UCSC students look to preserve long term state aid

The Student Union Assembly (SUA) has begun a campaign to protect Cal Grants, a form of financial aid available for California college students that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger proposed eliminating last spring.

Their campaign to protect the grant began last week as part of their “week of action” as SUA members gathered in the Baytree Plaza. They encouraged people to fill out yellow slips of paper to show their support.  Members called the week “a success” and are now going into classrooms, asking people to fill out more of the paper slips.  So far, they have accumulated 1,400.

Watsonville Mayor Pro Tem Luis Alejo has been endorsed by all seven Santa Cruz City Council members in his 28th Assembly District bid, as well as all five members of the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors. Alejo, a democrat, has also received several other major endorsements including 27th District Assemblyman Bill Monning, women's and civil rights leader Dolores Huerta, and former California Supreme Court Justice Cruz Reynoso, to name a few.

Alejo was born and raised in Watsonville by his family of migrant farm workers who came to the area in the 1950s. He graduated with honors from UC Berkeley with a double major in political science and Chicano studies. He  then obtained his master's of education from Harvard University and his law degree from UC Davis School of Law.

The 28th Assembly District is composed of parts of Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Clara counties.

Alejo is holding his Santa Cruz kick-off Sunday, Nov. 8, at the Darling House Bed & Breakfast at 314 West Cliff Dr., between 2 and 4 p.m..

Several structures of historical significance on the UC Santa Cruz campus and in nearby Pogonip park were officially entered into the National Register of Historic Places in a ceremony on Friday, Oct. 30. The area received the honor because of its long history in the lime industry—several preserved buildings on the UCSC campus house historical lime kilns, helping to preserve the legacy of when Santa Cruz was once the largest exporter of lime in California.

As the sun set over UC Santa Cruz on Oct. 30, community members gathered to recognize the school’s rich history.

Several structures on campus and the nearby Pogonip City Park have been entered into the National Register for Historic Places because of their significance in California’s limestone industry. The entire district covers 30 acres and includes the granary, now a childcare center; the Cook House, now the admissions office; the Cardiff House, now the women’s center; and other buildings including several lime kilns.

Friday’s event was held at the base of campus near many of the historic buildings. Chancellor George Blumenthal, County Supervisor Neal Coonerty, Former Assemblyman John Laird, and Friends of the Cowell Lime Works President Frank Perry spoke at the ceremony. The event was held to unveil a plaque outside the Cook House honoring UCSC’s inclusion to the list.

The Capitola Theater, long ago the Capitola Hotel that tragically burned to the ground in 1929, seems destined for a re-incarnation closer to its former self.

Developer Barry Swenson Builder plans to tear down the boarded up Capitola Theater to make way for a new hotel on the property before the end of the year.  While the theater, which remained basically unchanged during its operation from 1948 to 1996, is well regarded by nostalgic citizens there is little in the actual design of the building to qualify it for listing in the National Register of Historic Places or the California Register of Historic Resources.

Developers, owners, and town councilmen alike hope that the new hotel will be a centerpiece for Capitola Village and a new source of economic growth.

Sanjiv Kakkar, new owner of the Brookdale Inn and Spa, was arrested on multiple charges by detectives on Oct. 19.

According to the district attorney's office Kakkar was arrested on suspicion of not having workers compensation insurance, paying workers with bad checks, and failing to pay an employee's medical bill after he was hurt on the job.

Kakkar is also under investigation for a fire in August that burned 20 apartments and four cars at the lodge in August, the death of a local man, 35, just days after he fell into a construction hole near the lodge's pool in September, and many unpaid bills.

Kakkar was released on $75,000 dollar bail the evening of his arrest and continues to manage the once famous property.

Water restrictions will be lifted for Santa Cruz City water customers as of Nov. 1. The restriction that was put in place in May of this year limited outdoor irrigation to two days due to three consecutive dry winters for California. The goal of these restrictions was to reduce the demand for city water by 15 percent, therefore preserving our local reservoirs. Santa Cruz City water customers have saved 14 percent of water since the restrictions were put in place and although the ban will be lifted, a water conservation Representative for the Santa Cruz Water Department, Clara Cartwright, still encourages customers to “continue using water wisely.”

UC Santa CRUz has been nominated for the honor of  Most Vegetarian-Friendly College, a contest run by Peta2, the “world’s largest youth animal rights organization.” UCSC is one of 32 nominees in Peta2’s fourth annual contest, chosen for its outstanding selection of vegan and vegetarian options in school dining halls and restaurants. To vote for UCSC, visit peta2.com/college.