HARBOR HIGH SCHOOL GROUND WORK. 1967. Here’s a great shot of the much debated La Fonda overpass and the ground moving preparation for Harbor High School. That’s Morrissey Turnoff in the upper left and De LaVeaga Elementary School in upper right. photo credit: Covello & Covello Historical photo collection, click for bigger version. Additional information always welcome: email photo@brattononline.com

LATTÉ BREAKING NEWS. Some anonymous good person just gave $5 Million dollars to UCSC to restore the historic Hay Barn on campus. No official word has come from UCSC yet…for some reason. This restoration will probably mean they’ll study the barn in great detail, then tear it down and rebuild it completely.

PRESERVE WHAT NORTH COAST?? It’s more than just rumors that plans are underway to install 6 count ‘em 6…SIX cell phone devices on phone or electrical poles on the hill side of Highway One between Swanton Road and near Western Drive. With these “facilities” will be a 192 Square foot building up by Jim Cochran’s Swanton Berry Farm. Or if you want to get official…

SCHEDULED ITEMS
11.	111114-Appeal(**) NO SITUS APN(S): N/A (7 SITES IN CALTRANS & COUNTY RIGHT-OF-WAY) (EQUIPMENT SHELTER ON APN 058-022-11)
	Appeal of the Zoning Administrator’s Approval of a proposal to install 7 new microcell wireless communication facilities, each to be co-located on existing utility poles along inland side of Hwy. 1 (6 sites in Caltrans Hwy. 1 right-of-way, 1 site in County’s Swanton Rd. right-of-way). Proposal includes a 192 square foot, 13′-6″ tall equipment shelter (Telecommunications Hub) on an agricultural parcel (APN 058-022-11) Requires a Level 5 Commercial Development Permit, a Level 5 Coastal Development Permit, and three Telecommunications Act Exceptions to requirements contained in the County Wireless Communications Facilities Ordinance. Appealed 12/16/11 by Andrew and Wan-Jean Hsu. Six of the proposed utility pole microcell sites are located in the Caltrans right-of-way along an approximately 13 mile stretch of Hwy. 1, beginning 3.8 miles northwest of Western Drive and ending .4 miles northwest of the entrance to Big Creek Lumber. The 7th site is located in County right-of-way along Swanton Rd. on a utility pole approx. 1.1 miles north of the southernmost Swanton Road intersection with Hwy.1. The equipment shelter is proposed to be located immediately northwest of the southernmost intersection of Highway 1 and Swanton Road. SUPERVISORIAL DIST: 3 PROJECT PLANNER: FRANK BARRON, 454-2530 EMAIL: pln782@co.santa-cruz.ca.us

GEORGE CARLIN’S CRAZED POLITICS. Lest we forget where he was coming from. Just how funny was he???

SAFEWAY’S APTOS PLAN. I never realized until Paul Elerick pointed it out that those architect paintings of the 60,000 square footed Aptos Safeway that we saw in the Sentinel were all from the KFC downhill view of the shopping center. It’s looking up Soquel Drive from down by the bridge/trestle site. Check it out here…if the link works.

http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/portlet/article/html/render_gallery.jsp?articleId=20268328&siteId=6&startImage=1 It’s more of the “we want and need bigger stores, and bigger corporations” chant and dream. It’s getting closer and closer to allowing Wal Mart, Targets, and the reasons we used to be different from San Jose and L.A. Remember reading about when L.A. had orange groves, San Jose had all sorts of Orchards, and Watsonville had apple trees? Now it’s the bigger cities building and approving huge new stadiums, and an amazing amount of local saying lets bring in D rated basketball tents. What’ll fill (and pay for) the $2.5 million dollars Santa Cruz City has to guarantee. Roller Derbies, Lady Gaga, the reincarnated Harlem Globetrotters, (not Cirque du Soleil, by the way, they have their own tent and have never performed here.) you name it, I can’t think of any attraction that would chose to play here in Santa Cruz instead of San Francisco or San Jose.

S.F. WARRIORS GETTING SERIOUS. Judi Grunstra wrote to our Council, “

Dear Mayor and Council members: I thought you might find this interesting. It sounds like the Warriors’ management is trying to throw their weight around in San Francisco as well as in Santa Cruz. I urge you once again, look 5 years down the road and think about the down sides of their wish to install their D League in Santa Cruz. If Santa Cruz owns the temporary “tent” which probably is not built for the long term, how will this “tent” be disposed of when it starts to deteriorate? Will it end up in our landfill? If the project is successful, will the Warriors expect Santa Cruz to come up with funding for a permanent structure? Beware this Trojan Horse of a deal”… Judi Grunstra.

Then she sent…Warriors arena on waterfront? Good luck with that!!!

So I see the owners of the Golden State Warriors are thinking about putting up a new arena on Piers 30-32 on the Embarcadero waterfront. To which I have just one question: You’re not from around here are you? (Owner Joe Lacob went to Stanford, but he grew up on the East Coast and in So Cal.)

Let’s review. The idea is to put a view-blocking, traffic clogging, 20-something thousand seat arena on a pier next to the Bay Bridge. Good luck with that.

Let’s just ignore the idea of building on pilings over the water. That can be done, although nearly everyone says it is almost always more expensive than expected. But just FYI, take a run down the Embarcadero to a potential development at eight Washington. There’s no rush. It’s been in the works for six years and the hearings will be going on for some time. There are conversations on height limits, views, and the potential effects of shadows — no seriously shadows. Neighborhood groups are involved, the Planning Commission is doing some deep thinking, and the Environmental Impact Reports can run for months.

And that, in case you didn’t know it, that’s already been approved by Planning. They’re just arguing over the details. This would be a whole different kettle of mackerel. There would be 100-some events a year in what is mostly a residential area, so the traffic and the parking would be a huge problem. Granted, you’ve got AT&T Park to the south, but it was there before the condos, which were built around it. As for the view-blocking, I have three words for you — Telegraph Hill Dwellers. Fear them.

I understand. You don’t want to ride on the coattails of the Giants, who have a perfectly fine area for an arena south of the ballpark where no one will complain. But you should take that site. This is foolhardy, picking a fight that is going to be near impossible to win. This would be like taking over a miserable, losing team, and promising that it will make the playoffs right away. Oh, yeah. You did that.

Posted By: C.W. Nevius ( Email ) | Apr 12 at 9:01 am It’s a lot to think about…lets hope our City Council doesn’t get suckered into this railroaded deal. I still haven’t figured out which 4 other cities are being considered for this “D” sized temp tent.

WHAT APTOS VILLAGE PLAN? What’s up, or not up with the Barry Swenson-Ellen Pirie plan to move the BayView Hotel and construct a huge new shopping center next to Nisene Marks Park? Has the Safeway Development at Rancho Del Mar which is 4/10 of a (google map) mile just up the road scared them?

DAN BESSIE sent this clip from France. It’s been around, but then again, so has Dan.

NICK ROYAL Sent in this clip proving that certain cats have a certain class.

WHY DOES MCPHERSON WANT THE SUPES JOB? There’s a lot of guessing about why McPherson wants the Supervisor job, and of course why so much out of town money is pouring in to finance his campaign. One politically hip local figured out it’s because McPherson would get to appoint someone to the Coastal Commission…and would then help weaken it. Others say it’s because he’s got so much support from developers who want to improve their odds with the Board of Supervisors, still more folk’s say he’s got nothing else to do.

WHY IS D.A. BOB LEE SO GUNG HO??? Who’s pushing him and why is District Attorney Bob Lee working so hard to prosecute the Occupy the vacant bank building people? It’s been asked and stated many times but Mayor Don Lane, Martin Bernal, and Katherine Beiers were also in the bank and D.A. Lee isn’t prosecuting them. There are a lot of bad vibes reflecting off this maneuver and Lee has lost so much respect, it’s plain embarrassing. And for what?? As Grant Wilson states, “Please ask: Why is the DA using such excessive tactics to prosecute individuals? most of whom are, at most, guilty only of trespassing. ~ How much money is this costing local taxpayers? Many are guessing it will ultimately cost between $100,000 to $200,000 ~ Who is suffering in this case and why? This case should be thrown out for lack of evidence, selective prosecution & false accusations”. He adds, “11 individuals are accused of Felony-Conspiracy, Felony-Vandalism and trespassing charges. If found guilty, each felony charge carries a maximum sentence of 3-8 years in Federal Prison”.

HISTORICAL SPORTS SEARCH. Kathleen McBurney from Downtown Association and Earthquake days, and who used to own Cat’N’Canary with Julie Hendee has a good question for any of you. You pretty much have to be a Giants fan, and this tests your memory because Kathleen’s failed her. She asks, ” The Giants came to Santa Cruz after the earthquake in 89 (yes 89) or early in 1990 for several fundraising events. I’m trying to isolate the month so I can establish provenance for a Giant’s jacket, which I won, and that Orlando Cepeda signed. I believe the fundraiser was at Harbor High School. I’ve searched the Sentinel records at the library and other than getting very nauseous looking at the microfiche, I’ve haven’t managed to find any mention of the event. I know it was promoted in the Sentinel, but exactly when is the big question. Any chance that this raises a long buried memory for any of you? It should be a good memory, it was held at India Joze but they went on to much larger venues”.

PATTON’S PROGRAM. Gary has an important notice of a UCSC meeting…

If you are interested in learning about the role of water policy in the proposed long-term growth and development of the University of California at Santa Cruz, you might want to mark your calendar for a presentation on Sunday, April 29^th, from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. The presentation will be held in Room 159 at Kresge College. UCSC Lecturer David Shaw is sponsoring this event. Participating will be Natalie Nugent and Wicapeluta Candelaria of the group “Long Range Resistance.” Comments by Rick Longinotti of the Right to Vote on Desal Coalition, and by me, are also on the program.

Gary also talks about LAFCO and CALAFCO, slap suits and the Local Coastal Program,

Read it all here (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)

BUD ABBOTT & LOU COSTELLO’S 10 BEST.

VINTAGE DE CINZO. DeCinzo addresses Mike Rotkin’s favorite hobby…just a few pages below.

EAGANS DEEP COVER. Fun and games with Tim Eagan… Scroll below.

LANDAU’S PROGRES. Saul calls his weekly column « Get Serious About Syria »

He states, “On April 14, the UN Security Council backed a deployment of the first wave of U.N. military observers to monitor the tentative cease-fire between the Syrian government and opposition combatants. Before the arrangements become final, Washington should weigh in now with Russia, China and the western powers – not Saudi Arabia and Qatar – to pressure both sides to stop shooting and start serious talking”. Read it all here…

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

THE GENUINE THREE STOOGES. A clip combining lots of their most violent best work.

LISA JENSEN LINKS. “This week at Lisa Jensen Online Express (http://ljo-express.blogspot.com), join a lively panel discussion on women in the media coming up at Cabrillo College, kick around my Stooge Gene theory of male genetics, and check out a new Historical Fiction Survey to find out what readers really want.” Lisa Jensen has been writing film reviews and a column for Good Times since 1975.

RAMPART. You haven’t seen a dirty cop movie until you see Rampart. Woody Harrelson is a perfect and extra believable bad cop who works the Rampart district in LA. What a cast…Anne Heche, Sigourney Weaver, Robin Wright, Ben Foster, Ice Cube, Cynthia Nixon, and just a few seconds of Steve Buscemi. Violent and well made film.

GOON. You’ll know Seann William Scott when you see him in this hockey supposedly comedy. Much violence, blood, and some excellent writing. Here too, there’s even a Jewish theme under all the punching, smashing and Canadians. You could rent it and save a few bucks. Live Schreiber plays a nasty hockey monster, and he’s believable!!

MARLEY. This 2 1/2 hour documentary shows what an unique personality Bob Marley was. But like the ads say forget dancing in the theatre aisles because there’s not one complete song in the film. Lots of his music but probably for copyright reasons there’s never much more than a minute or so of any Marley classics. 11 children by seven different women and they say he was shy…that’s just part of it. But see it on the big screen, it demands good sound and is really colorful. It either ends or moves Thursday.

FOOTNOTE. This is a very Jewish film and it’s completely absorbing and brilliant and emotionally “searing” as they say. Go quickly it ends Thursday 4/26

THE LUCKY ONE. This piece of romantic formulaic crap from Hollywood is worthless, manipulative, hokey, and stars Zac Efron. The contrived plot makes no sense and only teen age girls and some veterans will like it.

HOSTETTER’S HOT STUFF. Paul says (on his way out of town)
“I hastily send you a little nudge about the improbable Touré-Raichel Collective, featuring Vieux Farka Touré, Idan Raichel, Souleymane Kane and Amit Carmeli, who will be at Kuumbwa on this Monday 23 April at Kuumbwa Jazz Center, and the San Francisco Scottish Fiddlers’ 25th Spring Concert Series in Berkeley and Rodent Park, and commencing the Annual Mandolin Season, there’s the San Francisco Festival of the Mandolins all day on 29th of April (Bulgarian food and drink available!) at the Croatian American Cultural Center in SF, Carnatic singer Ananya Ashok the previous evening, April 28th, at the Subterranean Arthouse in Berkeley, and a little further on: New Music Works presents a Portrait Concert of music by Hyo-shin Na on Saturday 28 April at Cabrillo College Music Recital Hall in Aptos, and on Sunday 29 April 2012 @ 4PM @ the Old First Church in SF. And there’s more too, f’r instance Shujaat Khan, ace singer/sitarist, at UCSC on Saturday the 5th of May and then Brass Menažeri & Hot Blood Orkestar the next night, Sunday, May 6th @ Moe’s Alley. No excuses for boredom.

THREE MILE STONE—Erin Shrader, Marla Fibish, and Richard Mandel—serves up traditional Irish music with lift, drive, and sparkle. Upcoming performances by Three Mile Stone:

Thursday, May 3, 2012 San Francisco House Concert
Bernal Heights (Address and directions provided with reservation)
7:30 pm $15-20 For reservations and info: lisa@lisalynne.com or 415 642 1466

Saturday, May 5, 2012
Windsor Acoustic Guitar Series Windsor, CA 7:30 pm $20
For reservations and info: scottn@sonic.net http://www.windsoracousticguitar.org

Sunday, May 6, 2012 Santa Cruz House Concert Santa Cruz, CA (Address and directions provided with reservation) 7:00 pm
$15 ($13 for members of Celtic Society of Monterey Bay)
For reservations and info: watsuman@me.com or 831 247 1365

As ever, look here for some fine print.

Sorry you missed Bombino at Kuumbwa, it was wonderful. And know that I will be out of town a lot for the next couple of months and my episodic heads-ups will become even more episodic, until July anyway. But I’ll try. Cheers, 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. Joan Boothe Author of “The Storied Ice” about Antarctica’s Historic Explorations 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 Children’s’ Art on May 1^st. Then Dr. Michael Shorenstein will update us testosterone, diabetes, colonoscopies and that sort of thing. 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!!!

BEST OF VINTAGE STEVEN DeCINZO.

QUOTES. It’s great fun to receive quotes…all of these were sent by Ted Burke of Shadowbrook, Crows Nest, Santa Cruz Business Council fame.

“We are like tenant farmers chopping down the fence around our house for fuel when we should be using Nature’s inexhaustible sources of energy — sun, wind and tide. … I’d put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don’t have to wait until oil and coal run out before we tackle that”, Thomas Edison, inventor. “Everyone, in some small sacred sanctuary of the self, is nuts”, Leo Rosten, author. “If a rabbit defined intelligence the way man does, then the most intelligent animal would be a rabbit, followed by the animal most willing to obey the commands of a rabbit”, Robert Brault, writer. “It is more often from pride than from ignorance that we are so obstinately opposed to current opinions; we find the first places taken, and we do not want to be the last”, Francois De La Rochefoucauld, moralist.