I was a huge Pele Juju fan, thinking this Santa Cruz all-women world beat band should be the next big thing nationwide. I would drive from San Jose to see them at the Catalyst whenever I could and have been sorely disappointed that they disbanded.
I always wondered what they were up to, and now I know at least one member has taken on a different beat: she’s building green homes.
From Kristen McLaughlin’s article talking about guitarist Michele Landegger:
“You might say Landegger has come full circle. ‘My take on it is, music and art are such an integral part of human need and who we are, as well as food and shelter,” Landegger said. “I happened to diverge into shelter.’”
She’s gone from an all-women band to an all-women construction company.
“As a builder, the focus I take now is toward ADUs and how important they are to community, affordable housing and infill housing,” she said.
Check out her backstory in this issue. You’ll be surprised at her use of straw. I wish they would do a reunion show.
You’ll also find out about some unusual things people put in their yards and gardens, in a great story by John Koenig. (Your editor just spent the weekend painting a giant Grateful Dead logo on his driveway, which is two doors down from what was one of the few dome houses in town, but has been remodeled.) We are an antique capital and people come from all over to shop here for unusual items. It’s another of the things that makes Santa Cruz so great.
What’s the weirdest thing in your yard or home? Drop us a line and a photo for next issue.
BRAD KAVA | EDITOR
