local and top display groups

Free dirt to help build a field of dreams in Aptos

By Shanna McCord - Santa Cruz Sentinel — Wed, 30 May 2012 18:24:44 PDT

APTOS - The athletes of Aptos High School have something to cheer about, something that might lead to more wins against their rivals.

Desal opponents pronounce petition drive a success

By JASON HOPPIN - Santa Cruz Sentinel — Wed, 30 May 2012 18:20:04 PDT

SANTA CRUZ - Subscribing to the theory that a political promise is an oxymoron, a group of Santa Cruz desalination opponents on Tuesday said they've collected enough signatures to put the issue to a citywide vote.

Poll: Vote for the 2012 reader choice high school athlete of the year for Santa Cruz County

Wed, 30 May 2012 17:16:54 PDT

We're asking Santa Cruz County sports fans for their vote for high school boys and girls athlete of the year.

Judge denies Clauer bail motion; accused killer lashes out in court

By Jessica M. Pasko - Santa Cruz Sentinel — Wed, 30 May 2012 16:55:26 PDT

SANTA CRUZ - A judge denied a motion to decrease bail Wednesday for John Bruce Clauer, who is accused of killing a woman who was found dead in his apartment last year.

California poised to require 'solar ready roofs' on new homes and buildings

Wed, 30 May 2012 16:35:22 PDT

California Energy Commission expected to approve new building standards Thursday

Olivet heads back to San Francisco; lease ends at Scotts Valley campus

Wed, 30 May 2012 16:34:16 PDT

SCOTTS VALLEY - Moving vans and U-Haul trucks clogged roads once filled with students Tuesday morning, the sidewalks and areas between buildings along picturesque Bethany Drive filled with furniture, boxes and other belongings.

Judge says Santa Cruz neighborhood group didn't harass woman, tosses lawsuit

By Jessica M. Pasko - Santa Cruz Sentinel — Wed, 30 May 2012 16:21:39 PDT

SANTA CRUZ - A Santa Cruz man who leads a neighborhood watch group didn't target or harass an individual woman, Santa Cruz County Judge Timothy Volkmann ruled Wednesday.

Summer 2012: Bay Area fairs and festival

Wed, 30 May 2012 16:05:26 PDT

Your guide to summer 2012's fairs and festivals around the Bay Area.

2012's Summer Guide: Movies | Concerts | Classical Music l TV l Theater l Fairs and Festivals l Visual Arts

Fire destroys Corralitos house

By STEPHEN BAXTER - Santa Cruz Sentinel — Wed, 30 May 2012 15:58:57 PDT

CORRALITOS - A small house on Crow Avenue in Corralitos burned down Wednesday and firefighters are investigating the cause.

In video, man says he was 'going down' for assault of Giants fan Bryan Stow

LINDA DEUTSCH, AP Special Correspondent — Wed, 30 May 2012 15:49:00 PDT

LOS ANGELES - One of two men charged in a devastating assault on a San Francisco Giants fan outside Dodger Stadium told his own mother that he was involved and expected to "go down" for the attack.

From the Community Media Lab: Desert Dingo Racing: Second at the Yerington 300

Wed, 30 May 2012 15:18:15 PDT

Post of the day From Desert Dingo Racing: Second at the Yerington 300 There's no way to describe this race other than spectacular.

Map: Proposed Desalination Plant Sites and Pipeline Routes

Wed, 30 May 2012 14:03:48 PDT

Map source: The City of Santa Cruz Water Department (SCWD) and Soquel Creek Water District

Trio arrested with meth, fake cash near Scotts Valley

By Stephen Baxter - Santa Cruz Sentinel — Wed, 30 May 2012 13:20:56 PDT

SCOTTS VALLEY - Two San Jose men and a Santa Cruz woman were arrested with methamphetamine, counterfeit money and stolen electronics after an officer spotted them driving erratically on southbound Highway 17.

Cops and Courts: May 30, 2012: Man grabs woman walking with stroller

Wed, 30 May 2012 12:30:44 PDT

LIVE OAK Man grabs woman walking with stroller A man inappropriately touched a 32-year-old woman walking an infant in a stroller near 38th Avenue and the railroad tracks on Sunday, according to the Sheriff's Office.

Sorenson murder case ignites fight over court records

Wed, 30 May 2012 12:03:32 PDT

Before Christopher Sorenson was arrested last December for allegedly murdering his mother, he defeated at least two attempts by county authorities to have him involuntarily committed to a mental health facility. What happened in those court hearings is currently sealed from public view.

Editor's Blog: Is there a doctor in the house? Doc Watson, Paul Simon and Chimes of Freedom

Wed, 30 May 2012 11:39:35 PDT

On Tuesday, Doc Watson died at age 89. Watson was a local favorite, of course, who played in Santa Cruz in 1994 and whose last appearance here was in October 2009 at the Rio Theater.

Police find 12-year-old runaway in Santa Cruz

By Stephen Baxter - Santa Cruz Sentinel — Wed, 30 May 2012 11:01:30 PDT

SANTA CRUZ - Police found a missing 12-year-old boy Wednesday about 10:45 a.m. after he ran away from his home on May Avenue, Santa Cruz police reported.

Gabriella Cafe, Restaurant Review: Cafe combines a foreign vibe with culinary delights of home

By Ann Parker - Sentinel correspondent — Tue, 29 May 2012 23:40:30 PDT

Gabriella Cafe could be Santa Cruz's poster-child restaurant. This little downtown bistro is simple but sophisticated, rustic yet refined and distinctively quirky.

San Jose: Four young falcons begin soaring above City Hall

Tue, 29 May 2012 22:52:40 PDT

Foursome expected to stay near parents for the next month

Coast Lines: May 30, 2012

Tue, 29 May 2012 22:49:43 PDT

SANTA CRUZ Pride festival slated for Sunday The 38th annual Santa Cruz Pride festival, with the theme of "Life Gets Better Together," will be held Sunday, starting with an 11 a.

Allegiant to add Monterey-to-Honolulu flights

By Dennis Taylor - Monterey County Herald — Tue, 29 May 2012 22:47:00 PDT

Allegiant Air will begin providing nonstop flights from Monterey Regional Airport to Honolulu beginning in November.

As We See It: Not-so-open primary election

Tue, 29 May 2012 22:45:54 PDT

In six days, voters will decide whether November's general election will offer real choices. A major change in state election law was supposed to move politicians more to the center and away from excessive partisanship, which has been blamed for many of the state's ills.

Business Digest: May 30, 2012

Tue, 29 May 2012 22:45:09 PDT

APTOS Cabrillo hosts mixer Thursday Cabrillo College's Environmental Horticulture Center & Botanic Gardens will host an all-county mixer 5-7 p.

As You See It: May 30, 2012: Read between lines of homeless opinion piece

Tue, 29 May 2012 22:44:35 PDT

Read between lines of homeless opinion piece Linda Lemaster and Steve Pleich wrote an impassioned piece, filled with phrases designed to move people who might be less inclined toward the homeless since the recent murder.

Quick Bites: May 30, 2012: Esquire spotlights 515 mixologist

Tue, 29 May 2012 22:36:27 PDT

Esquire spotlights 515 mixologist Santa Cruz mixologist Addison Kester, until recently the manager at 515 Kitchen and Cocktails, scored a feature last week on Esquire.

Best Bets, May 30, 2012: Master Class Series: Orrin Keepnews

Tue, 29 May 2012 22:35:17 PDT

Master Class Series: Orrin Keepnews Jazz producer Orrin Keepnews will speak at the Kuumbwa Jazz Center tonight.

Donna Maurillo, Food for Thought: Many sandwich choices make D'Anna's in Soquel worth a return trip

Tue, 29 May 2012 22:33:03 PDT

When my grandson Aedan Carlton recommends a place for lunch, I know it's going to be good. Really good.

Beermaking culture blooming in Santa Cruz: Six breweries up and running, two more on the way

By Bonnie Horgos — Tue, 29 May 2012 22:24:30 PDT

SANTA CRUZ -- A copper tree scales Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing's adobe-colored wall behind the bar. Pint glasses dangle from curved hooks, featuring regulars' names etched into glass.

Un-common sense: Santa Cruz's Uncommon Brewers growing in size, popularity

By Bonnie Horgos — Tue, 29 May 2012 22:23:23 PDT

SANTA CRUZ --" With four identical 60-barrel fermentation tanks, Uncommon Brewers owner Alec Stefansky decided to name them after the Beatles to avoid confusion.

Pink sombreroconnects pair to car burglary, deputies say

By STEPHEN BAXTER - Santa Cruz Sentinel — Tue, 29 May 2012 22:07:10 PDT

LA SELVA BEACH - A man and a woman from Prunedale were linked to three recent vehicle burglaries on San Andreas Road, deputies said.

Stun gun, drugs found on man on probation

By STEPHEN BAXTER - Santa Cruz Sentinel — Tue, 29 May 2012 22:03:21 PDT

SANTA CRUZ - A 20-year-old man on probation was arrested with a stun gun, a replica gun and other items after a police officer spotted him riding a bike at night without a light.

Man robbed in cellphone scam

By STEPHEN BAXTER - Santa Cruz Sentinel — Tue, 29 May 2012 22:01:35 PDT

WATSONVILLE- A Salinas man was robbed at gunpoint after he tried to retrieve his lost cellphone in Watsonville from a man who said he had it.

Man grabs woman walking with stroller

By STEPHEN BAXTER - Santa Cruz Sentinel — Tue, 29 May 2012 21:57:52 PDT

LIVE OAK - A man inappropriately touched A 32-year-old woman walking an infant in a stroller near 38th Avenue and the railroad tracks on Sunday, according to the Sheriff's Office.

Watsonville proposes increase in water, sewer, garbage fees

By DONNA JONES - Santa Cruz Sentinel — Tue, 29 May 2012 21:54:26 PDT

WATSONVILLE - City residents and businesses are being asked to pay more to turn on their taps, flush their toilets and empty their trash.

Golden Gate birthday 'candles' that shine just for you

Tue, 29 May 2012 21:53:06 PDT

Bay Area residents will be able to remotely program mirrors atop the Golden Gate Bridge, called “heliostats,” to make them shine on or blink at them.

Santa Cruz Mountains Sip of the Week: 2008 Loma Prieta Cabernet Sauvignon

Tue, 29 May 2012 21:34:33 PDT

2008 Loma Prieta Cabernet SauvignonSanta Cruz Mountains WHAT: Bordeaux meets the Santa Cruz Mountains in this classic Old World cabernet.

In the Bins: Plum dandy!

Tue, 29 May 2012 21:34:23 PDT

Plum dandy! Early variety plums with names like Elephant Heart and Catalina will start showing up at farmers markets around the end of May.

Giant whale tail, glass mural beckon visitors to the Sanctuary Exploration Center

By JESSICA M. PASKO - Santa Cruz Sentinel — Tue, 29 May 2012 21:33:50 PDT

SANTA CRUZ - A massive bronze whale tail rising up from a swirly mosaic of stylized concrete will welcome visitors to the new National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center, which opens July 23.

Give 'Em Hill: Honoring the Golden Gate Bridge in the tackiest way possible

Tue, 29 May 2012 21:22:06 PDT

The pinnacle of popularity comes not with original songs or supporting roles in motion pictures or lavish weekend-long birthday affairs complete with parades, interpretive dancing and fireworks.

Ohlone School students explore 'real life' at Struve Slough

By DONNA JONES - Santa Cruz Sentinel — Tue, 29 May 2012 20:11:03 PDT

WATSONVILLE - Cliff swallows darted overhead as fourth-graders from Ohlone Elementary School scooped water from Struve Slough to search for aquatic invertebrates Tuesday.

Victim of Watsonville gang shooting expected to survive

By STEPHEN BAXTER - Santa Cruz Sentinel — Tue, 29 May 2012 19:18:20 PDT

WATSONVILLE - Police followed leads Tuesday in the shooting of a 19-year-old Watsonville man who was targeted by rival gang members.

Guitar picking master Doc Watson dies in NC at 89

By MARTHA WAGGONER Associated Press — Tue, 29 May 2012 19:17:41 PDT

RALEIGH, N.C.—Doc Watson, the blind Grammy-award winning folk musician whose mountain-rooted sound was embraced by generations and whose lightning-fast style of flatpicking influenced guitarists around the world, died Tuesday at a North Carolina hospital, according to a hospital spokeswoman and his manager.

Scotts Valley hosts retirement party for recreation manager

By KIMBERLY WHITE - Santa Cruz Sentinel — Tue, 29 May 2012 19:04:47 PDT

SCOTTS VALLEY - Conrad Sudduth never even considered retiring from Scotts Valley's recreation department until last summer.

Barbecue 101: Grilling and smoking for newbies

Tue, 29 May 2012 18:23:18 PDT

The art of the barbecue has become a complicated affair, with expensive gadgets, arcane tools -- and wood chips? Can you put those on a gas grill? Fortunately, Ray 'Dr. BBQ' Lampe is here to offer a Barbecue 101 primer on wood chips, indirect heat and flavor, flavor, flavor.

Sheriff looks to outsource inmate medical services

By Jason Hoppin - Santa Cruz Sentinel — Tue, 29 May 2012 18:04:23 PDT

SANTA CRUZ - Tight budgets and the prospect of longer local jail stays are forcing Sheriff Phil Wowak to consider outsourcing the medical treatment of county inmates.

Testimony nearing end in molest trial

By CATHY KELLY - The Santa Cruz Sentinel — Tue, 29 May 2012 17:32:38 PDT

SANTA CRUZ - Testimony in a molest trial neared conclusion Tuesday with some testy exchanges between the prosecutor and a man accused of fondling two 9-year-old girls.

Gang-motivated shooting in Watsonville leaves man in critical condition

By Stephen Baxter - Santa Cruz Sentinel — Tue, 29 May 2012 17:31:07 PDT

WATSONVILLE - Police followed leads Tuesday in the shooting of a 19-year-old Watsonville man who was targeted by rival gang members.

Cabrillo graduation set for Friday

By KIMBERLY WHITE - Santa Cruz Sentinel — Tue, 29 May 2012 17:05:03 PDT

APTOS - With 1,076 students receiving associate degrees or certificates on Friday, Cabrillo College will have its largest graduation ceremony in five years, according to Kristin Fabos, Cabrillo's director of marketing and communications.

Former Aptos bank employee accused of theft

By CATHY KELLY - The Santa Cruz Sentinel — Tue, 29 May 2012 16:35:02 PDT

SANTA CRUZ - A Freedom woman appeared in court Tuesday to face charges she stole thousands of dollars from Santa Cruz County Bank while working at the Aptos branch.

Coast Lines: May 28, 2012

Tue, 29 May 2012 16:32:11 PDT

WATSONVILLE CASA seeks award nominations Court Appointed Special Advocates of Santa Cruz County will accept nominations for its 2012 Community Awards until June 1.

Arraignment postponed in car 'towing' case

By Cathy Kelly - Santa Cruz Sentinel — Tue, 29 May 2012 14:47:06 PDT

SANTA CRUZ - Two men accused of conspiracy and auto theft for allegedly illegally towing cars appeared in court Tuesday to face four felony charges, but the hearing was continued to June 12 to give one of the men time to hire an attorney, prosecutors said.

Cops and Courts, May 29, 2012: Three arrested after Boardwalk scuffle

Tue, 29 May 2012 14:35:48 PDT

SANTA CRUZ Three arrested in Boardwalk scuffle A trio was arrested Saturday night after a tussle with Seaside Co.

Three arrested after Boardwalk scuffle

By Jason Hoppin - Santa Cruz Sentinel — Tue, 29 May 2012 14:35:23 PDT

A trio of relatives were arrested Saturday night after a tussle with police and Seaside Company security after refusing to leave the Santa Cruz Beach-Boardwalk.

Lawn gone, homeowner goes with flowers

- Sentinel staff report — Tue, 29 May 2012 13:43:03 PDT

APTOS -- Drive by Debra Menges' North Pointe Court home and you'll see lots of greenery but no lawn. She chose to capitalize on a deal offered by the Soquel Creek Water District that gives homeowners credit on their water bill if they remove lawns on their property.

Watsonville homicide trial on two-week break

By Cathy Kelly - Santa Cruz Sentinel — Tue, 29 May 2012 13:37:10 PDT

SANTA CRUZ - A trial stemming from the 2005 homicide of Wayne Minten on Palm Avenue in Watsonville has taken a two-week hiatus because Judge Paul Burdick is on vacation.

Tens of thousands mob Golden Gate Bridge for its 75th anniversary celebration

Tue, 29 May 2012 10:17:13 PDT

Steel-gray morning skies gave way to a brilliant afternoon sun and both bowed out to make way for a display of spectacular Sunday evening fireworks that properly celebrated the 75th birthday of the Golden Gate Bridge, arguably the most iconic structure in all of California.

Seven landmark Spreckels trees marked to be cut down

Tue, 29 May 2012 09:02:12 PDT

Monterey County planners are poised to allow the removal of seven of nearly 200 landmark black walnut trees that line both sides of Spreckels Boulevard.

Congressman's staff like family on Hill

Tue, 29 May 2012 08:52:36 PDT

WASHINGTON — For many of the more than 18,000 employees on Capitol Hill, it's easy to feel lost amid the bustle of Congressional politics. Yet in a small office decorated with Ansel Adams photographs and wine bottles from Monterey County vineyards, the 10 staffers of Rep.

Farr faces challengers fresh and familiar in new 20th Congressional District

Tue, 29 May 2012 08:28:48 PDT

There are differences this year about the congressional race on the Central Coast. The district, represented since 1993 by Rep. Sam Farr, D-Carmel, has a new name — or number. Reapportionment turned the old 17th into the new 20th Congressional District.

For local vet, singing is the best remedy

By Jason Hoppin — Tue, 29 May 2012 07:35:04 PDT

World War II veteran Maurice Ricketts has more fun than should be allowed for anyone who's been around as long as he has, leading moveable sing-alongs around Santa Cruz with a band of a dozen or so regulars.

Death row inmate's appeal puts Santa Clara County prosecution team on trial

By Howard Mintz hmintz@mercurynews.com — Tue, 29 May 2012 07:06:26 PDT

California Supreme Court to hear arguments Wednesday in case alleging prosecutor-turned-judge and investigator buried crucial evidence about 1983 double murder

Tempted to take a photo of another driver behaving badly? Resist the urge

Tue, 29 May 2012 05:01:57 PDT

A growing number of motorists are documenting scofflaws' infractions on the road, but taking pictures while driving is itself illegal.

Vote: Have you ever snapped a photo of another driver while you were driving?

College system braces for cuts

By Matt Krupnick - Bay Area News Group — Mon, 28 May 2012 23:11:22 PDT

The drain of education dollars from the state's community colleges has raised the specter of campus closures or receiverships, a state college budget officer says.

Internet pioneers: Best, and worst, are still to come

By Kate Moser - Monterey County Herald — Mon, 28 May 2012 22:15:32 PDT

You ain't seen nothing yet. The Internet has fueled the greatest revolutions of the end of the 20th and beginning of the 21st century, and it's only just begun -- that was the tone struck by some of the pioneers and visionaries of the Internet speaking on Monday at the final lecture of the Panetta Institute 2012 lecture series.

Karen Delaney, Be the Difference: When private disasters strike

Mon, 28 May 2012 22:15:31 PDT

We all know who we can rely on for help during a public disaster. First responders are there to help us at accidents, fires and floods, when the roads wash out or our power is gone.

Business Digest: May 29, 2012

Mon, 28 May 2012 22:15:30 PDT

CAPITOLA Free health advice offered Brad West, naturopathic doctor, will provide free consultations 2 to 4 p.

Senator seeks to limit UC students from outside California

Mon, 28 May 2012 21:38:23 PDT

Sen. Michael Rubio, D-Shafter, says too many students from other states and countries are attending UC campuses.

Boulder Creek house destroyed in late-night fire

Sentinel staff report — Mon, 28 May 2012 20:03:59 PDT

Two residents and their cat escaped safely from a house fire near Boulder Creek late Saturday night, though the house itself is described as a "total loss," according to David Scruggs, a firefighter with the Boulder Creek Fire Department.

Officials report uneventful weekend: No major incidents at beaches, parks, but the crowds were there

By Kimberly White - Santa Cruz Sentinel — Mon, 28 May 2012 19:35:14 PDT

SANTA CRUZ - Handfuls of sand clutched in her tiny fists, 4-year-old Sarah Blackwell ran toward the shoreline, her little feet stopping just shy of the frigid water.

Remembering those who made the ultimate sacrifice: Vets gather at annual Evergreen Cemetery event

By Jason Hoppin - Santa Cruz Sentinel — Mon, 28 May 2012 16:42:06 PDT

One by one they called out the names of the dead, spelling out years of losses and sacrifice. Dozens of names covered decades of conflicts, from Afghanistan to Vietnam and beyond.

California smog threatens world's oldest trees

By TRACIE CONE Associated Press — Mon, 28 May 2012 10:19:50 PDT

SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK, California—The California forest that is home to the biggest and oldest living things on earth, the giant Sequoia redwoods, also suffers a dubious distinction.

Twin brothers share honor as valedictorians of Santa Cruz High School's Class of 2012

By Jessica M. Pasko — Mon, 28 May 2012 10:16:14 PDT

SANTA CRUZ -- Justus and Chris Kovats-Wildenradt are sick of the twin jokes. "Can you read each other's minds?

Memorial Day Weekend in Santa Cruz, 2012

Mon, 28 May 2012 06:59:38 PDT

A collection of images, stories and tweets from around Santa Cruz County during the holiday weekend.

Santa Cruz Blues Festival has something for everyone

By Kirsten Fairchilds — Mon, 28 May 2012 06:58:57 PDT

APTOS -- Nearly 50 years later, James Cotton still has it going on. That's according to Aptos resident Keith Lesar, who last saw the legendary blues harmonica player perform during Lesar's days as a student at UC Berkeley.

Ramona Turner, Street Smarts: Wrong-way cycling is dangerous, thus illegal

Mon, 28 May 2012 06:58:11 PDT

Q: There have been two letters to the editor -- from the same person -- telling people it is safer for bicyclists to ride facing traffic.

Holiday Closings

Mon, 28 May 2012 06:57:51 PDT

Holiday closings Many area offices will be closed today for Memorial Day COUNTY: County offices closed.

Facebook 'debacle' likely to derail IPOs for other startups

Mon, 28 May 2012 06:16:48 PDT

As lawsuits and investigations pile up, experts worry other companies will get the cold shoulder from Wall Street.

Rancho del Oso center highlights beauty of Waddell Canyon: Former home of Herbert Hoover's niece was recently remodeled

By Cathy Kelly — Sun, 27 May 2012 23:20:45 PDT

WADDELL CREEK -- The newly remodeled Rancho del Oso Nature and History Center has drawn a steady stream of visitors since it reopened last month, say those who work at the western edge of Big Basin Redwoods State Park.

Cops and Courts: May 28, 2012

Sun, 27 May 2012 23:20:28 PDT

WATSONVILLE Santa Cruz deputy injured during arrest A longtime sheriff's deputy suffered a twisted elbow Saturday night while arresting a man who allegedly violated a restraining order, deputies said.

Watsonville High valedictorian and friend win Gates Millennium Scholarships

By SHANNA MCCORD — Sun, 27 May 2012 23:18:37 PDT

WATSONVILLE -- Numbers, even the ones in college-level pre-calculus, make sense to Edgar Garcia, 17, because they look the same in English and Spanish.

Downtown bank named landmark: Building originally housed Pajaro Valley National bank

- Sentinel staff report — Sun, 27 May 2012 23:09:03 PDT

WATSONVILLE -- For more than 100 years, Pajaro Valley's people have been banking at the corner of Main and Peck streets.

Santa Cruz deputy injured during arrest

By Cathy Kelly - Santa Cruz Sentinel — Sun, 27 May 2012 19:17:34 PDT

WATSONVILLE - A longtime sheriff's deputy suffered a twisted elbow Saturday night while arresting a man who allegedly violated a restraining order, deputies said.

Dancing the Day Away: 20th annual Santa Cruz Blues Festival draws hundreds to Aptos

By SHANNA MCCORD — Sun, 27 May 2012 19:13:26 PDT

APTOS - Hardly anyone sat still at Aptos Village Park on Saturday, day one of the 20th annual Santa Cruz Blues Festival.

Roaring Camp's annual Civil War re-enactment brings the 1860s to life

By Cathy Kelly - Santa Cruz Sentinel — Sun, 27 May 2012 19:12:51 PDT

FELTON - Walking through Roaring Camp Sunday was like stepping into a different era, with the sounds of musket and cannon fire filling the air and campsites and other trappings of the 1860s dotting the landscape.

Good Samaritan sightseers give Ted Turner a lift near Big Sur

Sun, 27 May 2012 12:53:51 PDT

Media mogul and philanthropist Ted Turner got a lift to a mechanic from a European couple visiting the coast after Turner's Jeep broke down near Big Sur.

Man fakes injury, robs Burger King at gunpoint

By Cathy Kelly - Santa Cruz Sentinel — Sun, 27 May 2012 11:31:07 PDT

WATSONVILLE - A tall, thin man robbed Burger King on Main Street before the restaurant opened Saturday by pretending to be hurt and then brandishing a gun at an employee who came to help him, police said.

UCSC Drum Feast celebrates indigenous cultures

By CHELSEA HAWKINS — Sun, 27 May 2012 10:29:14 PDT

SANTA CRUZ - After a decade of dormancy, the UCSC Pow Wow is making a comeback. On Saturday, the campus community gathered to hold a Drum Feast, a smaller community gathering similar to a pow wow.

Trevor Krieg, devoted volleyball coach, dies after fall from houseboat on Lake Shasta

By Shanna McCord - Santa Cruz Sentinel — Sun, 27 May 2012 09:05:56 PDT

SCOTTS VALLEY - The accidental death of 22-year-old Trevor Krieg, who fell from a roof of a houseboat on Lake Shasta and drowned, has left volleyball players across Santa Cruz County mourning.

New Age war being waged for soul of Big Sur's Esalen

Sun, 27 May 2012 06:42:47 PDT

As Esalen marks its 50th anniversary, long-time fans say New Age retreat center has gone corporate.

The 75th anniversary sounds of the Golden Gate Bridge

Sat, 26 May 2012 23:18:37 PDT

In its 75 years, the miracle that is the Golden Gate Bridge has inspired generations of musicians, filmmakers, writers, artists and everyday people who have their own creative thoughts and feelings about the iconic span.

Justine DaCosta, Name Dropping: Help for Hospice

Sat, 26 May 2012 22:55:32 PDT

Friends of Hospice hosted its 12th annual Fairways for Kids golf fundraiser on May 9 at Seascape Golf Resort.

Celebrations: Lindsay Lash and Mike Stover

Sat, 26 May 2012 22:53:54 PDT

Lash-Stover Lindsay Lash and Mike Stover are engaged to be married Oct. 13 in Corralitos. Lash lives in Santa Cruz.

As You See It, Election 2012: May 27, 2012: Wants nothing to do with McPherson

Sat, 26 May 2012 22:53:09 PDT

Wants nothing to do with McPherson I absolutely don't want Bruce McPherson to represent me. Since I live in the unincorporated part of the county that makes up a large part of the 5th District, my county supervisor is the only local elected representation I have.

Linda Ellen Lemaster and Steve Pleich: Homeless must not be scapegoated

Sat, 26 May 2012 22:51:38 PDT

No words can describe the depth of sadness we feel as a community over the recent and shocking murder of Shannon Collins, which took place midday in a Santa Cruz neighborhood.

Cops and Courts: May 27, 2012: Man arrested for stealing teen's bike

Sat, 26 May 2012 22:50:26 PDT

WATSONVILLE Man arrested for stealing teen's bike A 29-year-old Watsonville man was arrested Friday on suspicion of knocking a teen off his bicycle and stealing the bike, police said.

Memorial Day weekend events

Sat, 26 May 2012 22:49:47 PDT

20TH ANNUAL SANTA CRUZ BLUES FESTIVAL WHAT: Enjoy two days of listening to the top names in blues and American roots music in a natural amphitheater surrounded by oaks and redwoods.

Steve Scheiblauer: Overfishing not to blame for 'wetfish' declines

Sat, 26 May 2012 22:48:42 PDT

More than 150 years ago, immigrant Chinese fishermen launched sampans into the chilly waters of Monterey Bay to capture squid.

James Clausen: Keeping the flag flying at rural post offices

Sat, 26 May 2012 22:47:38 PDT

The U.S. Postal Service announced a plan to preserve post offices in small towns and rural communities across the country while looking to achieve cost savings and return to financial stability.

Craig Reinarman: We cannot incarcerate our way out of our drug problems

Sat, 26 May 2012 22:46:52 PDT

We all know people who have messed themselves up with drugs. For the past century, the conventional U.

Health Improvement Partnership of Santa Cruz County: Putting patients front and center in health care

Sat, 26 May 2012 22:45:50 PDT

As modern health care has gotten more sophisticated and complex, it has become a big business.