This November, Hammer, a fourth generation San Lorenzo Valley resident and Boulder Creek Parks District board member, squares off against the ridiculously experienced former California Secretary of State Bruce McPherson for the supervisor position.
News
California Online Voter Registration Launches
“Today, the Internet replaces mailboxes for thousands of Californians wishing to register to vote.” That was California Secretary of State Debra Bowen at a press conference Wednesday, speaking about California’s new online voter registration system, which launched last week.
New GMO Study Bolsters Prop. 37 Supporters
The pro-Prop. 37 camp, which has a strong base in Santa Cruz, has some new ammunition in support of their cause, even as polls show them cruising to victory in their effort to mandate labeling of genetically modified food.
Santa Cruz’s Best Burritos
When I first moved to Santa Cruz for school, I remember looking out my parents’ car window and deciding to try to eat at every single Santa Cruz taqueria in search of the town’s best burrito. Even as a Southern California native, I was amazed by the high per capita ratio of burrito places to everything else.
Six years later, I’ve been to at least two dozen burrito places around the county, taking pointers from friends and Internet clues. Finally, I’m ready to name my favorites.
Santa Cruz’s Unusual ‘Party House’ Enforcement
Santa Cruz is a complicated rental market, and many people still don’t realize that the SCPD now keeps a list of “Loud/Unruly Addresses” that can be viewed on the police department’s website. A house can land on the list by throwing a party an officer deems disruptive to the neighborhood, says SCPD lieutenant and official “party advisor” Colleen McMahon. The designation lasts for a full year, and stays with the house, not the residents, so unfortunately it is relatively common for the rowdy renters to move out, leaving new tenants to suffer the consequences.
Oktoberfest at Davenport Roadhouse
Bring a major thirst and a sense of fun to the Davenport Roadhouse Restaurant and Inn on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 29 and 30, for an outdoor spectacle of great food, beer, live music and lots of stuff to make the kids happy. The event, by the way, helps to raise funds for beach clean-up efforts in Santa Cruz, called Tip the Ocean—developed by LiVBLUE in partnership with the Davenport Roadhouse and Save Our Shores.
TEDx Brings in Big Names, Ideas
TEDx Santa Cruz (Sat. Sept. 15) brought several of the big-name speakers and bombshell moments the conference is known for. There were also some subtle messages that deserve props.
Helium Shortage Puts a Pinch on Business
Nita Robertson has owned Santa Cruz Floral on Ocean Street with her husband Bruce for more than 10 years. But in May, she ran into something that had never come up before: when she called her local helium supplier to stock up for the graduation rush, she was told none was available. A few more calls made it clear how dire the situation actually was: none was available anywhere.
Letters to the Editor: Sep. 19-25
Readers share their thoughts on desalination and the city’s changes to the bike distribution program.
Aptos Neighbors Worry About Safeway Growth
If Safeway goes through with plans to nearly double its Aptos store’s size, Rodney Hoffer says the possible megamarket-to-be would look “real nice.” The most recent sketches show brown wooden timbers and stilts to give the one-stop shopping destination somewhat of a mountain-cabin atmosphere. “At least it’s it not going to look like a box like the one on 41st Avenue,” says Hoffer, owner of Ace Hardware, currently in the Rancho Del Mar complex, which Safeway bought this year.
