Gwyneth Paltrow and the gang from “Glee” could have been singing about the Bay Area and not some town in suburban Ohio. While the Midwest is digging out from being slammed with pre-Christmas snow, the California Coast is bracing for a full week of rain culminating in a wet—not white—Christmas this year. The two storms headed our way could bring as much as 10 inches of rain to the region, with 2 to 5 inches of rain and 30 to 45 mph gusts of wind tomorrow alone. Santa Cruz and Big Sur are expected to be particularly hard hit.
Articles by Danny Wool
Man Who Left Suspicious Package Identified
Prosecutors are brushing up on their Bible stories now that the SCPD has identified the man who left a suspicious package outside District Attorney Bob Lee’s home.
Robert Norse Wins A New Trial
More than eight and a half years after Robert Norse was ejected from a City Council meeting for giving a Nazi salute, a federal appeals court in San Francisco has ordered a new trial. This offers the homeless activist a new chance to sue then-Mayor Christopher Krohn and City Council for violating his right to free speech, or in Norse’s case, free salute.
Books Not Bombs
The bomb squad was out in force on Tuesday morning after District Attorney Bob Lee reported that a suspicious package was left on his car, which was parked in his driveway on Chilverton Street. Eight adjacent homes were evacuated and a number of nearby streets were closed to traffic as investigators from the sheriff’s office investigated the gift-wrapped package, which was left in a plastic bag. It took two hours before the bomb squad could confirm that the object was actually a book.
Changing Of The Guard
Mike Rotkin received a standing ovation at Tuesday’s City Council meeting. After serving the city for six terms (a total of 26 years, including five as mayor), he was termed out of office. His replacement is Councilmember Ryan Coonerty, who was invested at the meeting. Standing before the City Council and an audience of family and well-wishers, Coonerty said, “My goal, our goal, this year is to give you certainty that if you give that precious gift, Santa Cruz will be a better, stronger community.”
SCPD Launches Volunteer Program
The SCPD is calling on the public to volunteer their time and skills to help keep Santa Cruz safe. Community members will be able to engage in all facets of police work,while freeing up officers to focus on the most critical needs of the community. Police volunteers will be able to participate in everything from recordkeeping to investigations to maintaining police vehicles. They’ll also be able to participate in community service initiatives.
Race Brings in 500 Toys for Tots
Runners and walkers spread out across the levee on Sunday for the third annual Jingle Bell Rock 5K race.
Helping Out with Pocket Change
As Christmas fast approaches, the Salvation Army is coming out in force, asking passerby to donate their pocket change to help the needy this holiday season. A penny here, a nickel there, a quarter every so often all help, but one donation topped them all. In Watsonville an anonymous donor dropped a Canadian gold dollar into the collection kettle. The coin is believed to be worth between $1,000 and $1,500 dollars.
Snow Night in Santa Cruz
It snowed last night in Santa Cruz, or more precisely, in a one-block area downtown. The annual event, used to promote the Second Harvest Food Bank, was hosted by the Downtown Association and sponsored by the Santa Cruz Dads Group. Revelers, allotted 10 minutes each in the snow-covered, haybale-enclosed section of street, were asked to bring a can of food to support the food bank’s efforts.
New Chief for SCPD
Interim police chief Kevin Vogel, 47, has been named the new chief of police for the city of Santa Cruz.
