Bonny Doon is back in the news, but not because of the fire that threatened the otherwise sleepy community.
News
The Unforgiven
It’s a sweltering day in Tracy. July behind bars at Deuel Vocational Institution smells like sweat, bleach and old orange peels. Clifford Bair, a white-haired, goateed first-degree murderer—a lifer—perches under a barred window’s light and talks about the day 25 years ago in Bodega Bay when he tied up Theresa Aiken and Rose Fomasi with electrical wire and left them to die. With slide show.
Firestorm of Trouble for Santa Cruz Salmon
Domestic and wild mammals fared pretty well during the Lockheed fire. Fish, not so much.
Brookdale Lodge Is Site of Latest Fire
It seemed like just yesterday that the Lockheed Fire was finally coming under control, but a new fire struck the Brookdale Lodge, leaving 60 residents with only seconds to get out.
The Astroturf Is Always Greener
Faced with severe water shortages, parks and playing fields in Santa Cruz County have begun to replace their grass with synthetic Astroturf.
Local Teen Charged in Murder Could Face Life in Prison
What began as a fight over money for money for beer could land Jonathan Cardenas, 17, of Santa Cruz, in jail for the rest of his life.
Ten Questions for Craig Calfee
Bike design innovator Craig Calfee talks about preconceptions, bamboo bicycles and Bamboosero, his plan for fighting poverty in Africa. “The charity model doesn’t work (except in disasters) and it will be good to see people realize that being a customer is a great help,” he says.
America, Watch Out!
I’ve thoroughly read Obama’s proposed health care plan. And by “read” I mean I’ve heard what other commentators on the AM radio have had to say about the various versions floating through Congress. And in these versions, there’s a lot of devils in the details. Bad devils who look like John Carradine, with curly mustaches and opera capes. All of them from a place called “Hell.”
Lockheed to Cut Jobs
Lockheed’s facilities in Santa Cruz County have been all over the news lately because of the Lockheed Fire. What has barely made the news is the fact that the firm is planning to lay off as many as 800 employees throughout the Bay Area.
Will High School Coaches Turn Down Their Stipends?
School athletic programs are usually the first to take a hit when there is a budget crisis. Santa Cruz is tackling the problem by allowing coaches to turn down the stipend they usually receive for coaching their teams. While the stipend does not come to much per coach—depending on the sport, certified coaches who work full time at their schools can increase their salaries by $1,639-$3,125—the impact throughout school district could be significant, saving the school board as much as $300,000.
