LOCAL BUSINESSES IN HOLLISTER ARE WORRIED AFTER SEVERAL ROBBERIES. THREE SEPARATE ROBBERIES WERE REPORTED BY BUSINESSES IN THE LAST WEEK. THE DESCRIPTION OF A MAN CARRYING A SMALL CALIBER HANDGUN WAS SIMILAR IN ALL 3 CASES. TWO OF THE BUSINESSES WERE ROBBED WITHIN A HALF-HOUR OF EACH OTHER ON SUNDAY. POLICE HAVE NOT CONFIRMED WHETHER THERE IS A CONNECTION BETWEEN ANY OF THE INCIDENTS, HOWEVER, THEY ARE STILL INVESTIGATING.

THE SANTA CRUZ CITY COUNCIL'S TUESDAY NIGHT MEETING BROUGHT SEVERAL DECISIONS. THE COUNCIL VOTED TO SPEND 60 THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR PRE-DEVELOPMENT OF THE SALZ TANNERY PROJECT. THE PROJECT WILL TURN THE OLD LEATHER TANNERY INTO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, ARTIST'S STUDIOS, CLASSROOMS, THEATER SPACE AND AN ART GALLERY. THE COUNCIL ALSO ASKED THE CITY ATTORNEY TO LOOK INTO FILING A TRADEMARK FOR THE NAME, "ORIGINAL SURF CITY U.S.A." A 2005 LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVES JOHN LAIRD AND JOE SIMITIAN TO CONSIDER WAS ALSO APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL.

THE CITY OF SANTA CRUZ HAS WON THE 2005 AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS NATIONAL HONOR AWARD, THE PROFESSION'S HIGHEST RECOGNITION. THE AWARD WAS MADE FOR THE CITY'S ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT PROGRAM, IN THE CATEGORY OF OUTSTANDING REGIONAL AND URBAN DESIGN. SANTA CRUZ WAS ONE OF ELEVEN WINNERS FOR ITS ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT PROGRAM.
THE PROGRAM HAS ALSO WON NUMEROUS OTHER NATIONAL AND STATE AWARDS.

2 SALINAS MEN RECEIVED MULTIPLE STAB WOUNDS TUESDAY, AFTER A VERBAL ARGUMENT. 2 OTHER MEN ARE BEING SAUGHT BY THE SALINAS POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR THE ATTEMPTED HOMICIDE OUTSIDE MARCISCO'S TAQUERIA ON MARKET STREET AT ABOUT 6:15 P.M. NO DESCRIPTION OF THE SUSPECTS WAS AVAILABLE. A 22-YEAR-OLD VICTIM WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL WITH WOUNDS TO HIS UPPER LEG, WHILE ANOTHER 18-YEAR-OLD VICTIM WAS LIFE-FLIGHTED, AFTER BEING STABBED IN THE BACK AND LEFT ARM. NEITHER INJURY APPEARS TO BE LIFE THREATENING.