In a celebration of world vocal music, Tandy Beal and Bobby McFerrin have reunited in Switzerland for the Festival Stimmen. Based loosely on the story of Babel, their new show Bobble will premiere in an ancient Roman amphitheater along the Rhine River in Basel.
Santa Cruz Schools Team up to Fight Budget Cuts
With steep budget cuts to education looming, Santa Cruz school boards are launching a countywide coalition to petition lawmakers for the right to make their own cuts in spending. According to State Sen. Joe Simitian, “Local control has always made sense, but flexibility and local decision-making is now more important than ever.” According to Santa Cruz City Schools trustee Cynthia Hawthorne, “We are much more in tune with what our students need than the state is.”
NextSpace Lets Local Startups Stay in Santa Cruz
It’s well known in Santa Cruz that many firms that were launched here would rather stay local than make the move up north or across the country. Now that’s becoming more common. NextSpace co-founder Ryan Coonerty, who also serves on City Council, says that over 40 businesses have been drawn to downtown Santa Cruz through the co-working center he started with former economic development director Jeremy Neuner.
Ten Questions for Mas Hashimoto
Former Watsonville high school history teacher Mas Hashimoto explains why the simple things make him happy.
Santa Cruz Poet Flew Under The Radar
When someone close to you dies, it’s always strange, even if they were old and in poor health and you knew it was coming. When the deceased is a longtime friend, an exact contemporary and a peer in your shared obscure line of work, someone you spoke with over the phone the day before and who was no drunker than usual and otherwise in good health as far as you knew—when he is suddenly found dead in his San Jose cottage, apparently of a heart attack, at 62, your grief and disbelief are of a different order of magnitude.
Decision Postponed on Coastal Commission Rep
Assembly Speaker Karen Bass has postponed her appointment decision for the Central Coast’s representative to the California Coastal Commission and asked for more nominations. Spokeswoman Shannon Murphy told the Santa Cruz Sentinel that although Bass is not unhappy with the current nominees, “the speaker’s been consumed with budget negotiations.” Bass’s office would not comment on why she had not renewed incumbent Dave Potter’s appointment.
Salon to Hold Cut-a-Thon in Memory of Local Stylist
On Sunday, July 12, Rumours Salon & Spa will host a cut-a-thon to benefit the family of stylist Raul Heredia, who was killed in a hit-and-run accident on June 23. More than 60 stylists volunteering their time will cut and style hair for $35 donations. Five baskets valued between $200 and $700 will be raffled off for $5 a ticket. Proceeds will go toward supporting Raul’s two children, Julia and Gavin.
Santa Cruz Man’s Goatee Judged Greatest On Earth
For as long as he’s been an adult, Paul Beisser has had a beard. Be it a full and bushy face mane, a chiseled Fu-Manchu or a long and proud Van Dyke, the 58-year-old Santa Cruz postal worker’s chin skin has rarely seen the light of day. It wasn’t until May 23, at the World Beard and Moustache Championships in Anchorage, however, that the world finally recognized the whisker whiz for all his worth and awarded him the coveted trophy for World’s Best Natural Goatee.
Desal And Democracy
There will be no election. It won’t be on any ballot. The Powers That Be have already decided. We will have a seawater desalination plant. And you will pay for it.
Santa Cruz County Supes Dig Deep, Pass Budget
Last Thursday, as the County Board of Supervisors picked over the last remaining scraps of unfinished business in its 2009-10 budget, the board was asked to accept a 6 percent reduction in LAFCO’s budget. County Administrative Officer Susan Mauriello read off the amount—$5,913—to a few sad guffaws. “Don’t spend it all in one place,” someone quipped. “Every little penny counts,” scolded Mauriello.
