Plus Letters To the Editor
Liza Monroy reports in this week’s cover story that upon moving to Santa Cruz, it didn’t take long for New York transplant Dixie FunLee Mills to realize Santa Cruz was ready for a Fringe Festival. She found the right people to help her, made it happen, and suddenly—bam!—the Santa Cruz Fringe Festival is already in its third year, and seems to grow by leaps and bounds in scope and popularity every time it comes around.
It just goes to show that sometimes it takes an outsider’s perspective to bring fresh ideas to this community. Santa Cruz was ready for a Fringe Festival, but we didn’t realize it yet. (In hindsight, really, how did we not? Could any festival idea be more Santa Cruz?) Mills was a veteran of the Fringe scene herself, and had an idea not only of how to make it happen, but also of the significant impact the festival can have on an arts scene. And indeed, the Santa Cruz Fringe Festival has landed an artistic twister of new ideas and approaches on the creative community every year.
Also this week, our thoughts go out to David Kinch, Cynthia Sandberg and everyone involved with Manresa, in the aftermath of the fire there Monday. May the unique restaurant and Love Apple Farms partner return to the scene soon.
Steve Palopoli | Editor-in-Chief
Wave of Radiation
After reading your recent article “Smarter Meters” (7/2), I thought I would point out a few missing facts. Regarding the “Interphone Study” on the potential link between cell phone use and cancers, about which your reporter stated “their conclusions were equally as ambiguous”: The World Health Organization has classified the microwave radiation which is generated by cell phones and smart meters as a possible Class 2b carcinogen, right up there with lead and asbestos.
And answering the final question of the article regarding this microwave radiation, “Who knows what it does to an infant?,” I suggest the reporter and Mr. Heiman go to stopsmartmeters.org/warning, where they can upgrade their understanding of the immense gravity of this issue.
—Drew Lewis | Santa Cruz
Throttled on Pacific Avenue
Re: “Now For the Future” (6/25). To be sure, there are major issues—water, crime, and more—facing your city. However, on a recent stroll up and then back from the top of the Pacific Garden Mall, my wife and our three children and I were deafened by the arrival of one and then more motorcycles at a specific coffee shop. Has your city no ordinance that prohibits excessive noise, judged by decibel levels? The mass exit later of these motorcycles annoyed us so badly that we decided to never again return to your mall, maybe even not to Santa Cruz. The selfishness of many citizens never ceases to amaze my wife and me.
—Jim Lewis | San Jose
Re: Santa Cruz 11
Hear that? That is the sound of your tax dollars being flushed down the toilet in the D.A.’s attempt to flush any local activists out of town. There is no direct evidence any of these folks committed the crimes for which they were accused. Check out the P.D.s videos, and none of these folks were the ones doing graffiti. They may have been in the building, but so were many others that face no charges.
So why these? Why only the well-known activists?
— WildeOne
Re: Cedar Street Video Closing
This is a total drag. I loved this video store for the short time I’ve lived here. They always have great shows playing on their DVD player when I go in, and a great selection. You will be greatly missed, Cedar Street Video.
— Mike Bencze
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MANE EVENT The photographer’s horse Cody Banks, under a double rainbow in the Felton Covered Bridge pasture. Photograph by Maria Carlsen.
Water Tips from Afar
Local Paul Gratz said recently on KUSP that Santa Cruz should be doing more for water conservation—and that we should be looking to Australia to do so. With a similar drought problem, Australia has passed water policy reforms including increased outreach, installing efficient water fixtures and appliances, drip irrigation and increased inter-agency collaboration. Connor Evertz will discuss lessons from Australia’s good example and how we can follow in their financially efficient footsteps on July 18 at Louden Nelson Center.
Big Game
Kudos to UCSC grad and Santa Cruz resident Cesar Hernandez for doing what he does best: writing about his favorite World Cup team, Mexico. The squad is out of contention this year, but it had a good run. And of more local significance, Hernandez’s own blog got picked up by ESPN during the tournament. It’s proof that sticking to what you love can pay off.
