The ‘burbs get short shrift in American literature. Many of us live in suburbs, or in small towns that have the same feel as suburbs, but you’d be hard-pressed to find much fiction that does more than simply despise them. Meg Wolitzer understands both the attractions and the dangerous languor of suburbia. The Uncoupling is a gorgeously written hymn that manages to capture the charms these neighborhoods hold for their residents.
Ten Questions for Greg Larson
The Santa Cruz resident and former city planning director-turned-Los Gatos-town-manager on happiness, “invisible cities” and the Highway 17 commute.
PLATED: New Grill In Town
Gone are the central booths, new the sleek flotilla of high bar tables and chairs. Five flat screen TVs lure sports fans to the expanded bar area, and the front patio has been glassed in for more versatility. But the fresh seafood creations that were the Hawgs signature are still in place at the attractively re-named Coldwater Bar & Grill.
Bungled Shark Tagging Leads to Infighting
Photographs showing a raw festering wound on a shark that was hooked and released by researchers at the Farallon Islands in late 2009 have surfaced, igniting questions about a controversial tagging process and setting the shark research community aflame with accusations and counterattacks.
Redistricting Coming to Santa Cruz County
With the results of the 2010 census now in, residents of Santa Cruz County could see redistricting here to reflect shifting population centers. The Board of Supervisors district that would see the greatest change is District 4, represented by Greg Caput, which includes Watsonville. With the growth in population over the past few years, that district should shrink geographically, with some of its outlying areas being attached to neighboring districts.
Fish Protection Plan Has Implications for Desal
A decade after initiating the process, Santa Cruz water officials have finally come up with a proposal for making sure key streams and rivers in Santa Cruz County have enough water to support endangered coho salmon and steelhead.
Stow Still in Coma after Baseball Game Beating
Bryan Stow, 42, is still in an induced coma after being beaten outside Dodgers Stadium on Thursday. On Saturday, surgeons removed a section of his skull to reduce swelling. Family and friends of the Santa Cruz father of two are waiting anxiously at his bedside at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center for news about his condition.
Supreme Court Tosses Out Lawsuit by Santa Cruz County
Santa Cruz County has long believed that major drug companies are overcharging for their medicines. Rama Khalsa, administrator of the county’s Health Services Agency, believes that they have proved that now, following a case before the Supreme Court. Unfortunately, there is little the county can do about it. The Supreme Court voted 8-0 to toss out the case.
The 2011 Gold Awards: Writers Picks (Community Life)
Notes from our opinionated writers on the best of Santa Cruz County community life.
The 2011 Gold Awards: Writers Picks (Music & Nightlife)
Our writers give their own awards to standouts of the Santa Cruz music and nightlife scene.
