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From the Editor

Thursday, 05 August 2010 13:20 Greg Archer Columns - Editors Note
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greg_archerS2sPlus Letters to Good Times
The Beat Goes On
Curtain Up
August has blown in and so have the fall fashions. That only means one thing for GT’s  Features Editor, Christa Martin—compiling our annual Fashion Issue. And this year has proven to be our biggest fashion endeavor yet. Local designers, local fashionistas, local fashions—and more ... it’s all here. There are perks, too—as in prizes. See the end of the cover story for that information, or check on page three. Beyond that, if you already haven’t done so, visit GT’s Obsessive Beauty blog online, which Martin and GT scribe Leslie Patrick launched earlier this year. There’s more—so dive in and enjoy.

(Actually, there’s more online exclusives this week with Danny Keith’s report on a new sensation: Tarp Suring. Also on our site: GT’s preview of “Othello,” which opens at Shakespeare Santa Cruz.)

Elsewhere in this issue, The Rio Theatre’s own Laurence Bedford hits a milestone as his revamped entertainment venue reaches its 10-year anniversary. There are many things that have made the Rio special to Santa Cruz over the decades and after everything faded to black for it as a first-run movie theater, Bedford breathed new life into the landmark, ushering in live performance, film festivals and more. But what does it take to keep that baby operating? Learn about Bedford’s journey.

This week also offers the second extraordinary weekend of the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music. Kudos to the creative team of the festival for creating another superior season.

In other news, take note, too, of some of the online comments we received from last week’s “Rearranging Rape” story. The story reported on the closing of the 30-year-old Rape Prevention Education center at UC Santa Cruz. Continue to send us your thoughts on the matter to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

In the meantime, have some good times this week. Thanks for reading. More soon ...

Greg Archer | Editor-in-Chief

Letters to Good Times Editor
The Beat Goes On
Regarding the reports on the Farmers’ Market, what used to be referred to as the Santa Cruz Farmer's Market Drum Circle has been forced to bounce from spot to spot since they were crowded out by the recent expansion of the market last spring. The Drum Circle has had its battles with the police over the past couple of years. It had been fenced closed week after week but the drummers would remove it and continue to play as they have for 10 years. Eventually, folks (Jack Rusk and Wes Modes) had been arrested as they drummed in solidarity with the regulars but the weekly ritual remained and maintained this non-violent creative community activity. I had drummed with them for many years and have acted as an advocate for them several times as a liaison with the market management, police sgt. Mike Harms and the drum circle. I helped create the list of guidelines that hung on the trees for the past year.
I admit, I haven't been drumming with the drum circle since they've begun to inhabit the spot along the river levee at Soquel Avenue, beside the bank and across the street from CVS.  I do check up on it from time to time and I've been getting weekly reports. The police have been unobtrusive and kind. There have been no warnings or complaints or problems from what I've heard. If there has been a problem at all it is that some folks have been camping there full time. But now that there is Peace Camp 2010 at the county building just a quarter mile up the river, the city has taken an inhospitable and highly oppressive maneuver and have cut down all of the trees in the area where the weekly drum circle had been enjoying its new home. Two signs had been cemented into the ground reading "Demonstration Garden AREA CLOSED KEEP OUT scmc 13.04.010:13.04.01" Both of these signs have since been removed.
On Wednesday, July 28, the drummers had migrated down river to the area of the levee path adjacent to the parking lot at the Yoga Center. They were happy, sober, non-violent and friendly as ever. The drumming was good too. 
When will Santa Cruz as a city and community finally allow these good people a neutral spot where they may play drums together peaceably for a four-hour block just once each week? I think we can do that.
Brent Adams
Santa Cruz

Curtain Up
I appreciate the coverage of the local arts, especially during a time when the economy seems to have tanked and there doesn’t appear to be much change on the horizon. I’ve been attending some of the summer festivals and was very happy to see that there have been big turnouts at shows like “Cabaret” at Cabrillo Stage and “Love’s Labor’s Lost” at Shakespeare Santa Cruz. I think it’s really vital that we, as a community, continue to support these amazing programs and keep them afloat. I can’t really imagine not having them here—they’re such a vital part of the community and the artistic framework of our unique area.
Jennifer Smith
Santa Cruz
Comments (1)Add Comment
Some nerve
written by Ash, August 05, 2010
You have some nerve publishing the story on yogis misbehaving. After all that has been done for you, in support of your paper, this is how you treat a local devoted community member? I will no longer read in or financially support this trashy news source!

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Making the Grade

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What’s your secret to avoiding the summer swarms?