North County Dems host endorsement forum
The Democratic Club of North Santa Cruz County will hold an endorsement forum for local candidates and ballot measures on the November election ballot on Tuesday, Sept. 1.
The forum will include brief presentations and questions for Democratic candidates in the races for Scotts Valley City Council, Scotts Valley Water District Board and the SLV School District Board.
Scotts Valley Mayor Donna Lind will provide information on Measure G, the Scotts Valley ballot measure to increase the city’s transient occupancy tax from 11% to 13%, Fifth District County Supervisor Monica Martinez will provide information on Measure E to increase the county’s sales and use tax by one-half cent, and Dan Haifley will present information on Measure D to restrict onshore facilities that support offshore drilling.
To reduce the number of endorsement forums candidates participate in, the Santa Cruz County Democratic Central Committee is joining forces with the North County Dems and will also consider endorsements for these local candidates and measures at this meeting.
The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Scotts Valley Water District Santa Margarita Community Room. The public is invited to attend.
Puccini opera coming to Santa Cruz in September
The Voice Studio of Thomas Clark Inc. will present Puccini’s “The Girl of the Golden West” in Santa Cruz in September as part of a limited performance run celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States.
The opera, based on David Belasco’s play and presented in a new English translation by Thomas Clark, will be performed at the Colligan Theater at the Tannery Arts Center, 1010 River St., on Sept. 4 at 7 p.m., Sept. 6 at 2 p.m., Sept. 11 at 7 p.m. and Sept. 13 at 2 p.m.
The three-act opera is set during the California Gold Rush and centers on Minnie, the owner of a saloon, and her relationship with bandit Dick Johnson and Sheriff Jack Rance. The production will be presented in full, without cuts to the score, and runs approximately 2 hours, 45 minutes with two intermissions.
Jordan Best stars as Minnie, with Xavier Prado as Dick Johnson for the first two Santa Cruz performances and John Kun Park in the role for the final two. Robert Balonek portrays Sheriff Jack Rance. Gary L. Stanford Jr. directs, with Umberto Barisciano conducting from the piano.
For tickets, visit thomasclarktenor.com/ggwmain.
