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From The Editor

Tuesday, 28 August 2012 15:27 Greg Archer Columns - Editors Note
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Greg 12Plus Letters To The EDITOR

The tourist season is coming to a close as we head to Labor Day weekend. So, whatever you think about the many fine visitors that beseige our area during the summer months, we can all agree that they do manage to have a positive impact here. They also get to see and experience quite a bit of Santa Cruz County culture. But what about you?

It’s the question GT scribe Kim Luke asks in this week’s cover story where she boldly—and, of course, humorously—tells us how to put the “U” back in tourist. In her engaging read, La Luke guides us through a number of local enterprises that each showcase a unique part of the local sccene—from bike tours to historic walking tours and beyond. How well do you know the area in which you find yourself living? Dive in. Have some fun. Turn to page 12 for the full report.
Elsewhere, in News we learn more about what is unfolding in the local charter school system. As students head back to school—all schools—we discover what might stand out this year.  Also in news is a report from News Editor Elizabeth Limbach who reveals why local artist Andrew Purchin is on a unique mission to unite art with politics, and the interesting results that lie therein.
From News, we head to a fascinating tale over in A&E, where one local’s mission to explore California missions on horseback is capturing quite a bit of interest. Read on.
In the meantime, with the three-day weekend coming up, perhaps it’s the perfect time to assess the creative fruits of your own labors. Few would argue that 2012 has turned into an action-packed, if not completely sobering, year for so many. Now, with only four months left before the new year—or, as the spiritually curious like to dub it, a “new age”—it might be wise to take some time and ponder what you want the next year of your life—or the next five—to really look like.
Have fun with that ...
More next time ...
Greg Archer | Editor-in-Chief

Letters to the Editor

Enlightening ‘Youth Gangs’ Read
Thank you Dan Woo for the article focusing on the activities local agencies and programs provide to help young people make healthy decisions (GT 8/23). However, there are two corrections that need to be made to the article. Yolanda Henry is Program Director of Familia Center, a program of Community Bridges. The Neighbors of Lower Ocean (NOLO) is a neighborhood association and they do not have an executive director. They meet regularly at the Resource Center for Nonviolence. Again thank you for highlighting the work of Barrios Unidos and Familia Center.
Yolanda Henry
Santa Cruz
Online Comments
On ‘Youth Gangs’  ...
I believe in an ever more aggressive form of educational support (i.e. schools/families) to take out glamour joining gangs and prove how truly stupid it really is. I applaud these organizations for taking up this effort, but wish the local schools/families would a join in, with discussion with an effective education/support system. Speakers of former gang members perhaps, part of it to show how dumb it is to believe what they see in movies is reality. Show it is noble to "rat out" gang members because this is serious community/civil issue which often leads to senseless tragedy.
—Bill Smallman

I am a mom of a 14 year old boy. When I hear about gang and kids getting shot I get angry, then I cry. I think that someone should force young potential gang members to be with the mother of the deceased the first 72 hours, to see first hand what violence causes and be with her to hear her cries in the middle of the day or night. Force them to go to the funeral.
—No Name

On the ‘Santa Cruz History Tour’  ..
This idea could benefit from talking with local historians Traci Bliss and Judy Steen as well as Carolyn Swift (Capitola and Soquel). These women gave a famous presentation at the Association of Realtors earlier this year. Our area is rich in history and making it fun to hear about is a great way to educate.
—Bettsy Tyler

Cool! Place-based education is where it is at, and people want to do what the locals do when they visit places. There are quite a few of us who have "official local" certificates after taking two semesters of Sandy Lydon's classes. It would be neat to incorporate those folks somehow, and call on their history mentorship. The stories of the Chinese, Japanese, and Spanish histories in the area are still not well known. Thumbs up for this new business!
—L. Ridenour


Holiday Deadlines
Good Times offices will be closed Monday, Sept. 3 in observance of Labor Day.  Offices will reopen at 9 a.m., Tuesday, Sept. 4. The following deadlines will be in effect for the Thursday, Sept. 6 issue.
Calendar Deadlines: Noon Thursday, Aug. 30.
Display and Classified Display advertising: deadlines are 5 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 30.
Classified advertising: deadline is 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 31.

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What’s your secret to avoiding the summer swarms?