Go for a bike ride with the mayor
Friends of Watsonville Parks and Community Services invites the public to join Watsonville Mayor Eduardo Montesino for a short, scenic and family-friendly bike ride along the Pajaro River levee on Saturday from 10am to 11am.
The ride will start at the parking lot across from the Watsonville Buddhist Temple at 423 Bridge St.
Helmets are recommended and encouraged but required for kids under 18.
Latin musicians to perform in Corralitos
Internationally acclaimed Latin musicians will present an afternoon of son jaracho at the Corralitos Cultural Center presented by Snazzy Productions on July 8 from 4–6pm.
“Son con Son” unites son jarocho with son cubano. It is a project by Mexican American roots group Los Cenzontles, Grupo Mono Blanco of Veracruz, Mexico, and Kiki Valera, master of the cuatro cubano of Santiago de Cuba.
Los Cenzontles has pioneered revivals of Mexican roots music in California, interpreting traditional, classic and original songs in their own voices.
Grupo Mono Blanco is the leading proponent of son jarocho. It is a multi-generational ensemble of more than 20 members whose families have played and danced indigenous art forms for generations. Since its inception in 1977, Grupo Mono Blanco has toured Europe, Asia, North Africa and Central America, the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Son cubano is one of the most popular musical styles in Cuba and Kiki Valera is one of its foremost exponents. Over the last century, this style of traditional Cuban music has contributed to many other genres of music including jazz, cha cha cha, mambo, salsa, songo and timba.
For information and tickets, visit snazzyproductions.com/sonconson.
New mobile veterinary practice focuses on acupuncture treatment
Dr. Jacki Dantzler recently announced the opening of Santa Cruz Veterinary Acupuncture, a mobile veterinary practice specializing in acupuncture treatment for all species of animals and serving both Santa Cruz and Monterey counties.
After working several years in small animal practice in both California and Texas, she has found her passion treating large and small animals with acupuncture, providing an alternative treatment option for many ailments.
“I first learned about the benefits of acupuncture when my horse was treated for back pain caused by a poorly fitting saddle. I couldn’t believe how quickly and completely her pain resolved after only two sessions,” Dantzler said. “Since treating patients with acupuncture myself, I have seen old dogs with weak back legs able to walk much better. I’ve seen dogs paralyzed after spinal surgery able to walk again. I’ve seen a cat’s fever reduced after medications were not working, and I’ve even had a cat cured from diabetic neuropathy, all from acupuncture treatment.”
The practice of acupuncture on animals can not only help with general pain management for chronic or acute pain but can also improve hormone regulation, gastrointestinal disorders, healing from trauma, certain skin conditions, increase blood circulation, bring relief from asthma and other respiratory problems, help neurological diseases such as spinal cord injury, intervertebral disk diseases, musculoskeletal conditions such as arthritis and even work as part of palliative care for cancer patients.
“Not all animals respond to acupuncture in the same way. Some animals will have fantastic results, while others may not,” Dantzler said. “This has to do with the way acupuncture stimulates certain chemicals to be released in the body and how different bodies respond to these chemicals. Most animals will experience at least some pain relief and improved mobility while others may experience resolution of nerve paralysis or improved hormonal imbalances.”
While Dantzler is a trained surgeon and general practice veterinarian, her new mobile practice will be focusing solely on acupuncture at this time, which includes dry needling, electroacupuncture, moxibustion, aquapuncture and massage.
“The first step in effective treatment is to always do a thorough assessment of the animal and evaluate their history in order to provide the best treatment,” Dantzler said. “Treating each patient will generally include recommendations for diet, exercise and supplements to improve the animal’s overall health.”
Born and raised in Santa Cruz, Dantzler studied veterinary medicine at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland where she graduated with honors in 2019. During her studies she worked in various parts of the world including Zimbabwe where she worked on rhinos, Sri Lanka where she performed sterilization of cats and dogs, Wales where she worked with sheep and Nicaragua where she treated pigs. Since graduating, Dantzler has worked in small animal practices in Santa Cruz and Houston, Texas.
She became a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist through the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society and since then has been treating dogs, cats, horses and even chickens.
For information, visit santacruzveterinaryacupuncture.com.
