SANTA CRUZ > Celebrate Earth Day in style with any of these Santa Cruz events

Santa Cruz Earth Day 2012 Festival
When: Saturday, April 21, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Where: San Lorenzo Park, 137 Dakota St., Santa Cruz

The annual Earth Day festival will host more than 90 educational and retail booths, with green living workshops featured prominently. A slew of electric vehicles will also be on display, courtesy of the Monterey Bay EV Alliance and the Electric Auto Association of the Central Coast. Live music on a solar powered stage and delicious food round out the whole package.

Save our Shores Earth Day Cleanup
When: Saturday, April 21, 10 a.m. - noon
Where: For a list of cleanup locations, go to Saveourshores.org

The Adopt-a-Levee program, a partnership between Save our Shores, the City of Santa Cruz, and six local business and civic groups is organizing a cleanup of beach and river locations in Monterey and Santa Cruz. Seven scheduled beach and river cleanups make this the largest cleanup to hit the Monterey Bay area. Cleanup materials will be provided, but participants are encouraged to bring their own.

SANTA CRUZ > Former mayors rally for vote on water options

About 40 desalination plant critics gathered on West Cliff Drive on Saturday, April 7 to demand the right to vote on the proposed project. Santa Cruz Water Department officials estimate the plant will cost between $70 and $140 million, which will be largely financed by bonds. Right To Vote On Desalination (RTOVD) spokesperson Paul Gratz says that local residents should have the right to vote any time tax dollars are used to construct or maintain the plant.

NASA technology is making its way into luxury gyms across the country in the form of an anti-gravity treadmill known as the AlterG. The treadmill allows users to walk or run with as little as 20 percent of their body weight. The technology was originally developed by Dr. Robert Whalen for NASA as a way for astronauts to exercise effectively, both in space and when they return home.This space-age machinery is ideal for people who are recovering from injuries or recent surgeries, or for those whose excessive weight makes traditional treadmills near impossible.

Actors’ Theatre’s latest offering, ‘The Property Known as Garland,’ cuts to the core of Judy Garland’s character

It takes one ambitious lady—not to mention, talented actor—to tackle the inner workings of a notorious character like Judy Garland. But local thespian Irene Tsouprake Teegardin was up to the task.

Garland, known to most as the wide-eyed Dorothy in Victor Fleming’s 1939 film, The Wizard of Oz, lived a life filled with critically acclaimed performances in the film industry and record-breaking concert appearances. However, she also battled insecurities about her appearance—thanks in part to the executives at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)—financial woes, failed marriages, and alcohol and drug abuse. The latter of which, eventually led to her demise at age 47.

GT's photo intern, Sal Ingram, captured some of the action at the 26th annual Santa Cruz Paddle Festival and locals celebrating St. Patrick's Day in this installment of "Around Town."

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Youth smoking rates have not declined since 2004

Classy, cool, badass, sophisticated—nobody thinks of smoking in these terms anymore. Or so we thought. The recent release of the Surgeon General’s first report on youth smoking since 1994 unearthed some surprising realities, such as that, although the percentage of youth smokers under 18 years old had been steadily declining since 1997, progress rates stalled in 2004 and have not decreased since then.

The trend of stalled progress rings true here in Santa Cruz County, where youth smoking has also not declined since 2004. According to the Santa Cruz County Tobacco Education Coalition, 40 percent of middle school and high school students report having tried cigarettes. “Smoking sort of goes with the town’s chill, beachy vibe,” local student Stephanie, who gave only her first name, opines.

SLUG REPORT > Pew grant awarded to Santa Cruz’s Stephan Munch

This year, the Pew Environment Group awarded the 2012 PEW Fellowship grant to six marine science specialists working in the field of environmental research. Stephan Munch, Ph.D, one of the six recipients of the award, is a faculty researcher at UC Santa Cruz and a fisheries ecologist at the National Marine Fisheries Agency, which is located near Natural Bridges.

The estate of the late Cecil Carnes revitalizes performing arts and music program

Phil Collins didn't expect his project to have legs. But New Music Works has been a runaway success thanks in no small part to Cecil Carnes, who donated her estate to the music and performing arts organization upon her death in 2011.

“I never thought of New Music Works as having staying power beyond what I was able to put into it,” Collins says.

Founded in 1979 by five composers, including artistic director Collins (who’s served in that position since 1982), New Music Works organizes concert series and is “dedicated to presenting music of our time in concert,” according to their website.

Carnes offered her estate to New Music Works back in 1997, at a musical function.

Check out our new photo intern Sal Ingram's "Around Town" project, wherein he takes photos at various events in the county.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

Lymphatic treatment with local massage therapist Miriam Janove

The mind/body connection that inspired this blog series becomes all too real to me when a stressful workweek results in a persistent headache or unbearable neck and shoulder tension. There are many ways I cope with this strain—exercise, baths, yoga, wine (the latter of which might not be doctor approved…)—but the ultimate solution is a session with Miriam Janove, the certified massage therapist behind Santa Cruz Bodywork and a guaranteed muscle melter.