine options for their windows, doors, skylights, and glass,” said Eastman
Replacement glass services have become increasingly important for homeowners and businesses facing storm damage, accidents and aging windows. The Skylight Place offers single-window glass repair and replacement, customcut glass, mirror replacement, commercial glass work and emergency board-up services for broken windows.
The company’s responsiveness following storm damage has earned praise from homeowners navigating repairs during difficult circumstances.
“The recent storms made havoc on our house and we needed to repair/replace some of our windows,” customer Noelle Lowe said in a testimonial. “After doing a bunch of comparisons and shopping, we felt most comfortable going forward with Skylight Place. They were by far the best value and the most professional.”
Lowe also credited Eastman and his staff for their communication and adaptability during delays caused by weather conditions.
“Paul and his team were very attentive to our particularities and very adaptable,” Lowe said. “Their professionalism and compassion for our situation made the transaction very easy.”
Beyond shower doors and glass replacement, The Skylight Place offers a broad catalog of residential products and services. The company installs windows, multifold
doors, multi-slide doors, moving glass walls, mirrors, skylights, screens and custom glass features designed to bring more natural light into homes.
The business was the first company to sell Milgard windows in Santa Cruz County and remains a certified Milgard dealer. It is also the county’s only Marvin Windows dealer, giving customers access to a range of premium replacement and new construction window products. The Skylight Place also manufactures window screens in-house, allowing for relatively quick turnaround times on repairs and replacements.
Skylights remain one of the company’s signature offerings, including custom-built and energy-efficient solutions designed for both aesthetics and energy savings. The Skylight Place also features VELUX skylights, known for topquality fixed, venting and solar-powered skylight systems.
The company’s experience with custom glass and largeformat doors has become especially attractive to homeowners seeking to blend indoor and outdoor living spaces. Its bi-fold doors, stacking doors and moving glass wall systems are designed to maximize natural light while creating open transitions to patios, decks and outdoor entertainment areas.
Despite the company’s growth and expanded capabilities, Eastman said maintaining a family-oriented, customer-first approach remains central to the business. That local focus also extends beyond home improvement projects. The Skylight Place supports the community through sponsorships and local involvement, including serving as a sponsor of the Capitola Beach Festival, one of the county’s longstanding community events.
“We are proud that we have been able to serve this community for more than 50 years. It is incredibly rewarding to offer great products and services to customers, while at the same time creating jobs for local residents. We promise to continue our work to support and grow this community for future generations to enjoy,” Eastman said. n
Paul Eastman welcomes the public to The Skylight Place.
Capitola Delays Opening of Community Center, Accessible Playground
Grand Opening Now Expected in Mid-August Due to Construction De lays
The City of Capitola has postponed the grand opening of its newly renovated Community Center and Treasure Cove Playground because construction work has taken longer than expected.
The opening celebration had been scheduled for June 17 at Jade Street Park, but city officials announced that the event has been delayed due to construction delays.
The city is now aiming to hold the grand opening in mid-August, although a final date has not yet been confirmed.
The projects are located at 4400 Jade St. and represent major upgrades to one of Capitola’s most popular community gathering places.
Treasure Cove will become the city’s first universally accessible playground. Designed with input from community members, the playground replaces older equipment that no longer met accessibility standards.
The marine-themed playground has rubberized surfaces and equipment designed for children of all abilities.
“Music Festival” from page 11
Another West Coast premiere, Hannah Ishizaki’s “Spin,” merges elements of Viennese waltz traditions with electronic dance music influences. The concert concludes with the U.S. premiere of Romanian composer Dan Dediu’s “Concerto for Orchestra,” dedicated to Măcelaru and celebrating the artistic partnership between conductor and composer.
The season concludes Aug. 9 with “Hope as Our Banner,” a program focused on resilience, possibility and belonging.
Featured works include Indonesian composer Eunike Tanzil’s “Ascending Creatures,” inspired by the synchronized movement of birds in flight, and Lisa Bielawa’s violin concerto “Pulse,” performed by acclaimed violinist Tessa Lark. Drawing on Appalachian fiddle traditions and contemporary orchestral writing, the work explores themes of shared movement and momentum.
The evening also includes the U.S. premiere of Elena Kats-Chernin’s “Rainbow Promise,” a celebration of marriage equality that reflects on both triumph and struggle, and Sean Shepherd’s “Wanderlust,” a musical meditation on travel, identity and the search for home.
Following the Grand Finale, former U.S. Poet Laureate Rita Dove will present a special performance of original poetry honoring the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., accompanied by Samuel Barber’s “Adagio
for Strings.” The presentation marks the West Coast premiere of the work and serves as a reflective conclusion to the season.
Beyond its headline concerts, the festival continues its longstanding commitment to education and artistic development.
This year’s Conductors/Composers Workshop will bring together four emerging composers — Oswald Huynh, Kai KubotaEnright, Paul Novak and Zoe Verduin — who will work with resident composers and members of the Festival Orchestra before presenting new works during the workshop’s culminating “In the Works” concert.
The workshop has expanded this year through a partnership with Luna Composition Lab, the national organization founded by composers Missy Mazzoli and Ellen Reid to support young female and nonbinary composers.
The festival will also present its popular free Family Concert on Aug. 2. Led by Conductor-in-Residence Octavio Más-Arocas, the event features Paul Dooley’s interactive “The Conductor’s Spellbook,” Gala Flagello’s fanfare “Bravado,” and opportunities for audiences to learn about orchestral instruments. Students from El Sistema Santa Cruz/ Pajaro Valley will also perform alongside festival musicians.
Executive Director D. Riley Nicholson said the festival’s mission extends beyond presenting new music.
Features include a wheelchairaccessible merry-go-round, sensory
public events and community-centered programming, ‘We the Dreamers’ brings together visionary composers, rising voices, performers and audiences in a shared commitment to envisioning futures grounded in equity, curiosity and creative freedom.”
For Santa Cruz County audiences, the season offers a rare opportunity to hear works that are often being performed for
play structures, swings, spinners, slides, climbing areas and quiet spaces.
The playground was made possible through a partnership between the city and County Park Friends. The nonprofit group led an 18-month fundraising campaign that raised more than $1 million from more than 1,500 donors.
The renovated Capitola Community Center is opening alongside the new playground. The 5,792-square-foot building has served the community since the 1980s and has undergone extensive improvements.
The renovation includes structural repairs, a new roof and siding, updated meeting rooms, an upgraded kitchen, a new single-user restroom, and improvements to heating, cooling, electrical and lighting systems.
New patios and pathways connect the building directly to the playground.
“Community Center” page 23
the first time anywhere in the world while engaging with artists exploring some of the defining questions of contemporary life. n
The Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music runs July 26 through Aug. 9 at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, 307 Church St., Santa Cruz. Many events are free and open to the public. Tickets and information are available by calling 831-426-6966.
Grand Jury: Santa Cruz County Rail Project Needs Better Planning
SANTA CRUZ — The Santa Cruz County Civil Grand Jury says years of planning for the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line have been slowed by unrealistic cost estimates, political disagreements and a lack of detailed engineering studies.
The report looks at more than 40 years of work on the 32-mile rail corridor, which runs from Davenport to Pajaro Junction. The line has been considered for passenger rail, freight trains and a bike and walking trail.
The jury found that the biggest problem was not whether the corridor should have rail, a trail or both. Instead, it said key decisions were made before leaders fully understood the project’s engineering challenges, legal limits and true costs.
The report says earlier studies estimated a passenger rail system would cost about $480 million. But a more detailed study released in 2025 raised that estimate to about $4.3 billion, showing that earlier reports did not fully account for the difficult terrain, aging bridges and other construction challenges.
The jury also said costs for building the Coastal Rail Trail have increased sharply because of inflation and unexpected engineering work.
The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission, known as the RTC, bought the rail line in 2012 to preserve it for future transportation. Since then, the agency has expanded its role from transportation planning to managing large construction projects. The report praised the RTC for improving its engineering and project management staff in recent years.
Still, the jury said the corridor remains largely unused. About three miles of trail have been completed, while freight service is limited to a short section in Watsonville. Passenger rail remains in the planning stages.
The report also found that disagreements among elected officials, advocacy groups and community members have
delayed decisions about the corridor’s future. It said earlier public discussions were based on incomplete information about costs and feasibility.
The grand jury recommended that the RTC create a stronger system for reviewing major projects before approving them. It also called for more accurate cost estimates,
a long-term strategic plan, improved public communication and consideration of new construction methods that could reduce delays and control costs.
The report recommends studying different options for future trail construction, including temporary and long-term designs, before making major investments. n
Grand Jury Urges County to Take Stronger Steps to Protect Pedestrians
By JON CHOWN
SANTA CRUZ — The Santa Cruz County Civil Grand Jury is calling on local governments to improve pedestrian safety after finding the county continues to rank among the worst in California for people killed or seriously injured while walking.
In a report titled Walking in the County of Santa Cruz is Not for the Faint of Heart: Can Vision Zero Help?, the 2025-26 Civil Grand Jury said the county, the City of Santa Cruz and the City of Watsonville have all committed to the Vision Zero program but have not yet adopted action plans needed to put the program into effect.
Vision Zero is an international safety strategy that aims to reduce traffic deaths and serious injuries to zero. It recognizes that people make mistakes and focuses on
designing roads and transportation systems that prevent those mistakes from becoming deadly crashes.
The grand jury said adopting Vision Zero action plans would help local governments set goals, measure progress and qualify for additional transportation grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation.
According to the Grand Jury report, Santa Cruz County ranks among the worst 20% of California’s 58 counties for pedestrian deaths and serious injuries in five of the seven years from 2017 through 2023. During that time, the county recorded between 80 and 125 pedestrians killed or seriously injured each year. Watsonville particularly needs to improve. Compared with 103 California cities of similar size, Watsonville ranked among the
state’s 10 worst cities for pedestrian deaths and serious injuries in six of the seven years studied. The City Santa Cruz didn’t fare much better. It ranked among the 10 worst comparable cities in three of those seven years.
The grand jury said many improvements have already been made to make walking safer. Projects such as the Highway 1 Whale Bridge, improvements along Bay Avenue in Santa Cruz, Green Valley Road in Watsonville, Soquel Drive and sections of the Rail Trail help separate pedestrians and bicyclists from vehicle traffic.
However, the report said some projects leave dangerous “safety gaps.” The Whale Bridge, for example, provides a safe crossing over Highway 1, but pedestrians leaving the north side of the bridge must walk
past several busy driveways that have no sidewalks.
The report also raised concerns about sidewalk maintenance.
Under California law, property owners are responsible for maintaining sidewalks next to their property. Cracked pavement, raised sidewalks caused by tree roots and overgrown plants can all create hazards for people walking.
The grand jury found that local governments mostly depend on residents to report sidewalk problems and faded crosswalk markings. While online reporting systems exist, many people may not know they are available.
Rebecca Clark Brings Her Sense of Community to Sister Act
By DARREN JACKSON-WILKINS
If you have spent any time around the Santa Cruz theatre community, chances are you’ve crossed paths with Rebecca Haley Clark. Whether onstage, offstage, or in the classroom — Clark is known for creating sacred spaces where folks feel empowered to take risks and tell their own stories.
Born and raised in Santa Cruz, Clark’s artistic journey has taken her from local stages to New York, Brazil, and Scotland before bringing her back to the community that first inspired her love of theatre.
A graduate of Columbia University, the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, and a recipient of a Fulbright Program research grant to study Shakespeare and race studies in Rio de Janeiro, Clark has built a career exploring how theatre can spark conversation and build community.
She continues this career here in Santa Cruz where she works to mentor the next generation of artists as the Director of Education at Santa Cruz Shakespeare.
Returning to Cabrillo Stage is especially
meaningful since, although Clark makes her directing debut this year, it is not her first rodeo. She returns to the company where she first worked as an intern in 2008 for Jesus
“Community Center” from page 21
Funding for the Community Center project came from several sources, including $475,000 from the City of Capitola, a $4.2 million federal Community Development Block Grant and a $1 million state grant through the California Natural Resources Agency.
The city plans to announce a new grand opening date once construction is complete and the project is ready to welcome the public. n
guiding light for everyone involved in the show and is what resonates with audiences, new and old. When asked about her directorial vision for the show, Clark warmly shared that she wanted to highlight worship.
Clark reminds us that, “Worship can happen anywhere there is a community that is coming together. It can take many different forms. It makes our community stronger and brighter.”
Clark believes the theater is one of the most sacred places. Thinking beyond just religion, a sacred place allows us to discover moments of joy together.
Chist Superstar. Talk about the power of a community!
The key element a director brings to the table is vision. Their vision becomes the
As a Santa Cruz native that has travelled far and wide, she notes: “Cabrillo Stage is special because it brings together the study and the play. We can put our problems outside for a couple of hours and come together and raise our voices. We can focus on what brings us together rather than our differences. Now is a time we need joy more than anything”
“Sister Act” page 31
Photo Credit: Bari Lee
Deloris (Karriyma Pekary) leading her singing nuns.
Pavlov’s Finance FEATURED COLUMNIST
Pavlov’s dog refers to a series of experiments by Russian physiologist, Ivan Pavlov, which discovered classical conditioning during his research on dogs’ digestion. He accidentality stumbled upon the conditioning reflex by noting that repeating a bell ring prior to feeding eventually stimulated salivation in the animal even though no food was present.
It is now a well-accepted theory and, as we know now, obviously applies to more than just animals.
some argue that the FED thinks that it is omnipotent.
That belief is somewhat self-evident as it is constantly implementing their various policies at any sign of trouble.
The FED’s tools are powerful and supercharged. Any one adjustment can make significant changes to both the stock market and the economy under it.
The Markets So You Don’t Have To
Take the stock market for example. Decades back the markets reacted to positive economic news, plain and simple. Good earnings and a healthy employment market drove investors into stocks. Conversely, bad economic news generally eroded investor confidence and the market would sell off.
A Pavlovian response for sure. As the years clicked off and with the advent of a central monetary authority, the Federal Reserve (FED), weak markets brought about the idea that a proactive FED could use a variety of monetary tools and mitigate severe market downturns.
Although certain economic theories argue that capitalistic markets cannot be manipulated into submission, other economists believed that careful implementation of FED actions could successfully manage economic downturns.
Those actions-such as the raising or lowering the cost capital, (known as interest rate adjustment) , buying government debt (allowing an increase in deficit spending), and a variety of other actions, are designed to make money either cheaper or more expensive-which can influence investor behavior.
Some economists argue, however, that these FED actions will only exasperate economic turbulence. Others believe the FED had found the holy grail for preventing market catastrophe by using the tools at their disposal.
Regardless of which side of the economic aisle one is on, the FED has apparently come to the point where it constantly tries to micromanage the economy, much like a ship negotiating an ocean full of land mines.
Economies are constantly in a state of flux. There are many moving parts of a complex industrial society. As a result, bad news and good news hit in varying degrees and at varying times. Reading the proverbial tea leaves of where an economy might be headed therefore is no easy task.
Despite this tricky environment,
These ongoing movements by the FED have occurred for decades. Market participants have learned, like Pavlov’s dog, that when economic news hits the newswires, the FED will act by turning one or more of these powerful economic knobs to either juice or starve the markets.
This anticipation of FED action on even the slightest piece of economic news causes the market to move in the opposite direction of what was once regarded as rational.
Investors now think that bad news means the FED will act to juice the markets and so they buy stocks. Conversely, good economic news might cause the markets to fall in anticipation of FED action in the opposite direction. Good economic news may mean inflation is building so the FED tightens the money supply and starves the markets to harness rising prices
The anticipation of FED action is now arguably a major factor in markets on whether investors hit the buy or sell button.
An example of this was last week when a negative employment number came out and the markets rose thinking the FED will act to stimulate the economy, which would be good for stocks later down the road.
Decades ago, a bad jobs number would have likely led to a market sell off. Not so today apparently.
There is more to this story that I haven’t included here because of the lack of space but hopefully you get the picture.
The bottom line is bad news might be good news for stocks and good news just might be bad for stocks,
Kind of crazy I know and, unfortunately, it makes negotiating the stock market just that much more difficult. n •••
By MARC CUNIBERTI
Generational divide
Oodles
Each one for himself?
Ouzo flavor
A whole lot
Pertinent
Not rights
Without further ____,
Departed
Hip bones
*Actor Foley of #13
Kind of block
His
This article expresses the opinion of Marc Cuniberti and is not meant as investment advice, or a recommendation to buy or sell any securities, nor represents the opinion of any bank, investment firm or RIA, nor this media outlet, its staff, members or underwriters. Mr. Cuniberti holds a B.A. in Economics with honors, 1979, and California
*Not a wedding (1994)
*They were reaping benefits (2011)
Silly
Gone by
Healing gel producing plant
*How many days to lose a guy? (2003)
0 and 2, e.g.
Retrogrades & a Full Moon, Cancer to Leo, the Heart of the Matter
We have multiple shifts, changes and retrogrades this month — Mercury, Neptune & Saturn retrograde. At month’s end Sun enters Leo and there’s a full moon (Leo solar festival). On July 14, 2026. Venus entered Virgo for a month. Virgo calls us to care for, serve and love one another and to bring forth love on a daily basis to all the kingdoms of Earth. Retrogrades create an inward focus within humanity.
Each day the heavenly energies that influence us shift and change their positions. These changes affect and influence us. They are “God’s geometries,” offering humanity its evolutionary direction.
Astrology is the study of these heavenly influences. Thus the aphorism — “What is above is also below.” Earth is the younger sister to the heavens and reflects heaven’s movement. Earth is 71% (ancient) water. Water reflects that which is above it. And so what is occurring in the heavens the last half of July, reflected on Earth, and thus influencing us?
Aquarius). Neptune, planet of both illusion (personality) and spiritual refinement (Soul), retrograde in Aries (all things new, self-identity) creating a deeper inward focus of hopes, wishes, dreams, inspiration and aspirations.
Saturn, too, retrogrades in Aries. Time, especially with Saturn retrograde, seems to shift and change with the retrogrades.
Mercury retrograde (‘til July 22) in Cancer. In what way do we nourish ourselves and others? We review all that has occurred since the last Mercury retrograde in March.
Pluto retrograde in Aquarius – the shift of the ages (from Pisces to
ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 9)
You have a Martian ability to forge ahead, to find veils of gold in lead. Having so many abilities, you learn to share a few. Sharing is new to you. You research the beginnings of things. You encounter conspiracy theories. But actually, those theories often end up to be true. You’re more thoughtful, more energetic, active, forceful and even, at times, overly assertive (not shocking!). You also love more. Rarely are you this way. It’s Mercury in Cancer, retrograde, and Mars playing with you in Gemini, your two friends.
TAURUS (Apr 10 – May 20)
With the lightning bolts of Uranus affecting your sense of value, you’ve become more aware, sensitive, more in tune, wanting to push the river more. You have developed a sense of other- worldliness, walking a different path than most others. You’re working more in secret with Mercury retrograde in Cancer. There’s an intuition that the past is somehow merging with the present/future. For a while everything seems to dissolve into Neptunian waters. Dreams (day and night) appear, imagination is sparked, creativity comes alive. Music of the spheres calls to you. Pythagoras heard it.
GEMINI (May 21 – Jun 20)
It’s most important to ponder upon the word “cooperation” and consider how you work with, share and impact those around you. With new and emerging thoughts and ideas, you share with others, what you know and have experienced. Your information is vital, and for some a source of life and livingness. It’s good to work with team effort toward a group goal. Then everyone is nourished. It’s also important to create daily agendas, schedules and plans. They will be your future’s purpose, context and protection.
CANCER (Jun 21 – Jul 22)
Whether you are a hermit Cancer or out and about in the world, which can sometimes be a wound, you’re always a leader, the voice everyone seeks and hears, the one everyone looks to, hopes to be, learns from, emulates. You’re the mother, the heart of the matter. Your accomplishments are recognized. This pleases you. It’s important for others to see, recognize and praise your efforts, talents, gifts and abilities. Praise pushes us upward. We become more creative. Religion and spirituality are most important to you now. Are you praying out loud? Being seen, you are grateful.
With Saturn and Neptune retrograde in Aries – we seek our authentic self (Aries) as spirits clothed in matter. Our spiritual tasks appear. Saturn’s disciplines and Neptune’s cosmic atmosphere hold promises, self-awareness (Aries), structure and spiritual growth. Neptune, god of the waters with His Trident, is loving and tender with humanity. Saturn, the Father is the disciplinarian. We integrate both.
Cancer is the lighthouse of the zodiac, radiating nourishing light into the world. Cancer anchors the Soul light in the dark light of matter. As disciples radiate the Cancer light into the world, it becomes unlimited nourishment for all creatures and forms of life.
On July 22, the Sun enters Leo — a shift from nourishment to leadership. True leaders have intelligence fused with love and compassion. Leo, at the full moon touches the hearts of humanity. We enter into magic, the heart of matter. n
LEO (Jul 23 – Aug 22)
A hunger for expansion, for newness, adventure, a journey, a pilgrimage, perhaps. There’s a restlessness to do, be, act that won’t accept any limitations or no for an answer. Your life actually does need expansion, new studies, new people, new experiences, cultures, colors, foods. All this energy propels you into travel to new interests, reading new books and offering opinions leading to a new discourse. Dialogue, even in the retrogrades, is important. Stay away from any speculation. Read, study and stand in the Sun at dawn, noon and sunset. The devas will join you.
VIRGO (Aug 23 – Sep 22)
There is a needed focus on things held in common with another, as well as a sense of self identity when interacting with others. Careful with projecting anger and/or suppressed passion (from long ago to present) toward anyone, but especially those close to you. You may be unaware of this. Be aware of issues concerning joint money and resources, conflicts and crises concerning differently learned values. Careful with communication. You may suffer from others’ harshness. Or your own. Daily life is where all transformations take place. Guard yourself and loved ones, carefully. Attend church or temple. Serve and pray more.
LIBRA (Sep 23 – Oct 22)
Everything in relationship may feel personally challenging. A great wave of change is washing over you in terms of others. Let’s understand about conflict. Any conflict experienced means harmony, in shadow form, is a seed hidden within the conflict. Harmony seeking to emerge from conflict and chaos. Libras are ruled by a sense to seek and be harmony in the world. Libra ARE to be the Harmonizers. Assume this as your constant state of heart, mind and experience. Radiating harmony everywhere. Seeking harmony is your sign’s task. Everyone watches and imitates you. Then they become harmonizers, too.
SCORPIO (Oct 23 – Nov 21)
It’s possible your creative impulses feel somehow restricted by Saturn in Aries (self-identity). At first it can feel like obstacles have become a way of life. Saturn, however, is the new Teacher. He informs us of daily disciplines, rituals and practices that need to be done with order and rhythm. He teaches us restraint, right timing. right direction and right thinking and to take care of ourselves with right priorities. Don’t dispute anything (mostly yourself). It’s important to laugh more. “Laughter is a meditation,” says Alan Watts. Here is Alan Watts laughing, leading a laughing meditation. Join him. www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZ3wWisRtTA
SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 – Dec 21)
You would like the Alan Watts laughter video I posted above for Scorpio. I used to present this video to the Theosophical Society in Hollywood, when I ran the Quest Bookshop on Hollywood Blvd. People laughed and laughed. Laughing dispels any sense of doom or overwhelm you may be feeling. With Pluto now in Aquarius, deep thoughts about the new era can take over one’s life. Laughter helps. Tend to loved ones, especially your partner (first). The result will be more play, pleasure and sleep. Home now is where your dharmic connection and focus are to be. Home is to care for you and be your comfort.
CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 19)
Are you feeling the need for protection, care and security? Be organized and shield your money, finances and resources. Keep track of monies coming in and going out. It’s possible you could feel lost or confused around money. Or maybe a partner is. But there is definitely concern around finances and resources. Continue to share with friends and family your needs. If issues from the past emerge, talk with someone about them. Perhaps you’re asking, “Where is my home?” Or, “How do I make my home more inviting, exciting, creative, stylish?” And if you find any comfort at home. You are missing someone.
AQUARIUS (Jan 20 – Feb 18)
Work carefully and slowly each day on physical tasks. Order and organize and simplify all environments. Create greater efficiency. Ponder upon your true needs. Soon ideas from the Mind of God come forth. Observe communication becoming a bit more difficult. Speak slowly. Mercury retrograde in Cancer makes communication hidden in deep rolling waters. Mars on the other hand is pushing communication forward. We are all living in a paradox of energies. Tend to hands and feet. Draw and paint. Use your heart to make order of things. Neptune retrogrades in your mind. You dream more.
PISCES (Feb 19 – Mar 20)
The month ahead sees you working towards defining a new sense of self along with asking what your values are that transpose your life. If you don’t actually know your values, then observe yourself — actions, hopes, wishes, dreams, words, sharing communication. Note you’re slower than usual, caring for and tending to what you love (and value) with extra care. You see your ambition, the acquiring of possessions, your impatience and impulsiveness. You understand these are very human traits. Your senses are more alive. Nurture yourself more. Pray for direction and guidance. Signs appear that lead you on your way.
The report said higher vehicle speeds greatly increase the chances that a pedestrian will be killed or seriously injured in a crash. Vision Zero encourages road designs that naturally slow drivers by narrowing streets, adding speed bumps and creating separate areas for pedestrians and bicyclists.
“Pedestrians” from page 22
The report recommends more public outreach to explain how residents can report hazards. It also suggests local governments create policies to inspect sidewalks and faded safety markings more actively instead of waiting for complaints.
Because sidewalk repairs can cost thousands of dollars, the grand jury also recommends creating programs to help homeowners pay for repairs. The report notes that Watsonville already offers a loan program for sidewalk repairs.
Speeding was another major concern.
The report said higher vehicle speeds greatly increase the chances that a pedestrian will be killed or seriously injured in a crash. Vision Zero encourages road designs that naturally slow drivers by narrowing streets, adding speed bumps and creating separate areas for pedestrians and bicyclists.
The grand jury found that local police departments have limited resources for traffic enforcement. Watsonville has one officer assigned to traffic enforcement, while the City of Santa Cruz has no officers dedicated only to traffic enforcement. As a result, both cities focus much of their traffic enforcement on driving under the influence.
The report recommends that Watsonville and Santa Cruz police departments review crash data each year to make sure enforcement efforts are properly balanced between impaired driving and speeding.
The grand jury also found that more education is needed for pedestrians.
It recommends that the county’s Health Services Agency expand public education about safe walking habits, including using sidewalks when available, crossing at marked crosswalks, staying alert, making eye contact with drivers, wearing reflective clothing at night and avoiding walking while intoxicated.
The report recommends that the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors, along with the Santa Cruz and Watsonville city councils, direct staff to develop Vision Zero action plans by June 1, 2027. n
“Measure Q” from page 18
Several other speakers urged supervisors to preserve funding for projects that had scored highly during the review process.
Nick Kabatki, Watsonville’s deputy city manager and parks and community services director, defended the city’s plaza revitalization proposal, which was among the highest-ranked South County projects.
“From the start, Measure Q has explicitly prioritized the Pajaro Valley in recognition of historic underinvestment,” he said.
Supervisor Felipe Hernandez repeatedly pushed back against proposals that would reduce funding for Pajaro Valley projects.
During the discussion, Hernandez noted that South County had limited representation on the advisory board and said the scoring process intentionally incorporated equity considerations.
“Just the fact that there’s only two and half representation on this board,” Hernandez said. “You know South County doesn’t have the votes to push things along. So I’m glad that equity was used in the formula. … I would say the vision plan did highlight the importance of historically under resourced, under invested communities.”
When proposals emerged to further reduce funding for Rolling Hills Middle School, Hernandez objected.
“They (COAB) came up with something that was equitable .. and today, the direction we’re going, we’re completely steering away from that,” he said.
Supervisor Justin Cummings agreed that wildfire resilience deserved greater emphasis.
“This is going to really allow us to provide funding for many of these kinds of projects around fire resistance … so we’re just really fortunate to have this funding source,” Cummings said.
Later in the discussion, he questioned whether some recreation projects should take precedence over wildfire preparedness.
“Should we be prioritizing putting in a bathroom at a track that, you know, many people might not have access to, versus increasing our resiliency to wildfire and potentially bringing down everyone’s insurance costs?” Cummings asked.
Supervisor Kim De Serpa also argued for stronger wildfire investments.
“I believe the public really voted for this, in part, for wildfire risk reduction,” she said. “I live in a rural area that hasn’t burned in a long time and so we’re always very concerned about that.”
Koenig advocated for funding all three wildfire implementation grants and additional Santa Cruz County Fire Department projects that did not receive awards.
“So my biggest priority is to really see all the three fire implementation grants funded and ideally the three Santa Cruz County Fire Department applications funded as well,” he said.
Koenig also defended wildfire projects as serving residents throughout the county.
“Both of them are countywide. It’s not just reducing fire risk in the San Lorenzo Valley,” he said.
His proposal to shift additional funding toward wildfire projects failed to gain support.
Instead, supervisors approved a motion by Cummings that redirected funding from several projects to expand the award for the Central Coast Prescribed Burn Association.
Under the final approved package, the prescribed burn project received $240,000, up from the $60,000 recommended by the advisory board.
To fund the increase, supervisors reduced awards for several projects, including the Pajaro Valley Watershed Stewardship Project, the Rural Lands Assistance Program Pilot, Mesa Village Park Phase 1 and the Resilience Ready Santa Cruz: Zone-0 Equity & Workforce Project.
The final awards included:
• $350,000 for Watsonville Wetlands Watch’s Pajaro Valley Watershed Stewardship Project.
• $350,000 for the City of Watsonville’s City Plaza Revitalization Project, reduced from the city’s $600,000 request.
• $423,603 for Pajaro Valley Unified School District’s Rolling Hills Middle School Track and Field Project.
• $279,500 for Friends of Santa Cruz County Parks’ Mesa Village Park Phase 1 project in Watsonville.
• $300,000 for the Resource Conservation District’s Rural Lands Assistance Program Pilot.
• $240,000 for the Central Coast Prescribed Burn Association’s Wildfire & Ecology Resilience via Beneficial Fire project.
• $600,000 for three San Vicente Redwoods projects managed by Peninsula Open Space Trust.
Several smaller Tier 1 projects also received full funding, including the Coastal Watershed Council’s River Stewards program, Santa Cruz County Parks’ Pinto Lake Water Quality Monitoring Project, Vista Center’s Accessible Park Experiences program and Black Surf Santa Cruz’s ocean safety and coastal access initiative.
County staff are expected to return later with an after-action review and possible recommendations for refining the grant program before the next funding cycle begins in 2027. n
The Watsonville Plaza in Watsonville.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
ANNOUNCEMENTS
MARY ALTIER’S PHOTO EXHIBIT AT APTOS LIBRARY
Mary Altier’s photo exhibition, Around the World with Color Photography is on display at the Aptos Library until Sept. 30.
The show includes 60 images taken in Papua New Guinea, China, Italy, India, several countries in Africa, and more.
A reception promoting the exhibit will take place Sat., Aug. 1, 1:30-4:30 p.m.
Refreshments, wine and waters, and ongoing slide show of recent work. Free and the public is invited.
Overeaters Anonymous welcomes any type of eating disorder or problems with food. No dues, fees or weigh-ins.
Meetings take place at Congregational Church in the preschool meeting room.
All are welcome.
Overeaters Anonymous (OA) has meetings daily both in-person and on-line in Santa Cruz County at santacruzoa.org.
Fourth Mondays (Third Monday in May due to Memorial Day)
THE SPOKEN EXPERIENCE
Noon – 1 p.m., Capitola Branch Library, 2005 Wharf Rd Each month a community of readers gather to share selections from a featured poet.
Join local poets Paola Bruni, Elaine Fletcher Chapman and Jessica Cohn as they lead the discussion.
Upcoming poet focus:
June 22: Gary Snyder
July 27: Dean Young
August 24: Lucile Clifton
September 28: Sharon Olds
October 26: Juan Felipe Herrera
November 23: Ada Limon
December 28: Jericho Brown
Tuesdays
TUESDAY NIGHT SALSA SOCIAL
7 – 10 p.m., Abbott Square Market, 725 Front St., Santa Cruz
Join a midweek salsa social at Abbott Square Market with salsa, cumbia, merengue, and bachata.
Free and open to all skill levels—just bring energy and dancing shoes.
More information: www.abbottsquaremarket.com
BINGO AT MCSC
Have a virtual or live event you want to promote? E-mail info (no PDFs please) to info@cyber-times.com
1-3 p.m., Mid County Senior Center, 829 Bay Avenue, Capitola (behind the Party Store)
Hot Dogs, Chili and snacks available for purchase courtesy of our Snack Shack. A lot of fun for all and a possible big win!
Door opens at 12:15 p.m.
Tuesdays and Fridays
NORTH BOOKMOBILE AT PAJARO PARK
Tues.: 3 –5 p.m. | Fri.: 2-3:30 p.m., Pajaro Community Park, 24 San Juan Rd.
The Monterey County Free Libraries North Bookmobile serves Pajaro with scheduled visits, offering books, audiobooks, DVDs, magazines, and bilingual materials in English and Spanish.
Upcoming Dates:
Tues: July 21, 28, Aug. 4, 11, 18, 25 Fri: July 24, 31, Aug. 7, 14, 21, 28.
For full schedule, visit https://tinyurl.com/Pajaro-Parkbookmobile-visits.
Thursdays
SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCING
7:15-9:15 p.m., Peace United Church 900 High St, Santa Cruz. Beginners welcome, partners not required. $10 each. Come dance!
HAPPY HOUR
5-7 p.m., California Coffee, 9105 Soquel Drive, Aptos California Coffee in Redwood Village hosts an open mic happy hour every week.
Thursdays in August
CROW’S NEST FREE BEACH BBQ CONCERT SERIES
5:30–8 p.m., Santa Cruz Harbor Beach, 2222 E Cliff Dr.
The Crow’s Nest Free Beach BBQ Concert Series features live music, BBQ food and drinks for purchase, and oceanfront views at Santa Cruz Harbor Beach.
Aug. 6: The Houserockers
Aug. 13: The Joint Chiefs
Aug. 20: La Familia
Aug. 27: Alex Lucero Band
Free admission. Parking is limited; a free water taxi is available from nearby lots. More info at https://www.santacruz.org/upcoming-events/.
Come to the Seacliff Inn: Tapestry Collection by Hilton, for a Sip & Stroll event where local artists to show and sell their works.
SANTA CRUZ DINNER CLUB
First Sundays
5 p.m., various member homes throughout county Looking to make new friends while enjoying amazing food and great wine?
Wines are 30% off, and the featured winery will offer tastings of three varietals for $10 per person. Details of this and more Sevy’s events at www.sevysbarandkitchen.com/events
Fridays (except First Friday of the Month)
LA SELVA BEACH LIBRARY BRIDGE GROUP
10:30-Noon, La Selva Beach Public Library, 316 Estrella Ave. Come for bridge from 10:30 to noon at the La Selva Beach library.
Call La Selva Beach Library to reserve your seat: 831-427-7710.
First and Third Fridays
JIM GREINER’S HANDS-ON! DRUMMING
7-8:30 p.m., Congregational Church of Soquel, 4951 Soquel Dr. Percussionist/educator Jim Greiner continues his Community Rhythms Class on the first and third Fridays of every month at the Congregational Church of Soquel. All levels of experience are very welcome to this family-friendly community gathering. Jim provides percussion instruments and you are welcome to bring your own.
Come play, socialize and reinforce Jim’s fundamental themes of communicating, collaborating and celebrating through rhythm!
$10 donation is requested. Doors open at 6:30.
Last Friday of the Month thru October FOOD TRUCK FRIDAY AT SKYPARK
5–8 p.m., Skypark, 361 Kings Village Road, Scotts Valley Food Trucks A Go Go presents an evening of local eats, live music and activities for all ages.
The monthly event supports Scotts Valley schools through beverage sales and offers a welcoming community gathering. Admission is free.
For details, visit foodtrucksagogo.com.
First Saturdays
CAPITOLA BEACH CLEANUP
9-10 a.m., Esplanade Park
Help preserve and maintain the coastal beauty of Capitola. Join a beach cleanup every month at Esplanade Park.
Keep Capitola Salty is a grassroots movement dedicated to responsible efforts helping to maintain and preserve the environment, scenic beauty and coastal recreational activities of Capitola.
This movement is always looking for volunteers. Email KeepCapitolaSalty@gmail.com.
The SC Dinner Club is welcoming new members! Each month, we gather in homes throughout Santa Cruz County for delicious dinners, fine wine, lively conversation, and lots of laughter. Whether you love to cook, enjoy entertaining, or simply want to meet friendly people who share your interests, our dinner club is a fun way to build new friendships and create memorable evenings. Come join us at the table! For more information, contact Rhonda Mills at rhondaloves2paint@gmail.com.
Second Saturdays
HISTORICAL AIRCRAFT DISPLAY
10 a.m.-4 p.m., Watsonville Municipal Airport, 100 Aviation Way
Watsonville Municipal Airport hosts a Historical Aircraft Display every second Saturday. Admission is free.
Third Saturdays thru August
MUSIC ON THE GREEN
2-5 p.m., Aptos Village Patio (Behind New Leaf Market)
A new tradition is starting in the new Aptos Village. Music on the Green Summer Concert Series is making its debut this month.
Enjoy a live band for three hours on the third Saturday of July and August. Bring a lawn chair or just wander through the mini park behind New Leaf Market at the end of Parade Street as the bands play on the stage. July 18: Suns of Surf (Coastal Roots Groove and Reggae) Aug 15: Alecia Haselton Band (Americana/Folk/Rock) Look for specials at the surrounding markets. Free to attend.
Saturdays and Sundays
ELKHORN SLOUGH: FREE TOUR OF THE PRESERVE 10 a.m. | 11 a.m., Elkhorn Slough Reserve, 1700 Elkhorn Rd., Watsonville
Docent-led tours offer visitors a guided introduction to Elkhorn Slough’s remarkable landscapes, wildlife, and tidal wetlands. Each walk is tailored to participants’ interests and abilities, creating an engaging, educational experience. Space is limited, and tours are first-come, first-served. Guests can sign up at the Visitor Center front desk or call ahead the same morning at (831) 728-2822 for availability.
First Sundays
SANTA CRUZ DINNER CLUB
5 p.m. at various member homes throughout county Love to cook, entertain and socialize? Our monthly dinner club events will be held in several homes throughout Santa Cruz County where members enjoy delicious meals, fine wine and conversation.
Joining the club provides a great opportunity to cook, to entertain, and to meet locals that share your interests. Want to join us? Learn more about the SC Dinner Club and the fun we have by contacting Rhonda Mills at rhondaloves2paint@gmail.com.
DATED EVENTS
Wednesday July 22
CAPITOLA SUMMER TWILIGHT CONCERT: EXTRA LARGE 6–9 p.m., Esplanade Bandstand, Esplanade Park, Capitola Extra Large performs a mix of funky, mostly original pop music during Capitola’s Summer Twilight Concert series. The free outdoor concert offers an evening of live entertainment on the waterfront, with seating available on the lawn and beach. Bring a picnic blanket or low-back chair. For more information, visit capitolaca.gov.
The Tacos & Tapas evening features an exclusive selection of tacos and tapas, craft beverages from local breweries and wineries, and live salsa music by Flor de Caña. More than 20 food entrepreneurs will showcase dishes celebrating heritage and community.
Tickets include five tastings. More information at El Pajaro CDC: https://elpajarocdc.org.
Saturday July 25
MICROGREENS: PLANT A SEED WITH UCSC MASTER GARDENERS 10:30 a.m.–12 p.m., Santa Cruz Public Libraries Discover how to grow nutritious microgreens at home
during this hands-on workshop led by UCSC Master Gardeners.
Participants will learn a simple step-by-step process for cultivating these flavorful edible plants, which can be grown in small spaces and harvested quickly. Registration is recommended, and walk-ins are welcome. For more information, visit santacruzpl.libnet.info.
Sunday July 26
WHARF TO WHARF RACE
8 a.m., Starts on Portola Drive between 26th and 38th avenues, Santa Cruz; finishes at Cliff Drive and Wharf Road, Capitola
The 54th annual Wharf to Wharf Race returns with thousands of runners and walkers traveling the scenic six-mile course from Santa Cruz to Capitola.
The race begins promptly at 8 a.m. on Portola Drive and ends near Capitola Wharf, where post-race festivities will be held on the beach.
Participants and spectators are encouraged to arrive early, as Capitola Village closes to traffic at 5 a.m. and parking near the start line is limited. For race details, parking information and event updates, visit wharftowharf.com.
The Moe’s Alley show features blues guitarist Sue Foley, known for her GRAMMY-nominated album One Guitar Woman: A Tribute to the Female Pioneers of Guitar. Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 day of show for ages 21+. More information at moesalley.com.
Tuesday July 28
CLIMATE RESILIENCY WORKSHOP
5:30-7:30 p.m., Market Street Theater, 222 Market Street, Santa Cruz
A free, interactive workshop all about climate resilience.
Ecology Action’s Resilient Central Coast team, alongside the City of Santa Cruz Climate Action Program, will guide you and your neighbors through hands-on activities that boost not only individual preparedness, but long-term community resilience.
4–5:30 p.m., Aptos Library conference room, 1111 Soquel Dr. The workshop introduces past-life regression techniques exploring reincarnation themes through guided selfhypnosis and trance meditation.
Participants learn methods for relaxation, memory exploration, and emotional release to deepen self-awareness and resolve personal tensions.
Taught by certified mystic and counselor Scott ‘RoshKrishnanand’ Spackey. More information and RSVP available at Life-Mind.com or 661-904-5353.
Wednesday July 29
CAPITOLA SUMMER TWILIGHT CONCERT: SANTA CRUZ LATIN COLLECTIVE
6–9 p.m., Esplanade Bandstand, Esplanade Park, Capitola
The Santa Cruz Latin Collective closes out the July portion of Capitola’s Summer Twilight Concert series with an evening of Latin rock and salsa.
The free concert takes place at the Esplanade bandstand and offers dancing, ocean views and family-friendly entertainment. For more information, visit capitolaca.gov.
Thursday July 30
PETER ASHER & JEREMY CLYDE
7 p.m., Kuumbwa Jazz Center, 320-2 Cedar St., Santa Cruz British Invasion stars Peter Asher of Peter & Gordon and Jeremy Clyde of Chad & Jeremy reunite for an evening of music, stories and conversation at Kuumbwa Jazz Center.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
FARM TO FORK BENEFIT DINNER AT UCSC FARM
Saturday August 29
4 p.m. reception and farm tours; dinner follows, 7 p.m. dancing, UCSC Farm, 152 Farm Rd, Santa Cruz This benefit evening at the UCSC Farm features a reception with tours, followed by a locally sourced dinner highlighting produce from the Center for Agroecology and partners. Guests then move to the Hay Barn for live music and dancing. Proceeds support Farm to Fork and agroecology programs. More info: eefoley@ucsc.edu or https://events.ucsc.edu/event/farm-to-fork-2026/.
The performance features classic hits from both groups, along with reflections on their careers in music, television and film.
Robert Berry and Aubrey Richmond join the duo as supporting musicians.
For tickets and information, visit kuumbwajazz.org.
Friday July 31
Saturday August 1
FIRST ALOHA MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL SANTA CRUZ
12–6 p.m. daily (gates open 11 a.m.), Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, 2601 E. Lake Ave., Watsonville
The inaugural Aloha Music & Arts Festival Santa Cruz is a free two-day celebration of Hawaiian, Polynesian, and Pacific Island cultures featuring local musicians, hula schools, artists, food vendors, and community organizations. Produced by Victor Ohana Productions LLC, the event highlights Santa Cruz County talent and cultural connections to the Pacific.
Attendees can expect Pacific-inspired cuisine, arts and crafts vendors, nonprofit information booths, and family-friendly cultural activities throughout the weekend. Admission is free, though donations are welcome.
Parking is $20 per vehicle with no in-and-out privileges.
Re-entry requires an additional fee.
More info available through Victor Ohana Productions LLC.
Saturday August 1
SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS BREWGRASS FESTIVAL
Noon–6 p.m., Roaring Camp Railroads, 5401 Graham Hill Road, Felton
The sixth annual Santa Cruz Mountains Brewgrass Festival brings together live bluegrass music, local craft breweries and food trucks in the redwood forests of Roaring Camp. Featured performers include Sam Bush, Rainbow Girls, Crying Uncle Bluegrass Band, Dominique and the Diamonds, Deep Thicket Dwellers and Wild Iris.
General admission includes access to music and festival activities, while VIP tasting train tickets are available. Children 11 and younger are admitted free. For tickets and information, visit scmbrewgrassfest.com.
Saturday August 1
Sunday August 2
WATSONVILLE STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL
11 a.m.–8 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m.–7 p.m. Sunday, Downtown Watsonville The Watsonville Strawberry Festival returns to downtown
Known for emotional depth, humor, and masterful guitar work, Colvin delivers a reflective, career-spanning live performance in Santa Cruz.
Tickets are $42 (general admission) and $61 (Gold Circle).
Tuesday August 11
VIDEO GAME TOURNAMENTS
4:30 p.m.–5:30 p.m., Watsonville Public Library Main Library Meeting Room, 275 Main Street Suite #100, Watsonville Monthly teen video game tournaments at the Watsonville Main Library invite students in grades 7–12 to compete and socialize using Nintendo Switch games.
Winners receive prizes in a friendly, supervised environment designed to build community and gaming skills. Future 2026 Dates: Sept. 8, Oct. 13, Nov. 10, and Dec. 8. More information: https://www.watsonville.gov/2327/Library.
Saturday August 15
CIVIC AUDITORIUM CONCERT: DIFRANCO & JUNE 7 p.m.–12 a.m., Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, 307 Church St. Grammy-nominated singer-songwriters Valerie June and Ani DiFranco share the stage for an evening of genreblending folk, soul, and Americana.
Known for powerful vocals and socially conscious songwriting, the concert highlights two acclaimed artists with distinct styles.
Expect an energetic live performance at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, featuring songs spanning their acclaimed careers and collaborations.
LATE NIGHT @ THE MAH: BLACK TIE ROLLER BALL
Watsonville for two days of family-friendly entertainment celebrating the Pajaro Valley’s most important crop.
Founded in 1994 to help revitalize downtown after the Loma Prieta earthquake, the festival features community groups, nonprofit fundraisers, food, entertainment and activities. The weekend begins Saturday morning with the Strawberry Jam Fun Run and Walk, including 1K and 5K events. Festival organizers encourage visitors to review road closures and event rules before attending. For details, registration information and updates, visit watsonville.gov.
Thursday August 6 thru Sunday August 9
SECOND ANNUAL SANTA CRUZ JUG BAND FESTIVAL
Thu 5:45–7:15 p.m., Pono Hawaiian Grill, 120 Union St., Santa Cruz • Fri 6–9 p.m., Abbott Square Market & MAH, 725 Front St., Santa Cruz • Sat 12–9 p.m., Abbott Square Marketplace, 705 Front St., Santa Cruz • Sun 2–5 p.m., Shanty Shack Brewing, 138 Fern St., Santa Cruz
The Second Annual Santa Cruz Jug Band Festival takes place at multiple locations with free performances, workshops, and sing-alongs across downtown Santa Cruz venues.
Highlights include a kickoff jam at Pono Hawaiian Grill, MAH presentations, Abbott Square concerts featuring five bands, and a Sunday finale at Shanty Shack Brewing.
Contact thetrolleydrops@gmail.com for information.
Saturday August 8
JAM AND THE BUTTERED BISCUITS
8 p.m.–12 a.m., The Sand Bar Capitola, 211 Esplanade
The Monterey Bay–based JAM and the Buttered Biscuits bring bluesy funk rock to Capitola, featuring songs from Jeffrey A. Meyer’s albums “Wilder Times” and “Colors of the Mind,” plus new material.
The lineup includes bass, drums, guitar, harmonica and vocals, delivering a high-energy coastal sound.
AN EVENING WITH SHAWN COLVIN
8 p.m., Rio Theatre for the Performing Arts, 1205 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz
Singer-songwriter Shawn Colvin performs an intimate evening of storytelling and folk music, featuring songs from her decades-long career including her Grammywinning catalog and acclaimed recordings.
7 –11 p.m., Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History, 705 Front St. This 21+ roller skate and dance party transforms the Solari Gallery at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History into a pop-up rink for a night of music, performance, and costumes.
Guests must wear skates with toe stops or plugs; waivers required. Drinks and vendors available. Visit www.santacruzmah.org for details.
Sunday August 16
COMMUNITY FUNDRAISER BINGO
2:30 p.m.–8 p.m., Aptos Grange, 2555 Mar Vista Dr. Local nonprofit American Sign Language Services Community hosts a bingo fundraiser at Aptos Grange supporting community programs and services. Players of all ages participate in multiple rounds of bingo with prizes, social time, and refreshments available.
Funds support ASL access and outreach efforts.
Monday August 17
NINA SIMON — MY SISTER IS GOING TO KILL ME
7 p.m.–8 p.m., Bookshop Santa Cruz, 1520 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz
Author Nina Simon presents a reading and signing of her new novel, a family-centered murder mystery about two sisters solving a crime while rafting the Grand Canyon.
The event follows her bestselling “Mother-Daughter Murder Night” success and includes audience discussion. Co-sponsored by The Humanities Institute at UC Santa Cruz.
More information at https://bookshopsantacruz.com.
Jacob’s Heart Children’s Cancer Support Services will host its annual golf tournament at Seascape Golf Club, bringing the community together for a day of golf, food and fundraising to support local families facing childhood cancer.
A reception begins at 3:30 p.m. followed by dinner at 5 p.m.
For more information or registration details, visit https://www. jacobsheart.org/golf. n
FEATURED COLUMNIST
Do You Want to Be Helped, Hugged, or Heard?
In his book Supercommunicators, Charles
Duhigg shares a simple question that can transform conversations: ”Do you want to be helped, hugged, or heard?” As a child psychologist, I’ve found this question can be especially powerful for parents, teachers, and kids. Sidebar: it works with my husband too.
Here’s an example. You child comes home upset after a hard day at school. Maybe a friend excluded them at lunch, they didn’t make the team, or they got a disappointing grade on a test.
Most of us immediately want to jump in and help.
“You should talk to your teacher.”
“Here’s what I’d do.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
These responses come from a good place, but they can miss the mark because the child isn’t looking for advice.
They’re looking for something else.
That’s where this simple question can
make all the difference: “Do you want to be helped, hugged, or heard?”
Sometimes Kids Want to Be Helped
When children want to be helped, they’re looking for practical support. They want ideas, guidance, or help figuring out what to do next.
This is the brain’s problem-solving system, the prefrontal cortex, at work. The child is ready to think through solutions and make a plan.
You might hear:
“What should I do?”
“Can you help me figure this out?”
“I don’t know how to handle this.”
When kids are in this space, brainstorming solutions together can be incredibly helpful. Remember, good parenting isn’t solving every problem for them, it’s helping kids develop skills and confidence to solve problems themselves.
Sometimes Kids Want a Hug
Many times, kids don’t need or want advice.
They need comfort.
When kids are hurt, disappointed, embarrassed, or overwhelmed, the emotional parts of the brain are activated. Before they can think clearly, they need to feel safe and connected.
For some kids, that means a hug, holding a hand, or sitting quietly together.
“I’m here.”
Parents often feel pressure to make tough feelings disappear. But sometimes the most healing thing we can do is simply stay close and be present while our child works through the feelings.
Sometimes Kids Just Want to Be Heard
This is often the hardest one for parents.
When children want to be heard, they aren’t asking for solutions. They aren’t asking you to fix anything.
They simply want you to listen.
To understand.
To validate.
Being heard sounds like:
“That sounds really hard.”
“I can see why you’re upset.”
“Tell me more.”
By DR. LORI BUTTERWORTH, Child & Adolescent Psychotherapist
No lecture.
No silver lining.
No immediate solution.
Just listening.
When children feel heard, they learn that their feelings matter. They become more likely to share the bigger things too—the things we hope they’ll come to us with during the teenage years.
Why This Matters
When I first shared this idea with my husband, he immediately asked, ”What if they want all three?”
It’s a great question.
Most of us probably do want to be helped, hugged, and heard when we’re struggling. The challenge is that in moments of distress, it can be difficult, even for adults, to identify exactly what we need.
Usually, though, one need is more important than the others in that moment depending on which part of the brain is leading the experience.
If your child is flooded with hurt, fear, disappointment, or embarrassment, the emotional parts of the brain are firing.
They may need a hug or simply to be heard before they’re ready for solutions.
Once those emotions settle and the thinking part of the brain, the prefrontal cortex, comes back online, they may be ready for help figuring out what to do next.
And the answer can change during a single conversation. A child might first want to be heard, then want a hug, and later ask for help solving the problem.
The real value of the question isn’t getting the “right” answer. It’s helping children pause, look inward, and recognize what they need. Over time, they learn to communicate those needs more clearly and trust that their parent will respond in a way that matches their experience.
The next time your child (or spouse) is upset, try pausing before jumping into problem-solving.
Ask:
“Do you want to be helped, hugged, or heard?”
You may be surprised by the answer— and by how much closer it brings the two of you. n
SCCAS Featured Pet
Home Protection Service
Force Field (A328031) is a handsome young kitty ready to meet his forever family after a successful stay with a dedicated foster family.
This black domestic shorthair originally arrived at the shelter with hair loss and skin issues, but our amazing vet care team diagnosed him with skin allergies. Now that his condition is well-managed with a special diet and routine medications, he is back to looking and feeling like a stunning hunk!
Fortunately, he absolutely loves his special food and is incredibly easy to medicate and as a bonus, handle for nail trims.
Force Field’s super power is fun! His foster says that he’s sweet, smart, outgoing, curious and playful. He will greet you at the door with a coo and hang out with you throughout the day. He enjoyed playing with the other cats in his foster home and likely would do well with a slow introduction to a new sibling in the home.
We recommend Force Field live indoors with a catio or a large window so that he can continue to watch his favorite cable channel, ”Birds!” This smart boy quickly figured out how to use the cat flap that goes out to the catio in his foster home, all on his own, and loves to spend time lounging, pouncing on bugs and practicing his jedi moves.
Force Field is a snuggler and will stand on a counter and put his paws on your shoulders to get pets. He has a sweet little voice and the most beautiful eyes!
The Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter is full of adoptable animals. Fostering animals is an awesome way to improve a Shelter animal’s life and fill your home with love and fun! If you are interested in fostering any kind of animal please email jillian.ganley@santacruzcounty.us. You can also Follow SCCAS on Instagram and/or Facebook to stay up-to-date on shelter news and where to find adoptable pets around town at breweries, stores and events. All adoptions are first come, first served.
Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter’s full-service, open-admission shelter 1001 Rodriguez St., Santa Cruz, 95062 • Hours: Daily 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. (Arrive before 4 p.m. for “meet and greet” — Please ring bell for stray animal drop-off from 7 a.m. – 11 a.m.) 580 Airport Blvd., Watsonville, 95076 • Hours: Tues.-Sat. 9:30 a.m.–noon; 1–5 p.m. (Closed Sun/Mon — Please ring bell for stray animal dropoff 9:30 a.m.-noon; 1-5 p.m.) Website: www.scanimalshelter.org
SCCAS Main line: 831-454-7200. Animal Control: 831-454-7227. After-Hours Emergency: 831-471-1182 • After Hours: jillian.ganley@santacruzcounty.us
“Sister Act” from page 23
Sister Act is most famously known for its infectious music and larger-than-life comedy with a heartwarming, feel-good story at its center. This story reminds us of the transformative power of community and what can happen when we help others to find their voice — singing voices, included.
Andrea Hart, Artistic Director of Cabrillo Stage, describes Clark’s vision wonderfully: “This production will be filled with heart and soul and the kind of energy that reminds us why gathering in theaters is so essential. That electric experience that you can’t stream, you can’t download and
you certainly can’t count on AI to create it for you.”
Who better to lead this than Clark, someone notorious for reminding us that community is at the center of everything we do.
As you watch the show, consider where your places of worship are. Where are the sacred places in your life?
As the production prepares to open, remember you’re seeing a story told by members of our very own theater community led by someone who truly believes in it.
Rebecca Clark and Cabrillo Stage invite you to come out and experience a moment of joy and togetherness, in a way that we especially need right now. n
“Sandman Triathlon” from page 19
Race-day registration opens at 6:30 a.m., while the transition area opens at 7 a.m. The first triathlon wave is scheduled to start promptly at 8 a.m., with the duathlon beginning at approximately 8:30 a.m. on the north side of the transition area.
Parking at Seacliff State Beach will cost $10, with proceeds supporting the park. Awards will be presented following the race.
“What makes the Sandman so special is that every registration fee and donation
goes right back into protecting the very waters we race in,” said Spalekova. “This event serves as a critical fundraiser for local State Parks, lifeguard operations, and the Junior Lifeguard program. Specifically, the proceeds fund scholarships for underprivileged kids in our community, ensuring they have access to high-quality water safety education. When you support the Sandman, you aren’t just supporting a historic multisport event—you’re actively investing in youth water safety and the next generation of ocean athletes.” n
Photo Credit: Bari Lee
Deloris brings a couple of the nuns to a bar.
Photos Credit: Bari Lee
Deloris on stage with her backup singers (From left: Melissa Martinez and Haley Clarke) in Las Vegas.
N e s t l e d i n R o l l i n g G r e e n E s t a t e s , j u s t m o m e n t s f r o m t h e v i b r a n t A p t o s V i l l a g e , a w a i t s t h e p e r f e c t b a l a n c e o f p r i v a c y a n d c o a s t a l c o n v e n i e n c e . E n j o y s i n g l e - l e v e l l i v i n g t u c k e d a w a y o n a c u l - d e - s a c , w h e r e a n e x p a n s i v e 1 2 , 6 0 0 + s q f t l o t u n f o l d s i n t o a v e r d a n t o a s i s w o v e n w i t h v i b r a n t s h a d e s o f g r e e n , w a r m s u n s h i n e a n d e v e r p r e s e n t b i r d s o n g s . T h e t h o u g h t f u l l y d e s i g n e d f l o o r p l a n f e a t u r e s 3 b e d r o o m s , 2 u p d a t e d b a t h r o o m s ( i n c l u d i n g p r i m a r y e n s u i t e ) a n d b o n u s r o o m r e a d y t o b e c o m e y o u r h o m e o f f i c e , m e d i a r o o m , a r t s t u d i o o r p i l a t e s r e t r e a t . S t e p o u t s i d e t o a g a r d e n e r s p a r a d i s e , d e s i g n e d f o r b o t h r e l a x i n g a n d e n t e r t a i n i n g . R a i s e d g a r d e n b e d s a n d p r i v a t e d e c k o f f t h e p r i m a r y s u i t e , p e r f e c t i n g f o r s i p p i n g y o u r m o r n i n g c o f f e e o r e n j o y i n g y o u r h a r v e s t . T h e o p p o r t u n
