Sentinel Has most "Klout" among Santa Cruz Media, SLVNews #2

According to the social media monitoring service Klout, the Santa Cruz Sentinel has the most influence on the subject of “Santa Cruz” in the online world. With a 90 day average “Klout Score” of 65, the daily print publication leads all local media including TV, radio, print and online only. SLVNews with a score of 63 comes in second.

According to Klout, their scoring provides a representation of overall social media influence. They examine more than 400 variables on multiple social networks beyond just number of followers or friends or likes to come up with the score. The score represents an aggregate of multiple pieces of data about overall social media activity from a variety of online networks and takes into account information about who engages with content, who they share it with and how much influence the individual followers have.

For comparison, news organizations like The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and CNN have the highest score possible 99. Fox scores at 94. The Sentinel’s sister publication, the San Jose Mercury News ranks slightly higher than the much smaller Sentinel at 68 but on the subject of Santa Cruz they do not rank among “top influencers”.

The current Klout ranking for local media:


Santa Cruz Sentinel 65
SLVNews 63
KSBW 59        
KION 55
KZSC 44
Good Times  44
Santa Cruz Patch  44
Santa Cruz Weekly 43
KPIG 41
KSCO 37
Press/Banner  29


The Sentinel is owned by Media News Group which has been aggressively pursuing a “digital first” strategy meant to accelerate the move by traditional print publications into the online space. Sentinel online editor, Tom Moore  has led the effort to move the 156 year old newspaper into the 21st century by facilitating and encouraging writers and editors to make use of a plethora of online tools and networks. He’s even got publisher Michael Turpin  and Editor Don Miller blogging and using Twitter but the Sentinel staffer with the most “Klout” is Felton’s Larry Cafiero aka "Larry the Software Guy".

Here’s how the Sentinel staffers with the most Klout stack up:

Larry Cafiero 62
Jessica M. Pasko 61
Wallace Baine 60
Julie Copeland 54
Christina Gullickson 55
Tom Moore 50
Jason Hoppin 49
Kevin Johnson 47
Jondi Gumz 45
Stephen Baxter 45
Michael Turpin 45
Shanna McCord 43
Donna Jones 43
Donna Jones 43
Don Miller 42

Among non-media people who rank high with the service local singer James Durbin has a score of 81 and Santa Cruz Mountain legend Neil Young carries an 88, same as Governor Brown.

VWC's The Butt Stops Here! Campaign in Full Swing

The Butt Stops Here

Valley Women’s Club installs cigarette butt receptacles in San Lorenzo Valley

San Lorenzo Valley streets and waterways will be cleaner and safer thanks to four cigarette butt disposal containers installed by The Valley Women's Club of the San Lorenzo Valley. Purchased with the assistance of a watershed education grant from the San Lorenzo Valley Water District and contributions from John Schumacher at Hallcrest Vineyards and other community sponsors, the receptacles are located at Boulder Creek Brewery & Cafe, Junction Park, Henfling's Tavern and Don Quixote's International Music Hall. Easy to spot, each bright red container bears the Butt Stops Here logo, created by Bonny Doon artist Stephanie Sellers Sakasai. More The Butt Stops Here receptacles will be placed at strategic San Lorenzo Valley Locations in the coming months.

Along with purchasing receptacles and finding partner businesses to host them, "The Butt Stops Here" campaign includes educational posters and mailers, and a website www.thebuttstopshere.org. Funds, labor and locations for receptacles have been donated by local businesses and area residents.

Contributions in support of the campaign can be sent with your name, address, phone and email address, to The Butt Stops Here c/o The Valley Women's Club, PO Box 574 Ben Lomond, CA 95005. Contributions to The Valley Women's Club are tax deductible. The Valley Women's Club is a 501-c-3 nonprofit organization, Federal ID # 94-2900221.

            
For more information about becoming a sponsoring partner, contact Mark Becker at (831) 338-0258, or visit www.thebuttstopshere.org. Additional information about The Valley Women's Club can be found at www.valleywomensclub.com.

Valley Women's Club Welcomes New Board Members

The Board of Directors of the Valley Women's Club of San Lorenzo Valley held their first meeting of 2013 this week.

In the recent general election, VWC members elected Rosalind Alley of Brookdale, Amanda Robinson of Felton, Pam Spehar and Sanda Spiegel of Boulder Creek and Thomas Wynn of Ben Lomond for two year terms.  Jim Coffis of Ben Lomond, Nancy Gerdt of Felton and Mary Hammer of Boulder Creek were re-elected.  The eight joined Sheila DeLany, Dusty Gipson, Nancy Macy and Lynn McKibben of Boulder Creek, Paul Machlis and Michele Moser of Felton and Donna Ziel of Ben Lomond who will complete their terms in 2014.

Board members chose Lynn McKibben to be President, Donna Ziel, Vice President, Jim Coffis, Secretary, Sheila DeLany, Treasurer and Sanda Spiegel, Budget Officer for the new year.

The 35 year old organization was founded in 1978 to promote community action, awareness and leadership in environmental, educational, social, and political concerns affecting the San Lorenzo Valley.

In addition to environmental education and advocacy, the club annually awards scholarships to graduating seniors; provides ready for school materials to kindergartners, supports and promotes equality for women and girls; operates 3 recycling and redemption centers in the Valley and produces the popular Redwood Mountain Faire, a two-day music, arts and craft fair at Roaring Camp the first weekend in June that last year distributed over $30,000 to local organizations.

Regular Board meetings are held on the 2nd Tuesday of every month at the Satellite Center in Felton and are open to the public.  The annual membership meeting featuring remarks by local elected officials will be held on Sunday March 24th at the Senior Center in Highlands Park, Ben Lomond.

Welcome Home

Boulder Creek's Sean McLean's a local blogger at Geekincreekans and he published a number of photos he took this weekend around SLV and kindly allowed us to "borrow" some.  Somebody lives behind that gate and many more are fortunate to pass by it now and again.  Anybody know where this is?

Incidentally you can also follow Sean on Twitter @oddeofun but be sure and check out the blog which he describes as "Not your typical humor, tech, family, zen, blog thingie"  and it's not that and a lot more.

Thanks Sean for the geeks eye view of our valley home!

Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District To Consider Specific SLV Rules for Outdoor Burns

The Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District will consider a staff recommendation to adopt revisions to District Rule 438 (Open Outdoor Fires)  that include changes specific to the San Lorenzo Valley at their meeting in Monterey on Aug 2nd.

The SLV specific rule changes include:

Creation of a Smoke Sensitive Area for the San Lorenzo Valley
Currently, Rule 438 describes a Monterey Peninsula/Carmel Valley Smoke Sensitive Area (SSA). The Rule 438 revisions create a new SSA for SLV. Figure 1 shows the SLV SSA boundary that was based on the County of Santa Cruz general plan map for SLV (map reference: Santa Cruz County GIS staff, numbered 180-07, dated November 2007). The SLV SSA excludes areas within the Scotts Valley Fire Protection District. 

Burning Limits based on Property Size 
The Rule modifications further restrict backyard burning in the SLV to parcels larger than one acre, except in areas where yard waste pick-up is not available. A waiver from the parcel size requirement for the SLV SSA can be granted at the discretion of the District following a site inspection.
Number of permitted burns per burn day 
The Rule modifications limit open burning within the SLV SSA to two per day per fire district, for a total not to exceed 10 permitted backyard burns per day. As stated above, the SLV SSA excludes areas within the Scotts Valley Fire Protection District so the daily permit restriction does not apply to areas under the jurisdiction of the Scotts Valley Fire Protection District.

The entire proposed rule changes can be seen here: http://www.mbuapcd.org/mbuapcd/pdf/Advisory_Reports/20120802/7.pdf

The meeting will be held next Thursday, August 2nd  at 1:30pm in the 3rd floor Board Room at 24580 Silver Cloud Court in Monterey. 

Taking The Fifth: Top Ten Reasons I'm Voting for Eric Hammer

Not a Letterman list and in no particular order, here are ten reasons I'll be casting my vote for Eric Hammer for the County Board of Supervisors for the 5th District:

1. He’s local.  Eric lives in the San Lorenzo Valley.  He was born and raised here, went to the local schools, played in the local parks.  Now he’s raising his family here.  He drives on our roads, shops in our stores, and enjoys and suffers all of the same things the rest of us in SLV enjoy and suffer.  I like the fact that I see him all over the Valley, if I want to complain about something or share my opinion I can do it in person.

2.  He’s a Democrat.  Eric shares the predominant values of the community regarding the environment, human rights, and economic justice.

3.  He has a work ethic.  Eric is not afraid to roll up his sleeves and go to work.  He doesn’t ask anyone to do anything he’s not willing and ready to do himself.

4.  He’s realistic.  Eric understands that you can’t just call Sacramento and expect someone else to solve a problem.  

5.  He’s transparent.  You might not always agree with him but you can count on him to let you know how he feels and why.

6.  He respects the past but represents the future.  Eric knows how close SLV came to becoming overrun by developers, how fragile the watershed is and how much the river needs to be protected. He turns 44 on Saturday.  

7.  He’s respected by the community.   Eric has stood for election twice and won both times with overwhelming support.  His colleagues elected him chair and all support his election to Supervisor.  State Assemblymembers Bill Monning and Luis Alejo have endorsed him. All five directors of the SLV Water District support him as does the Superintendent of Schools, a number of the current fire chiefs and district trustees as well as a host of other local community leaders. Check out the partial list of endorsers here: http://www.hammerforsupervisor.com/?q=whos_with_us

8.  He has a vision.  As a builder, he understands the need to upgrade our existing housing stock to make it more environmentally sound.

9.  He’s pragmatic.  He knows you build from the ground up not the top down.

10.  He’s collaborative. He understands that you have to bring people together in conversation in order to move forward and that not everyone, himself included, can always get exactly what they want.

Big Turnout in SLV for Safe Bike Routes

It was a classic collection of Valley folks: elementary age kids, young professionals, school officials, community leaders and a smattering of the old guard, who showed up for a community meeting at San Lorenzo Valley Elementary School to discuss plans for safe routes for walking and biking to school.  

About 70 were in attendance and organizers claimed over 300 had already signed petitions of support.

The meeting was put together by Bryan Largay a Felton parent and Tawn Kennedy of PeoplePower, the local bike rider advocacy group.  The two spearheaded the formation of Safe Routes to School SLV, a coalition of of community members and local organizations.

Largay referenced past efforts including,  the SLV Trails Committee, local groups that had offered support like the SLVUSD Board of Trustees, The Valley Women’s Club, People Power, the Sierra Club of Santa Cruz County and the SLV Chamber of Commerce and said this gathering was  “another step on the journey”.

He suggested it would not be easy or quick, but he hoped that in five years his child could safely ride their bike to school.

Kennedy, spoke briefly about state and national initiatives that currently exist to promote healthier lifestyle choices for students - 16% walk or ride bikes to school today vs 42% in 1969; as well as efforts to reduce traffic congestion - 25% of morning commute traffic is attributed to parents taking children to school.  He spoke of existing and potential coalitions and pledged to continue dedicate resources to see the project through.

Superior Court Judge Jeff Almquist, a Felton resident and former County Supervisor, spoke about his experience as an avid bike rider in the Valley.  His concern for the safety of cyclists, particularly along Hwy 9 led him to spearhead a plan to develop a safe bike route from Santa Cruz to Boulder Creek. As a County Supervisor and a member of the Transportation Commission he spearheaded a process which eventually resulted in the publication of the SLV Trail Feasibility Study.  (Almquist was appointed to the bench before the study was published in July 2006.)

Almquist pointed out that the existence of the finished study could at least provide the “predicate for future funding” and he noted that the transportation budget was separate from the State’s general fund and might not be as severely affected by the current state budget mess.

The three candidates for County Supervisor were in attendance and all pledged their support.  Eric Hammer, (who has already earned the endorsement of PeoplePower) urged the group to use the “momentum you have clearly developed” to press for a meeting with John Presleigh, County Director of Public Works and “start a conversation”  about what kinds of incremental improvements might be feasible in the short term.  “Working as a community we can do this.”  he said, adding that this is exactly the kind of project that describes the work he hopes to do as Supervisor.

Bruce McPherson was optimistic but listed three obstacles to overcome: “1. The topography of Hwy 9, 2. Money and 3. Property owners.”  He decried the traffic congestion problems, saying “Highway 9 is a mess” and that something needs to be done “so we don’t have a parking lot twice a day.”  

He mentioned the current tax property owners pay for road maintenance, suggesting that it was something that would have to be “looked at”.  

“I don’t like tax and spend”  he said  “but we have to think about it.”
 
He thought the project would find favor with everyone from “highway people to health care.”  As far as property owners he said only that “we have to deal with it.”


Bill Smallman said he was “100% in support” and then went on to explain and defend his opposition to the coastal rail purchase.


When the audience was invited to provide comments, many wanted to know what were the next steps.  Mr Largay suggested no real action could occur before January because of the elections.  It was at this point that Hammer suggested the level of support in the room deserved swifter action.  Largay wasted no time in tapping the momentum by scheduling an organizational meeting for the following Monday, 7-8pm at SLE.



To get involved contact Tawn Kennedy at   greenways@peoplepowersc.org


In the interest of proividing a complete account; one gentleman was curious about who would protect his property rights.  He claims he has to watch misbehaving youth cutting across his land doing “all sorts of things;  fighting, using drugs, screwing.”

Community Forum: Safe Routes to School for Felton and SLV

Community Forum: Safe Routes to School for Felton and SLV  

Monday, May 14th, 2012

7:00 PM

SLV Elementary School Multi-Use Room

7155 Highway 9, Felton

Children of San Lorenzo Valley deserve safe routes to school. Currently there is no safe way for children to walk or bike to any of the three schools on the SLV campus from the surrounding community. Safe Routes to School SLV, a coalition of community members and local organizations, is holding a public meeting to promote the implementation of safe routes for walking and biking in the San Lorenzo Valley.



Students clearly see the need for improved infrastructure. “I’ve lived in the valley for all of my life and I’ve never felt safe enough to ride my bike on Highway 9,” says SLV High sophomore class president Abbey Sherman. “I think that it is really important that students have the ability to transport themselves safely to school without using cars or the bus.”


Safe Routes envisions a path system from South Felton at Redwood Drive, to the main SLV campus, and north to Glen Arbor Road. Phase one of the Safe Routes project would simply tie existing streets together with crosswalks, signs and minor improvements to a short section of Highway 9. The 2006 SLV Trail Feasibility Study identified this route as one of the most easily implementable and cost-effective.



Community activists agree. According to Micah Posner of People Power, “These improvements are feasible with existing funding sources, and SLV kids could be riding and walking to school within the next few years, provided we have strong leadership from the next County Supervisor.”



The meeting will feature presentations by local experts on what the routes could look like, and background on how the proposal would fit into the nationwide vision for Safe Routes to School. 


After public discussion, the candidates for 5th District Supervisor will be asked to make a commitment to make safe routes happen in SLV. Candidates who have committed to attending the meeting include Eric Hammer, Bruce McPherson, and Bill Smallman.



“This is a great project that will help parents and kids, and will also help link the community together,” explains SLV Elementary parent Bryan Largay. “I’m headed to the the meeting to make sure that our next supervisor commits to making this a priority”



“It is very exciting to see community members get behind creating safer routes to our Felton campus,” states SLV School District Superintendent Julie Haff. “For years, people have complained about the traffic on Highway 9 and how unsafe it is for bikes and pedestrians. Safe Routes SLV is to be applauded for putting out the effort to create paths that will give both our community and students a healthier and safer way to walk and bike in our beautiful Valley. Of course, this project also helps our commuters by reducing traffic congestion.”

The meeting is co-sponsored by: The Valley Women’s Club, the SLVUSD School Board of Trustees, the SLV Chamber of Commerce, Sierra Club Santa Cruz County, People Power,  and Green Ways to School.

For more information, contact Tawn Kennedy at greenways@peoplepowersc.org or (831) 425-0667.

Taking the Fifth: Sleepy John, The Surfing Senator and Planet Cruz

Whether by design or serendipity, Sleepy John Sandidge had comedian Richard Stockton and politician Bruce McPherson together in the studio at KZSC 88.1 FM Wednesday night for what was a free wheeling and thoroughly entertaining show.

Stockton was pretty funny, he plugged his latest project “Are We There Yet?”; stories about his experience as a baby boomer from Bakersfield coming of age in the Bay Area and Santa Cruz  (He told a great story about meeting Janis Joplin when he was 18.)    Between pot and sex jokes, Sleepy John brought Mr. McPherson, who is 69 and trying to get elected to the Board of Supervisors, into the conversation.  McPherson is not quite a baby boomer but he has fond memories of the 60’s.  He said he especially liked the “cool cars” and also mentioned "the music" and all "the changes".

He told a story about the Regents deciding between Alviso and Santa Cruz for the UC campus..  Evidently we were lucky that it was sunny in Santa Cruz and smoggy in Alviso on the day they chose to visit the proposed sites.



McPherson whose family owned the Sentinel for 118 years spoke about how the University changed the town.  “It was all crew cuts and saddle shoes,” he said.  “It was a very conservative town.  We saw the University as a cash cow.”



Stockton talked about his enlightenment and transformation during the Vietnam era.  McPherson talked about Nixon changing the voting age to 18.  “That turned things upside down.  That really changed politics in Santa Cruz.” he said.



Bruce told Richard that he knew a lot of his “cohorts from Bakersfield” from his own days as a student - and football player - at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Richard told Bruce that the smog was so bad in Bakersfield that "when you throw a frisbee it sticks."

Bruce said he didn't think any of his friends still lived in Bakersfield.  



Stockton, will be a featured performer at this summer’s Fringe Festival with an appearance at the Actors Theatre on July 15th. He produced 20 plus episodes of the Planet Cruz radio show and is friends with Zach Friend who is also running for Supervisor. He wanted to know how he was doing?  

McPherson said "Zach is looking real good."

Stockton left after a half hour and Sleepy John turned to McPherson and asked him right off, "Why?"  

“Why not?”  was McPherson's eventual response along with his stump bio: 4th generation, 26 yrs at the Sentinel; 13 in politics, lots of working with non-profits, public service, form of giving; experience, knowledge, contacts.

Sleepy John:  “In politics It really is who you know, right?


McPherson:  “Absolutely.  The counties are really an arm of the state government.  I can pick up the phone and call the Governor’s office, or some of the legislators, or the departments and they’re going to call back.”


Sleepy John:  “Like the Department of Natural Resources?”
(laughter)


McPherson:  “John (Laird) is doing a fantastic job up there.  He’s really busy. I know he likes that, the more you give him the more he likes it.”

(Check back for part II where Sleepy John and the Surfing Senator try to solve a Santa Cruz City skateboard park dilemna; discuss the Marine Sanctuary Center, The Tannery Arts Center, the Simpkins Center, the Sentinel, KSCO, and a lot more.)

Taking The Fifth: Supe Candidates Face-Off in 1st Forum

Thanks to Wendy Sigmund, publisher of the new Boulder Creek Bulletin, for allowing us to share this account by Valerie White of the Valley Women's Club/League of Women Voters Candidate Forum held last week. If you haven't yet seen the new print publication (the 4th issue is out now) you can find it at most BC merchants. It's chock full of news and info focused on the people and events in Boulder Creek. I was present at the forum and I think Ms White does a credible job of reporting on the event. It is obviously not a verbatim transcript but I think it fairly represents the questions and responses. The account is unedited and first appeared in the April 14th edition of the Boulder Creek Bulletin (Vol 1:4).

Update: Valerie White contacted me and provided her original story which contains a different version of one of Eric Hammer's responses regarding the proposed desal plant in Santa Cruz. The version which went to print could leave the impression that Hammer supports the Santa Cruz Water Dept proposal which is not the case. I've edited the text below to reflect her original account.

Three Candidates For County Supervisor Debate

By Valerie White

Last Wednesday evening, April 11, the three remaining candidates for the 5th District County Supervisor position held a debate at the SLV High School hosted by the Valley Women’s Club.  The auditorium was packed and people were given cards to fill out for questions to ask the candidates. Bill Smallman began by saying that the wrong candidates are being elected and that they are sorely lacking goals.  Mr. Smallman stated that his goal is to create a Board of Economic Development.  Bruce Mc Pherson stated that he had been nominated by Arnold Schwarzenegger for Secretary of State and was voted in unanimously.  He also told us that he has been married for 44 years, and that he was an editor and writer for the Sentinel for 26 years.  Eric Hammer said that he is 43 years old and that he believes he has the skills to unite the three communities in this district. He interacts with the public on a daily basis and employs between one and two hundred people at his construction company.
There was a huge stack of questions and time did not allow for all of them to be asked.
Question #1:  What issue do you feel is the most pressing and how will you address it?
Mc Pherson:  My first priority is the economy.  When I went door to door speaking with people in this community, many people told me they were in imminent danger of losing their homes.   I am concerned that this county has no strategy for helping these people.  Another priority is the protection of our natural resources.  And finally, we need to provide more law enforcement and build and repair roads.  
Hammer:  Hammer: Renewable resources. We have a water shortage and the aquifers are being drained. Santa Cruz is talking about building a desalinization plant and we need to work together for a goal.
Smallman:  Roads need to be fixed not by a tax increase but by better budgeting.  We need to conserve water.  I am against a desalinization plant. We need to restrict growth and sprawl.
Question #2: Would you support funding for a new library in Felton?
Hammer:  Yes. I support the ten branch system.  I do not think a Scott’s Valley library alone can fully serve our community.
Mc Pherson:  Yes.  I signed a 4 cent sales tax designed to be used indefinitely for libraries.  I do not want to close any branches.  If elected I would ask for the Felton Library to be built tomorrow.
Smallman:  Yes.  Libraries serve as a learning center for people who can’t afford computers.  I want to have it built, maintained and supported.
Question#3:  Will you support “safe route to school”?
Hammer:  The route is already planned using People Power.  It will go through downtown Felton and then through the back streets.
Smallman:  I was unaware of this plan.  I am in favor of giving access to bikes, but am concerned about other paths going through environmentally sensitive places.
Mc Pherson:  Children deserve no less.
Question #4:  What happened to the Bike and Hike plan from Boulder Creek to the San Lorenzo Park in Santa Cruz?
Smallman:  We have to consider the cost.  We need to spend money where it is most needed.  Stick with the path to and from school, but not new recreational paths.
Mc Pherson:  We can make it happen.  It is a difficult task to take on when we need money for other things.  People need to keep their supervisor informed of their top priorities.
Hammer:  It wasn’t dropped completely.  There were road blocks.  Property owners didn’t want access on their properties.  But there is such a thing as eminent domain.
Question #5: How do you envision use to sustain the environment?
Mc Pherson:  We are a slow growth community.  Most people live here because of that.  I have always been very protective of our environmental resources.  I am the vice chairman for the Marine Center in Santa Cruz.  Environmental protection and jobs can work together, and they do.  In 1902 my great-grandfather helped establish Big Basin as a state park.  I am proud to be a Sempervirens member and intend to maintain Castle Rock as a state park.
Smallman:  We need to have civil engineers and scientists creating pristine environments.  The planning department has a big role in that.
Hammer:  We have a spoken and unspoken slow growth mentality.  We are at a point over the next four years that the general plan will be change.  I would like to see those houses that were built in the thirties and forties in this valley repaired and renovated.
Question #6: Do you support water acquisition in Felton?
Hammer:  Yes, Lompico is having issues and residents are reaching out to SLV for support for a merger. SLV wants to be sure there is consensus.  We need to give Zayante and Lompico some help before there is a draught.
Smallman: Five hundred houses were built in Zayante and Lompico with poor planning.  They built their own infrastructure and it eventually broke down.
Mc Pherson: There would have to be an agreement between San Lorenzo and Lompico.  SLV directors seem to be willing to do that, they just don’t want to be left holding the bag.
Question #7: What is the first step to ensure an adequate water supply in the future?
Mc Pherson: The options are limited.  We have a great aquifer, the most pristine water source.  We have the best record of water conservation in the state.  We may have to do it again.  Another good option is to tie in with one another in a cooperative effort.
Hammer:  Conservation, re-evaluating our building practices, making sacrifices.  We need catchment systems on all buildings.  We need pavement that allows water to soak down.  We need to rip up parking lots and repave.  We need to recharge aquifers.
Smallman:  There is a new type of septic treatment tank, but they are expensive.  The county is doing a bad job managing water pollution.  We can build a reservoir in Scotts Valley.
Question #8: What can we do to improve the situation with the Brookdale Lodge?
Smallman:  The owner needs to be forced to sell or have restrictions and time limits placed upon him to get him on a schedule and get the Brookdale Lodge back in business.  We are starting to lose recognition.
Mc Pherson:  We are dealing with private property rights, but the county needs to force the issue.  We need improvements in county practices.  The Brookdale Lodge is a critical element to tourism in the San Lorenzo Valley.  County can press issues to force the owner into action or get him out of there.  
Hammer:  Someone suggested that it might be used for low cost senior housing.  The county needs to be proactive.  We need to talk to the county, start a conversation with the owner, real estate agents and county counsel and put together a team to attract a buyer.
Question #9: Are you in favor of supporting Planned Parenthood?
Smallman, McPherson, Hammer: Yes.
Question #10: Marijuana, how do we insure safe practices?
Smallman:  Renegade pot farms are a real problem in many state parks.  I have suggested that people be given passes to go into parks that are closed to look for them.  Then rangers can be called when they are found.
Mc Pherson:  Different levels of government levels are working against each other.  There is a use for it, but how to make it work for all levels of law enforcement?  It has to start from the top on down.  We don’t want to spend thousands of dollars on something we are going to lose.
Hammer:  We need to impose the same regulations on it as we do for any other thing, such as erosion control.  It is a huge part of this community.  We need to impose environmental protection and code enforcers and give them the resources.
Question #11: What is the most pressing issue and what would you do about it?
Smallman:  Create a Board of Economic Development.  Secondly, road maintenance
Mc Pherson: Provide more law enforcement safety.  Be more accommodating to our local business community to attract and retain businesses.
Hammer: Better law enforcement and fire protection.  Build a satellite police station in Ben Lomond.
Question #12: Women are underrepresented in the County. How would you change this?
Hammer:  Support the Woman’s Commission adopted worldwide with the sole exception of the United States.  We need to empower women in the community, motivate women leaders and make them feel safe.
Smallman: We don’t want to go backwards and be male dominated; we need to move forward.
Mc Pherson:  We need to listen up, men.  Listen to what the women have to say.
Question #13: What is your major point of difference from the other two candidates?
Mc Pherson: I have a proven track record of getting things done, experience that the other two don’t have.  Experience, knowledge and personal contacts.
Hammer:  My biggest strength is local knowledge of what works right here and right now.  I am able to form partnerships.  I am a multi-tasking project manager.  I can listen, I am approachable and I always follow up on what I say I am going to do.
Smallman:  Job development is the answer, the only realistic plan.  I don’t want to make it confusing.  I am here to work hard.  I am not going on endorsements, I am going on message.  

Taking The Fifth:  Candidates To Finally Face Off in Race to Represent SLV

All politics are local and it doesn’t get any more local for San Lorenzo Valley voters than the Performing Arts Center at the High School this Wednesday April 11th between 7 and 9pm.  The event is free and all voters are encouraged to attend and submit questions they would like addressed by the candidates for the 5th District seat on the County Board of Supervisor.

The three remaining active candidates, Brookdale’s Eric Hammer, Lompico’s Bill Smallman and Pasatiempo’s Bruce McPherson; will have the opportunity make their case why we should elect them to serve as our representative for the next four years.  

The three will have an opportunity to distinguish and differentiate themselves as the format requires each candidate to address every issue in turn.  Questions will be solicited from all those present and will be submitted to the candidates by a representative of the League of Women Voter, who along with the Valley Women’s Club has conducted 29 previous forums for local candidates.  Community Television of Santa Cruz will record the event and students from the High School will provide logistical assistance.

While all three gentlemen have been busy walking precincts and meeting voters at coffee houses and private residences; this event will mark the first time they will all be together on a local stage  to address issues posed by local voters.  

Not surprisingly all three have been stressing the need to protect the environment, improve the roads and provide for economic development.  Hopefully this forum will give voters an insight on how they intend to deliver on these priorities if elected and what other views they hold that are important to the residents of the San Lorenzo Valley.

Small Skirmish in War on Women At County Board of Supes Meeting

The "war on women" came to Santa Cruz yesterday in advance of International Women’s Day.  A small skirmish broke out in the County Board of Supervisors chamber over a motion made by the lone women on the Board, Ellen Pririe.

Despite twice having voted unanimously to endorse the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in 1995 and again in 2005 the Board could not get unanimous support for a rather harmless motion intended to remove obstacles that may exist for women and girls in accessing county services.  

Pririe’s motion was to direct various County departments to work with the County Women’s Commission to develop a survey to identify gaps in data collection and other practices that could lead to gender inequities in County services and funding decisions and to develop training for department heads to help them better understand how the choices they make may influence gender inequities.

The Board’s consideration of the proposal stems from a recent report by  the County Women’s Commission on the Status of Women and Girls in Santa Cruz County (SOWAG) that found that a failure to gather and disaggregate data by gender has an adverse affect on addressing gender  inequities which were identified in a number of areas.

Supervisor Greg Caput, who represents south county, opposed the motion on the grounds that CEDAW was mentioned in the letter presented to the Board by members John Leopold and Mark Stone in support of the proposed action.  Caput claimed that his objection was to using an international treaty as a “template” for the study.  

Women’s Commissioner from the 5th District, Sheila De Lany, a Boulder Creek jeweler, spoke in favor of the motion and was asked by Caput why the U.S. Senate has yet to ratify the treaty signed by President Carter.  After providing a short lesson in Senate rules De Lany pointed out that the U.S was among seven countries including of Iran, Somalia, and Sudan who have not yet ratified the treaty.

Supervisors Pririe, Stone and Leopold all took their turns trying to assure Supervisor Caput that the County was not entering into any foreign treaties to no avail.  Ultimately the Board voted 4-1 to approve the motion.

After casting the lone vote against the motion, Caput told Sentinel reporter Jason Hoppins that  as a pro-life Catholic he objects to language in the treaty supporting womens' access to abortions.  Apparently Caput objects to Article 12 which reads: “States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in the field of health care in order to ensure, on a basis of equality of men and women, access to health care services, including those related to family planning.”

The fact that the County will proceed with steps intended to eliminate discrimination against women in their practices and funding decisions is to be commended, however, the fact that in 2012, in Santa Cruz County, there is one member of the Board who opposes such efforts should be a wake up call, particularly as we contemplate who will be on the Board in 2013.

First Ever Middle School All-Star Basketball Game Sunday

The 1st Annual Central Coast Middle School All-Star Classic featuring  7th and 8th grade boys basketball players will take place this Sunday, March 11th at the Scotts Valley High School Gym.

Five players from the San Lorenzo Valley Middle School have been selected to participate.  7th graders Taney Murray and Joseph Oard and 8th graders Michael LaCapria, D'Shawn Hopkins and Davon Northcutt will play for the north squads in two contests with the 7th graders tipping off at 4pm followed at 6pm by the 8th graders.

A 3 point shooting contest will be held at halftime of both games and the entire event will be televised by Community Television of Santa Cruz for later broadcast.

Taking The Fifth: George Wylie withdraws from 5th District Supervisor race

George Wylie, who has been campaigning for election to the position as 5th District Supervisor for the County of Santa Cruz, has decided to withdraw from the race.

Wylie stated that he is stepping aside for personal reasons. He was one of several candidates vying to replace outgoing Supervisor Mark Stone, who is running for California State Assembly.

“It has been an exceptional experience over the last few months connecting with members of our community and discussing the issues that are important to them,” Wylie said. “However, after careful deliberation I’ve decided to suspend my campaign.”

Wylie's withdrawal leaves Lompico's Bill Smallman, Brookdale's Eric Hammer, Ben Lomond's Susan Weber and Santa Cruz' Bruce McPherson still in the race.

News From a Local in the Southern Sierra Nevada - F. Scott Krueger Checks In From Columbia

Hey Friends and Family,

Just a quick update for you all. I recently came down from the Sierra Nevada Mountains, snow-capped peaks overlook the Northern Caribbean coastline of Colombia. I had the unique opportunity to hike through the various indigenous tribes and stay with the son of a chief to work and learn about the Haruaco culture. My two friends and I were actually the first people outside of the tribe to have seen what we saw and to have been where we were.

The Kogui and Harauco people are very protective of their cultures and the only way we could pass through the various villages was to give offerings of shells, food and tools (specifically machetes). The societies in the mountains look almost as if they've never been touched by modern (not just Western) hands. 

It is considered one of the most specialized experiences in Colombia and it strongly impacted me.

More details and photos can be seen here on my blog. 

Other news, my campaign to raise money for camera equipment has been going wonderfully. The funding period will end tomorrow morning (Monday) at 9 AM PST. If you have not donated yet and would like to, please feel free to click here. 

I am humbled to say that I have already received various requests from other filmers, artists and sound technicians to collaborate with me on the series of films I will be producing here in South America.

Thanks again for your continued love and support,

Frank Scott Krueger {desde Colombia}

Kickstarter Film Project

Personal Website

Travel Blog