Monthly Horoscope • Page 18 – Mercury Retrogrades — a Magical

FEATURED COLUMNIST See You In Person This Summer

By Derek Timm, Mayor, Scotts Valley

Classroom bells are ringing across our Santa Cruz County this week, signaling the last day of school and the beginning of summer. If you live in Scotts Valley, you could not help but notice the bright faces of our graduates lining the streets on banners down the middle of town. Their smiles signal the hope we all have for the year ahead, as we are all eager to celebrate the return of so many cherished events in our community.

What is a bigger tradition than watching graduates march to “Pomp and Circumstance”? Most graduations are are now in-person. Through the good work of our community, our County moved into the yellow tier and our schools gave us the good news that they were increasing the number of people who could attend graduation. The increase in attendance was incredibly important to families to be there together to celebrate the accomplishments of their graduates.

On June 15, California plans to finally exit the tiered system, and with 75% of our County population receiving at least their first vaccination shot, summer looks to be fun. What better time to enjoy the outdoors and everything our City and County have to offer!

On Father’s Day, I will be kicking off the Mayor’s Art Hike Challenge “Outside the Frame” at 2 p.m. at the Glenwood Open Space Preserve. With the four other mayors from across our county, we are supporting local art and the beauty of our local parks. Join me for a hike on which we will discover frames decorated by our local artists framing the beauty of our Scotts Valley parks.

In Scotts Valley, our community will be celebrating the 4th of July with a parade once more after a year lost, and we are ready to party like it is 1776. Watching vehicles, floats and bands work their way down the center of town, with the community celebrating together, will be more Farmer’s Market

Every Saturday 9 a.m.-1 p.m. 360 Blue Bonnet Drive Food Truck Fridays & Taco Tuesdays

June 15 & 25, 5-8 p.m. for additional dates see facebook.com/foodtrucksagogo Juneteenth Celebration

June 19 www.santacruzjuneteenth.com Mayor’s Art Hike Challenge

2 p.m. June 20 www.countyparkfriends.org/ outsidetheframe.html Pride Month

www.santacruzpride.org Fourth of July Parade

3 p.m., Scotts Valley Drive SV Art Wine & Beer Fesitval

August 21-22 10 a.m. -6 p.m. www.svartfestival.com Summer Concerts

at Roaring Camp www.feltonmusichall.com 1440 Multiversity

www.1440.org Cinelux

www.cineluxtheatres.com

special than ever. The parade will take place on Scotts Valley Drive at 3 p.m. (Special thanks to Councilmember Donna Lind, who is doing the heavy lifting to make it happen.)

Despite major damage to Skypark fields from heavy vehicles staged during last year’s fires, the City was excited to reopen part of the field this past week. We are excited to see sporting programs beginning to return, the return of Food Truck Friday and the new Taco Tuesday at Skypark. It has been so fun to see people back in our park enjoying the food, drinks and music together. The next events will be June 15 and 25 from 5-8 p.m.

Our Farmer’s Market is open again. Here you will find organic garden greens, fresh eggs, berries, cheeses, breads, artisan meals, music and your community. Come enjoy local produce and dishes every Saturday morning 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

“Mayor Timm” page 17

CASA CARES ABOUT BEING THERE. NO MATTER WHAT.

Join us for an online information meeting to learn more about how you can be there for a child in foster care. All it takes is 2 hours a week to make a lifetime of an impact.

CASAOFSANTACRUZ.ORG/SIGNUP 831.761.2956

“Mayor Timm” from page 15

This summer presents great opportunities to celebrate our diversity with our neighbors. June is Pride month and every first Sunday in June, the Santa Cruz County community joins with the voices of LGBTQ communities and their allies around the world in celebration of Pride Month. Details of this year’s event are still being ironed out, so check santacruzpride. org.

Our community is also celebrating Juneteenth and this year’s theme is liberation. Juneteenth is a special day for anyone who believes in freedom and equality for all people. Join us for hiking, music, poetry, dance, delicious soul food, arts & crafts, basketball skills contest, and the annual sack race June 19 at Henry Cowell and Laurel Parks, details at: santacruzjuneteenth.com

We all need more music in our lives and Felton Music Hall has joined forces with Roaring Camp to bring us great live music all summer. Dance under the redwoods with your favorite bands. See Felton Music Hall’s website for performance dates at feltonmusichall.com.

Throughout the summer, please keep our local businesses in mind as you shop and dine. Our cinema is open once again and CineLux needs your patronage. Our 1440 Multiversity has reopened and is a wonderful place to escape. 1440 is offering Rest & Renewal packages featuring locally sourced, freshly prepared meals served at Kitchen Table for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Spend time experiencing wellness

Scotts Valley Cinelux classes including yoga, tai chi, qi gong, and meditation offered throughout the day and into the evening.

Summer’s end will see the return of our beloved Art, Wine & Beer Festival, hosted by our Chamber of Commerce on Aug. 21st and 22 at Siltanen Park. In addition to wonderful local artists, there will be food trucks and vendors with innovative cuisine, and live music. The Kids Fun Zone will be back and the area’s most prestigious wineries and award-winning microbreweries pouring their best. The ever-popular Cops ‘N Rodders Car Show will be on Saturday and on Sunday, the fun-filled “Dog Day” will feature many canine contests and prizes. Details: www. svartfestival.com

There are great opportunities to dine, shop and play local all summer. Looking forward to seeing you all in person once again. n

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Contact Mayor Timm at dtimm@scotts valley.org

“Eve Nichols” from page 8

“I still built great relationships,” she said.

“It definitely got me out of my comfort zone,” she said. “Alta helped me grow a lot and speak up for injustice.”

With the switch to classes online, Nichols felt the focus shifted to “can teachers teach online?” with less focus on student success.

“It’s scary to feel you’re rocking the boat,” she said.

Nevertheless, she was compelled to speak up.

Nichols, who is one of 1,240 graduates in Cabrillo’s Class of 2021, is transferring to UC Santa Barbara to major in psychology.

“I think I want to be a therapist or come back to Cabrillo,” she said. n

Mercury begins a three-week retrograde retreat on Saturday, May 29th and continues in reverse ‘til June 22nd, moving from 25 to 16 degrees Gemini. It’s good to consider Mercury retrograde as an alchemical span of time when selfreflection, introspection, the ability to understand the past (since last Mercury retrograde) occurs. It’s a time of correcting misunderstandings and misconceptions, entering into a more unifying reality through inner contemplation. A true mindfulness takes place as we have time to pause and reconsider our lives - past, present and future.

Mercury retrograde asks us to consider the content and quality of our thoughts and communications. Do we talk about people, events or ideas — three different levels of the consciousness? Do we gossip, tell the truth, philosophize, practice ahimsa?

During the retro we review, revise, reappraise, reevaluate, reassess, reexamine, reread and redo just about everything. We also eliminate thoughts and ideas no longer useful. I have suggested to students through the years to create a Retrograde Journal, writing thoughts, ideas, experiences, feelings in this journal only when the planets are retrograde. That time is now and for the next three weeks.

When Mercury is retrograde we enter into an experimental cycle of time, with new realizations and understandings. Mercury retrograde, especially in Gemini, impacts our communication, developing in us new thinking, ideas and plans. It causes us to be simultaneously both more alert and reflective, observing life from a higher perspective. The “do nots.” Remember we do not sign important papers, make important purchases, send important documents, expect agreements to be binding, understand each other or drive well. In Mercury retrograde, the rules and flow of energies are different, and everything seems to disappear.

How we can work with the retrograde is to be playful, adapt to the changing rhythms, slow down, reconnect with the past, play games, listen to everyone’s communication, be humorous and consider Mercury as the magician taking us on a magical mystery tour.

Note from Risa — For further study and daily updates, go to my website www.nightlightnews.org/ and click on Daily Studies & Postings.

ARIES

Overtime, Aries who works predominantly with instinct, begins with Mercury’s help to develop intuition. In the next three weeks that intuition will assume a tone, color and focus. Care needs to be taken with thinking, communication, writing and driving. Something from the past reappears. Be aware of forgetfulness. Walk in your neighborhood, be in touch with family and siblings and study the I Ching, book of Divination.

TAURUS

Do not create any shifts or waves in your financial picture. No loans (given or applied for), for example. Take this time to review finances, create new budgets (to be applied after three weeks), assess the flow of money (what’s coming in, what’s going out), the hows and whys of these transactions and review if everything monetary is proceeding as planned. Include a review of precious metals, your values. And remember to tithe.

GEMINI

Are you feeling somewhat distant, detached, reserved and unable to communicate feelings? Are others wondering where you are these days? You become internally focused, assessing all aspects of yourself — who you are, why you are, what your values are, your everyday actions, who you’re with and why. You review previous choices asking if they reflect your present wants, hopes and needs. Then the answers change within the month.

LEO

With friends and in groups, all plans may be delayed, changed or not happen at all. Those close to you may seem distant (everyone’s internal during retrogrades), quiet or confused. Friends, places, ideas from the past make contact and you consider returning somewhere, to a place, a group or to friendships from long ago. Allow no heartache or anguish from the past to remain in your heart. Visualize yourself in warm soothing tropical waters.

VIRGO

Notice if there is sensitivity (extra) around these subjects: money, partnerships, joint resources/ finances, something from the past, speaking with superiors, thinking about career choices, communicating with co-workers, being misunderstood while in public, your life path, your future. It seems like every subject is sensitive. When you feel you’re being tested, say over and over, “Don’t worry. Be happy.” Remember, also, that you’re perfect.

LIBRA

Rest a bit for the next four weeks, make no promises or important decisions, refrain from the following — signing anything into permanence (it won’t be) or making travel plans. Thinking about communications, interactions and especially tending to your money (be careful) may be confusing, and previous realities won’t make sense. Only you will know why this is so (Mercury retrograde). Take up the Alan Watts Laughter meditation. Here it is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXWNMmj9qCk

SAGITTARIUS

Maintain clear communication with partners, intimates and those close to you. All relationships may enter into a phase of mis-understanding, perhaps disappointments, criticisms, over-reactions, mixed messages and perhaps the need to call upon mediation for understanding to occur. It is a time to assess the quality and value of thoughts, decisions and needs and discriminate between the self and all others. A difficult task, but necessary. A new home might become a necessary.

CAPRICORN

Everything concerning daily life is re-evaluated. Review everyday agendas and weekly plans, check all surrounding environments — the house, the car, the garden — for needed upkeep. Make lists. Assess how you want to shift, change and adapt to make life more happy and pleasant. You realize you require more peace, quiet and beauty. Careful communication is needed. Always have Goodwill. But boundaries are essential too. Also assess the state of your health, diet, exercise and how you awaken each day.

AQUARIUS

Interesting situations and communication may occur with those close to you, with children, and your own self as a creative being. Any Issues not resolved in relationships will reappear. Try to listen to the core message within all communications. Don’t react or defend or ignore. These destroy. Listen with the heart. Unresolved issues must be dealt with or there will be a dissolving and dissolution of important connections. Assess everything with care. Take good care of yourself.

CANCER

Thoughts, ideas, beliefs, decisions and issues not tended to for a long time appear in the present seeking attention and needing reassessment. Much of your communication may not be heard or understood by others. Therefore, try to be very clear when communicating, speak slowly, listen well. Be non-judgmental, call forth compassion, retreat. This retrograde for you is a time of deep quiet, prayer and understanding forgiveness.

SCORPIO

You want to be practical with money and resources. After the retrograde travel would be good. For now, consider new goals concerning money and resources, reaffirm what is of value to you. Eliminate what is no longer useful or what you haven’t used, touched or looked at in the past several months. Use this Mercury retrograde time to visualize new ways of living, building community and finding your likeminded companions. Consider all dreams as practical.

PISCES

Everything about home, family, early life, mother, real estate, things domestic, comes into focus and will need careful evaluation and assessments. Make no important decisions concerning the home unless an emergency occurs. Remember everyone in the family is experiencing the present astrological retrograde transit. And everyone is experiencing it differently. Use your compassionate Pisces mind and heart to observe and discern the differences. And helping everyone to understand. “Graduates” from page 8

Besides UCLA and UC Irvine, Cabrillo’s Honors Transfer Program students were accepted into UC Berkeley, UC Santa Barbara, UC Davis and UC Santa Cruz, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, San Diego State, CSU Long Beach, San Jose State, CSU Monterey Bay, Northwestern University, Boston University, Bentley University, University of San Francisco, Loyola Marymount University, St. John’s University, and many others.

This year, 66% of the graduates are women and 33% are men.

Cabrillo awarded 1,066 associate of arts degrees and 499 associate of science degrees. And 349 students graduated with an associate’s degree for transfer offered by the California Community Colleges, which guarantees admission to a California State University campus.

“I’m so proud of our students,” said Dr. Kathie Welch, Cabrillo College vice president of instruction, who is retiring after 21 years as the school year ends. “Despite challenging life and world circumstances, our students have persisted and reached their goals of graduation and/or transfer.”

Cabrillo graduates earned 253 certificates of achievement and 209 skills certificates. The Class of 2021 ranged in age from 17 to 73, with an average age of 27.

The 62nd graduating class also set a record for the most students graduated with a 4.0 grade point average, 165, up 9% from last year.

High honors (3.75-3.99 grade point average) were earned by 202 graduates, honors (3.5-3.74 grade point average) by 227 graduates and honorable mentions (3.0-3.49 grade point average) by 438 graduates.

Cabrillo’s graduation ceremony was a virtual one again this year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and county and state guidelines limiting mass gatherings.

The ceremony, available for viewing at https://www.cabrillo.edu/graduation/, features remarks by Cabrillo President and Superintendent Dr. Matthew Wetstein, Faculty Senate President Anna Zagorska, and Classified Employees Union President Jessica Carroll.

Tomas Alejandrez, Student Equity Ambassador and UCSC Karl S. Pister Leadership Opportunity scholarship award winner, shared his story of overcoming adversity in achieving his degree and preparing to transfer to UCSC.

Cabrillo Board President Rachael Spencer conferred the degrees and Vice President of Student Services Amy Lehman conducted the ceremonial Moving of the Tassel.

“As a graduate of the Cabrillo nursing program, coming back to Cabrillo to work has been a wonderful and enriching experience,” Welch said. “I’ve enjoyed coming to work every day because Cabrillo is a caring community of professionals dedicated to the education and future of our students. I’m grateful I’ve had the opportunity to make a difference.” n