After spending the last four and half years as the publisher for three community weeklies down in San Diego, it feels great to be back.
I always felt a special vibe and energy when working in the Santa Cruz area. And to now also call it my home takes it to another level. My attachment with Santa Cruz began many years ago. From elementary through high school, I spent many days with my great aunt and uncle in their beautiful Victorian on the corner of Windham and Caledonia streets, as my family would escape the burning inferno also known as the Central Valley in the summertime. Walking down to the corner grocery store as a small boy with 10 cents in my pocket to pick and choose from the assorted array of penny candies, going to the Boardwalk, and the smell of homemade biscuits, boysenberry pie and chicken and dumplings are all fond memories of those times spent in Santa Cruz.
In 1977, my new bride (whom I am still married to) and I decided it was time to finally depart Fresno and start a new chapter of our lives in Pacific Grove. We raised our two children there, developed many friendships and became part of the fabric that made up the community. One of my very first jobs on the peninsula was with a group of community newspapers. Being a part of those papers taught me the responsibility of being a leader in the communities we served. Having spent a majority of my life living and working in media in the Monterey Bay area, I have followed Good Times and respected what it has contributed to the Santa Cruz lifestyle. The fact that my birthday is also the anniversary of Good Times’ creation gives me even more of a connection. We both have had a long history, but our best is yet to come.
As we move ahead, Good Times will continue to be Santa Cruz County’s premier guide to entertainment and events, while providing a fresh perspective on current local issues that reflect the voice, character and spirit of our community. We will also explore new ideas and features that further enhance our leadership role. I look forward to your comments and suggestions on the job we’re doing and where we can improve. Here’s to the Good Times ahead.
