Story and Photos By Jondi Gumz
As Ray Apolskis sat on a bench at Capitola Beach with his faithful canine companion, a woman was about to walk by when she paused.
“I remember you,” she said, noticing Ray’s dog, Benny, who used to greet visitors at Surf N Shack, Ray’s T-shirt and sweatshirt shop in Capitola Village.
I remember Ray, too.
Joseph Jacques, co-founder of HarmonicHumanity.org, with the HERO CD.
In March 2009, when someone stole the tiki out of Capitola’s Esplanade Park, Ray offered to donate the $500 tiki carved by Wilhelm Zilliacus that gave his shop a surf vibe.
Sadly, the Surf N Shack is no more. Now it’s painted pink, home to Xandra Swimwear.
Ray lost his shop, his source of income, and his home in the Covid-19 pandemic.
He’s been wrapping himself in Indian blankets — the kind he used to sell — sleeping on the bench, or in the yard of an accommodating property owner in the village, getting up at 5 a.m. so as not to be a bother.
He’s not old enough to cash in his 401-k retirement account — built up from working 14 years at Pasatiempo Golf Course, where he was director of sales — without a penalty.
Before the golf job, he owned a deejay business, Cut A Rug, and played music at the Edgewater bar on the Esplanade.
Ray Apolskis and Benny, a small Pomeranian who is 6 years old.
Now, thanks to Aptos resident Joseph Jacques, Ray has a new gig that may turn his life around.
Jacques and his pal, AJ Lovewins (a name he adopted) of Los Angeles, are co-founders of Harmonic Humanity, a 10-year-old organization dedicated to helping people get off the streets and into a place to live via music.
Sounds crazy, right?
Listen and learn: Music is healing.
Jacques said AJ successfully battled addiction and began working at a soup kitchen in Los Angeles where people ate meals and got a good dose of uplifting music.
Jacques calls it “conscious music,” music of various styles aligned with social healing and love. I call it uplifting.
That gave them the idea: What if they could create a CD of uplifting music and give copies to people who are homeless to sell and earn a living.
What if well-known musicians — like Jason Mraz, Michael Franti and Maroon 5 — were willing to provide music tracks? The first ask was at a party at Café Gratitude, and they got 15 tracks in all.
What if the CD could be sold for a $20 donation? One hundred CD sales would equal $2,000, a big step toward a month’s rent and security.
This is the third album, titled HERO.
The CD jacket features a takeoff on Leonardo da Vinci’s “Finger of God” painting of creation, with a silhouetted figure making a leap of faith.
The Santa Cruz Veterans Hall is a backer, having bought 1,000 CDs. A photo of the Vets Hall appears on the back cover.
Jacques said the name is based on the work of writer Joseph Campbell, who described the hero’s journey, entering the unknown, meeting a mentor, facing trials and failure, gaining new skills, entering the abyss, surviving the ordeal, then returning transformed to the known world.
Ray Apolskis’ first reaction was: “It’s exciting — also a little daunting to take this on.”
He mulled it over: “I’m used to being self-employed … it’s like being self-employed.”
He added, “I’m tired of sneaking around … I want to get off the streets.”
To get a roof over his head, his game plan is to tap into his 401 (k), once the penalty period is past, and to sell the HERO CDs three days a week, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., while enjoying the beautiful views on Capitola Beach.
Why not be a hero and buy a CD yourself?
The music is good, and you’ll be doing good at the same time.
To learn more about the Love Tour 2022 and watch a video of Jason Mraz and Ace of Cups explain why they support this economic opportunity initiative, visit HarmonicHumanity.org.