The death of Shannon Collins on May 7 has prompted a public outpouring of shock and sorrow that’s impossible to ignore. On Monday, May 14, a week after she was stabbed to death in broad daylight by a troubled and violent man she didn’t know, some 300 community members organized by Take Back Santa Cruz walked from the scene of the murder to her shop, Camouflage, on Pacific Avenue, completing the walk she wasn’t able to. Neighbors of the block on Broadway where the murder happened held a memorial on Sunday, and before that friends and family gathered there Friday for a vigil. Hundreds of people—some who knew the 38-year-old Collins, many who did not—have signed online memorials and weighed in on Facebook. The Sin Sisters Burlesque donated the proceeds of their Saturday show to the Collins family. The Rio Theatre put her name on its marquee.

The Westside is foggy and cold when Jon Young and I meet on Delaware Avenue, at the back entrance to Natural Bridges State Beach, for a morning lesson in bird language. With him is Josh Lane, a mentor at Young’s Bonny Doon–based 8 Shields Institute, a nonprofit promoting connection with nature.

Just because you’re feeling broke doesn’t mean you ought to skip dinner. These winners of the Cheap Eats category in the 2012 Santa Cruz Weekly Gold Awards Reader Survey serve up flavorful food, and lots of it, for under $10.

TThe June 2-3 music and crafts festival looks to be a barn-burner, with the Brothers Comatose, David Lindley and a rash of other great local and regional bands in Felton.

The sold-out Bassnectar show scheduled for Thursday, May 3 at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium has been cancelled over a disagreement between the artist and city over noise monitoring. The artist will play two nights at the Catalyst on May 6 and 7.

You don’t have to go to the Santa Cruz farmers markets if you don’t have time. Now the farmers markets can come to you.

Every once in a while a weekend rolls around that is so crammed with goodness we have to tell you about all of it. This is one of those weekends—so good luck deciding how to spend it!

John Robbins has joined nine other progressive leaders in denouncing the movie ‘Thrive, in which they all appear, and which was made by Robbins’ old friends Foster and Kimberly Carter Gamble.

In this year’s Summit, which began Saturday, April 28, and runs through May 6, John and Ocean Robbins are hosting interviews with an impressive array of food experts on topics including health, corporate agriculture, food policy, local food, climate change, raw food, sustainable animal products, food justice and more.