Othello, which opened last weekend at Shakespeare Santa Cruz in the Festival Glen, is a bold and tragic tale of “one that loved not wisely but too well.” Othello, a celebrated black general of Venice (played with physical power by Corey Jones), has eloped with Desdemona, the daughter of Brabantio, a senator of Venice. “It is too much of joy,” Othello admits, finding himself newly married and assigned to defend Cyprus against the Turks. The plot thickens quickly on the wings of brilliant writing as news of the promotion of a lieutenant, Cassio (Richard Prioleau), reaches the overlooked commander Iago (Victor Talmadge). Cassio famously plots his revenge for this perceived insult by turning Othello first against Cassio, and then against his new bride, by planting Desdemona’s handkerchief on Cassio, whereby it is “discovered,” and with it the fictional adultery as well.
Ballot Boxing on August 17
It wasn’t the lowest turnout in the history of California balloting. That dubious honor goes to two state legislators from Los Angeles, whose 2009 special elections stand as sagging monuments to voter apathy: each drew 7.9 percent of registered voters. But the turnout for the June 22 primary to fill the 15th Senate District seat—while, at 31.78 percent, is perfectly in line with most special elections—seems low for a contest deemed so important that the president of the United States has weighed in on it.
Eating The Pests
Many gardeners know that dandelions and other weeds go well in salads. Fewer know that the common garden snail, Cantareus aspersus (formerly known as Helix aspersa), does well when sautéed in butter and garlic (what doesn’t?) and served in the shell in which it lived its life. Yep, the garden snail that ravages your chard and kale is among the snails esteemed as escargot. In fact, it was introduced to California from France, no less, in the 1850s as a food source, according to a UC Davis online report. It now lives around the world.
Chapulines: A Hoppening Snack
Chapulines, or fried grasshoppers, could be the new potato chip if they weren’t so hard to find. A Oaxacan delicacy, in Mexico they are sold everywhere from the markets to the finest restaurants. The tasty little critters sporadically find their way north of the border into our local shops, but their presence is hardly advertised—if you want chapulines, you will have to ask for chapulines. Luckily, in the fertile belly of grasshopper season (May-September), it only takes a few inquiries at Mexican markets throughout Santa Cruz and Watsonville to track them down on local soil.
Bug Bites: Sustainable Eating Hits A New Low
Americans crave efficiency. We esteem cars that burn less gas for each mile driven, jobs that generate the most money per hour and mobile phones that pack the most capabilities into the smallest possible package. In short, we want bang for our buck. But we skimp on efficiency when it comes time to eat, because we just can’t resist meat.
Santa Cruz Libraries Not Out Of The Red Yet
Cuts to public libraries are taking their toll on the system. Libraries across the Santa Cruz County system (which excludes Watsonville) are reporting a 26 percent decline in the number of people they are serving now that hours have been reduced. At the same time, they are also experiencing a 40 percent increase in the number of people who use the libraries when they are open.
Earthquake Rattles Watsonville
The U.S. Geological Survey reports that a 3.9 magnitude earthquake struck an agricultural area about 7 miles outside of Watsonville at 5:51 pm Monday.
Local Companies Land Big Government Cash
With more than a little help from the Santa Cruz Redevelopment Agency, local businesses Cruzio Internet and Zero Motorcycles raked in $3.6 million in state bond money last week. City officials say the cash will help the companies create dozens of jobs, and, eventually, produce hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax revenue for city coffers.
Dazzle And Clang at CabMuFest Opening Weekend
Three cheers for Jennifer Higdon! The 2010 winner of the Pulitzer Prize for music upstaged her colleagues—with all of them present—during the two orchestral programs of the Cabrillo Music Festival last Friday and Saturday in Santa Cruz. And the competition was not slight. Englishman Mark Anthony Turnage is enjoying a heavyweight international reputation, promoted forcefully by—among others—Cabrillo music director Marin Alsop through her performances made on his home turf (and previously in Santa Cruz) and recordings. Alsop and her crack orchestra played three of Turnage’s works: Scherzoid (completed in 2004), Chicago Remains (2007) and Drowned Out (completed 1993).
Sundown For The PACE Program
Robert Bulterman never counted on PACE to save his business. The 46-year-old Santa Cruz electrician and solar technician, like a lot of green collar workers, had admittedly held high hopes that Property Assessed Clean Energy would infuse the overcrowded sustainable energy industry with a slew of much-needed jobs. But to count on it doing so, he says, would have been “just plain stupid.” As it turns out, Bulterman’s skepticism was well founded.
