Santa Cruz Mineral and Gem Society Rocks On

For those who shriek with excitement at the sight of rocks, the Santa Cruz Mineral and Gem Society meets at the Masonic Temple.

AFTER the baby earthquakes two weeks ago in San Jose, it seemed serendipitous that the monthly meeting of the Santa Cruz Mineral and Gem Society was having a guest speaker from the U.S. Geological Survey—though after Haiti, “serendipitous” became entirely the wrong word. Nevertheless, the society met one night last week in the main room of the Masonic Temple on Branciforte. Seated at long tables, members peered through 3-D glasses at posters of famous rock formations.

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Candidates Get A Jump on Santa Cruz Council Race

Dave Terrazas will try to capture the council seat that narrowly eluded him in 2008. Photo by Curtis Cartier.

Candidates for the City Council election this November may have to wait until summer before they can officially file to run, but that has not stopped them from announcing their intentions. Three of the council seats are at stake, and Councilmember Lynn Robertson is the only eligible incumbent. Among the issues that the prospective candidates are addressing are how to make do with less, given the recession, and what to do about growing crime and violence.

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