About 21,000 homes and businesses across Santa Cruz County were left in the dark yesterday as the county was pummeled by the third major winter storm of the season. PG&E crews worked round the clock to restore power and clear downed power lines, but outages are expected to continue over the next few days.
News
Jazz Masters Celebrate Django Reinhardt
THE FLOURISH of strings fans out into an exquisite patter of notes as sharp as icicles. Then a sad violin takes up the refrain. The music is age-old yet fresh, accessible yet mysterious. The sound is a mélange of musics. It’s made up of jazz—that blend of Civil War–surplus brass instruments, of Armstrong and Ellington, of African roots and snazzy New York Jewish songwriters. As played by guitarist Django Reinhardt, violinist Stéphane Grappelli and the Quintet of the Hot Club of Paris during the 1920s and 1930s, it was a music that enraptured the world.
Thousands Lose Power in Storm
PG&E reported that 18,300 customers in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties were without power yesterday as a result of the storm, and the worst is yet to come today. Fallen trees knocked down power lines and blocked highways, including Highway 9, where a 120-foot cedar tree kept traffic backed up. Winds are reported to have reached up to 47 miles per hour. Storm surges along the beaches resulted in waves of up to 18 feet, and Capitola closed its Esplanada and wharf.
A Snitch in The Harvard Psychedelic Club
JUST WHEN everyone thought the final penny whistle had sounded on Timothy Leary and the ’60s LSD spectacle, along comes veteran journalist Don Lattin. Author of numerous articles and books covering both mainstream and alternative religious movements, Lattin now brings us a rigorously honest exploration of interconnected relationships under a fine-looking circus of a title: The Harvard Psychedelic Club: How Timothy Leary, Ram Dass, Huston Smith, and Andrew Weil Killed the Fifties and Ushered in a New Age for America.
No to Ben Lomond Dam
Residents trying to revitalize Ben Lomond Park received some bad news.
Breakfast the New Target of School Meal Program
Almost half of the Pajaro Valley Unified School District’s students eat a school lunch every day.
The San Jose Sentinel News?
MediaNews watchers, take note: more mergers are on the way for the conglomerate that owns the Santa Cruz Sentinel, the San Jose Mercury News and dozens of other papers.
Santa Cruz NEXT’s Four Under 40
Right in the thick of award season, Santa Cruz NEXT is slowing down to appreciate Santa Cruz now, at least insofar as honoring current members who’ve done outstanding work here in the community, with the first annual NEXTies Awards. “We want to emphasize there are people here that are world–renowned, who are making a life here in Santa Cruz and enjoying every minute of it, and having a really positive impact on our community,” says Santa Cruz NEXT member and city councilman Ryan Coonerty, pausing before adding, “and we also hope that it’s going to be the best party of the year.”
Transportation Commission Irate at Blank Check to Caltrans
The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission is supporting Caltrans against a lawsuit aimed at stopping the construction of new lanes on Highway 1.
Santa Cruz Fire Departments Prepare for More Rain
After spending the summer battling wildfires in the Santa Cruz Mountains, firefighters are now getting ready to do battle against downed power lines and mudslides.
