Local benefit held for artist Marc Gould
When a vacation in the Mt. Hamilton countryside ended tragically on Sunday, June 27 with a fire and three friends being airlifted to a trauma center for second- and third-degree burns, few people thought 57-year-old Aptos artist Marc Gould would never paint again, let alone survive.

Fortunately, after three skin grafting procedures for his arms and hands, and a great amount of pain medication, Marc left the hospital on July 13 and is undergoing physical therapy in Oakland.

Since the accident, the Santa Cruz art community has rallied behind him and organized a benefit art show in his honor to be held at The Mill Gallery on Aug. 6. At the exhibition, guests will hear live music, have the opportunity to purchase some of Marc’s art or other community artists’ works and participate in a raffle with prizes donated by local businesses. All proceeds will go to Marc’s recovery costs, hospital bills and living expenses.

This year’s Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music blends the historical with the cutting edge
At the ripe old age of 48, the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music (CFCM) somewhat paradoxically maintains a longstanding tradition of modernity. This year’s lineup reflects that dichotomy: Attendees will hear the works of newer composers like Jennifer Higdon as well as those of time-tested artists like George Walker, and cello virtuoso Wendy Sutter, who will play the contemporary music of avant-garde composer Philip Glass.

GT recently spoke with Higdon, Walker and Sutter about what we can look forward to—and back upon—at this year’s festival.

The curtain finally rises for Shakespeare Santa Cruz
When Marco Barricelli took over as artistic director of Shakespeare Santa Cruz for Paul Whitworth in 2008, theatergoers lined up to find out what the Julliard School graduate and American Conservatory Theatre veteran had up his sleeve. But while we’ve witnessed the festival’s transformation under his directing leadership, we have yet to see the world-renowned thespian be given the opportunity to embrace his first love: acting. Fortunately, that two-year drought ends on July 20, with James Goldman’s “The Lion in Winter.”

GT catches up with Kirby Scudder and Mark Halfmoon while they’re on the road
Joni Mitchell, the Beach Boys, The Mamas & The Papas, the Eagles, Tupac and Katy Perry have one thing in common: They have all sang about California. But what inspired these myriad artists to profess their love for the Golden State? Local artist Kirby Scudder and filmmaker Mark Halfmoon are in the process of making an educated guess.

When GT caught up with our real-time documentarians in May, they were about to embark on a counterclockwise road trip around California to find out what inspires people about the state. On a mission to disprove the pessimistic image of Californians in the media, Scudder and Halfmoon hoped to provide an outlet for locals to share their passion and experiences.

Local fitness trainer whips us into shape with her new book
Atkins, Weight Watchers, Jared from Subway—these days everyone seems to have an answer to your weight loss problem. But whom should we listen to, now that it’s barbeque season?

As much as she hates to burst your bubble, local Toadal Fitness trainer and now self-published author, Rebecca Rovay-Hazelton is here to discredit one-size-fits-all health plans and offer tips for guiltless summertime grilling.

In her debut self-help book “Choosing Health,” released this May, Rovay-Hazelton uses her knowledge as a licensed American Health Science University Lifestyle and Weight Management Consultant, to give you the lowdown on the pitfalls of dieting.

Local designers team up for a fashion show at Stripe
Roughed up hair, gorgeous painted faces, ruffled frocks, modern, cutting-edge leather accessories—it all makes for the type of fashion shoot you’d see in Vogue magazine. Or, you can just walk down the street and see such innovative fashionable concepts come to life at Stripe, as the one-year-old popular clothing and housewares boutique in Downtown Santa Cruz, debuts its first runway show at 8 p.m. Friday, July 9 at 107 Walnut Ave. (Doors open at 6 p.m., and tickets are $10.)

What makes this fashion show different than some of its predecessors in town is that the team behind it have been planning this project for months, and they’re going for genuine fashion—no thesis student art projects here—rather, you’re going to get a taste of something you might find at Bryant Park during fashion week in New York, meaning that this is indeed something you’ve never seen before in Santa Cruz.

Corey Feldman opens up about the late Corey Haim, ‘The Lost Boys’ and connecting with fans
If there is one movie made in or associated with Santa Cruz that is probably the most universally recognized and beloved at the same time, it is the 1987 cult classic The Lost Boys. Having sunk its fangs into fans new and old over the course of more than two decades, the film seems to grow in popularity with each passing year and successive generation that grows up watching it.

Local writer and performer Patrice Vecchione brings her one-woman show home
Coming of age at 50 is different from coming of age as a young woman. And coming home at the age of 50 has a power all of its own. After experiencing a sell-out run in Monterey—with standing ovations following each performance—local playwright and performer Patrice Vecchione says of her new one-woman show, “Now I’m ready to bring this home.”

Editor’s note: The poems of Lisa Ortiz have appeared in “Zyzzyva,” “Comstock Review,” “The Dirty Napkin,” “Pedestal,” and “Crab Creek Review.” She was a recipient of a 2007 and 2008 Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg prize, and her work has been featured on “Verse Daily.”