Bruce is unavailable this week, but we still have GREENSITE… on Costa Rica… KROHN… UCSC protest, and the March 3rd election STEINBRUNER… continues campaigning – dates where you can see her PATTON… on the Iowa caucus EAGAN… entertains and provokes as alwaus JENSEN… on Oscars UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE GUEST LINEUP. QUOTES… on fireworks
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Color Movie of 1955 Santa Cruz, San Lorenzo Valley, Watsonville, a Ton of old businesses |
LATTE BREAKING NEWS
ERRETT CIRCLE CHURCH. Joe Michalak, Chair, Historic Preservation Commission:
I read Sue Powell’s letter in Bratton Online (February 7th) and want to comment on it. The substance of her letter implies that the HPC was in cahoots with the developers. There was no conspiracy at work here.
As Chair of the Commission, I felt no pressure from either the developers, the Planning Department staff, or any commissioner to vote for or against finding the structure eligible for listing on the Historic Building Survey or as a landmark. I based my decision solely on a thorough analysis of the criteria for designating historic properties developed by the Secretary of the Interior, the State of California, Office of Historic Preservation, and the local criteria as stated in the municipal code. This criteria was applied to the Garfield Park Christian Church building.
The Commission did not consider the church building as a contributing structure within the context of a historic district. By ordinance, a historic district requires the approval of sixty percent of the property owners and an evaluation of each structure within the boundaries of the district. Socioeconomic values could be a consideration in this context. In addition to the HPC, the Planning Commission and City Council must approve historic district designation. Also, to correct Sue Powell’s statement, Jessica Kusz was not recused. She had an excused absence because of illness.
The future of historic preservation in the City of Santa Cruz will be even more difficult as housing demands and visitor accommodations compete. The battles to save McHugh–Bianchi and La Bahia are not forgotten. The HPC continues to seek more involvement at the earliest stage of the proposed demolition of historic structures.
Joe Michalak
February 10th 2020
Costa Rica: A Trip of a Lifetime
It was a luxury to be sure to escape local politics for ten days on a trip to Costa Rica. Coordinated by local expert birder and teacher, Nanci Adams and arranged through Roads Scholar, it was for me a trip of a lifetime. Apart from following the politics of Central America in the 1980’s I had little awareness and no first hand knowledge of this part of the world. Who knew that such a beautiful, peaceful country with the highest density bio-diversity in the world lay so close? Well apparently many people do know that but I didn’t. What I absorbed during my brief stay is only a tiny glimpse of the complex whole but it whetted my appetite for more.
 A young, 20 year old sacred kapok tree in the heart of San Jose, Costa Rica |
There is no doubt that the natural beauty and wildlife of Costa Rica are its main attractions with its 850 species of birds, 1250 of butterflies, 8000 of moths plus iguanas, monkeys, insects, snakes and sloths. What is exemplary is the Costa Rican effort and determination to protect this natural world. Despite decades of deforestation, a hallmark of commercial agriculture and grazing, largely to fill the post war US demand for beef, reforestation is robust and making a difference. There are laws against changing the use of the land. If it is forest, it can’t be converted to grazing for example. Of course there are variances and some who ignore the law but reversing the environmental damage from the past is a top priority shared by most as a necessary good. Large tracts of land previously under coffee are being reclaimed with sustainable small- scale organic farming and much tree planting.
In addition to reveling in the beauty and interrelatedness of nature, I am curious about gender relations in different cultures. A lifetime of trying to figure out the causes and prevention of male violence towards women makes that enquiry second nature. In Malawi, where I went to give workshops on rape prevention education for teachers’ college students, upon learning that there are both matrilineal and patriarchal tribes in Malawi I was keen to find out if the former had less male violence than the latter and the answer is yes. Upon learning that Costa Rica abolished its armed forces in 1948 under the leadership of Jose Figueres Ferrer (who also nationalized its banking sector and granted women and Afro-Costa Ricans the right to vote) I was keen to observe if having no military was connected to a less aggressive male presence. The answer is yes. While connection is not causation, Bob Connell’s book, Masculinity, Violence and War makes a good case for their interrelationship.
Obviously I didn’t interview nor observe all men and sexual harassment is an issue on college campuses, as a large poster at the University of Costa Rica makes clear. However if you are observant, it is easy to spot cultural differences in expressions of masculinity. Driving behavior is one indication. With heavy traffic in the capitol, San Jose, the aggressive sound of horns and pushing in to get ahead was notable in its absence. The norm is to give way to let someone merge. A quick beep on the horn says gracias and an even shorter beep in reply says me gusta. This was the practice everywhere we drove. I havn’t dug into the details but it seems the rate of rape in Costa Rica is significantly lower than the US. I asked about male/female relations and the issue of equality. The tico good-humored response was that when it comes to men and women, the man always has the final word: yes.
When the armed forces were abolished, and they still are (although Costa Rica does allow the US to practice in its waters) the money spent on the military went into education. The largest class is the middle class with few extremes at either end. I saw no houseless people. San Jose is not predominantly a skyscraper, glass and steel city. There are mazes of narrow streets with bustling small businesses. I saw no garbage anywhere. There’s a conscious effort to avoid plastics. Water is safe to drink from any tap anywhere in Costa Rica, one of only two countries to be able to make that claim. The other is Chile.
While a local lefty activist may groan at this visitor’s idealized view of Costa Rica, I think it obvious that when national priorities are education and protection of the natural environment, rather than military aggression and extraction of resources, then the people will reflect and reinforce such values. Such is the case with Costa Rica. Pura Vida!
| Gillian Greensite is a long time local activist, a member of Save Our Big Trees and the Santa Cruz chapter of IDA, International Dark Sky Association http://darksky.org Plus she’s an avid ocean swimmer, hiker and lover of all things wild. |
February 11, 2020
  
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Grads and Undergrad Students Shut Down UCSC
It took about a thousand students to shut down the West and East gates at UCSC this past Monday afternoon. Marching behind a “Faculty For COLA” banner around 70 staff and faculty marched down from the Quarry Plaza Bookstore area to the base of campus. They joined the graduate student group of about 500 who had been occupying the area around the “UC Santa Cruz” sign at the corner of High and Bay since early morning. The grad union has called for a Wildcat Strike, meaning it is unsanctioned by their union, the UAW, and graduate students have declared the housing situation a genuine crisis. For many, they are desperate and are striking to bring an immediate economic adjustment in an unforgiving rental market. Then, around 1pm a contingent of mostly undergraduates marched toward the same intersection from the Westside of campus. Total number of protesters swelled to around 1000. It was then collectively decided to launch into a spontaneous speaker’s corner. A bullhorn was passed around and an assortment of student, staff, faculty, and community speakers bore testimony about why they joined the Cola4All movement.
This March 3rd Election
Many reading the Majority Report this week have already received their March 3rd primary ballot. Over 60% of Santa Cruz voters are VBM-ers, Vote by Mail. The political fight is on full blast at the federal and local level and the stakes are high as we head towards the election. With Bernie Sanders at the top of the ticket fighting for Medicare for All, tuition-free state colleges, criminal justice reform, and a call for revolutionary change, Adam Bolaños Scow is running for a seat in the House of Representatives on essentially the same issues. No on Recalls is also turning into a movement and members are walking neighborhood by neighborhood with SC4Bernie, Bolaños Scow, Cola4All, and Democratic Socialist contingents. It is the formation of one big union working to get turnout in one big election, March 3rd. People are meeting at the Tabby Cat Cafe this Sat. and Sun. at 10a and 12noon to walk neighborhoods and get the word out about Bernie, Adam, No on the Recalls, and the Cola4All campaign. Please join us.
Comparing Ballot Statements, 2016 to 2020
I was reading my 2016 ballot statement recently. I was curious to see if I was adhering to it, or was I straying from what I said I would do once elected? Given the recall out there, I will let you the voter decide. This is what appeared in the Santa Cruz County 2016 voter guide: What really matters to Santa Cruz? Preserving the beauty of our town, while keeping it accessible.
I’m running for council to nurture the life and environment that Santa Cruz values most: protecting our green spaces, sustaining our water supply, supporting community gardens, strengthening public transit, and creating good-paying jobs and affordable housing to protect our most vulnerable residents. We can do this while maintaining the integrity of all neighborhoods, west and east of the river. To achieve these goals, we must bring openness back into the city council chambers. The public’s business must be done in public, not behind closed doors.
As an internship coordinator, I’ve helped thousands of students connect with environmental service. They reflect the energy and expertise available in our community. As a Santa Cruz councilmember and mayor over a decade ago, I witnessed commissions and committees meeting regularly and engaging in open decision-making. Together, we restored our urban river, with local business we rebuilt the Del Mar Theater, and we included truly affordable housing at the Tannery Arts Center. We can do more. Working together, great things are possible. Si se puede.
And, this year, 2020, after a lot of outside real estate and developer money bought a recall here is what I stand for: The City of Santa Cruz is swept up in a well-funded, multi-city, developer-backed campaign to remove elected leaders with records of standing up for tenants and neighborhoods. These interests are targeting me because I ask for expansive neighborhood input on development proposals, I fight for low-income housing, and I defend preservation of neighborhoods – including our urban tree canopy.
Resisting entrenched interests, the council majority elected in 2018 passed an ordinance that requires developers to provide 20% affordable units in new construction. We increased access to medical services for downtown residents. We passed a climate emergency declaration and secured support for tenant legal services. Our council majority created emergency shelter funding to support people seeking housing and employment, and I led the effort to increase the wages of the lowest-paid city workers.
What will the recall do to Santa Cruz? If voters do not take a stand, the pay-off for real estate and developer interests will be green-lighting high-density luxury development with few affordable units for working families, and our main library will be moved into a new, unwanted six-story garage, displacing our popular Farmer’s Market. My bottom line: Santa Cruz is not for sale! Please vote NO on both recalls.
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(Chris Krohn is a father, writer, activist, and was on the Santa Cruz City Councilmember from 1998-2002. Krohn was Mayor in 2001-2002. He’s been running the Environmental Studies Internship program at UC Santa Cruz for the past 14 years. He was elected the the city council again in November of 2016, after his kids went off to college. His current term ends in 2020.
Email Chris at ckrohn@cruzio.com |
CAMPAIGN FOR COUNTY SUPERVISOR IS GOING VERY WELL!
It is humbling to have such broad community support for my candidacy for Second District County Supervisor. It is clear that people are tired of the dismissive attitude toward the public that local elected official in general seem to display, especially in the Second District. It is definitely time for a fresh change, and I will work hard for the people.
This is a true grassroots campaign. Thanks to a friend, I have a working website: Join our movement now!
I will be at:
- FRIDAY, FEB 14
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- Peet’s Coffee in the Rancho del Mar Center in Aptos this Friday, February 14, 6pm-8pm,
- SATURDAY, FEB. 15:
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- Cabrillo Farmer’s Market, 8am-noon, on the driveway edge of the Market nearest Porter Gulch Road side.
- Pacific Coffee Roasting in Aptos,(7554 Soquel Dr., Aptos Center) 1pm-3pm, outside on the patio.
- El Patio Grocery in La Selva Beach (312 Playa Boulevard), 4pm-6pm
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- Peet’s Coffee in Capitola, near Nob Hill Market, 11am-1pm
- Blossom’s Farmstore and Coffee Shop (intersection of Corralitos Rd. and Freedom Blvd.), 2pm-4pm
SUNDAY, FEB. 16:
COUNTY FIRE ELECTION PROCESS IS WORRISOME
On January 28, the County Board of Supervisors approved a new tax on all rural properties that may drive some on fixed income out of their homes. For some, this new fire protection tax means thousands of dollars on top of what they are already paying.
How irresponsible, when the County receives over $18 million every year from State Prop. 172 Public Safety sales tax monies, yet this Board refuses to give one penny of it to fund County Fire protection.
I spent much of last week reviewing the ballots. It is troubling. Did the Paradise Park ballots get counted twice? Why did the ballots received on January 14 that were postmarked January 9 not even get opened because they arrived too late, after the close of public hearing (first on the agenda)? The Election Dept. marked the mail “Received” that day at 12:40pm, when ballots received in the mail for the following four days were marked “Received” at 10am or earlier?
Here is what the Secretary of State website has to say about acceptance of mailed ballots:
State law requires that vote-by-mail ballots postmarked on or before Election Day and received by county elections officials no later than 3 days after Election Day must be processed.
Why is the Director of General Services now tasked with the title of “Custodian of the Ballots”, keeping the ballots in his office, rather than the Election Department’s secure location?
It is all very troubling, and yet there appears to be no relief for the public who questions the veracity of this process other than to take legal action. The General Services and County Counsel refuse to answer my question about any appeal process, other than to advise I hire a lawyer. I asked the Clerk of the Board, who in the past has sent me information about the referendum process to reverse Board actions, but here is what she replied:
“Since the Board of Supervisors certified the vote and approved the assessment on January 28th, there will be no further hearings on this matter in front of the Board, as far as I am aware, and I believe that any appeal of the Board’s actions would have to be pursued through the courts.”
Well, here we go again. The lack of responsive and transparent government will cause further legal action because once again, the public is left with no other choice but to be reactive.
COUNTY’S HYDROGEN FUEL CELL PASSENGER TRAIN PILOT PROJECT POSTPONED
The Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) plans to bring a pilot hydrogen fuel cell passenger train to the County to see if people would accept it, and then most likely approve a special tax to support it. That train was to have arrived here this month, but has been postponed to October.
THE ROAD TO NISENE MARKS STATE PARK WILL IMPROVE
For those who travel to Nisene Marks State Park, and worry about damaging your bikes and autos, take heart! Relief is on the way! Recently, I received the following good news from Parks Director Mr. Chris Spohrer:
“We have an upcoming paving contract that specifies 3,000 square feet of critical asphalt overlay work on the entrance road. This work, along with pot hole repairs will occur as drying occurs and the contract is finalized. This is by no means a comprehensive asphalt overlay project but will help with the worst of the deferred maintenance.”
He also reported that staff is working on improving the problematic parking situation soon.
WATER TRANSFERS PAUSED DUE TO SEASONAL DRY SPELL
The Santa Cruz City Water Commission heard a report last week from Director Rosemary Menard that the Surface Water Transfer Pilot Project with Soquel Creek Water District, in it’s second year, will be postponed until the area receives rainfall. We have often had dry spells in the winter months, and then receive copious rain later in the spring. The Pilot Project agreement is in effect until May 1, so stay hopeful.
Take a look at the good information at the Water for Santa Cruz website, showing historic water abundance:
At the same Water Commission meeting, there was much discussion about the Water Shortage Contingency Plan for the City. This Plan is another mandate of the State.
Take a look at the good report on that by Sentinel reporter, Ms. Jessica York
MEASURE R WILL BRING YOU 32 YEARS OF DEBT
While I support Cabrillo College and education in general, I cannot support the Cabrillo College Measure R bond request that would burden property owners in Santa Cruz, San Benito and Monterey Counties for 32 years when it cannot be proven that the money would actually be spent on what the vague descriptions state would be accomplished.
The College has declining enrollment, and administrators want to do something to boost the numbers. While a plan to remodel chemistry, biology and anatomy labs is laudable, since those sorts of classes can’t be taken on-line, why not just do that, and add in some on-campus student housing to help bring up student numbers? Spending $23 Million to build a new fire and law enforcement training center in Watsonville makes no sense, since there is already a certified program for this at Monterey Peninsula College, as well as San Jose, and a training center on Empire Grade Road in Ben Lomond that is currently being renovated with taxpayer dollars?
Other school districts in the Bay Area are facing similar bond measure beatings, but at least some are for a shorter duration, and therefore less debt burden. Take a look
What about Santa Cruz County’s Measure S that would impose the maximum amount of debt on properties to fund the San Lorenzo Valley School District? Ouch.
Too many people are already moving out of the area because they cannot afford to live here….continuing to hike up property tax debt burden will only make that worse.
WRITE ONE LETTER. MAKE ONE CALL. ATTEND A PUBLIC MEETING. MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE THIS WEEK!
Cheers,
Becky Steinbruner
ki6tkb@yahoo.com
Vote4BeckySteinbruner@gmail.
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Becky Steinbruner is a 30+ year resident of Aptos. She has fought for water, fire, emergency preparedness, and for road repair. She ran for Second District County Supervisor in 2016 on a shoestring and got nearly 20% of the votes.
Email Becky at KI6TKB@yahoo.com |
#36 / Real Life: Isn’t There An App For That?
The news stories following the Iowa caucuses have frequently used the words “disaster,” and “disastrous,” to describe the inability of the Iowa Democratic Party to provide prompt and accurate voting results to the public. The following headlines are examples:
Business Insider:
Trump is using the ‘unmitigated disaster’ of the Iowa caucuses to troll Democrats and say the only person who can claim victory is him.
The Gray Zone:
Billionaire pro-Israel Buttigieg backer Seth Klarman funds group behind Iowa’s disastrous voting app.
As I canvassed the news about what happened in Iowa (with a total vote count still not available), I paid particular attention to a discussion found in a bulletin published by The Atlantic. While The Atlantic did not use the word “disaster,” or “disastrous,” one of the headlines in the article did highlight a pertinent question:
There was an app for that. Did there need to be?
Counting votes at a political caucus doesn’t actually require any kind of internet connectivity. At a time when everyone is aware that the Internet is now an arena for political “hacking,” deciding to base the vote count on an unnecessary “app,” instead of using an ordinary sheet of paper, would seem to be contraindicated. Conspiracy theories have abounded, and frankly, there seems to be some justification for thinking that the particular “app” utilized in Iowa did originate with those who had a particular political agenda to pursue.
That question aside, I would like to propose that we think about the Atlantic’s question in a more general way. I want to suggest, in fact, that the question highlighted above has some applicability far beyond the question of whether we need “apps” as we take part in politics. More and more, we are being invited to participate in life by way of one “app” or another, as though we need an “app” to be able to interface with real life. Banking, shopping, meeting the partner of your dreams. Don’t you worry, “there’s an app for that.”
Almost always, as The Atlantic is suggesting, there actually “doesn’t need to be!” All these “apps” don’t really empower us, so much; they empower those who design and run the “apps,” which track and catalogue our every move, our every thought.
I am thinking that it is probably time for a new organizing effort:
People For An App-Free Future
When I find out where to sign up, I’ll let you know!
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Gary Patton is a former Santa Cruz County Supervisor (20 years) and an attorney for individuals and community groups on land use and environmental issues. The opinions expressed are Mr. Patton’s. You can read and subscribe to his daily blog at www.gapatton.net
Email Gary at gapatton@mac.com |
EAGAN’S SUBCONSCIOUS COMICS. Classic peeks inside our secret places…maybe?
EAGAN’S DEEP COVER. See Eagan’s comic down a few pages. As always, at TimEagan.com you will find his most recent Deep Cover, the latest installment from the archives of Subconscious Comics, and the ever entertaining Eaganblog.
THE OTHER PLACE. The Jewell Theatre’s production of “The Other Place” (now though Feb. 16 –Colligan Theatre- Tannery) is a haven for anyone involved or immersed in Dementia, Alzheimer’s, or the so called prescription “cures“. Julie James plays the nearly charismatic business woman who goes through dementia episodes she can’t identify or deal with. The Other Place name most likely could refer to her going to the crazed, unexplained place of her demented seizures. It’s a very serious, one act play (1 ½ hours) and you’ll play it over and over again during your own questions of reality. Go see it.
Lisa writes: “It’s all over but the shouting (and the shrieks of gobsmacked delight) at the Oscars. But it really couldn’t be the Oscars without The Return of the (Dreaded) Oscar Barbies — oh no! Oh yes! — this week at Lisa Jensen Online Express (ljo-express.blogspot.com). ” Lisa has been writing film reviews and columns for Good Times since 1975.
[From the webmistress: Bruce is unavailable this week, so I’m leaving you his opinions on the movies from last week. Mea culpa if anything is no longer playing!]
THE TWO POPES. Anthony Hopkins plays Pope Benedict XVI, and Jonathan Pryce is Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio. Based on a terribly troubled time in the Catholic Church — namely 2005 — these two leaders argue and discuss personal and public issues that become completely absorbing. Yes, child abuse is in there too. Just to watch these two master actors is a reminder of what and where good acting can take audiences. Go see it, but do hurry.
UNCUT GEMS. 92 RT. Adam Sandler is amazingly perfect in this role of a New York City jeweler/gambler who risks his family and his own life to make a quick (two days) bundle of money on a gem sale. You will never forget Sandler in this film. Exciting, tense, and believable. Don’t miss it. Sandler’s acting talent is surprising, especially when we have become so used to his comedy roles.
1917Do not see this film if you expect to watch much of Benedict Cumberbatch. IF he’s in it more than 2 minutes I’ll eat my helmet!!! I also wouldn’t give this movie ANY ” best of” awards, and am surprised at what it’s won so far. It’s the story of two foot soldiers slogging through, under and around enemy lines to deliver an important life saving message. It’s an impressive hunk of movie making, and yet it won’t really draw you into the story. 89RT
JUST MERCY. A fine film starring Jamie Foxx, Michael Jordan, and an excellent role for Tim Blake Nelson. A true story about a guy (Foxx) being sentenced to the chair for a crime he didn’t do. This sounds like a dozen films we seen before BUT it’s better, go see it. 99RT.
MARRIAGE STORY. A fine and well acted film about a show biz couple, their children , divorce, and some odd choices by Scarlett Johansson the wife to Adam Driver’s husband. Laura Dern does her best role in decades. Alan Alda and Ray Liotta have some small scenes. You are guaranteed to relive some of your own poor choices in your marriage too! 84 audience score on RT.A Netflix production.
JOJO RABBIT. Centered on Nazi Germany, this is very rare political comedy with funny scenes. A little boy has Adolf Hitler as an invisible buddy. Scarlett Johansson plays the little boy’s mom, and does one of very finest acting jobs, ever. Hitler and the screwed up political/ military scene will make you think of Trump and our own screwed up political/ military scene. A wonderful and rare film, do not miss it!!
PARASITE. South Korean director Bong Joon-ho outdid his other international screen successes with Parasite. Wikipedia calls it a dark comedy thriller and so do I. It’s winning awards everywhere and deserves them all. There’s brain surgery, murder, basement dwellers, numerous surprises, even some shocks and well worth your seeing it ASAP.
AERONAUTS. Felicity Jones plays a very cute and Disney like character matching Eddie Redmayne’s equally sweet and nerdy partner in this supposedly true story of an early hot air balloon ascension in Britain’s Victorian age in 1862. It’s cute, some funny parts a bit scary due to heights of the balloon. Being such a cute movie… they actually changed the sex of the person accompanying Redmayne , it was really a male friend of his. It’s on Amazon.
STAR WARS. THE RISE OF SKYWALKER. 54 RT. George Lucas’ Star Wars empire started 42 years ago with wildly clever and intelligent twists and an absolutely brilliant story line. We watched politely while some sad sequels stained our screens, now thanks to Disney buying and producing this concluding finale we have an ending to the saga that isn’t worth your time or expectations. Trite, predictable, and sad to see our old heroes and heroines suffer with a plot as dull and unrewarding as this one. You have to go if you’ve seen more than one of the series…just don’t expect to be satisfied with the conclusion.
UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE. Each and every Tuesday from 7:00-8:00 p.m. I host Universal Grapevine on KZSC 88.1 fm. or on your computer, (live only and archived for two weeks… (See next paragraph) and go to WWW.KZSC.ORG. Peter Klotz- Chamberlin from the Resource Center for Non Violence guests on February 4. After which Nancy Macy who is Environmental Committee Chair of the Valley Womens Club talks about PG&E and other problems. Jean Brocklebank and Michael Lewis will talk about our Santa Cruz Public library issues on Feb 11. Distinguished Artists Series founder John Orlando and pianist Lembit Beecher guest on March 3. OR…if you just happen to miss either of the last two weeks of Universal Grapevine broadcasts go here… https://www.radiofreeamerica.com/schedule/kzsc You have to listen to about 4 minutes of that week’s KPFA news first, then Grapevine happens. Do remember, any and all suggestions for future programs are more than welcome so tune in, and keep listening. Email me always and only at bratton@cruzio.com
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If you missed it, here’s that amazing halftime show again. |
UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE ARCHIVES. In case you missed some of the great people I’ve interviewed in the last 9 years here’s a chronological list of some past broadcasts. Such a wide range of folks such as Nikki Silva, Michael Warren, Tom Noddy, UCSC Chancellor George Blumenthal, Anita Monga, Mark Wainer, Judy Johnson, Wendy Mayer-Lochtefeld, Rachel Goodman, George Newell, Tubten Pende, Gina Marie Hayes, Rebecca Ronay-Hazleton, Miriam Ellis, Deb Mc Arthur, The Great Morgani on Street performing, and Paul Whitworth on Krapps Last Tape. Jodi McGraw on Sandhills, Bruce Daniels on area water problems. Mike Pappas on the Olive Connection, Sandy Lydon on County History. Paul Johnston on political organizing, Rick Longinotti on De-Sal. Dan Haifley on Monterey Bay Sanctuary, Dan Harder on Santa Cruz City Museum. Sara Wilbourne on Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre. Brian Spencer on SEE Theatre Co. Paula Kenyon and Karen Massaro on MAH and Big Creek Pottery. Carolyn Burke on Edith Piaf. Peggy Dolgenos on Cruzio. Julie James on Jewel Theatre Company. Then there’s Pat Matejcek on environment, Nancy Abrams and Joel Primack on the Universe plus Nina Simon from MAH, Rob Slawinski, Gary Bascou, Judge Paul Burdick, John Brown Childs, Ellen Kimmel, Don Williams, Kinan Valdez, Ellen Murtha, John Leopold, Karen Kefauver, Chip Lord, Judy Bouley, Rob Sean Wilson, Ann Simonton, Lori Rivera, Sayaka Yabuki, Chris Kinney, Celia and Peter Scott, Chris Krohn, David Swanger, Chelsea Juarez…and that’s just since January 2011.
Fireworks
“When you meet someone so different from yourself, in a good way, you don’t even have to kiss to have fireworks go off.”
~Lisa Schroeder, I Heart You, You Haunt Me
“And she learned that you couldn’t stockpile anything that mattered, really. Feelings, people, songs, sex, fireworks: they existed only in time, and when it was over, so were they.”
~Garth Risk Hallberg, City on Fire
“Spring is not a season; it is a mysterious illusionist who sets off fireworks in the depths of our soul!”
~Mehmet Murat ildan
“I ignite the wick, and the firework takes flight. In that moment, I wish my existence were as simple as being set on fire and exploding in the sky.”
~Adam Silvera, More Happy Than Not
COLUMN COMMUNICATIONS. Subscriptions: Subscribe to the Bulletin! You’ll get a weekly email notice the instant the column goes online. (Anywhere from Monday afternoon through Thursday or sometimes as late as Friday!), and the occasional scoop. Always free and confidential. Even I don’t know who subscribes!!
Snail Mail: Bratton Online
82 Blackburn Street, Suite 216
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Direct email: Bratton@Cruzio.com
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