diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 648dd7b..916c550 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -5,6 +5,13 @@ All notable changes to WuttJamaican will be documented in this file.
 The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](http://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/)
 and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](http://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.html).
 
+## v0.25.0 (2025-12-15)
+
+### Feat
+
+- drop timezone, assume UTC for all datetime values in DB
+- add `make_utc()` function, app method
+
 ## v0.24.1 (2025-10-29)
 
 ### Fix
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 7f9906b..fec7d85 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ build-backend = "hatchling.build"
 
 [project]
 name = "WuttJamaican"
-version = "0.24.1"
+version = "0.25.0"
 description = "Base package for Wutta Framework"
 readme = "README.md"
 authors = [{name = "Lance Edgar", email = "lance@wuttaproject.org"}]
diff --git a/src/wuttjamaican/app.py b/src/wuttjamaican/app.py
index c10e6bc..0056cb8 100644
--- a/src/wuttjamaican/app.py
+++ b/src/wuttjamaican/app.py
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ from wuttjamaican.util import (
     load_object,
     make_title,
     make_full_name,
+    make_utc,
     make_uuid,
     make_true_uuid,
     progress_loop,
@@ -526,6 +527,14 @@ class AppHandler:  # pylint: disable=too-many-public-methods
         """
         return make_full_name(*parts)
 
+    def make_utc(self, dt=None, tzinfo=False):
+        """
+        This returns a datetime local to the UTC timezone.  It is a
+        convenience wrapper around
+        :func:`~wuttjamaican.util.make_utc()`.
+        """
+        return make_utc(dt=dt, tzinfo=tzinfo)
+
     def make_true_uuid(self):
         """
         Generate a new UUID value.
@@ -853,7 +862,8 @@ class AppHandler:  # pylint: disable=too-many-public-methods
 
         :returns: Text to display.
         """
-        return humanize.naturaltime(value)
+        # TODO: this now assumes naive UTC value incoming...
+        return humanize.naturaltime(value, when=self.make_utc(tzinfo=False))
 
     ##############################
     # getters for other handlers
diff --git a/src/wuttjamaican/batch.py b/src/wuttjamaican/batch.py
index 54c9ad7..733c48b 100644
--- a/src/wuttjamaican/batch.py
+++ b/src/wuttjamaican/batch.py
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@
 Batch Handlers
 """
 
-import datetime
 import os
 import shutil
 
@@ -481,7 +480,7 @@ class BatchHandler(GenericHandler):  # pylint: disable=too-many-public-methods
         result = self.execute(  # pylint: disable=assignment-from-none
             batch, user=user, progress=progress, **kwargs
         )
-        batch.executed = datetime.datetime.now()
+        batch.executed = self.app.make_utc()
         batch.executed_by = user
         return result
 
diff --git a/src/wuttjamaican/db/alembic/versions/b59a34266288_drop_time_zones.py b/src/wuttjamaican/db/alembic/versions/b59a34266288_drop_time_zones.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c78e547
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/wuttjamaican/db/alembic/versions/b59a34266288_drop_time_zones.py
@@ -0,0 +1,186 @@
+"""drop time zones
+
+Revision ID: b59a34266288
+Revises: efdcb2c75034
+Create Date: 2025-12-14 19:10:11.627188
+
+"""
+
+from typing import Sequence, Union
+
+from alembic import op
+import sqlalchemy as sa
+import wuttjamaican.db.util
+from sqlalchemy.dialects import postgresql
+from wuttjamaican.util import make_utc
+
+# revision identifiers, used by Alembic.
+revision: str = "b59a34266288"
+down_revision: Union[str, None] = "efdcb2c75034"
+branch_labels: Union[str, Sequence[str], None] = None
+depends_on: Union[str, Sequence[str], None] = None
+
+
+def upgrade() -> None:
+
+    # upgrade.created
+    op.add_column("upgrade", sa.Column("created_new", sa.DateTime(), nullable=True))
+    upgrade = sa.sql.table(
+        "upgrade",
+        sa.sql.column("uuid"),
+        sa.sql.column("created"),
+        sa.sql.column("created_new"),
+    )
+    cursor = op.get_bind().execute(upgrade.select())
+    for row in cursor.fetchall():
+        op.get_bind().execute(
+            upgrade.update()
+            .where(upgrade.c.uuid == row.uuid)
+            .values({"created_new": make_utc(row.created)})
+        )
+    op.drop_column("upgrade", "created")
+    op.alter_column(
+        "upgrade",
+        "created_new",
+        new_column_name="created",
+        nullable=False,
+        existing_type=sa.DateTime(),
+        existing_nullable=True,
+    )
+
+    # upgrade.executed
+    op.add_column("upgrade", sa.Column("executed_new", sa.DateTime(), nullable=True))
+    upgrade = sa.sql.table(
+        "upgrade",
+        sa.sql.column("uuid"),
+        sa.sql.column("executed"),
+        sa.sql.column("executed_new"),
+    )
+    cursor = op.get_bind().execute(upgrade.select())
+    for row in cursor.fetchall():
+        if row.executed:
+            op.get_bind().execute(
+                upgrade.update()
+                .where(upgrade.c.uuid == row.uuid)
+                .values({"executed_new": make_utc(row.executed)})
+            )
+    op.drop_column("upgrade", "executed")
+    op.alter_column(
+        "upgrade",
+        "executed_new",
+        new_column_name="executed",
+        existing_type=sa.DateTime(),
+        existing_nullable=True,
+    )
+
+    # user_api_token.created
+    op.add_column(
+        "user_api_token", sa.Column("created_new", sa.DateTime(), nullable=True)
+    )
+    user_api_token = sa.sql.table(
+        "user_api_token",
+        sa.sql.column("uuid"),
+        sa.sql.column("created"),
+        sa.sql.column("created_new"),
+    )
+    cursor = op.get_bind().execute(user_api_token.select())
+    for row in cursor.fetchall():
+        op.get_bind().execute(
+            user_api_token.update()
+            .where(user_api_token.c.uuid == row.uuid)
+            .values({"created_new": make_utc(row.created)})
+        )
+    op.drop_column("user_api_token", "created")
+    op.alter_column(
+        "user_api_token",
+        "created_new",
+        new_column_name="created",
+        nullable=False,
+        existing_type=sa.DateTime(),
+        existing_nullable=True,
+    )
+
+
+def downgrade() -> None:
+
+    # user_api_token.created
+    op.add_column(
+        "user_api_token",
+        sa.Column("created_old", sa.DateTime(timezone=True), nullable=True),
+    )
+    user_api_token = sa.sql.table(
+        "user_api_token",
+        sa.sql.column("uuid"),
+        sa.sql.column("created"),
+        sa.sql.column("created_old"),
+    )
+    cursor = op.get_bind().execute(user_api_token.select())
+    for row in cursor.fetchall():
+        op.get_bind().execute(
+            user_api_token.update()
+            .where(user_api_token.c.uuid == row.uuid)
+            .values({"created_old": row.created})
+        )
+    op.drop_column("user_api_token", "created")
+    op.alter_column(
+        "user_api_token",
+        "created_old",
+        new_column_name="created",
+        nullable=False,
+        existing_type=sa.DateTime(timezone=True),
+        existing_nullable=True,
+    )
+
+    # upgrade.executed
+    op.add_column(
+        "upgrade", sa.Column("executed_old", sa.DateTime(timezone=True), nullable=True)
+    )
+    upgrade = sa.sql.table(
+        "upgrade",
+        sa.sql.column("uuid"),
+        sa.sql.column("executed"),
+        sa.sql.column("executed_old"),
+    )
+    cursor = op.get_bind().execute(upgrade.select())
+    for row in cursor.fetchall():
+        if row.executed:
+            op.get_bind().execute(
+                upgrade.update()
+                .where(upgrade.c.uuid == row.uuid)
+                .values({"executed_old": row.executed})
+            )
+    op.drop_column("upgrade", "executed")
+    op.alter_column(
+        "upgrade",
+        "executed_old",
+        new_column_name="executed",
+        existing_type=sa.DateTime(timezone=True),
+        existing_nullable=True,
+    )
+
+    # upgrade.created
+    op.add_column(
+        "upgrade", sa.Column("created_old", sa.DateTime(timezone=True), nullable=True)
+    )
+    upgrade = sa.sql.table(
+        "upgrade",
+        sa.sql.column("uuid"),
+        sa.sql.column("created"),
+        sa.sql.column("created_old"),
+    )
+    cursor = op.get_bind().execute(upgrade.select())
+    for row in cursor.fetchall():
+        op.get_bind().execute(
+            upgrade.update()
+            .where(upgrade.c.uuid == row.uuid)
+            .values({"created_old": row.created})
+        )
+    op.drop_column("upgrade", "created")
+    op.alter_column(
+        "upgrade",
+        "created_old",
+        new_column_name="created",
+        nullable=False,
+        existing_type=sa.DateTime(timezone=True),
+        existing_nullable=True,
+    )
diff --git a/src/wuttjamaican/db/model/auth.py b/src/wuttjamaican/db/model/auth.py
index 5bb4c45..2a48369 100644
--- a/src/wuttjamaican/db/model/auth.py
+++ b/src/wuttjamaican/db/model/auth.py
@@ -39,14 +39,13 @@ So a user's permissions are "inherited" from the role(s) to which they
 belong.
 """
 
-import datetime
-
 import sqlalchemy as sa
 from sqlalchemy import orm
 from sqlalchemy.ext.associationproxy import association_proxy
 
 from wuttjamaican.db.util import uuid_column, uuid_fk_column
 from wuttjamaican.db.model.base import Base
+from wuttjamaican.util import make_utc
 
 
 class Role(Base):  # pylint: disable=too-few-public-methods
@@ -343,9 +342,9 @@ class UserAPIToken(Base):  # pylint: disable=too-few-public-methods
     )
 
     created = sa.Column(
-        sa.DateTime(timezone=True),
+        sa.DateTime(),
         nullable=False,
-        default=datetime.datetime.now,
+        default=make_utc,
         doc="""
         Date/time when the token was created.
         """,
diff --git a/src/wuttjamaican/db/model/batch.py b/src/wuttjamaican/db/model/batch.py
index ad2ef3c..c9ab097 100644
--- a/src/wuttjamaican/db/model/batch.py
+++ b/src/wuttjamaican/db/model/batch.py
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ from sqlalchemy.ext.orderinglist import ordering_list
 from wuttjamaican.db.model.base import uuid_column
 from wuttjamaican.db.model.auth import User
 from wuttjamaican.db.util import UUID
+from wuttjamaican.util import make_utc
 
 
 class BatchMixin:
@@ -223,9 +224,7 @@ class BatchMixin:
     status_code = sa.Column(sa.Integer(), nullable=True)
     status_text = sa.Column(sa.String(length=255), nullable=True)
 
-    created = sa.Column(
-        sa.DateTime(timezone=True), nullable=False, default=datetime.datetime.now
-    )
+    created = sa.Column(sa.DateTime(), nullable=False, default=make_utc)
     created_by_uuid = sa.Column(UUID(), nullable=False)
 
     @declared_attr
@@ -238,7 +237,7 @@ class BatchMixin:
             cascade_backrefs=False,
         )
 
-    executed = sa.Column(sa.DateTime(timezone=True), nullable=True)
+    executed = sa.Column(sa.DateTime(), nullable=True)
     executed_by_uuid = sa.Column(UUID(), nullable=True)
 
     @declared_attr
@@ -428,8 +427,5 @@ class BatchRowMixin:  # pylint: disable=too-few-public-methods
     status_text = sa.Column(sa.String(length=255), nullable=True)
 
     modified = sa.Column(
-        sa.DateTime(timezone=True),
-        nullable=True,
-        default=datetime.datetime.now,
-        onupdate=datetime.datetime.now,
+        sa.DateTime(), nullable=True, default=make_utc, onupdate=make_utc
     )
diff --git a/src/wuttjamaican/db/model/upgrades.py b/src/wuttjamaican/db/model/upgrades.py
index 7c94d3f..ae035bb 100644
--- a/src/wuttjamaican/db/model/upgrades.py
+++ b/src/wuttjamaican/db/model/upgrades.py
@@ -24,14 +24,13 @@
 Upgrade Model
 """
 
-import datetime
-
 import sqlalchemy as sa
 from sqlalchemy import orm
 
 from wuttjamaican.enum import UpgradeStatus
 from wuttjamaican.db.util import uuid_column, uuid_fk_column
 from wuttjamaican.db.model.base import Base
+from wuttjamaican.util import make_utc
 
 
 class Upgrade(Base):  # pylint: disable=too-few-public-methods
@@ -44,9 +43,9 @@ class Upgrade(Base):  # pylint: disable=too-few-public-methods
     uuid = uuid_column()
 
     created = sa.Column(
-        sa.DateTime(timezone=True),
+        sa.DateTime(),
         nullable=False,
-        default=datetime.datetime.now,
+        default=make_utc,
         doc="""
     When the upgrade record was created.
     """,
@@ -98,7 +97,7 @@ class Upgrade(Base):  # pylint: disable=too-few-public-methods
     )
 
     executed = sa.Column(
-        sa.DateTime(timezone=True),
+        sa.DateTime(),
         nullable=True,
         doc="""
     When the upgrade was executed.
diff --git a/src/wuttjamaican/util.py b/src/wuttjamaican/util.py
index 6c03e2b..fd63ff2 100644
--- a/src/wuttjamaican/util.py
+++ b/src/wuttjamaican/util.py
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 WuttJamaican - utilities
 """
 
+import datetime
 import importlib
 import logging
 import os
@@ -189,6 +190,50 @@ def make_full_name(*parts):
     return " ".join(parts)
 
 
+def make_utc(dt=None, tzinfo=False):
+    """
+    This returns a datetime local to the UTC timezone.  By default it
+    will be a *naive* datetime; the common use case is to convert as
+    needed for sake of writing to the database.
+
+    See also the shortcut
+    :meth:`~wuttjamaican.app.AppHandler.make_utc()` method on the app
+    handler.
+
+    :param dt: Optional :class:`python:datetime.datetime` instance.
+       If not specified, the current time will be used.
+
+    :param tzinfo: Boolean indicating whether the return value should
+       have its :attr:`~python:datetime.datetime.tzinfo` attribute
+       set.  This is false by default in which case the return value
+       will be naive.
+
+    :returns: :class:`python:datetime.datetime` instance local to UTC.
+    """
+    # use current time if none provided
+    if dt is None:
+        now = datetime.datetime.now(datetime.timezone.utc)
+        if tzinfo:
+            return now
+        return now.replace(tzinfo=None)
+
+    # otherwise may need to convert timezone
+    if dt.tzinfo:
+        if dt.tzinfo is not datetime.timezone.utc:
+            dt = dt.astimezone(datetime.timezone.utc)
+        if tzinfo:
+            return dt
+        return dt.replace(tzinfo=None)
+
+    # naive value returned as-is..
+    if not tzinfo:
+        return dt
+
+    # ..unless tzinfo is wanted, in which case this assumes naive
+    # value is in the UTC timezone
+    return dt.replace(tzinfo=datetime.timezone.utc)
+
+
 def make_true_uuid():
     """
     Generate a new v7 UUID value.
diff --git a/tests/test_app.py b/tests/test_app.py
index 2a0c89e..936d79d 100644
--- a/tests/test_app.py
+++ b/tests/test_app.py
@@ -426,6 +426,11 @@ app_title = WuttaTest
         name = self.app.make_full_name("Fred", "", "Flintstone", "")
         self.assertEqual(name, "Fred Flintstone")
 
+    def test_make_utc(self):
+        dt = self.app.make_utc()
+        self.assertIsInstance(dt, datetime.datetime)
+        self.assertIsNone(dt.tzinfo)
+
     def test_make_uuid(self):
         uuid = self.app.make_uuid()
         self.assertEqual(len(uuid), 32)
@@ -566,7 +571,7 @@ app_title = WuttaTest
             now = datetime.datetime.now()
             result = self.app.render_time_ago(now)
             self.assertEqual(result, "now")
-            humanize.naturaltime.assert_called_once_with(now)
+            humanize.naturaltime.assert_called_once()
 
     def test_get_person(self):
         people = self.app.get_people_handler()
diff --git a/tests/test_util.py b/tests/test_util.py
index a078100..e2b9095 100644
--- a/tests/test_util.py
+++ b/tests/test_util.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8; -*-
 
+import datetime
 import sys
 from unittest import TestCase
 from unittest.mock import patch, MagicMock
@@ -164,6 +165,53 @@ class TestLoadObject(TestCase):
         self.assertIs(result, TestCase)
 
 
+class TestMakeUTC(TestCase):
+
+    def test_current_time(self):
+
+        # no tzinfo by default
+        dt = mod.make_utc()
+        self.assertIsInstance(dt, datetime.datetime)
+        self.assertIsNone(dt.tzinfo)
+        now = datetime.datetime.now(datetime.timezone.utc).replace(tzinfo=None)
+        self.assertAlmostEqual(int(dt.timestamp()), int(now.timestamp()))
+
+        # with tzinfo
+        dt = mod.make_utc(tzinfo=True)
+        self.assertIsInstance(dt, datetime.datetime)
+        self.assertIs(dt.tzinfo, datetime.timezone.utc)
+        now = datetime.datetime.now(datetime.timezone.utc)
+        self.assertAlmostEqual(int(dt.timestamp()), int(now.timestamp()))
+
+    def test_convert_with_tzinfo(self):
+        sample = datetime.datetime(
+            2024, 9, 15, 8, 30, tzinfo=datetime.timezone(-datetime.timedelta(hours=5))
+        )
+
+        # no tzinfo by default
+        dt = mod.make_utc(sample)
+        self.assertEqual(dt, datetime.datetime(2024, 9, 15, 13, 30, tzinfo=None))
+
+        # with tzinfo
+        dt = mod.make_utc(sample, tzinfo=True)
+        self.assertEqual(
+            dt, datetime.datetime(2024, 9, 15, 13, 30, tzinfo=datetime.timezone.utc)
+        )
+
+    def test_convert_without_tzinfo(self):
+        sample = datetime.datetime(2024, 9, 15, 8, 30)
+
+        # no tzinfo by default
+        dt = mod.make_utc(sample)
+        self.assertEqual(dt, datetime.datetime(2024, 9, 15, 8, 30, tzinfo=None))
+
+        # with tzinfo
+        dt = mod.make_utc(sample, tzinfo=True)
+        self.assertEqual(
+            dt, datetime.datetime(2024, 9, 15, 8, 30, tzinfo=datetime.timezone.utc)
+        )
+
+
 class TestMakeUUID(TestCase):
 
     def test_basic(self):