Santa Cruz Hardbodies Go Bicep-a-Bicep

Don't mess with Miss Muscles. (Photo by Jessica Lussenhop)

“Guys,” calls out Kelvin Fountano, president of the World Body & Fitness Association. “Make sure when you go onstage your wear your number on your left side.” Left side, on the left. The words ripple through the dimly lit Rio Theatre auditorium as family members and trainers fuss over bodybuilders of all sizes at Saturday’s Santa Cruz Bodybuilding and Figure Championships in Seabright. “This isn’t one of our biggest events,” says Fountano. “But it’s one of our funnest.

Continue Reading →

Seacliff Beachgoers Just Say No to Parks Closures

Saturday's rally at Seacliff Beach brought out parks supporters in numbers. (Photo by Kat Lynch)

A red electric wheelchair flies down the road to the beach at a whole two miles an hour. There, groups of children dig the classic tunnel to Australia or sculpt mermaid bodies on friends buried up to their necks in sand. At the end of the pier, families stare in awe of the cement World War I tanker. All this could change if Gov. Schwarzenegger and the state legislature close 80 percent of California state parks to help balance the budget deficit. The immense closure would include all of the 19 state parks in Santa Cruz County.

Continue Reading →

Owlets on The Wing in Downtown Santa Cruz

A juvenile barn owl takes a look around its downtown Santa Cruz neighborhood. (Curtis Cartier)

It’s late dusk, about an hour after sundown. That’s when the first hissing screeches begin to sound in the treetops.

“There they are!” exclaims a binocular-wielding Rebecca Dmytryk, founder of the emergency wildlife care organization WildRescue. “You can hear the juveniles. The whole family will be hunting overhead soon.”

Continue Reading →