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From the Editor

Wednesday, 04 November 2009 14:57 Greg Archer Columns - Editors Note
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greg_archerS2sPlus Letters to Good Times...
What A Drag
In the Stars
Health Scares

November is here and it kicks off a month full of promising activities. Of course, the theme of the month is gratitude—leading to the all-empowering and downright gastro-orgasmic event known as Thanksgiving. In the coming weeks, turn to GT as we spotlight a number of locals, nonprofits and other entities striving to make a positive difference in the lives of others. Some things I came across in my travels this week that are certainly worthy of sharing: The No on Prop 8 fundraiser, sponsored by the Diversity Center in Santa Cruz. The good news is that the event unfolds at Kianti’s Pizza & Pasta Bar at 6 p.m., Nov. 17.  Kianti’s plans on donating 10 percent of its total sales that evening to the cause. See kiantis.com for more information. One more event to note: It’s the book release party of “Tribal Revival,” created by the great local photographer Kyer Wiltshire. The fun unravels at 8 p.m., Friday Nov. 6 at the Vets Hall in Santa Cruz.

Certainly this week’s cover story features a wide variety of locals doing good with their own talents. One year after it opened to enthusiastic reviews, The Tannery Arts Center has morphed into a passionate portal for creativity. This week, News Editor Elizabeth Limbach takes a look at what’s developed in a year’s time and highlights what hurdles lie ahead for the multi-million dollar live/work space. Read on.

It’s not the most exciting news, but bear with me while I announce our ... HOLIDAY DEADLINES: GT offices will be closed Nov. 26-27 for the Thanksgiving Holiday. Take note of the following holiday deadlines, which will be in effect for the Wednesday, Nov. 25 issue: Display, Class Display, Bulletin Board and Classified ads:  3 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 19. Calendar: noon, Tuesday, Nov. 17.  The following deadlines will be in effect for the Thursday, Dec. 3 issue: Display, Class Display and Bulletin Board: 3 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 25. Classified ads: 10 a.m., Monday, Nov 30. Calendar: noon Monday, Nov 23.

Some sad news to report: Well-known writer and poet Morton Marcus passed away last week. An active member in the arts community, Marcus’s life—and his many contributions—are featured in Lisa Jensen’s spotlight.

Greg Archer
Editor

Letters to Good Times Editor

What A Drag
Regarding the “Puffed Out” letter about the smoking ban, I cannot believe you print letters like these without hearing from the other side. I believe this is the second one I have seen. I am hurt. The writer compares auto exhaust to tobacco smoke. I don't believe I have heard that cigarettes have anti-pollution devices (catalytic converters, etc.) on them as do autos. He compares smoking tobacco to the ingestion of alcohol. When people drink alcohol near me, it does not enter my body. Tobacco smoke does and it makes me very, very ill.
I have attempted to enjoy Pacific Avenue in Santa Cruz repeatedly in past months and I have been unable to breathe freely because the smoke has been so thick. I can only hold my breath so long as I try to walk past and through tobacco smoke. It spreads and spreads. I do not want this in my body.
Smokers act as if they are being deprived and losing civil liberties but they do not care what they are doing to other people. Recently a friend and I tried to enjoy an ice cream at the Stone Cold Creamery on Pacific Avenue. We had to get up and leave because the tobacco smoke coming through the door made us ill. How self-centered is it when a smoker feels deprived of enjoyment of a good smoke when it is hurting the people around them? I mean hurting in the moment, not just the long-term chance of cancer, but in actual nausea. I hope you print this, but if you do not please stop giving an ear to the uncaring complaints from smokers who stink up the air.
Jeanmarie Delaney
Samta Cruz

In the Stars
In response to “Risa’s Stars,” I would like to mention that, first off, if it is true what scientists and physicists are proving right now of everything we think of we manifest into our existence daily. It’s what all great saints, gurus and avatars, even Jesus’s messages, are trying to tell us.
Whatever we can conceive we can achieve, right? My thing is some people believe in this truth, but don't practice them and are always complaining about their lives. I truly believe that if someone tries to cause goodness for others to know of this truth, it will happen.
With the energy that we are and create everything else that has life is the same energy that creates matter to clump together to manifest our thoughts into existence. If the scientists and physicists also knew this, they would create ways to awaken others to this reality, and thus the world would recognize finally we are in contact with the Great Creator. Peace will finally manifest on Earth. Instead of creating new diseases and pains of the body that don't exist. We are beings of pure light that will never deteriorate, but live as long as we choose. 
Frank Lopez
Santa Cruz

Health Scares
Just a note of appreciation for publishing Lisa Jensen's column (“Universal Health (S)care,” GT 10/22). How refreshing it was to read a spirited outspoken argument for health care reform, rather than the cringing defensive statements which seem to have dominated the print media so far.
I have lived under four universal health care systems during my working life, in the U.K., Germany, Japan, and Australia, and all were streets ahead of what is euphemistically described as “the system” here in America. So good was the Australian system that my American wife flew back there twice to consult her gynecologist rather than submit to the procedure-driven system here.
I was 24 years old when my father died at 49 following a long illness contracted after a lifetime’s work in the coal mines of Britain, and 25 when my mother contracted the cancer that would kill her 12 months later. Both these illnesses would have driven my mother, and then me, into bankruptcy in America. Under the British National Health Scheme, my mother was able to live out her last four years in comparative comfort rather than abject poverty, and I was able to complete my education. I, in return, paid into a system I never used for many years afterward, happy that I was healthy enough not to use it, and in the knowledge that my contributions were going to help ease the last months or years of some other unlucky person.
Jensen speaks the truth when she states that what is needed here is “a shared sense of responsibility” and, yes, some compassion—values America seems in danger of losing, judging by what I've seen and heard during this debate. This is not the open, generous, caring, country I came to 30 years ago.
Malcolm Rigby
Santa Cruz

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