The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to prevent PG&E from installing Smart Meters in unincorporated parts of the county until more information about the devices can be collected. The moratorium will last through Dec. 31. Failure to abide by it could result in misdemeanor charges for the power company.
News
Film Buffs: The Analog Camera Backlash
The summer of 2006, my last in high school, my mom gave me the task of filing all of our family photos. I spent those hot days in a cloud of dust, sifting through weathered shoeboxes full of photos of seemingly ancient events: my parents’ “before kids” adventures in Europe; my sister’s first time on a bike; my eighth grade dance.
Controversial Santa Cruz Priest Charged By Church
Under the light of stained glass windows and gas lamps, the Reverend Joel P. Miller delivers his homily on “inviting sinners to the feast of the Lord.” The redwood pews at Calvary Episcopal Church in downtown Santa Cruz sit more empty than occupied, but attention is rapt among the 50 or so worshipers as the short, mustachioed priest discusses the importance of forgiveness and of serving the “least among us.”
Supes Mull Smart Meter Moratorium
At their meeting today, Santa Cruz County supervisors will decide whether to place a moratorium on the installation of PG&E smart meters in unincorporated areas, repeating a moratorium that is already in place in Watsonville. At the same time, the supervisors will also determine whether the installation of smart meters is grounds for an increase in franchise fees that PG&E already pays the county.
Where Have All the Otters Gone?
In 2007, there were just over 3,000 sea otters living along the Central California Coast. It wasn’t that many, but there was still reason for hope. After all, the entire population was descended from just 50 otters living near Big Sur back in 1938. With careful preservation policies, the California sea otter was brought back from the brink of extinction.
News Flash: Organic Strawberries Really Do Rock
Washington State University scientists have discovered what Santa Cruz hippies and foodies have known for a long time: organic strawberries taste better, pack more nutrition and last longer than conventionally grown berries. The study, which compared strawberries from 13 organic and 13 conventional farms in California, found the organic berries had higher concentrations of Vitamin C and antioxidants, stayed mold-free for about a half a day longer and left the soil in better shape, with more nitrogen, enzyme activity and micronutrients.
Pot Ice Cream Joins Gourmet Frozen Dessert Boom
Budding entrepreneurs in Santa Cruz’s medical marijuana business have come up with yet another delivery system for cannabis—pot-laced ice cream. For the more traditionally inclined, there’s TRIPle Chocolate Brownie, but there are also flavors like Banannabis Foster and Straw-Mari Cheesecake, for those who want a more fruity taste. There is, as yet, no vanilla based flavor, and everyone knows that vanilla is the true ice cream connoisseur’s flavor of choice, but as demand expands new flavors will inevitably hit the market.
Group Celebrates Religious Diversity
About 75 people of diverse religious beliefs gathered around the Town Clock in downtown Santa Cruz to deliver a message of respect for religious diversity. The gathering included representatives of all the major religions in Santa Cruz, including several Christian denominations, Muslims, Jews and Baha’i.
Rally to Protest Religious Intolerance
“Dort, wo man Bücher verbrennt, verbrennt man am Ende auch Menschen” (“Where they have burned books, they will end up burning people”). These words, by German Jewish poet Heinrich Heine, have a prophetic air about them. They were recalled in April and May 1933, when the Nazi-backed German Student Organization called for “action against the un-German spirit,” by publicly burning (they called it “purging”) books deemed antithetical to the “new German spirit.” We all know how that ended.
Group Wants To Keep The Porch Light On
Just last month, Paul Krugman wrote an op ed piece in The New York Times describing how cities across the U.S. are cutting back on street lights in a desperate attempt to save money. It’s certainly true of Santa Cruz, where in many neighborhoods the only street lights are at intersections, leaving the rest of the block in the dark. This, say local residents, is conducive to car thefts and home invasions.
