Local sports supporter proposes plan for new recreational park

Felton resident John Golder is a lifelong sports enthusiast who says his three sons benefited immensely from participating in sports when they were growing up. Throughout Golder’s own extensive participation in sports and recreation as a coach, player, and club president, he was often frustrated by a lack of playing space available. Because of this, Golder has spent the past 20 years cataloguing and seeking to combat what he calls Santa Cruz’s “parks deficit.”

Cowboy Bar and Grill updates staples of the Wild West  

After an energizing hike through Henry Cowell State Park, I like to refuel at Felton’s Cowboy Bar and Grill, situated just one half mile north of the park’s Highway 9 entrance. The servings are generous, the cocktails playfully named, and the soups housemade.

Specialty cocktails ($7 to $10) include margaritas and variations of the Long Island Iced Tea. I found the peach-colored Bolo Tai ($8) refreshing in an icy pint glass with hints of pineapple and Odwalla orange juices mixed with four varieties of rum.

Child abuse seminar aims to help local professionals intervene

In 1975, 24-year-old Daniel Sonkin was an intern in a San Francisco Planned Parenthood, where he gave pregnancy test results to patients. Among the many clients he delivered pregnancy news to, one woman in particular caught his attention. The woman, who he remembers as being in her 20s, had terrible bruises covering her arms. He couldn’t help but inquire.

Much has been made of President Barack Obama bypassing congress to get things done in recent weeks. How do you feel about that? Was it his only choice in light of congress’ frequent stalemate?

There is one clear consensus that has emerged from the Tea Party-led gridlock in congress: their priority is to defeat President Obama. To drive the point home, it was stated as such by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell just a short time after Republicans took control of the House.

I remember my first trip to a restaurant supply store. I had been taking weekend classes at San Francisco’s California Culinary Academy, and needed a bigger skillet. Two years ago I drove to Seaside for a huge stainless steel pot for the city’s Chowder cook off. Now Santa Cruz home chefs have a supply store to call their own.

Form follows function. That’s what I like. I want them to look good, but I really want them to feel good, because I can’t handle it if they don’t feel good.
Liza Scully
Santa Cruz | Landscape Designer

It’s the new year, so it’s time for some new sewing projects. Last year I entered 2011 with a very specific goal that I was going to learn how to sew. I enrolled in beginning classes at Judy’s Sewing Center in Capitola and for an entire year have taken classes almost every Tuesday night. In September, the center opened a garment construction class which is taught by local master dressmaker Dresden Erickson. Since its start in the fall, the class is continuing to thrive. It meets every Thursday from 6-9 and costs just $10 per class. There, Erickson provides expert knowledge to students on their individual garment projects. Under her eye, students learn everything from darts, tucks, setting in a sleeve, hemming a shirt, using facing to stabilize projects, how to make a gorgeous dress, a retro blouse, a tailored suit jacket, or the perfect pair of pants.

‘Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy’ an admirable, chilly thriller 

In keeping with today’s topic, Cold War espionage, let me start off with a full disclosure: I am not the ideal audience for spy thrillers. The rules of the genre—the “McGuffin” everyone is searching for, the traitor in the ranks, the dispassionate trust-no-one isolation—are not issues I find especially compelling. For me, there has to be some pretty stylish filmmaking, engaging characters, or a profoundly felt moral dilemma to make it all worthwhile.

For the majority of English-speaking readers who devoured Stieg Larsson’s international bestselling crime thriller trilogy in translation, but never saw the 2009 Swedish film version, this Hollywood reboot from director David Fincher is reasonably compelling. Kudos to Fincher and scriptwriter Steven Zaillian for maintaining the story’s setting in Sweden (not relocating it to, say, New York or L.A.), and assembling an excellent cast.

Plus letters to the editor 
 
As we move into 2012, a number of issues continue to spark interest with readers. One is the SmartMeter issue—PG&E’s installation of them still has some locals reeling. The other issue is water—supply and, of course, desalination. This week, one letter writer outlines a few pros for desalination. Meanwhile, online, other voices raise concerns. And so it goes. In the coming months, GT will continue to cover these issues, but we want you to keep sending us your thoughts on the matter. Over the last few months, your letters and online comments have paved the way for the creation of an interesting dialogue—and one that no doubt will go on. Your opinions are being heard. Keep them coming. Stay tuned …