Santa Cruz has launched a trolley to shuttle riders from downtown to the beach. This is the second time that the trolley has been launched, and though it has only run for a short time, it is already a popular destination in its own right.
Articles by Danny Wool
Good News for County Farmers
Crops in Santa Cruz County were valued at a record-breaking $532 million in 2010, $40 million more than in 2009. The most important crop was strawberries, which were worth $197 million. Raspberries, the second most valuable crop, were valued at less than half that at $91 million, with blackberries, miscellaneous vegetables, flowers and apples accounting for most of the remaining crops.
Budget Passes, But Few Rejoice
Gov. Jerry Brown’s new budget, approved yesterday, assumes that the state can bring in $4 billion in new revenues, with two possible contingency plans if these revenues amount to less. Since no agreement was reached with Republicans on a special election to extend existing tax hikes, the state is looking at extensive deferments in education funding that will affect K-12, community colleges and the UC and CSU systems. The extra revenue is projected to come in from the enforcement of a sales tax on online vendors and a $12 car registration fee. Most controversial, however, is the decision to take $1.7 billion from redevelopment agencies statewide. This effectively ends the role that redevelopment agencies have traditionally played in improving services for local communities.
Boy Severely Injured in Sand Tunnel Collapse
Ryan Buchanan, 17, is in critical condition after a sand tunnel that he and a friend were digging at Sunset State Beach collapsed on them.
Mandolins at UCSC
Bill Monroe, the legendary father of bluegrass, was one of the earliest musicians in the U.S. to bring the mandolin into the mainstream. Though it never approached the ubiquity of the guitar, the instrument has grown in popularity since then and even made the transition to rock, thanks in part to the Band’s Levon Helm and later Rod Stewart (who can forget the mandolin riff in “Maggie May?”)—and yes, even a couple of Grateful Dead songs (“Friend Of The Devil” and “Ripple”). Most of all, the mandolin has acquired an eclectic group of ardent fans who strum, pluck, and play the mandolin both professionally and for fun. Many of them are at UCSC this week for the eighth annual Mandolin Symposium.
Maybe in Florida, Lady, But Not Here
Cheryl L. Beauchamp, 34, from Tampa, Fla., was exploring Santa Cruz on foot last Thursday, taking a walk along Highway 17.
New Stow Video Surfaces
TMZ has just released a video of what appears to be Bryan Stow at the Dodgers-Giants game in which he was brutally attacked. The video shows Stow in the bleachers, arguing with a Dodgers fan. At one point, the fan has a finger just inches away from Stow’s face.
Study: Marine Life Population Rich But Fragile
Seasonal tourists are flocking to California, and they’re coming for the food, especially the seafood. While that may not be news to many, it is when you consider that these tourists are big ocean predators like sharks and seals and tortoises. Yes, tortoises. Even they have to eat, and they happen to like fish.
Cutting Out Wine
Due to budget cuts, Cabrillo College will no longer be offering its selection of classes on wines in the 2011-2012 school year. The news comes as a blow to students studying to become wine stewards, but also to local viticulturists, who depend on people with a trained appreciation of wine. Wine-making is becoming increasingly important to the county, with 20 new wineries founded in Santa Cruz County over the past few years.
Dess Makes Bail
Elliott Dess, 21, appeared in court in shackles and an orange prison jump suit on Tuesday. Arrested for causing the death of bicycle courier Zachary Parke, Dess hoped the judge would lower his bail of $100,000. The judge refused, but Dess still managed to post bail later in the day.
