Category Archives: Cruzio Blog

First Friday at Cruzio Featuring Liminal Space!

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Liminal Space Art Collective is a group of Santa Cruz artists building bridges and dreaming of the future through interactive and immersive art. After covid surges had atomized the already fractured art community of Santa Cruz, Liminal Space grew from a small regular art meetup with the goal of cultivating a space for connection. In 2022, Liminal got the chance to build community by re-imagining the old Circle Church on the west side as an art events venue and home for artist collaboration. Over a hundred artists contributed to the incredible events we hosted there, building lasting friendships along the way. Since then, Liminal has thrown parties alongside Idea Fab Labs, filled the atrium at the MAH, collaborated with the Natural History Museum, built giant mushrooms for the Mushroom Festival, and much more. Our community of 150+ artists continues to grow and learn, to build community and to imagine a better world through our co-creative process.

 

This year, in an effort to support the arts scene, Cruzio went looking for an art group to fill their unused space. Sonya Campbell, a facilitator of the collective and member of the Cruzio team, suggested Liminal as the organization which might make the most of the opportunity. In the weeks after a residency agreement was made, we worked to transform a corner office into a beautiful and calming art gallery. We drew people into the building for our October First Friday event, which showcased art by individual collective members as well as more collaborative pieces. The event was a fantastic success, with a full room for nearly the entire night, and many new connections made. Community members read about First Friday events in the newspaper and came to chat. They saw giant sculptures and tiny paintings, wondered at dioramas, and added to the collaborative canvas we had prepared. Since then, we’ve been working to add even more art to the Cruzio space, and to decorate for our upcoming Halloween-themed event!

 

The holiday for costumes and friends is just around the corner, and as you make your plans, don’t forget to stop by the Cruzio building downtown to join our Halloween First Friday event! On Friday, November 1st, from 6-10pm, Liminal and Cruzio are collaborating once again to create an exciting and spooooky space! Since our October 4th gallery showing, we’ve redecorated – there’s more art to see, more fun to be had, and a lot more decorations in the spirit of the season. For anyone seeking a last minute addition to their costume, Kiara Leonardich will also be offering facepainting! Whether you were present for the October show or not, this party is an event we want you to see.

 

We’re always excited for the chance to create spaces like this for connection, and the work of our amazing team of volunteers and supporters takes each event to the next level. If you’re interested in helping to cultivate spaces for immersive and collaborative art, we are always looking to add more perspectives to our work, and more artists to our team. We’re passionate about creating a Santa Cruz community which values art as a mode of connection. We are working hard to connect with more people and organizations who share our vision of the future. In order to build that future, after all, we have to do it together. To hang out with us, make art together, or discuss how you want to support our connective work, please email us. → connect@limi.space ← We want to hear about what you’ve been dreaming.

-Written by Rose Klein

Faster Internet Coming to Coastside San Mateo

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Earlier this year, the state of California awarded Cruzio $5.65 million to improve internet infrastructure in our region. Using state-of-the-art technology, the funded project will bring high-speed connectivity to large parts of San Mateo. Serving homes, businesses, and public safety agencies, the Equal Access Summits to the Sea (EAS2C) initiative is a game-changer, and it’s been years in the making.

The seeds of EAS2C were planted back in early 2021, when Rob Genovesi, a well-respected figure in the community and long-time owner-operator of Coastside.net, sat down with Cruzio’s Chris Frost and James Hackett. As longtime friends and collaborators, the three had often bounced around ideas, having worked together on everything from cutting-edge wireless tech to customer support strategies. But this conversation felt different — this time, they saw a once-in-a-generation opportunity.

In the wake of COVID-19 and a series of devastating wildfires, the state of California was making broadband expansion a priority, pushing to bridge the glaring digital divide. Many residents were still struggling with limited or no internet access, hampering their ability to work, study, or get vital information during emergencies.

Cruzio had a track record of securing grant funding and successfully completing complex projects, to reach unserved areas, even ones larger ISPs had passed on. Our Equal Access initiative had already made strides in providing affordable internet to low-income families, working closely with local schools and nonprofits. Meanwhile, Rob had extensive knowledge of the Coastside region — its beauty, its connectivity challenges, and the urgent need for better service. Recent advances in fixed wireless technology, allowing ultra-fast speeds over longer distances, was the final piece of the puzzle.

The three quickly realized that by combining their resources, they were in a perfect position to secure upcoming grant funding and solve a major regional issue.

By the end of 2021, the partnership between Cruzio and Coastside.net was official, and the combined teams launched into action, working tirelessly to craft the technical and financial framework to secure a multimillion-dollar grant.

Fast forward to February 2024: The California Public Utilities Commission voted unanimously in favor of Resolution T-17810, green-lighting the EAS2C proposal. With the funding locked in, we wasted no time rolling out high-speed, resilient telecommunications infrastructure. Cruzio is set to connect the first wave of subscribers within weeks and by September the network will be fully operational.

The impact? Thousands of homes and businesses will finally experience the speed and reliability they’ve long needed. Beyond that, we’ll integrate fire alert cameras into the network, bolstering safety across the region. Cruzio has already started partnering with local organizations, including the Department of Emergency Management on their Coastal Resiliency Infrastructure Strategic Plan (CRISP), to ensure that this new network benefits the entire community.

We’re excited to see how this infrastructure will shape the future of the Coastside area, and we’re eager to hear from residents and local groups on how we can collaborate to make the most of this new resource. If you’d like to connect with a member of our senior project team about EAS2C, feel free to reach out at cruzio.com/contact.

🎨 First Friday at CruzioWorks!🎨

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cruzio exterior building image🎨 First Friday at CruzioWorks!🎨

Get ready to immerse yourself in a vibrant evening of creativity and connection at our First Friday Events on October 4th and November 1st! Our downtown coworking space will be transformed into a vibrant art gallery featuring the Liminal Space Collective.

But that’s not all! To make your First Friday experience even more enriching, we’re offering FREE coworking at our space earlier in the day. From 9 AM to 6 PM, come and work in our collaborative and productive environment at no cost. It’s the perfect opportunity to get some work done and then unwind with us at the art gallery event later from 6 PM to 9 PM.

Whether you’re an art enthusiast, a curious explorer, or simply looking for a lively evening out, this event promises a captivating experience for all.

Date: Friday, October 4th & Friday November 1st

Time: Coworking 9 AM-6 PM, Gallery 6 PM-9 PM

Location: Cruzio (877 Cedar Street, Suite #150)

Parking: Lot behind Cruzio building, ask front desk for a parking pass. If spots are full, paid parking in locust street garage or church street garage

Admission: FREE

first friday

Liminal Space Collective

Black-footed Cats

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black-footed cats

This cat looks a little like Cruzio Internet’s logo

  • black-footed cats can be found in parts of southern and central southern Africa
  • despite it’s adorable size and general appearance, it is believed to be the world’s deadliest cat
  • hey achieve the highest kill rate, successfully taking their target in 60% of hunts, which other cats get around 20-40% of the time
  • the tiny cat is perhaps the smallest of all wild cat species in Africa
  • they weigh about 2.2-5.5 lbs
  • it is believed that there are less than 10,000 mature individuals in the wild, and that the population is declining
  • they have been known to travel around 20 miles in a single night to hunt for prey
  • the black-footed cat is also solitary
  • these cats have pink skin, which is different from other wild cats, whose skin is usually dark tan to black
  • both sexes mark their territories by urinating
  • their vision is six times better than that of humans, aided by enormous eyes. It’s also equipped with excellent night vision and impeccable hearing that can pick up even the tiniest sound
  • despite its name, only the pads and underparts of the cat’s feet are black
  • their soft, dense coat ranges from dark to pale tawny gold, with a bold pattern of rounded dark brown to black spots which sometimes merge into bands or rings
  • they are protected from the hot sand by hair on the black soles of the feet
  • they prefer arid to semi-arid scrub and short grassland, and open terrain close to rocky outcrops
  • the little dudes are predominantly nocturnal but occasionally crepuscular (which means it can be seen out of its den just after sunset and before sunrise)
  • during the day they rest either in burrows dug by other species, in hollow termite mounds or among rock tumbles
  • in Afrikaans they are called miershooptier, means anthill tiger, hence the burrowing into termite mounds
  • one small black-footed cat can consume 3,000 rodents each year
  • they have also been observed eating eggs, crushing them gently between the jaws, and then licking the contents clean
  • natives have a legend claiming these tiny cats can bring down giraffe, but it has not been proven, thankfully
  • check out this lil cat on the prowl, looking all cute and deadly here
YouTubeYouTube | Nature on PBS
Meet the Deadliest Cat on the Planet 

Hidden Fortress Opens Cafe at Cruzioworks

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Hidden Fortress Cafe at Cruzioworks

Amelia and her staff are super friendly and they serve great food

Hidden Fortress Coffee, known by many as the coffee vendor at Santa Cruz Community Farmers Markets since 2013, has just opened their first downtown Santa Cruz location. The new spot is inside the Cruzio Works space, 877 Cedar Street, at Church Street.

Hidden Fortress Cafe at Cruzio
Grand Opening Thursday July 25
8:30am-6:30pm

 

This little grab and go coffee bar features the organic coffee that owner Amelia Loftus has been roasting since 2012 in Watsonville. It additionally offers a full espresso bar with handcrafted mixers plus a selection of grab & go pastries and breakfast burritos made in their Watsonville kitchen. Also available made to order are a toast bar featuring locally baked sourdough bread (including a gluten free option) and a selection of breakfast sandwiches.

The cafe fits perfectly with Cruzio’s coworking space, Cruzioworks. Working in a lovely, light-filled environment and getting up for a delicious coffee and a sandwich or a pastry, perhaps chatting with another coworker — wonderful.

For the first few weeks operations are in a soft opening phase as new staff are trained and the cafe undergoes a face lift… including a beautiful mural being painted by Helena Rae (@raehaven). A grand opening party is being organized for Thursday July 25. Throughout the day an array of small bites and fresh brewed coffee will be offered to all guests. Hours will be extended until 6:30pm, and some extra treats will be rolled out after 3pm including toast bar sliders and espresso drink shooters.

Hidden Fortress Coffee has been searching for a better location for a few years, since it became obvious that customers lost throughout the Covid Pandemic were not coming back to their Watsonville location. Relocating the entire business was even considered. The good news is the new location requires a support kitchen—which the Watsonville location has—so if the new spot is successful it will keep the Watsonville spot open too. 

Amelia and her husband Patrick started Hidden Fortress Coffee at their small farm in north Monterey county in 2013. Amelia has been roasting coffee since 2001, starting as a home roaster when the home brew supply business she managed added a home coffee roasting section. A lifetime coffee enthusiast, Amelia has been passionate about coffee and has been hooked on roasting since her very first batch.

As a women owned small business Amelia pays extra attention to the circumstances of women in the coffee industry. For the specialty coffee industry, from farmer to roaster the ownership of coffee businesses is about 75% male, while the workforce is over 60% female. Hidden Fortress devotes at least 30% of the coffee buying budget for coffee grown by women owned farms. Coffee income can empower women to invest in their communities and create better opportunities for their families. 

Cheers!

Cruzio Got a Grant. What That Means for You

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Map showing extent of Equal Access Summits to Sea, Cruzio's grant-funded network: area extends from Half Moon Bay and the Peninsula south of San Francisco, through the Santa Cruz Mountains, through Watsonville and Salinas, down to Monterey

Cruzio’s independent network will be enhanced in the purple area — “from summits to sea”

For over a decade, Cruzio has been building new infrastructure to get badly-needed, reliable high-speed internet to rural, low income, and just plain forgotten parts of our coastal (and mountainous) region.

The State of California has recognized the work we do and earlier this year Cruzio was awarded a grant — $5.65 million! — to extend our network to some of the areas most in need.

If you’re already a Cruzio customer, you may be wondering, that’s great, but how does that help me? 

First of all, some of our current subscribers live or work in the areas covered directly by the grant. There could be a dramatic increase in the availability of high speed connections in your neighborhood. 

Even if you’re not directly affected, this could make a difference to people you know, or love, or work with. 

A better connection could make the difference between shlepping to an office or working from home. Or no longer struggling to maintain a connection on a video call.

And our grant has benefits that will reach everybody, even those who won’t get new services.

Basically, networks thrive on the number of nodes and the quality of all the infrastructure in the nodes and paths. The grant will mean that our backbone will be stronger and our capacity and redundant paths will increase. It will be an easier network to maintain and a faster one overall. We look forward to providing everyone on our network with increasingly better service!

Cruzio Rides the Giant Dipper (and More)

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At the end of June Cruzio took a well-deserved break and visited the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. It was a beautiful day, sunny but not hot (we’re on the California Coast, after all) and there were a lot of smiles. Please enjoy the photos with us!

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk at Sunset

Photo by Robert Gilwee

Santa Cruz beach

Cruzio Internet staff photo

Photos by Robert Gilwee, Peggy Dolgenos, Jesus Lopez, Adia Schamber, and Jay Miner 

Federal Internet Subsidies are Gone — But We’re Still Helping

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Yuriana Sotelo and her sister Jacqueline

Students benefit from good internet at a center in Pajaro Valley

Cruzio’s goal is to get reliable, high-speed internet to everyone in our community, regardless of geography or income — but we’re very aware of two main barriers to internet access.

  • The first is infrastructure. If you’re not near a strong existing network, chances are you won’t be able to get good internet at a reasonable price.
  • The second barrier is affordability. Internet prices can be high, especially when there’s only one ISP in your area.
To address infrastructure, the Biden administration included broadband grants in their Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the State of California has contributed, too.

 

But it needs to be affordable

To ease the price barrier, the same bill established the Affordable Connectivity Program, or ACP, in 2021. Eligible people received $30/month to help them pay for internet.

 

The ACP allowed Cruzio and other ISPs to serve more people. But this year, the ACP funds ran out and a dysfunctional Congress failed to renew it.

 

Congress’s failure to renew the ACP program meant that suddenly, thousands of local households lost federal help and, in many cases, cannot afford internet in their homes.

We’re trying to cover the sudden difference

Losing internet access is a serious issue! So Cruzio has gone back to the Equal Access program we started before the feds stepped in. We pull together local philanthropy, schools, and local governments to help us get good connections to people’s homes.

If you were affected by the loss of ACP, we already contacted you with lower-than-standard prices. We’ll sustain those as long as we can. In the long run, a competitive market which doesn’t need big infrastructure improvements will work better than subsidies keep prices low. But until that situation exists, we’ll be looking for any help we can find.

As always, here’s the link to add a small payment each month to your Cruzio bill! We send 100% of that money to Equal Access where it’s put to good use.

SCLU Takes the Win at the Memorial Day Surf Contest

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Surfboards

The Santa Cruz Longboard Union (SCLU) takes the victory at the 38th Annual Memorial Day Club Invitational, held at Steamer Lane over Memorial Day weekend!

The Union’s Nohemi Kawasaki triumphed in the Women’s age 20-29 category, while Aylana Zanville dominated the Masters Women’s age 40-49 division. Chase Larue secured victory in the Senior Men’s 30-39 age group, followed by Matt Collins in the Masters Men’s 40-49 age group. Frosty Hesson excelled in the Grand Legends 70 and older category, and Leechy Surfboards emerged victorious in the Shapers division. Their collective efforts led to the club’s impressive total of 2,300 points!

This event is more than just a surf contest; it’s a symbol of community spirit and support for local nonprofits benefiting children. As the longest-running longboard contest in the US, it brings together surf enthusiasts from far and wide to enjoy the thrill of the waves while contributing to a worthy cause. This year, Cruzio was honored to provide free WiFi connectivity throughout the event, ensuring that the judges booth ran smoothly and that organizers & attendees could stream the contest and share their experiences in real-time, further amplifying the event’s reach and impact.Cruzio Installation

At Cruzio, we understand the importance of supporting events that unite our community and make a positive difference. By contributing our services to the 38th Annual Memorial Day Club Invitational, we enhanced the overall experience for attendees while also playing a part in the larger effort to support local nonprofits. We are proud to have contributed to another successful year of the Invitational, and are reminded of the power of coming together to make a difference. Cruzio looks forward to continuing our support for future events that uplift and enrich our community.

“Thanks for being a sponsor of the 38th annual Memorial Club Invitational surf contest. Your whole crew was EPIC. Our team was stoked at how easy you made it for us! The Wifi was flawless!!”  -SCLU

 

Equal Access in Watsonville, CA

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May is Affordable Housing Month!
Tabasa Gardens

Cruzio provides reliable high-speed internet to the Tabasa Gardens housing complex

Tabasa Gardens Housing Complex

On May 3, 2024, Eden Housing Introduced Tabasa Gardens: Where Community, Sustainability, and Connectivity Thrive! Nestled along Freedom Boulevard, just a mile from downtown Watsonville, this new apartment community is a beacon of inclusivity, serving residents across all income levels. 

The neighborhood is designed to accommodate individuals or families with incomes ranging from 25 to 50% of the median income in the area, which translates to annual earnings of $28,000 to $56,000 for a household of two people. Half the units have been reserved for farmworkers, and six units for people who’ve been experiencing homelessness.

Additionally, with solar panels, energy-efficient appliances, and dedicated bike parking, Tabasa Gardens is Green Point Rated certified.

With a commitment to bridging the digital gap, Cruzio is thrilled to partner with Eden Housing to offer discounted in-unit gigabit WiFi for all. 

We feel proud to be able to contribute. Equal Access is a partnership of Cruzio, local community institutions, and local philanthropists. It’s supported by many of our customers (thank you!) and other local donors who know how important quality internet is to every person. It’s part of treating people with dignity.

Every time we can contribute to the well-being of our community, we are going to try. Each piece may be small, and sometimes we can all feel pretty overwhelmed by the difficulty of curing our local problems. But the only way to tackle big problems is to take the first steps. This housing meets a deep and obvious need. We hope it will prove helpful and we’re delighted to play a part.You can help! Make a donation to the Community Foundation Santa Cruz County Equal Access fund. Or just add a small amount to your monthly Cruzio bill, and we will send it to the fund. Equal Access helps seniors and disabled people access health and social services, children get a better shot at online schoolwork, people looking for jobs find opportunities, and much more. Because we add our own contribution, Cruzio can make a small amount of money go a long way.

https://edenhousing.org/properties/tabasa-gardens/