Santa Cruz businesses are getting into hot water, solar-style. The first business to take advantage of the new California Solar Initiative (CSI) Thermal Program for commercial businesses is Toadal Fitness, which installed a 12-panel Free Hot Water commercial system. It is estimated that the new system, which will heat all the water used by the facility, will generate more than 1200 therms per year on average. Over 25 years, this will save 202 metric tons of CO2 from being released into the environment.
News
Atmosphere’s Elder Slugsman
Sean Daley, a.k.a. Slug, the rapping force behind Minneapolis hip-hop duo Atmosphere, is in Boise, about to walk into a meet-and-greet session at an indie record store when I reach him on his cell phone. He’s already done a block of interviews and he’s got a show in town the following day, plus eight other events and performances lined up before he plugs in his mic at the Catalyst in Santa Cruz on Sept. 29.
Santa Cruz County Enacts Moratorium on Marijuana Dispensaries
Supervisors are planning o enact a moratorium, prohibiting the opening of any new dispensaries, at least until rules and regulations for the marijuana industry are enacted. In practice, that would mean at least until the election, when voters decide whether to legalize pot.
Bad Night on Soquel Drive
Two people were shot in Soquel on Thursday, and there are conflicting reports about the state of one of the victims. Police report that a man and a women were shot at Soquel and Dover Drive shortly after 11:00 pm. According to initial reports, the shots were fired after a domestic dispute.
Ethnic Danceapalooza Returns to Santa Cruz
If there’s one thing Santa Cruz will let its wetsuit dry out completely for, it’s shaking what our mama gave us. This weekend, opportunities to do just that abound as Mission Plaza Park erupts into back-to-back performances of Japanese, Brazilian, Argentine, Balinese, Indian, Azteca, African, folklorico and belly dance as part of Santa Cruz’s second annual Ethnic Dance Festival.
Residents Discuss What They Want in New Police Chief
It has been three weeks since Police Chief Howard Skerry retired, and the city is still looking for the perfect candidate to replace him. Acting Police Chief Kevin Vogel wants the job, and has said that he plans to apply. He may be the perfect candidate.
Two Men Fall from Cliff Near Davenport
Two men, ages 21 and 25, fell 25 feet from a rocky outcrop overlooking the beach at Panther State Park near Davenport on Wednesday afternoon. At least one of them was hurt seriously.
Santa Cruz Reskilling Expo Channels Generations Past
The climate is changing, the population is exploding and humans will need a little re-education if extinction isn’t their cup of tea. The third Santa Cruz Reskilling Expo is backtracking to the beginning of the consumer chain and introducing the DIY spirit into modern skill sets, adding production knowledge to the repertoire of the can-opening masses. At this Sunday’s day-long event, lectures about the future of resources will be interspersed with practical knowledge about things like beekeeping and home canning.
40-Day Protest Against Abortion Begins
Forty days. That’s how long the Flood lasted in the time of Noah, that’s how long Moses spent on Mount Sinai and that how many days there are to stock up on Snickers bars before Halloween. That’s also how long a group of Christian activists plan on protesting outside Planned Parenthood, praying that God will intervene and put an end to abortion (after all, God does not support the killing of babies, except perhaps in the Flood). The “40 Days for Life Campaign” began last night in 238 locations nationwide. Some 50 people from various local churches showed up last night to launch the event.
Suspected Car Burglar Arrested
Santa Cruz County has seen a spate of car burglaries in recent months
