McHugh Bianchi Building circa 1972, corner of Pacific and Mission streets. This grand old building set Santa Cruz aside as a City that cared and greeted everyone way back as the Hotaling Building then as Hinkle’s Cash Store. We fought to save it from the 1972 City Council and lost. Now it’s Bank of The West. photo credit: Covello & Covello Historical photo collection, click for bigger version. Additional information always welcome: email photo@brattononline.com

LATTE’ BREAKING NEWS. It’s not yet what you might call “official” but Ellen Pirie isn’t going to run for 2^nd District supervisor anymore, and that’s definite. So, like I stated last week we got Police flack Zach Friend running for her job but who else is thinking about it? Then there’s hope, some buzz and some excellent reasons why Stephanie Harlan should run and win…she’s got plenty of necessary first hand experience. If you know her help talk her into it.

NEXT ITEM. Zach Friend, not satisfied with his wife as Assistant Manager of Santa Cruz, and him running for Second District Supervisor’s seat is now out scouting and dealing trying to find a “moderate democrat” to run against John Leopold in the 1st (Live Oak) District. Why? you ask??Well, along with NextSpace buddies Ryan Coonerty, the Seaside Corp’s Chris Reyes I think these guys are just going for power and control and of course ultimately to develop Santa Cruz County and City into the happening Metropolis of their dreams. Leopold will be running in 2012 and will take office in 2013. I’m guessing that the “so called Moderate Democrat (read “easily controlled”) will be a Next Space type. Keep watching and send in those items, guesses and predictions.

OUR NEXT MAYOR. Don Lane will be numero uno alcalde next and what does that mean??? I’m betting (based only on past experience) that he won’t cry in the mayor’s seat as much as used to when he was on the Council before. Lane also claimed that the Sentinel was mean to him, and they’ll be nicer now, wait and see. He’ll be a lot more tolerant of Social Service issues like the Homeless than Ryan could be. Lane will listen to folks longer, and appear more empathetic but in the end he’ll vote almost exactly the Ryan Coonerty-Cynthia Mathews-Mike Rotkin line. Mark my words. Matter of fact starting in November, save all of Lane’s votes on important issues that disagree with Ryan’s and one year from this October we’ll count the differences…it won’t take long. AND I’ll take any/all bets.

CLASS ON BUSINESS MARKETING. Did you happen to see this in the Sentinel’s Business Section?

“Class on business marketing“.Facebook class coming Monday. NextSpace will host a class on how to use Facebook to grow a business 6:30-9:30 p.m. Monday at 101 Cooper St. Topics include how to set up your page, what to post, how to protect your privacy and track your progress. Instructors are Sara Isenberg, a web consultant and social media strategist, and Judi Oyama, a graphic designer and social media specialist. The class is offered through the city of Santa Cruz Parks & Recreation, with the cost $79 for residents, $98 for non-residents. Register for class #15023 here or call 420-5270 Monday through Thursday.

Does this strike you as questionable judgment? Maybe overstepping boundaries? A tiny bit of possible conflict of interest? I mean here’s NextSpace owned by our mayor Ryan Coonerty being rented by Our City’s Parks and Recreation Department. Is Parks and Rec paying for the rental? Are owners Ryan, Caleb Baskin, and Jeremy Neuner donating the space in return for all the free publicity and promotion they’re getting? This isn’t the first time NextSpace has been rented by Parks & Rec.either. There’s the Cruzio building that’s closer to Park and Rec., there’s Louie Rittenhouse’s mausoleum that has only ghosts using it, London Nelson Community Center, MAH i.e. lots of choices. So let us wonder together, does the mayor give his Parks and Rec. department “special” rental prices? Who else gets them? Are NextSpace spaces less expensive to rent….how and why did NextSpace get the deal???

DEMOLISHING LA BAHIA. Ever since the Coastal Commission ended that part of the battle about demolishing the historic La Bahia the extra large question remains…. what’s going to happen to the run down La Bahia, which is of course Charlie Canfield’s/Boardwalk property?? More than a few rumors are that the Seaside Corporation will tear it down, and soon. Raise your hands if you can picture our City Council led by Don Lane standing up to Charlie Canfield, Chris Reyes and all their legal muscle and money and saying “Don’t Demolish, Save our Historic Structure“.

PATTON’S PROGRAM. Gary talks a lot about the shared water problems that Santa Cruz, San Benito and Monterey County all have…and makes suggestions. He then adds news about the Soquel State Demonstration Forest near Nisene Marks in Aptos. (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)

ANCHOR IN ANTARCTICA. Micaela reports, “No pictures this week, but instead a link to the British Antarctic Survey. I didn’t include as much geophysical information as I thought I would– next week? Hope the fall season is treating you better than our spring! We spent six days pushing pancakes across Drake Lake* to disembark into the worst weather I have experienced personally at Palmer Station. The wind waited for us to finish offloading our most important cargo– mail and fresh food– and one of our twice-yearly shipments of diesel fuel to keep the lights on. Since then it’s been a sustained 40mph blast with gusts reaching nearly 75mph every few minutes. The temperature has risen to the mid-teens but we started the week at 0-degrees Fahrenheit… also known as “F-ing Zero” to those who work outside. Of course, we came to relieve the stalwart winterovers** who remained during the continent’s most trying months in order to maintain both the station and the year-round scientific experiments it shelters. Contrary to what non-Ice folk might suppose, winterovers do not rush the gangway the moment it’s down, begging to go home. Rather they behave like house cats left alone over a long vacation. They seem to walk around the edges of the room, and their standoffishness says they’re glad to see you without compromising their self-respect.

I did feel a small shock when I first looked across Arthur Harbor at our local glacier, the Marr Ice Piedmont. It has changed quite noticeably since my departure last April, deteriorating in large scoops that might indicate underlying land. Without measurements, anything I say about its retreat is pure anecdote and speculation, not evidence. When more knowledgeable people arrive later in the spring, I will write in more detail.

Which one dear friend that did not greet us when we arrived at Anvers Island? The ozone layer! The ozone hole varies seasonally, usually reaching maximum diameter in late September (early spring in the Southern Hemisphere). Please see the British Antarctic Survey site for a thorough yet accessible introduction to the Antarctic ozone, as well as links to terrific images put out by Canada.

*Our name for the infamous Passage during calm seas. The region is known for alternating between extreme storms and equally dramatic periods of total calm.

**Because they stay “over the winter.” Commonwealth countries say “overwinterers,” an awkward word to the American ear.

(Micaela Neus works for Raytheon Polar Services Company as a utilities technician and is currently living at Palmer Station, Antarctica until April 2012.

HISTORICAL BRATTONONLINE PHOTO BIT. Carey Casey writes, “To the left of the Municipal Wharf, you can see pilings of the old Railroad Wharf sticking up out of the sand (a Bratton Online column from about 7-1-2011 ran a 1913 photo showing both wharves). Thanks for the follow-up Carey.

VINTAGE DE CINZO.Mr. DeCinzo peddles the truth…nothing changes in bicycle behavior. Except it gets worse over the years. See below.

EAGANS DEEP COVER. Tim gives us lesson #2 in Class Warfare…below, below.

LANDAU’S PROGRES. Saul’s Progreso Weekly article “American Reality Gaps” states, “Now that the 9/11 celebrations of memories, oaths of determination, endless renditions of God Bless America and Nowhere else, and flying of flags have become old news, my wife and I take an overnight vacation. Driving north on scenic Highway 29 in Napa County, admiring the endless acres of grapes which will magically – and with lots of labor – become wine, I wonder who will drink the millions of gallons, and who can afford to even think about buying a bottle of fermented grape juice costing $15 to $300; if you want to experience a quick sensation of liquid velvet flowing through your mouth and oozing down your throat.

Some of the workers – “illegal aliens” for the Tea Party or “undocumented workers” if you’re politically correct – who pick and process these grapes earn less than minimum wage. Yes Virginia, in flag-flying California’s wine country and other patriotic agricultural zones, American bosses hired lots of low-wage foreign labor. But there’s an upside: lower food and booze prices. The underpaid Mexican worker who picks the grapes helps Mommy afford the smooth white wine she drinks from late morning on as well as the mellow red one she shares with Daddy when he comes home. I assume Tea Partiers would accept $6 an hour doing hard fieldwork – or know solid American citizens who would. I don’t. At that wage, you could fast for two days and not afford a “good” bottle of Napa Valley wine! Read the rest here.

He concludes with…”The richest nation in the world rewards its affluent minority with exciting food tastes, ever-new clothing styles, cars with the comforts of their penthouses, super yachts and unimaginable luxuries – and very low taxes. The unpleasant news doesn’t enter their conversations and indeed it must be hard for the ultra rich to imagine that almost 50 million people living in the same county with them have scant access to medical care and will never get a pension”. Saul Landau is an Institute for Policy Studies fellow whose films are on DVD from roundworldproductions@gmail.com

LISA JENSEN LINKS. Lisa states officially that, “I’m on unofficial hiatus for one more week, gearing up for Open Studios (don’t miss the preview show of all 300+ OS artists now playing at the Art League), the Pacific Rim Film Fest, and everything else that goes on around here during the Fall Arts season. But keep checking Lisa Jensen Online Express (http://ljo-express.blogspot.com/) for updates. Lisa Jensen has been writing film reviews and a column for Good Times since 1975.

MONEYBALL. Brad Pitt was never better…and I’ll bet he’s not going to be this good again. It’s a story about the money and professional sports. It’s cruel, realistic, and still the film has too much Hollywood in it to be great, but do rent it. It’ll make you wonder about your reasons for following professional ball games.

BRIGHTON ROCK. John Hurt and Helen Mirren barely make it to the screen and keep your attention but the plot escaped me. I never did figure out the motivation for the plot. Accidental killing followed by 1 1/2 hours of British accents just wasn’t enough to recommend this one.

CIRCUMSTANCE. Two Iranian 16 year old girls fall in love in Iran. A mess of politics, lots of cultural stuff, and it didn’t justify caring very much about anybody’s life that we were watching. Rent it just for the cultural experience and a view of today’s Iran.

CHARLES WOLTERS SHOW. Jesse Nickell and his wife have put together at least 27 paintings and prints by the late Charles Wolters for a show at her business The Galleria Wellness Center upstairs from Café Mare in suite 250 from 5-8 p.m. AND just one night First Friday Night October 7^th. for details and for Charles bio and community exploits.

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. On Tuesday Sept.27 Brian Spencer and Al Muller talk about The Letters play coming to the Actors Theatre on October 7. Also on the 27^th, ceramic sculptor Peggy Snider discusses her works and Open Studios. UCSC’s Micah Perks talks about a writing event on the campus on October 4^th followed by Davis Banta relating stuff about his production of Sam Shepard’s True West. On October 11 Teresa Landers tells news about The Santa Cruz City Library system. Felicia Rice follows her and will talk about UCSC’s Digital Arts and New Media. Author, actor and acting teacher Joanne Linville will take the entire hour on October 18 to talk about her book Seven Steps to an Acting Craft. County Supervisor John Leopold will again co-host the fall pledge drive on October 25. City Council person Katherine Beiers will be the guest on November 1^st. Followed by Meg Sandow and friend discussing the Homeless Garden Project. The November 8^th Grapevine has former Cabrilho Professor Don Young talking about his book, “The Battle For Snow Mountain”. Do remember, any and all suggestions for future programs are more than welcome so tune in, and keep listening.

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 herehttp://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. Plus 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. Ron Clegg reminded me just how wise Malcolm X. was… “The media’s the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that’s power. Because they control the minds of the masses.” –Malcolm X. “A man who stands for nothing will fall for anything”, Malcolm X.
“I don’t even call it violence when it’s in self defense; I call it intelligence,”Malcolm X