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From the Editor

Wednesday, 09 January 2013 15:52 Greg Archer Columns - Editors Note
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Greg 12There’s some good news unfolding at The Tannery Arts Center. A recent report reveals that, thanks to immense fundraising efforts (and some creative teamwork among boardmembers), the center  reached $3 million in funding. This bodes well for the city and arts and culture enthusiasts who are ready for The Performing Arts Center to fully bloom.

To that end, the center promises to be a worthy hub for a variety of performances—from music and drama to dance. Still, there’s some work ahead. Jess Brown, Board Chair, recently noted that while the $3 million turning point is hopeful, the center needs another $2 million, adding; “we hope the community will come forward and see that having a Performing Arts Center will round out this special place.” The $55 million project is designed to offer an affordable and permanent space for artists to live, work, perform, and exhibit, and the Performing Arts Center will house a 200-seat theater and host Kids on Broadway, Jewel Theatre Company, Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre, music groups, school productions, and several other creative entities. Stay tuned for more updates in the coming months. In the meantime, learn more by visiting tanneryartscenter.org.

You can find even more inspiration in this week’s cover story, in which writer Damon Orion weaves together a wondeful exposé of Santa Cruz-based singer Snatam Kaur and her distinctly unique and spiritual family. As an added bonus, GT also spoke with Oprah Winfrey about Kaur—it seems Winfrey and the devotional singer share a one-of-a-kind connection. All that and Ram Dass make for a spirited if not spirtual, week ahead.

In other news, be sure to catch the next episode of GTv (Good Times Television). Our new show is doing well in its 8 p.m. time slot on Wednesdays on Community Television, with repeats on Sundays. Check it out and send us your thoughts and tidbits on locals you feel deserve some attention on the airwaves. Email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Have a great week. More next time ...

Greg Archer | Editor-in-Chief

Letters to the Editor

Yours For Film
I want to thank Lisa Jensen for the "Treasure Hunt" article in the Dec. 27 issue. Critics seem to forget the "worthy gems" that appear earlier in the year, focusing on the big powerhouse films that cluster around the year’s end. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel seemed to run in Santa Cruz forever, and everyone I know adored it. This was a film that could only be produced by the Brits.
Beasts of the Southern Wild was certainly one of the most creative films in recent times, as were Chico and Rita, Pina, and First Position. So if you missed their brief runs at The Nick, there is always Netflix. Thanks to Lisa for helping us to remember some of the lesser-known pleasures of last year’s film offerings.
Judy Slattum
Capitola

On The Watch
In response to some of your crime articles, I work on the corner of Pacific Avenue and Laurel Street, on the frontline of “the war zone”—drug dealers, pimps, prostitutes, heroin addicts, meth heads, mentally challenged and street people. The PitBull Lowriders are a threat to the neighborhood and must be busted.
Michael Collins
Santa Cruz

What Are You Talking About?
One of the Local Talk answers to "Would you support tougher gun regulations?" concerns me. Isn't the response, "No. Pry them out of my cold dead fingers," reason enough for tougher laws?
Kathy Runyon
Santa Cruz

Online Comments

On ‘If We Had Our Way’ ... 
1. Gay tourism. Multi-billion dollar industry that Santa Cruz is not cashing in on because we can't advertise any gay night spots. 2. The article mentions the Fab Friday event, but it doesn't mention that it is men-only, and the gay nights at bars start too late on a weeknight to draw older crowds.  3.Hate language: Ask any LGBT person who has walked holding hands with thier partner on West Cliff if they felt entirely comfortable. Most people don't.
—Brandon McCord

Why do you blame Mark Stone for the La Bahia mess? They could have just proposed a design that fit the coastal requirements.
—TT

On No. 5, Greg Caput and redesigning the levee: I live there and have to pay three times my homeowners insurance rate for flood insurance and I am three-quarters of a mile from the levee. This is ridiculous and costly. And if the levee is not safe, then what? We have waited long enough. Let's get it done!

—Rebecca Tait

We love Cynthia Sandberg and Love Apple Farms, and we love the third bright idea to Create Food Not Lawns. This has been our passion going on 25 years now. We want to help. To that end we at Terra Nova will offer a free edible landscape design to the first person to mention the Good Times article 'Bright Ideas for 2013'. Thank you GT for the bright ideas! Call us at 425-3514 and mention Good Times Bright Idea number three to create Food Not Lawns.

—Ken Foster


 

 

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Beck to the Future

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Growing Berries Without Bromide

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Uniting All That Has Been Separated

 

Legal Battles Drag On

More than a year after the 75 River St. occupation, four defendants remain embroiled in ongoing case  More than a year and a half since a group occupied the former Wells Fargo building on River Street in an act of protest, felony charges linger on for four of the original defendants and a trial may be imminent. Gabriella Ripley-Phipps, Brent Adams, Cameron Laurendeau and Franklin Alcantara were scheduled to begin trial May 13 in connection with the late 2011 protest. That trial now has been pushed back to September due to scheduling conflicts. The four face a felony charge of vandalism and a misdemeanor for trespassing.
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