UC Santa Cruz Police called upon law enforcement agencies from several jurisdictions from as far away as Ventura early Friday morning to help dismantle an encampment and provide security at the entrance of campus, where roughly 100 students are protesting the Gaza-Israel war. Police were enforcing a hard closure on High Street at Moore Street, not letting anyone pass, as well as at the university’s other entrances. The lines of police officers and students drew nearer as the incident dragged on. Todd Guild/The Pajaronian Students at the scene said that police began arriving en masse around 10 ..read more

We had heard about the brown pelicans getting sick, that they’re not getting enough to eat. Russ Curtis, a spokesperson for International Bird Rescue, told KQED, “One pelican in Santa Cruz attempted to walk into a bar.” A pelican walks into Brady’s Yacht Club and orders a shot of whiskey. The bartender says, “I don’t see how you’re going to drink from a shot glass, much less pay for it.” “Put it on my bill.” Sleepy John Sandidge and Laurence Bedford approach Pajaro Dunes Beach. Sleepy John Sandidge, Laurence Bedford and I rendezvous at the end of Beach Road, where it dead ends at the Pajaro D ..read more

Watsonville Police are investigating a burglary by as many as 12 armed suspects that occurred in the early hours of May 25 at a Watsonville cannabis dispensary, which ended with a chase over Highway 1 by several law enforcement agencies. The chase by WPD, California Highway Patrol, Scotts Valley Police Department and other agencies included a BMW, a Porsche, a Mercedes Benz and a Jeep.  It reached over 100 MPH and led over Highway 17 and into Hayward. A spike strip placed near Mount Hermon was unsuccessful, and no arrests were made. The incident occurred just before 5 a.m. at The Hook, l ..read more

THURSDAY 5/30 METAL MUSEUM OF LIGHT Based in Seattle, Museum of Light has secured its place on the doom metal scene through several exciting records and some seriously hard touring over the past few years. Their debut album, Horizon,came out in June 2022, and fans instantly took to their massive, totally face-melting sound. In the hands of guitarist Ted Alvarez, gritty riffs take on cinematic proportions while post-metal ambient washes immerse listeners in cathartic moments to breathe in. When the heavy drums in songs like “Waves” and “How Everybody Dies” hit, the Crepe Place will be transfor ..read more

A chef for over 20 years, Mo L’Esperance cut her teeth in the San Francisco restaurant scene before settling in Ben Lomond. A little over a year ago she bought Coffee 9. “I still get my creativity out and also be done by 2pm,” says L’Esperance. Coffee 9 is set in an older building with wood accents and a clean, modern rustic interior. The menu is made-from-scratch baked goods and savories. The filled croissants have options like ham/cheddar and turkey/Swiss, and a raspberry/chocolate on the sweeter side. Other pastries include the bacon, cheddar and green onion scones, as well as seasonal fru ..read more

We are the champions…again. The Santa Cruz Warriors were just named the 2023-24 National Basketball G League Franchise of the Year, for the fourth time, and for the third since 2020. It’s a nice nod, because it involves a lot more than winning on the floor (where the Dubs had the third best record in the league). The Wave City Ws also accumulated league-leading ticket sales, record partnership revenue, an 18-game sellout streak to close the season, 1,200+ volunteer hours from SeaDubs players, coaches and front office folks, with $94,300 raised for local nonprofits and 60,830 meals extended to ..read more

What is it with Santa Cruz and kombucha? The fizzy, fermented tea that seems to have transcended from hippie style beverage into hip way of life. Walk into any local cafe, yoga studio, or farmer’s market, and you’ll likely see shelves lined with colorful bottles, or served up pint-sized on draft. For starters, our commitment to organic, sustainable living aligns perfectly with the ethos of kombucha. With an abundance of organic farms, co-ops, and farmers markets, Santa Cruz provides the perfect environment for sourcing the high-quality, organic ingredients needed to brew the perfect batch of ..read more

On Feb. 19, 2023, local musician Daniel Lamothe died while training with CalFire at an obstacle course in Ben Lomond. “Every single day my heart breaks,” writes Dan’s mother, Kathy Lamothe, in a text message. “He was extraordinary. My everything. My world.” To honor Lamothe—who was the upright bass player for defunct local horror punk band Stellar Corpses and also played with a number of acts on and off like Diggin’ Trails and Dark Ride—his friends have organized what they hope to be the first of many benefit shows. The first annual Mothfest takes place on May 31 at Moe’s Alley and features D ..read more

When guitarist Coco Montoya takes the stage at the Redwood Mountain Faire in Felton on June 1, the respected blues guitarist can draw on nearly three decades as a solo artist, with a deep catalog and a well-earned reputation as a compelling live performer. His first release hit big, winning a W.C. Handy Award in 1996. Today Montoya remains grateful for that award, but he shakes his head and laughs when the subject is brought up. “Believe me, I’m appreciative,” he says. “But I won for ‘Best Newcomer’!” That album was his solo debut, but he had already been on the road as a musician for nearly ..read more

The headlines were filled last week with the news that, for the first time, more Americans are using weed on a daily or near-daily basis than are drinking alcohol with similar frequency, according to a new study. Besides being fodder for obvious jokes from late-night hosts, the study was heralded as good news for advocates of cannabis reform. And in a way, it is. But in other ways, it isn’t. Or at least it’s more complicated than the headlines had it. Comparing booze and weed can be a fraught undertaking. One huge difference is especially problematic: you can drink with no intention of gettin ..read more