BOARDWALK FILLING IN THE PLUNGE April 25, 1963. This was before they decided to install the miniature golf course. It was an amazingly successful place for folks to swim who didn’t want to brave the ocean. It was a salt water pool. photo credit: Covello & Covello Historical photo collection. Additional information always welcome: email photo@brattononline.com

LAFCO & WATER From various sources relating to last Wednesday’s LAFCO meeting.”LAFCO met today and considered the proposed water policies. CWC members were out in force, and so were the Environmental Studies interns who have been working with the CWC this Quarter. John Aird, CWC member, made some specific suggestion for language changes, at least one of which was adopted by the Commission. In short, the Commission voted unanimously to approve the water policies as proposed (with a couple of strengthening changes, including one suggested by John Aird). The Executive Officer made clear that the policies would apply to subsequent applications coming before the Commission, including the UCSC/City Sphere of Influence and Extraterritorial Water Service applications”. Another source, “Basically, applicants need to show adequacy of water supply to meet the anticipated demands of proposed projects. How UC can do that when all the information available is that they will suffer (along with all of us) in drought years, I don’t know. Bill Kocher says UC’s application would not be adversely impacted. (The water to be used by UC expansion is a drop in the bucket, so to speak, and that water will not adversely affect the City supply in either good or bad years.) We’ll see how that sells, but it is what Bill has been saying from the beginning and I have yet to see an adequate refutation”.” Not much mention of the Barisone letter and I don’t believe any of the suggestions in that letter were followed. The new policies affect all pending and future applications, even though UC was on everyones’ mind”.

UCSC AND THEIR OWN WATER. For years Robert Curry now of CSUMB has been saying that there’s water on the UCSC campus. He should know, he was the hired geologist who laid out the campus in the first place. In Sunday’s Sentinel Gerald Weber another geologic consultant said the same thing. Read it here and try to figure why UCSC keeps on demanding 1/2 of our Santa Cruz City water.

TERRAZAS BET. WHAT HE WROTE, WHAT HE’S PLANNING. David Terrazas fooled a lot of friends and folks during his first campaign. They thought maybe, just maybe he would represent the progressive part of our community, I never did. Now we’ve just begun to see his pro-development, pro-business stand. Terrazas op-ed in Sunday’s Sentinel when he said things like “Enhance our town’s business environment”, and “simplify the process to obtain business permits” means just that.

Like Berkeley’s Developing Democrats Terrazas and Ryan Coonerty will be teaming up to bring us more big time development than we’ve seen in decades. Locally owned hah! Watch and see. I shuddered when one friend even thought Terrazas was “naïve”, not so, watch his pro- LOBA, pro Chamber of Commerce votes and positions from here on out. I’ll tell you what, why don’t we make a bet…every time Terrazas votes WITH Ryan Coonerty on a meaningful issue you pay me $5, every time he votes against RYAN I’ll pay you $5. Sure, add in Hilary Bryant and Lynn Robinson as part of RYAN’s voting followers.

DESAL ALTERNATIVES EXPERT ON WATER USES AND SOURCES. (Repeated from last week…just in case) Desal Alternatives is presenting Conner Everts. Conner Everts is the Executive Director of the Southern California Watershed Alliance and Co-Chair of the Desal Response Group, working on the environmental response to ocean water drinking water plants. He is on 8 boards including being chair of POWER, Public Officials for Water and Environmental Reform and senior advisor to the Environmental Justice Coalition for Water. He was elected to the Casitas Municipal Water District representing the Ojai area and president of the Ojai Basin Groundwater agency. Desal Alternatives event is Wednesday, Feb. 16, 7:00 p.m. Unity Temple 407 Broadway (near Ocean) Free and open to the public.

We have to stop Bill Kocher, Mike Rotkin, Ryan Coonerty, David Terrazas, Lynn Robinson, Hilary Bryant and people like that from dictating to us about De-Sal plants and get them to listen to the community that elected them.

THE ARHOOLIE CELEBRATION. After all that promoting our part (The Goodtime Washboard 3)of the Arhoolie Foundation’s 50 the anniversary celebration at Berkeley’s Freight & Salvage was an incredible success. So was the entire evening and all three nights of Arhoolie recording stars. Speaking of stars Santa Cruz County was extremely well represented. Supervisors John Leopold, Mark Stone, Neal Coonerty were there as was Gary Patton, Dan Haifley, Al and Denise Holbert and a great time was had by all. Berkeley Daily Planet folks Becky and Michael O’Malley plus long time friend Tommy Saunders formerly of KYA’s golden days in the 60’s all enjoyed themselves thoroughly. You should have been there, but tickets were very rare.

PATTON’S PROGRAM. Gary discusses and warns of the proposed development happening in Carmel and labels it a developing HotSpot. He talks about The Carmel Cottages…then goes on to North Monterey County development and warns of the future of Salinas. He too announces the February 16^th event of the De-Sal group. (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 )

EAGANS DEEP COVER. Tim’s shot at Egyptian politics is not inscrutable..scroll down.

LANDAU’S PROGRES. “Another Visit to Gerardo in Prison” Saul Landau and Danny Glover visit Victorville…He writes….”On our third visit, the neo-fascist architecture of the U.S. Federal Penitentiary in Victorville California (built in 2006 under W. Bush) has become a familiar sight. The American Barbed Wire Industry, we think, must have lobbied hard to get prison construction commissars to allocate money for several football fields of pointed projections sticking out of the woven metal barrier; very anti-neighborly. What’s missing from the picture of miles of curled wire mounted on both sides of the walls on this monstrous concrete structure set in the Mojave Desert? A sign: “Only in America.” Where else would such a “monument” get built for a mission to “rehabilitate?”. Read the rest here

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

IN PASSING. Two good friends are gone now.

BERNICE BELTON. Back in 1997 The Santa Cruz Weekly ran a story on Bernice . She died February 3^rd. Every ounce of her was fun, political and community. Tribute, farewell, and party plans are not finalized yet.

RICHARD BENDER. He died on January 24 and what a good friend he was. Helped me out in so many ways. Never asked for anything. Always a good laugh, a helpful tip, sharing some absolutely impossible part of his past. Forever looking towards the best possible future, anyone who ever met him, and that means millions of good people will never forget him. Services will be at the Elks club on Saturday February 9 at 1 p.m.

LISA JENSEN LINKS. This week at Lisa Jensen tells us, “They don’t call it global warming for nothing! If you can bear to come in out of this gorgeous tropical weather, follow me to Lisa Jensen Online Express ( http://ljo-express.blogspot.com/ ) where I finally catch up with a wonderful show at the MAH and discover some new (and veteran) favorite artists you absolutely won’t want to miss. Lisa Jensen has been writing film reviews and a column for Good Times since 1975.

RECTUM, THE MOVIE. Yes, the real title is Sanctum, but if you ever see this film you’ll know why Rectum fits better. James Cameron’s name is somewhere involved and so is 3D, but this film is terrible. Bad acting, Ioan Gruffudd has never been worse and that’s saying a lot!! And still more really bad acting, trite, ancient, cheap script, it’s an oozing together of 127 Hours with Fantastic Voyage!!! Can’t imagine that mess??? Go see Sanctum, you’ll think Rectum.

THE MECHANIC. Just another paid to kill action car, bus, truck, jump off buildings movie. Jason Stratham and the ever kinky looking Ben Foster see who can assassinate the most good and bad guys, depending on your outlook. It’s average shoot ’em up junk. Only go if you’ve seen everything.

THE ILLUSIONIST. Add Jacque Tati to Triplets of Belleville and that’s The Illusionist. Tati wrote the screenplay and it has almost all the feel, charm, and exquisite taste of The Triplets of Belleville but not quite. It’s certainly on a par with the Pixar level of intelligence and wit.

OSCAR SHORTS. Folks who really care about films used to gripe about the inability to see the Oscar Nominated short films. Now there’s a chance to do just that…“OSCAR Nominated Short Film Programs- (2 separate full length shows – Animated – Live Action)” opens Friday February 11th the Del Mar Theatre. There will be 2 separate feature length programs -Academy Award nominated – ANIMATED Short Films. Academy Award nominated – LIVE ACTION Short Films. I saw them all and the animated ones are far superior to the live action ones. There are two animated shorts that magically appear in 3D…just simply beautiful. The live action seem poorly acted…all of them!!

HOSTETTER’S HOT STUFF. There’s more. But when you look here, bear in mind that it’s not exactly chronological. For example, tomorrow (February 5th) there will be a full day of events about Paul Bowles at UCSC. It’s listed below later things because of how it fit into a cluster of concerts spanning UCSC and the SF Conservatory. Check it all carefully. And note also the upcoming appearances by the Savoy Family Band, Laurie Lewis & Tom Rozum, The Wiyos, The Foghorn Trio, Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas, The Croatian Hall events, the Bee Eaters, The Phillip Glass Opera, Pierre Bensusan, Liz Carroll, Väsen, and a serious lineup of African guitar stars at the Rio. And more, I’m sure. If you’re lucky, you’ll fit it all in. Cheers, ph

3^RD ANNUAL DARWIN DAY CELEBRATION. The 3rd Annual Darwin Day will be celebrated on Saturday Feb. 12 from 2-4 PM in the Fireside Room at the Red Calvary Church, Downtown Santa Cruz (532 Center Street, Santa Cruz). The program and forum will focus on Charles Darwin, Robert Ingersoll and the Struggle Against Religious Fundamentalism. It’s aimed at reintroducing Robert Ingersoll to a local audience in order to retrieve our progressive, humanist heritage from religious extremists who wish to deny America’s secular roots. The forum will include Don Havis of San Mateo who is an authority on Ingersoll. In addition, Dennis Etler, Anthropology Instructor at Cabrillo College will offer a review of new fossil discoveries and advances in the study of human evolution. Free and open to the public, refreshments and beverages will be served. It is co-sponsored by Secular Humanists of Santa Cruz County, Atheists of Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties, UCSC Secular Student Alliance, Cabrillo College Secular Student Alliance and Santa Cruz Bright.

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY YOUTH SYMPHONY PARTY. There’s going to be a Pre-Valentine fund raiser party Saturday, February 12 from 4-7pm. at 123 Green Street in the grand old historic home on Mission Hill near Downtown Santa Cruz. Wine, chocolates, goodies, silent auction, a special concert video, and some special Youth Symphony performers will all happen. Email Panofsky@cruzio.com for tickets.

THE MET’S NIXON IN CHINA. The reviews are in as of last week and they say that John Adams’ “Nixon in China” is fantastic. James Maddalena as Nixon is even better than he was back in 1987. See this live telecast Saturday morning at The Regal 9 at 10 am. If perchance you miss it, they have an Encore performance on Wednesday March 2^nd.at 6:30 p.m. John Adams has a lot of friends and followers in Santa Cruz and was almost our Cabrillo Music Festival’s permanent director a few years/decades ago!! Yes, San Francisco Opera is finally doing Nixon this fall for the first time, but see them both.

SAN FRANCISCO OPERA’S RING. Wagner fans knew years ago that The San Francisco Opera was doing a full 4 opera 3 cycle ring this summer and now its almost here. Do hurry and get tickets before the world gets in on it. Go here.

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 on “blog”) at WWW.KZSC.ORG. Kinan Valdez from El Teatro Campesino will be on February 8^th, and in the second half hour Ellen Murtha and Randa Solick will explain why banking locally makes sense and helps our economy. February 15^th Ellen Kimmel will talk about her unique views, programs and experiences with the elusive concept of Wellness. Then UCSC’s Don Williams will re-visit and talk about The American Menu play opening Feb 17^th. On February 22 Santa Cruz County Superior Court Judge Paul Burdick will be talking about what a Superior Court judge does. Any and all suggestions for future programs are more than welcome so tune in and keep listening.

QUOTES.

“A good escape almost makes up for the fucking bust”, Ken Kesey. “Democracy and UNESCO are contrary to any thinking that’s sexually obsessed”, Salvador Dali. “No one ever filed for divorce on a full stomach”, Mama Leone