New Cabrillo Stage Artistic Director

COMMUNITY NEWS

New Cabrillo Stage Artistic Director

Cabrillo Stage, the beloved professional summer musical theatre festival, has a new artistic director, Andrea L. Hart, who hails from Berkeley and produced the Fringe Festival at the Great Plains Theatre Conference.

Hart, 46, will be only the fourth Cabrillo Stage artistic director, and the first woman to lead the company, founded in 1981 by Lile O. Cruse.

She was hired to succeed Jon Nordgren, artistic director for 17 years, who retired in September.

Cabrillo Dean of Visual, Applied, and Performing Arts John Graulty said, “Our national search for a new artistic director for Cabrillo Stage landed us a bright, young, articulate star in the theater firmament.”

Hart is an accomplished playwright and theatre maker, having had her work developed at the Great Plains Theatre Conference, CounterPulse, MacDowell, New Ohio Theatre, Hyde Park Theatre, and the University of Texas New Theatre Festival of New Work.

She came to Santa Cruz in July after

finishing a master’s in fine arts in directing at the University of Texas at Austin. Before graduate school, she lived in the Berkeley area for 20 years, where she was a co-founder and member of several small theatre companies, including 6NewPlays, which focused on producing new plays by Bay Area playwrights. She also taught visual and performing arts and directed musicals and plays in schools all over the Bay Area. “Studying how to make live theatre during a pandemic was not what I set out in graduate school to do,” said Hart. “However, I feel incredibly fortunate to have been in school during that time. It served as a crucible to not only my artistic practice, but my thinking on how to keep live performance relevant to our communities as we move forward.” In a letter to the Cabrillo Stage mailing list, Hart Andrea L. Hart wrote: “Whether it’s an unforgettable performance from years ago, a tune that never leaves your head, or the lyrics that remind you you’re not alone, musical theatre has the power to connect and uplift us like nothing else.”

“COVID Update” from page 10

The Santa Cruz County Office of Education, which has not updated data due to the holiday, last reported 684,700 tests with Inspire Diagnostics.

Avoid Emergency Room

The California Department of Public Health reports 22 patients hospitalized in Santa Cruz County with a positive Covid test, including one in intensive care.

After Thanksgiving, Santa Cruz County health officials reported a surge in influenza and respiratory syncytial virus cases along with Covid and asked people with no symptoms or mild cases, or other non-serious illnesses, to “avoid unnecessary trips to already burdened hospital emergency departments.”

They said people with “relatively mild” respiratory infections “can effectively recover from their illness at home, or by seeking primary care treatment and/or speaking with their primary care provider.”

See the CDC guidance for RSV at https:// www.cdc.gov/rsv/clinical/index.html

2023 Recommendation

The CDC plans to provide a recommended vaccine schedule in 2023.

On Oct. 20, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted unanimously in favor of adding the Covid vaccine to the federal recommended immunization schedule for children and adults.

The existing schedule recommends 27 doses of vaccine between birth and age 6.

Starting at 6 months, children should get the Covid vaccine, plus boosters, the committee said.

The committee heard Dr. Tom Shimabukuro report the death of a boy 13 days after his first dose of Pfizer Covid vaccine. The autopsy showed the cause of death was heart inflammation known as myocarditis; tests found no evidence of viral infection.

The death was reported to the federal Vaccine Adverse Effects Reporting System, and verified by the CDC. Committee members determined Covid vaccine benefits outweigh the risks. The CDC said its recommendation is not a mandate, with the decision up to states, counties and municipal officials.

California’s SB 277 requires students be vaccinated to attend public school; no exemptions for personal belief. Homeschoolers are exempt.

Local info: www.santacruzhealth.org/ coronavirus or (831) 454-4242 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. n •••

Santa Cruz County

In hospital with positive Covid test: 22 Intensive care: 1 ••• COVID Deaths: 276 As of Dec. 30

Hart is invested in community building and supporting a healthy local artist ecosystem.

When she was director of education and public programs at the Oceanside Museum of Art, she began the first dance residency with local dancer Alyssa Junious, who created new work and community events in response to the artwork in the galleries.

“Theatre, by its very nature, is a local endeavor,” Hart said. “It exists in a particular place and time and it speaks to those who see it in that moment. I want Cabrillo Stage to represent the Monterey Bay community in all of its fullness and to be a place our audiences call home.”

Hart answered these questions for Aptos Times:

As a playwright, you wrote

“Murky as Hell.” What’s it about?

Murky as Hell” is based around stories of women who aided Jeffrey Epstein, Harvey Weinstein, and Terry Richardson, amongst others.

What began as an exercise in imagining fitting punishment for these women, turned into a meditation on the unnerving grey areas around the violence women inflict on each other and the systems that teach us how to do it.

“Hart” page 23

Winter Fun

ACROSS

1. Make change 6. Used in combination to denote the middle 9. *Ammo material 13. Star____ 14. The “place with the helpful hardware folks” 15. Neutral shade 16. Orderly arrangement 17. Romanian monetary unit 18. Button on electrical outlet 19. *Frosty’s nose 21. *Gingerbread Man, e.g. 23. Drench 24. What a willow did? 25. Famous song by The

Jackson 5 28. Cone-shaped quarters 30. *Snow mover 35. A bit of water 37. Pakistani language 39. Measured in knots 40. Tatted fabric 41. *”A Visit from St.

Nicholas” poet 43. Tropical edible root 44. Paintings in Orthodox church 46. Not swim or swum 47. Frozen puddle accident 48. Small skullcap 50. Dresden’s river 52. Captain’s turf 53. Drop of sorrow 55. “Slippery” tree 57. *Frozen spike 60. *Three-horse sleigh ride 63. Words to live by 64. Caviar alternative 66. On D’Artagnan’s hat 68. Group of wives 69. Boiling emotion 70. Furnish with a fund 71. Travelers’ stops 72. Poetic “even” 73. Buy second-hand

DOWN

1. Agha, alt. sp. 2. Artist Chagall’s first name 3. Poet Pound’s first name 4. Draws close 5. Fungus damage (2 words) 6. Shake’s cousin? 7. *____ fishing 8. Two, in cards 9. Station finder button 10. Not final 11. Curved molding 12. Kind of nurse 15. Bouillons 20. Laudanum ingredient 22. Saturn’s wife 24. As opposed to widow 25. Impromptu 26. Emergency pedal 27. *Hot treat 29. Major-leaguers 31. Prefers 32. Butcher shop offering, pl. 33. Ghostlike 34. Parkinson’s drug 36. Philadelphia’s Ivy

League member 38. Russian mountain chain 42. *Fireplace glob 45. TV offering 49. Reef fish 51. Kind of bride 54. Eagle’s home 56. Hundred Acre Wood creator 57. A Flock of Seagulls’ 1982 hit (2 words) 58. European Council for

Nuclear Research, acr. 59. Bad day for Caesar 60. Not quite an adult 61. Spiral-horned African antelope 62. Singer-songwriter Tori 63. Tai’s partner 65. Miner’s bounty 67. Female sheep

THE U.S. & THE HOLOCAUST

The Santa Cruz Public Libraries plans a screening and discussion of the Ken Burns documentary The U.S. and the Holocaust, in partnership with Temple Beth El, the Resource Center for Nonviolence, and Santa Cruz County United for Safe and Inclusive Communities from 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 26, at the Capitola Branch Library, 2005 Wharf Road, Capitola.

This is the day before International Holocaust Remembrance Day Jan. 27.

Light refreshments will be provided. Registration is recommended but not required. Register at https:// santacruzpl.libcal.com/event/10067554.

Discussions will focus on lessons learned and how to eliminate hate and violence from society. Facilitated small-group discussion followed by report-outs will provide a framework for attendees to glean lessons from the documentary and how those lessons can be applied here and now.

Attendees are encouraged to watch the entire 3-part documentary in advance of the discussion, which will air on local PBS Station KQED at 9 p.m. on Jan. 6, 13, and 20 and will be available to stream on the PBS website through Feb. 3. On Jan. 26, attendees will see a 40-minute screener from the series provided by PBS Books, who is supporting programming around the documentary for libraries nationwide. Art at https://www.pbs.org/kenburns/us-and-the-holocaust/

VOLUNTEER FOR MILES FOR SMILES

The independent nonprofit Partnership for Children, which increases access to medical care for children with serious illnesses and supports their families, needs volunteers for its Miles of Smiles holiday giving program.

Volunteers are needed at the organization’s “toy room” in Salinas, where they will wrap gifts from which Partnership for Children, children, will be able to select during the holidays. To volunteer or for information, call (831) 422-3002.

OPEN STUDIOS SURVEY

Do you love Open Studios?

If you experienced Open Studios this year, we’d love to get your feedback. What worked well? What could have worked better?

Whether you visited one location or many, we’d love to hear from you. The survey is at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ OS_Visitor_Survey

GETVIRTUAL: LAUNCH YOUR BUSINESS ONLINE

A popular UC Santa Cruz entrepreneurship class that pairs students with local business owners wanting to pivot from foot traffic to sales online is expanding beyond Santa Cruz. The recently launched Coursera version, GetVirtual: How to Launch your Online Business, is available to students at other UC campuses as well as anyone with an internet connection. For people outside the UC system, it’s free.

Students help participating businesses redesign their websites for e-commerce, list product catalogs in virtual marketplaces, and offer other technical assistance as needed. Much of the website creation curriculum comes from Wix, a no-code website building platform.

In the Coursera class, those in the class build a website for themselves.

The GetVirtual program already has partnerships with the city of Santa Cruz and Santa Cruz County Small Business Development Center.

The GetVirtual team is now working on a Spanish version.

Nada Miljkovic, a continuing lecturer at UCSC co-founded GetVirtual two years ago with serial entrepreneur Toby Corey.

“Students can be anyone from those about to graduate to young professionals wanting to go out on their own to retirees wanting to continue having a purpose in life,” she said.

GetVirtual has completed more than 150 client projects with 70% of those businesses in the city of Santa Cruz, all at no cost to the clients.

Nonprofit Santa Cruz Works honored Miljkovic as one of its 2022 Titans of Tech for contributing to the growth of the local tech and entrepreneurial community. See: https://www.coursera.org/learn/getvirtual

Have a virtual or live event you want to promote? Send your information to info@cyber-times.com by January 25

WINTER ITALIAN LANGUAGE CLASSES

Learn the language of “la dolce vita” with native Italianspeaking Instructors. Whether you are new to the Italian language, totally fluent, or everything in be-tween, the classes the Dante Alighieri Society of Santa Cruz is offering are for you!

The 10-week session begins the week of Jan. 23. Pricing & location (on-line & in-person) varies; see individual class descriptions for more information. The last day to register is Jan. 20. See: https://www.dantesantacruz.com/classes. For information email: dan-tesantacruz1265@gmail.com

SUPPORT FOR MOTHERS OF SURVIVORS

Survivors Healing Center is offering online women’s support groups and mothers of survivors of childhood sexual abuse support group. The goals are to empower through a healing process and prevent sexual abuse of children and youth.

You are not alone. You are not to blame. More info: 831-423-7601 or www.survivorshealingcenter.org

CUP CHARGE STARTS JAN. 1

The County of Santa Cruz reminds local retailers, restaurants, food trucks, convenience stores, hospitality establishments and event planners that new rules for the collection of single-use cup taxes take effect Jan. 1, 2023.

In June, county voters passed Measure C, the Santa Cruz County Clean Water/Beaches, Public Health, Environmental Protection Measure. This measure mandates that businesses subject to the County’s single-use cup charge remit half of the $.25 collected for each cup — $.125 — to the County of Santa Cruz as a tax with the remainder retained by the seller.

Payments are due to the county quarterly. Due dates are: April 30, July 31, Oct. 31, and Jan. 31.

Businesses using the online form online on the Treasurer-Tax Collector’s website will not need additional documentation. Those paying with check or cash will need to submit a reporting form with each payment. For an FAQ, see https://www.co.santacruz.ca.us/Departments /TaxCollector/SingleUseCupTaxFAQs.aspx

FOR NEW MOMS

The Santa Cruz County Nurse Family Partnership is a program to support pregnant women expecting their first baby and new moms with their first baby. For information, call 831-454-4339 or text 831-566-3592.

HELP MATCHINGDONORS.COM

Currently, 270 people die every day in the U.S. waiting for an organ transplant; those that live wait 7 to 12 years to receive a kidney transplant through the government’s deceased organ donor waiting list.

Many patients receive their kidney transplant within only six months of registering on MatchingDonors. com, which is appealing to people to help by becoming a living organ donor or donating cars, boats, RVs, real estate, or planes to support the nonprofit organization, founded in 2003 and based in Boston.

Supporters include NFL quarterback Tom Brady, who raises money in the memory of his College of San

IS YOUR PHOTO TOO SMALL?

HELLO DEAR READERS, One of my new year’s resolutions for 2023 is to help you get news into our community calendar.

You’ve probably noticed every issue has a “photo box,” a photo of an upcoming event with a description, what where, how much it costs to attend.

How does your event get into the photo box?

Step No. 1: Email me a photo with enough bytes so it doesn’t turn into pixels. This means actual size on a cellphone, or minimum 1 MB, for optimum picture quality.

I’ve seen too many small photos, 33 kb, or medium, 88 kb or 250 kb, which might be acceptable on our website, www.tpgonlinedaily.com but not in a print publication. We do both!

If I have to request a larger photo, that takes time, and often, we’re up against a deadline, and sadly the larger photo does not arrive in time.

You’ve seen photos accompanying other calendar events. Again, I recommend emailing a larger photo, actual size, 1 MB.

Step No. 2: Include a caption.

Step No. 3: Check the calendar of each issue for the next deadline. That way, your announcement will get to us in time!

Pro tips: To expedite your announcement, put it in the body of the email instead of an attachment. That way, I see it immediately — no waiting for a sluggish computer. For the subject line, put the date of the event first, followed by the name of the event.

Best wishes in 2023!

— Jondi Gumz, editor

RED CROSS JANUARY BLOOD DRIVES

Aptos Jan. 4: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Resurrection Church, 7600 Soquel Drive Jan. 7: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Twin Lakes Church, 2701 Cabrillo College Drive Ben Lomond Jan. 20: 11:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 9545 Love Creek Road Santa Cruz Jan. 5: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 220 Elk St. Jan. 18: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 220 Elk St. Jan. 20: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Santa Cruz Firefighters at Civic Auditorium, 307 Church St. Scotts Valley Jan. 14: 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, 5271 Scotts Valley Drive Watsonville Jan. 17: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Community Health Trust of Pajaro Valley, 85 Nielson St.

OPERATION GRATITUDE

Operation Gratitude gives Americans the opportunity to go say “Thank You” to all who raise their hands to serve.

Writing a letter is a meaningful way for Americans to say “Thank You” support for all who serve. It only takes five minutes of your day but will bring lasting joy to the recipients.

Operation Gratitude includes handwritten letters in every Care Package sent to Military and First Responders. In these unprecedented times, our heroes need our unwavering support.

Fill out the form with detailed instructions and labels for shipping. You pay the postage. For more information and ways to show support, see https://www.operationgratitude.com/volunteer/anywhere/ letters/

RESOURCE FOR CAREGIVERS

As families gather for the holiday, people may see grandma or grandpa, their mom or dad, or their aunt or uncle more forgetful or frail and in need of care.

Since 1988, Del Mar Caregiver Resource Center has served Santa Cruz County families of persons living with neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, stroke, traumatic brain injury and other conditions that cause memory loss and confusion.

Trained staff are tuned in to the experiences and issues caregivers face, ready and able to connect, listen and support. The center receives funds from the state Department of Health Care Services. For information, see https://www.delmarcaregiver.org/ or call toll-free (800) 624-8304.

ONGOING EVENTS

Mondays

BRIDGE CLUB

10:30 a.m.-Noon, Capitola Branch Library, 2005 Wharf Road The Capitola Branch Library will host Bridge Club sessions on Mondays (except holidays).

Everyone is welcomed from beginners to social players. Make new friends and sharpen your mind.

Bridge Club is a partnership between Santa Cruz County Parks and Santa Cruz Public Libraries. Register at scparks.com or in-person the day of the event.