ELEANOR ROOSEVELT IN SANTA CRUZ. Eleanor was here April 26, 1962. She’s shown here shaking hands with then Mayor Bert Snyder. That’s Democrat activist Erva Bowen smiling proudly on the right. Erva was president of the NAACP, President of the Santa Cruz County School Board and she died just last year. Bert was an attorney. photo credit: Covello & Covello Historical photo collection, click for bigger version. Additional information always welcome: email photo@brattononline.com

BASKETBALL TENT & HOOP DREAMS. The Golden State Warriors basketball team wants to move their development league Dakota Warriors games to Santa Cruz…and they want the city to decide on whether to invest $2.5 million dollars in the hard walled canvas roofed temporary tent and are pushing for a fast track decision by May 8!!! Debbie Bulger asked some well thought out questions of the City Council last Tuesday. How about a genuine fiscal study that includes answers why the Warriors failed selling enough seats in Bismarck? Or how come Bakersfield couldn’t sell more than 500 tickets per game for the same quality games. Then too…watch what kind of deal is announced in getting the Seaside Corporation to let the city use their employee parking lot for this 35,000 sq. ft “temporary tent”. The City GAVE the Boardwalk their parking lot land by the San Lorenzo river absolutely free about two years ago, now wait and see what Charlie Canfield and Chris Reyes come up with to steal even more money from our hard pressed coffers. Can you honestly imagine 3500 fans driving over the hills to watch some second stringers play basketball and then take shuttles to this tent during our lovely winter weather??? Or would they rather watch their local San Francisco and San Jose teams ???

DE-SAL SIGNATURES. There’s an enormous amount of hard working folks out there gathering the necessary signatures in order to let Santa Cruz citizens vote on whether or not they want to put the development of a de-sal plant on the ballot. It isn’t easy going and so far Trader Joes, Staff of Life, both Safeway’s, CVS’s, COSTCO, and the Morrissey Avenue US Post Office have stopped the petition people from gathering on their property. That’s lousy Public Relations. If you aren’t up on the de-sal debate click here for a great letter to the Sentinel… http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/opinion/ci_20047960 it says in part, “The considerable financial and environmental consequences of the proposed ocean desalination plant have inspired our group of citizens to gather signatures on a ballot initiative that would put the decision on desalination in the hands of the voters in November.

Recently, Mayor Don Lane and Councilman David Terrazas proposed an ordinance that would commit the City Council to submit putting the decision on desalination to the voters. Backers of the Right to Vote on Desal ballot initiative see the Lane/Terrazas proposal as an important acknowledgement that a decision with weighty impact on voters’ and ratepayers’ pocketbooks, as well as the environment, should be made by the voters. However, differences between their proposal and the citizens’ ballot initiative are significant. The Lane/Terrazas ordinance could be overturned by a future council, whereas the community-driven ballot measure could only be reversed by the voters. Most importantly, if a future council were to overturn the ordinance, the community would only have 30 days in which to obtain the signatures of 10 percent of the registered voters to qualify a referendum to reverse the council action. Go to the Right To Vote On Desal RTVOD at http://desalalternatives.org

JESSE FULLER PLAYING SAN FRANCISCO BAY BLUES. This clip is from 1968. The homemade instrument he’s playing is named the “Footdella“. He told me once it’s because he plays it with his foot and his wife’s name is Della. I have pictures of us together at his shoeshine stand in Oakland, I’ll run them when I find them.

SAM LEASK & SUSAN HILLHOUSE GOT MARRIED. There’s not a lot of newly weds who deserve some kind of title like Community Couple of The Year as much as Susan Hillhouse and Sam Leask. Susan has been curating the MAH exhibits for years and Sam’s Leasks ancestors help make our city what it is today…or at least what it used to be before the developers took over. Huge Congratulations to Susan and Sam who honeymooned in Carmel just to love locally.

SEND HEALINGS TO BRUCE ENGELHARDT. Bruce Engelhardt has been playing jazz guitar and piano around these parts for decades. He’s also kept a keen and driven approach to our local politics, and now he’s got cancer, very bad cancer. I visited him at Dominican last Wednesday just as he got the news that he was probably being moved to Driftwood Convalescent Home. So send positive thoughts or connect with him there.

BOOGIE BRUCE VIDEO CLIP. Here’s Boogie Bruce Engelhardt playing I believe Obama’s Time Has Come along with Robert Lowery at Lulu Carpenters on Pacific Ave in Santa Cruz.

TAX DAY PROTEST.This Tax Day, we are demanding that the 1% pay their fair share of taxes. While most of us pay taxes for schools, roads, and other vital services—billionaires and 1% companies like Wells Fargo and GE pay nothing. That’s why we’re protesting, marching, and rallying in hundreds of cities to tell the 1% that it’s time to pay their fair share. Can you join us in Santa Cruz on Tuesday? Questions about income- and other taxes will be the theme of a Tax Day Gathering on Tuesday, April 17, from four to six PM, on the Water Street steps of the Santa Cruz County Courthouse.

• Taxes: we all pay them one way or another, but are they fair?
• We need them for many things, but do we like the fact that most of our tax money goes to wars and the military?
• Why do the rich and the multi corporations get away with paying so little?
• Are the new tax initiatives that may be on our next ballot going to help or hurt us?

There will be a brief talk by Tereza Corraggio, local author and teacher of Economics,
songs by the Santa Cruz WILPF Raging Grannies, and many signs, flags and banners.
Everyone is invited to come and express their thoughts about taxes. The event is co-sponsored by Women’s International League for Peace & Freedom (WILPF), Occupy Santa Cruz, and the People United for Peace, with help from MoveOn.org. Once again that’s Tuesday, April 17, from four to six PM, on the Water Street steps of the Santa Cruz County Courthouse

GEORGE BURNS AND GRACIE ALLEN (1928).

BULLY, THE FILM AND CONNECTED EVENTS. There will be a special screening of the compelling new documentary “BULLY” presented by The Santa Cruz Education Foundation. Following the screening there will be a conversation with panelists including: Ron Indra, Santa Cruz Safe Schools Project; psychologist Shane Hill; Stuart Rosenstein, Queer Youth leader and other youth and school experts.

Saturday April 21st 11am at the Del Mar Theatre. Also on Friday April 20th

The Diversity Center will host a youth-led “Break the Silence” Rally on Friday at 5:30 p.m. followed by a screening of BULLY at 7:00 pm at the Del Mar Theater. Tickets to the Saturday screening are available online and at the door. This event is open to the public. Learn more about the film and how you can make a difference at The Bully Project.

The Bully film is “compelling” as their press release states but it does lack any attempt to state why bullying exists now and has existed through all times and cultures. It offers no psychological or legal solutions, but it sure does bring it to the forefront and the entire world should see it, especially if you’ve ever been to school!!! Because, if you have gone to school, you’ve either seen or been involved with bullying.

PATTON’S PROGRAM. Gary discusses Monterey’s ongoing water problems and Cal Am of course. He then gets into the Climate Action Plan and what’s behind it. He’s teaching a class at UCSC on Environmental Law and Policy and gives some hints. There’s more taxes being talked about by the RTC and he closes with AB 2595 and a plug for the WILPF forum happening on Friday.

(Gary Patton is “Of Counsel” to the Santa Cruz law firm of Wittwer & Parkin, which specializes in land use and environmental law. The opinions expressed are Mr. Patton’s. Gary has his own website, “Two Worlds / 365” – www.gapatton.net)

AMAZING MARIONETTES.

THE REAL MARCEL MARCEAU.

VINTAGE DE CINZO. World traveler DeCinzo looks at the Cuba picture.

EAGANS DEEP COVER. Tim gets a handle on the ultimate in mind reading….see below a few pages.

LANDAU’S PROGRES. Saul Landau remains his trusty, lefty self this week with his column titled “Maximum Security prison turn left after the Hooters sign” . In it he says, “Diplomatic sources indicated – not confirmed – that Cuba had offered to free Gross if President Obama releases the Cuban Five. With pressure from Gross’ family and the Jewish community these reciprocal humanitarian gestures could become reality – after November, of course”.

Saul Landau is an Institute for Policy Studies fellow whose films are on DVD from roundworldproductions@gmail.com

LISA JENSEN LINKS. “This week at Lisa Jensen Online Express (http://ljo-express.blogspot.com/), celebrate the 150th birthday of Indian Renaissance Man Rabindranath Tagore with a special appearance right here in our town of actress, feminist, filmmaker, and one-woman Indian cinematic treasure Aparna Sen. And since it’s almost Shakespeare’s birthday, take a plunge into the brilliant foolery of Alan Gordon’s Shakespeare-inspired Fools’ Guild medieval mystery series. ” Lisa Jensen has been writing film reviews and a column for Good Times since 1975.

LIVING STATUE…MIME. Stick with this to the end…mesmerizing.

FOUR ABSOLUTELY EXCELLENT MOVIES ALL PLAYING NOW.

THE BOY WITH A BIKE. A story about an 11 year old boy who’s father wants nothing to do with him, and how the kid survives. Intelligent, sensitive, well acted, painful, and it’ll touch you when you least expect it. And it’ll stay with you for days (4 days so far). It’s in French and also stars Cecile de France who is exquisite. See it quickly or it’ll leave in a week. Won at Cannes, Golden Globes and events like that.

THE DEEP BLUE SEA. Rachel Weisz has never been better than when she plays the torn between the Devil and The Deep Blue Sea in this film from Terence Rattigan’s 1952 play. Honor, marriage, lies, war, even Post Traumatic Stress Disorder all work together in this very British film. It’s wonderful, and go see it asap.

RAID: REDEMPTION. I can’t remember ever seeing a bloodier, more violent, better paced action film than this one. Gareth Evans directed it, and the hero Iko Uwais’s fight scenes make Bruce Lee look like Pee Wee Herman. Hardly any plot, almost no background, no details just pure, spectacular action scenes of stabbing, slicing, knives, guns, flying bullets, axes, it’s nearly perfect action, and nearly perfect film making and Hollywood should give up on all their attempts. This film is only for martial arts and film students.

BULLY. See the qualified review above. See the movie, bring your student friends, and talk about it afterwards.

UNCOMMON OBJECTS. A wild bunch of locals are staging and selling a large amount of collectibles at Uncommon Objects 1207 Soquel Avenue next to the Rio Theatre, now through April 30 every Thursday- Sunday 11am to 6 p.m. Stuff from Laurence of The Rio Theatre, Ukulele Dick’s mysterious collection of Objects d’ Art, Award winning Sleepy John’s errata and effluvia, plus Kim’s own memorabilia all at good prices. Call 831 588-2485 or 429-7663 to see this bargain priced mélange.

HOSTETTER’S HOT STUFF. Many good and adventurous things on the horizon from many points of the globe, some more obvious than others: Scotland, Africa, Québec, Israel, Africa again, Korea, a whole bunch from India and even one from Nepal, France, Canada, even Marin and Santa Cruz counties are contributing gloriously to the queue. A little further down the road there will be Darol Anger and The Republic of the Strings representing the far reaches of musical sensibility, along with hoary old Greek songs from before your mother was born. My fab daughter Marandi just saw the unlikely duo of Vieux Farka Touré and Idan Raichel last night in Manhattan and she loved it. If you like good New Orleans R&B, check Jon Cleary’s Philthy Phew at Kuumbwa on Thursday the 19th. But Bombino comes back to town, to Kuumbwa at that, this Wednesday. That’s the soonest thing on my radar at the moment. More things are bound to fill in as time goes by, so check back whether I’ve issued an update or not. Right here! Yes. ph

MORE NEW MUSIC. New Music Works presents HYO-SHIN NA and NEW MUSIC WORKS.NMW Ensemble, conducted by Phil Collins, with guest artists, the Ariose Singers; members of the Wooden Fish Ensemble, Thomas Schultz, piano, Shoko Hikage, koto and Hyunyoung Choi, 25 string-kayageum An extraordinary evening of chamber and choral music by Korean-San Franciscan Hyo-shin Na, including a world premiere of her new work Fellini Dreaming

• Admission discounts available for Seniors, Students and Cabrillo College Music Students
• Doors open at 7:30pm / Showtime 8pm on Saturday, Apr. 28, 2012 Cabrillo College Music Recital Hall, Aptos
• PLUS…An Evening of Dialogue & Music with composer Hyo-shin Na and Thomas Schultz on piano 7pm, Thursday, April 26th, 2012 at Darling House, Santa Cruz

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, or sometimes old programs are archived…(see next paragraph) and go to WWW.KZSC.ORG. Karuna Cayton author of The Misleading Mind will open the program on April 17^th and Elizabeth Limbach, editor of Good Times will talk about future issues. Joan Boothe Author of “The Storied Ice” about Antarctica’s Explorers will be on April 24^th and so will Christian Schwartz talking about Mushrooms and their bay area hunters. Ruth Rabinowitz will tell us about Domestic Violence and Childrens’ Art on May 1^st. On May 15^th Gina Hayes will talk about the UCSC production of Chang & Eng. Rachel Goodman will bring us up to date on Tannery Doings on May 22. May 29 has Ken Koenig discussing details of the annual photography exhibit opening around that time at Felix Kulpa Gallery. Do remember, any and all suggestions for future programs are more than welcome so tune in, and keep listening. Email me always at bratton@cruzio.com

UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE ARCHIVES. In case you missed some of the great people I’ve interviewed in the last 5 years here’s a chronological list of just this year’s podcasts. Click here http://kzsc.org/blog/tag/universal-grapevine then tap on “listen here” to hear any or all of them… all over again. The Great Morgani on Street performing, 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 Conpany. 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. Hear them all!!!

QUOTES. “If you lose a son you can always get another, but there’s only one Maltese falcon”, Gutman in The Maltese Falcon. “The solution of the problem of life is seen in the vanishing of the problem”, Ludwig Wittgenstein. “Let yourself go with the disease, be with it, keep company with it: this is the way to get rid of it”, Yagyu Kami.