
Forever 21’s plan to open a new location in the now-vacant Borders Books building introduces questions of a changing local identity in exchange for fashionable finds and economic growth. The clothing retailer is among many chain stores that have made an entrance in the Santa Cruz community over the past decade.

Through donation based food programs, the newly opened branch of Café Gratitude aims to give back to the public before focusing on profit.

City council member David Terrazas is working with UCSC dining services to expand campus Flexi dollars to downtown businesses. The goals of the collaboration include providing a variety of options for students and putting more money into the local economy.

ABC news recently reported that credit unions are seeing a big surge in membership, and it’s easy to see why. Wells Fargo and Bank of America both recently announced that they will be adding new charges for debit and credit accounts, as well as for online services.

On Oct. 9 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at L’Atelier Salon, stylists will volunteer their time offering haircuts and selling raffle tickets to benefit cancer and HIV/AIDS research and treatment programs at City of Hope, a clinical research center located in Southern California. This annual nationwide campaign is in its fourth year at L’Atelier Salon.

On June 4, Atlantis Fantasyworld — a local comic book shop famous for appearing in “The Lost Boys” — will hold a special event featuring a screening of a movie about the first Bay Area Star Trek convention, a book signing with former Star Trek actress Joanne Linville, and a special celebration to bring 2T2 of “Captain Cosmic” fame out of storage.

The Monterey Bay fosters a growing movement toward organics and away from corporate factory farms. Local agriculture specialists sat on a panel last week and discussed trends and predictions regarding food production and dissolution.

The comic book industry has never been thriving like it is now. With new movies from Marvel and DC on the horizon, it’s clear that the comic book invasion is well underway. Bay Area retailers recently held Free Comic Book Day to celebrate the growing comics community and enjoy some local business.

This Week in News reports on rising office vacancy, with 12.5 percent of office space in the county being vacant, mostly concentrated in the Scotts Valley area. It also takes a look at the Positive Parenting Program, an advocacy program that has sprung from the First Five Commission.

It is not news to the farming community in Santa Cruz that the organic label has been watered down. Now, there is more emphasis on buying local products rather than reaching for a product just because it bears an organic sticker. Freewheelin’ Farm, a local uncertified organic farm in Santa Cruz, exemplifies how certification is not a priority for farmers anymore and how the market in Santa Cruz has changed because of the localization movement.
