As the current budget crisis has shown, public libraries are one of the first services to take a hit when the economy is down. Just last month Santa Cruz County was forced to cut back on hours, programming, and even staff to meet the most recent cuts in funding. Their salvation came from an unexpected sources—volunteers, who have been flooding public libraries asking to help out. Countywide, volunteers have increased 75 percent, totaling 16,000 hours.
News
School Districts Uniting to Lobby Sacramento
Representatives of six Santa Cruz County school districts met on Thursday to form a steering committee for a proposed new Santa Cruz County School Boards Association. Like other associations throughout the state, the group plans to use their combined power to face state legislators with a unified voice, particularly in matters relating to the local education budget.
Good News for Santa Cruz Nonprofits
Faced with a 25 percent across-the-board cut in municipal funding, Santa Cruz nonprofits received some good news on Thursday. The Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County announced that it is giving almost $750,000 to a wide range of nonprofits that provide safety-net services for the local community.
Water Conservation No Longer Optional
Why should anyone care if California salmon, or local fishermen, go the way of the dodo? Can’t we just buy fish from Alaska? And what’s wrong with the farmed stuff, anyway? Because of economic suffering in the Central Valley, some are calling for an end to environmental protections for California’s once-mighty salmon runs.
Ten Questions for Becky Olvera Schultz
Artist Becky Olvera Schultz on how she got to Santa Cruz, what bugs her and what she’d be doing if she had all the time in the world.
Shop Capitola Campaign Taking Shape
Following the example of Santa Cruz’s Think Local First campaign, the city of Capitola is now urging citizens to “Shop Capitola” and support local businesses. Shoppers should expect to see the emblem of a red and white life preserver popping up all around the city.
Thousands Left Without Power
A Pacific Gas and Electric power line that fell at a Chanticleer Avenue substation yesterday knocked out the power for 12,000 customers and brought traffic to a slow crawl as people headed home on their evening commute.
Skimboarders Blamed for Environmental Damage at Corcoran Lagoon
Wildlife has been dying at the Corcoran Lagoon, along the Santa Cruz County coastline. According to neighbors, the culprits are skimboarders, who dig trenches from the lagoon to the ocean so that they can ride the waves as the waters rush out of the lagoon.
Raspberries Make up for Strawberries’ Decline
Strawberries are still Santa Cruz County’s biggest crop. Valued at over $160 million, they account for over one-third of the county’s total agricultural production. But with a drop in prices and crop rotation between Santa Cruz and Monterey counties, their value has dropped by $36 million since 2007. Farmers aren’t worried though, because raspberries have picked up the slack, increasing in value by $35 million.
Santa Cruz Fencers Practice Swordplay
The clash of steel and the patter and squeak of athletic shoes fill the Waldorf High School gym. People wearing white and full of energy dance forward and backward, trying to catch their opponents off guard or waiting for the most opportune moment to attack. A beeping sound accompanied by a red or green light on the scoring machine resting on a chair identifies the winner of the point, or touché. (With slide show)
