People associate Jack O’Neill, who died in 2017 at the age of 94, with inventing the wetsuit, which allowed him and other surfers to spend more time in cold water. As we approach what would have been his 100th birthday on Monday, Tracey Weiss, executive director of O’Neill Sea Odyssey, encourages us to celebrate Jack’s role in ocean protection and education. Jack called the program, which focuses on educating youth about the ocean, his “greatest achievement.”
Coast Life
Posted inLatest News
In Pajaro, children and teens grapple with displacement after flooding
After a flood struck Pajaro, children have been displaced, with families living out of cars, sleeping in emergency shelters or moving out of Monterey County to stay with relatives.
Posted inCoast Life
Brew Cruz rides again with Coffis Brothers collab
Annie Pautsch and the Brew Cruz brewery tour haven’t been as frequent a sight as pre-pandemic, but she’s bringing the bus back this weekend as part of “Coffis Space,” hitting Woodhouse and Humble Sea on the way to Saturday night’s happening at Moe’s Alley.
Posted inCoast Life
‘Gay Guerilla,’ algorithm meets rave and deep listening at Fall Creek as Indexical springs forward
Avant-garde musical organization Indexical kicks off an ambitious stretch Friday, with a blend of classical music and art rock at the Tannery; Saturday brings an offsite with Santa Cruz Underground Music and an “algorave”; and Monday marks the start of a weekly series of improvisational workshops for musicians.
Posted inLatest News
Growers and farmworkers face long recovery process following Pajaro floods
It’s been just over a week since a levee along the Pajaro River failed, flooding the town of Pajaro and much of the nearby farmland in north Monterey County, just over the river from Santa Cruz County. Though the full picture of damage sustained is unclear at this point, farmers and workers alike face short-term uncertainty and a long-term recovery.
Posted inFood & Drink
Storms, floods a massive challenge for Santa Cruz farmers — but farm bureau chief says they’re up to it
Jess Brown has led the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau for the past four decades, a time that’s seen the organization through many state and national firsts, including being the first to have cannabis growers as members. But 2023 might be among the most challenging years for local growers in a while. In an interview with Laura Sutherland, Brown says the failure of the Pajaro River levee is the worst flooding he’s seen in more than 30 years.
Posted inHousing & Development
Nightmare in Aptos paradise as Jackson Browne property dispute heads toward court decision
On Monday, Santa Cruz County Superior Court Judge Timothy Volkmann is expected to issue a final ruling on the Aptos property dispute between singer Jackson Browne and a local couple. While the legal arguments of the case could turn on the nuances of easement and property law, the dispute between Christopher Wheeler and Sarah Claus and the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer also offers a rare glimpse at the fault lines over wealth, privilege and the price of privacy that exist in Santa Cruz County, where the median home price now stands at $1.3 million.
Posted inCoast Life
Cordyceps for sale? Far West Fungi embraces ‘shroom boom,’ including ‘The Last of Us’
You can find a species of Cordyceps, the fungus that ravaged the world in HBO Max’s “The Last of Us,” available for purchase at Santa Cruz’s own downtown mushroom store, Far West Fungi. Regional manager Naomi Wolf says the post-apocalyptic show is just the latest example of a flourishing mushroom renaissance. Get familiar ahead of Sunday’s season finale.
Posted inCoast Life
With nod to Quixote, Santa Cruz’s Elizabeth McKenzie takes readers on an adventure in new novel
“The Dog of the North” is Elizabeth McKenzie’s follow-up to her acclaimed 2016 novel “The Portable Veblen,” and she’ll talk about it in person at Bookshop Santa Cruz on Tuesday, the day it’s released.
Posted inCoast Life
Hitchcock rules the weekend in Scotts Valley
Screenings of “Shadow of a Doubt” and “Vertigo” are just the tip of the iceberg as Scotts Valley celebrates its famous former resident, iconic filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock, with a two-day festival Friday and Saturday.