It was December 1964, and my family was living in the Sierra Nevada foothills near Auburn. I was 9 years old and my sister Kati was 7, as mom and dad drove us to grandmother’s house in Santa Cruz for Christmas vacation. It was a long drive, and we crossed the Santa Cruz Mountains on Highway 17 after sunset. Not only was the town lit up like a Christmas tree village, but there were two searchlights sweeping across the heavens like a Hollywood skyline.

Of course, these usually were located at car dealerships, and I’d once seen a World War II surplus truck-mounted searchlight for rent at a local truck rental lot. Car dealers used searchlights to signal the arrival of the latest models for the coming year, an event in itself. Automobile tail-fins seemed to foretell a flying-car future, like in the “Jetsons” cartoon show from 1962 to 1963. Yet tail-fins were also getting pointier, and I recalled the time I walked between cars parked along the sidewalk, and got gored by a tail-fin.

In the after-dark townscape, it was hard to guess where the searchlights were located, and as each one came into and out of view, our orientation constantly shifted. It seemed one was on the Eastside terrace, and the other might be on Ocean Street, so it appeared we had passed them. We came down Pacific Avenue in bumper-to-bumper traffic (Pacific Avenue was two-way at the time), and the street was decorated with holiday spandrels all down the street, of tinsel scrollwork and red-lighted stars and bells. To our surprise, the searchlight appeared to be right ahead of us on Pacific Avenue! Was it one of the dealerships at the foot of the avenue, like Prolo Chevrolet? But no, it seemed closer. As we approached, we saw a sign on the music store announcing all the latest Hammond Organs were now available, with a long line in front.

“They’re all getting organs?” I asked in wilderment.

the source

Mom said, “Look at the cinema marquee.” The Del Mar Theater was just south of the music store, and appeared to be where the line originated. I was stunned to see the sign announce “Mary Poppins” was playing. “No way!” I exclaimed. The movie had already been out a number of months, with kids singing “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” in the schoolyard, and playing “Chim-Chiminy” on the piano. We were used to major motion pictures not reaching the small-town market until they’d been running while in the big cities. Yet here in Santa Cruz was an Oscar contender with the local fanfare of a Hollywood premiere.

The 1,500-seat Del Mar movie palace was different in 1964, as a setting for luxury, fanfare, and a tour-de-force of art. (Ross Eric Gibson collection).

We continued on to grandmother’s house, fearing the higher-priced tickets would deter our parents. After all, it wasn’t a 90-minute or two-hour feature, but a two-and-a-half-hour show, with the kids admission raised from 30¢ to 55¢, and an adult ticket going for $1.05. My folks had never spent more than a dollar for a single movie ticket, especially for a single movie without added features, so we didn’t expect to see the film until prices came down.

We hadn’t gotten a television until 1960, a good source of old movies, so theater movies were more a treat for a special occasion, usually being a Disney film, or a Rogers and Hammerstein musical. As we drove away from the searchlights, Mom commented that Julie Andrews had originated the role of Eliza Doolittle in the broadway musical “My Fair Lady,” but had been snubbed as an unknown when “My Fair Lady” was adapted to the screen for an October 1964 release. Audrey Hepburn wasn’t happy her voice was dubbed by an offscreen singer, Marni Nixon, and while the film became an instant classic, Mom was delighted Andrews had gained film stardom in a musical regarded as the chief Oscar challenger to front-runner “My fair lady.” As our parents discussed it, they decided we should all go to see “Mary Poppins” as a Christmas treat.

I was so excited, I rushed in and told my grandmother Hopie. The next day, just as we were getting ready to leave, my three cousins ​​arrived from the Bay Area to spend Christmas. I feared this meant we wouldn’t see the movie, since we’d be having family time with our guests. But Mom told my aunt Jean about the movie, and Jean said we should all go to see the film. But Jean wanted to feed my cousins ​​first. Mom said they could all get hot dogs at the theater’s Delmarette lunch counter, but Jean said her kids needed food now, so Mom said she’d go stand in line for the tickets to the 5:00 show, and she’d meet them at the theatre. Kati and I went with my mom to get the tickets, probably because we still didn’t believe it was really happening. It had been raining on and off all evening, so we stood in line under the music store’s canvas awning, listening to the Hammond Organs inside, then moved under the Delmarette’s awning, but noticing the lunch counter was so crowded with customers people couldn’t get in.

Ross, Dana, and Kati Gibson in 1964, crowded into the Boardwalk’s photo booth. (Ross Eric Gibson collection)

After making our way to the box office, we learned the 5 pm showing was sold out. Kati and I were certain this meant we couldn’t see the show, since mom only had enough patience to stand in a long wet line once. And we envied the fast-moving line of happy people with tickets already filing into the theater. But to our surprise, Mom bought tickets to the 7:30 show, figuring we could eat dinner downtown first. So we went to the Teacup Chinese Restaurant, upstairs in the old Flatiron Building, just across from the post office. We phoned grandmother to let her know we got everyone tickets for a later show, and said our cousins ​​could meet us at the theater.

Downtown magic

When we left the restaurant it was dark, the rain had subsided and holiday lights and neon signs glinted in the mirror-wet streets. We walked past store windows of holiday displays, saw the St. George Hotel’s lobby tree through the front windows, with carols on the grand piano as people sat by a warm fireplace. Leask’s department store had animated displays in their show windows, and there was a line of kids to talk to Santa Claus in the window of Woolworth’s Department Store. When we heard the ringing handbell, Mom gave us coins to put in the Salvation Army kettle.

As we approached the theater from a distance, we saw the Del Mar’s colorful neon blinking in sequence animation. The line to buy tickets for the later showings, now stretched around the corner onto Soquel Avenue. We got to stand in the ticket-holder line for quick admission into the theater, while overhead running stud-lights under the marquee seemed to usher us in like an electric tide.

We entered under the Egyptian spread-wing poster case that sat atop the box office. But the auditorium wasn’t open yet. So we stopped to buy snacks and ordered orange drinks, which bubbled from the glass dome of the soda urn. A cigarette machine was in the lobby, but both Mom and Jean had given up smoking.
Up on the mezzanine it was cold near the windows, because the smokers had them open for ventilation, even though the light rain would gust in from time to time. Kati and I watched out the windows for our cousins, and called to them when they showed up. Then we ran across to the mezzanine rail overlooking the lobby to watch as they entered, and waved them up the stairs lighted by Saturn-like lamps.

The ushers were dressed as yachtsmen and toreador women, and when they opened the auditorium doors, even holding tickets, the place was so packed that ushers asked how many were in a group. Then they communicated with other ushers across a crowded room, using hand signals to find seats together. They looked like bidders on the crowded floor of the Stock Exchange, entirely filling the 1,500-seat auditorium every two-and-a-half hours. Our favorite seats were the lower-right loge or mid-balcony above the cross-aisle, and we managed to get our first choice.

The auditorium’s five art deco chandeliers (with three smaller ones under the balcony) were trimmed with stars, trumpets, and frosted glass panels resembling fountains. They illuminated a WPA-style mural ceiling, depicting lions flanking an Etruscan queen, while on either side of the curtains were molded panels of Egyptian maidens, inspired more by Busby Berkeley musicals than ancient Egypt art.

Then the drama began, as the lights lowered to a medium setting for a couple of minutes, to let stragglers find their seats, and stop gabbing, then dimmed out as the velvet curtains parted. Once the movie started, it didn’t matter if we were sitting together or not, we got so absorbed in the story.

“Mary Poppins” was nominated for 13 Oscars, winning five; while “My Fair Lady” had 12 nominations, winning eight Oscars, including Best Picture. The Oscars for “Mary Poppins” included Best Actress (Julie Andrews), Best Song (“Chim Chiminy”) and Best Special Visual Effects. Seeing the movie on a giant Cinamascope Screen heightened the film’s innovations and action, especially in such luxurious appointments as the Del Mar. Fresh from his TV show (1961 to 1966), Dick Van Dyke was a standout as the chimney sweep Bert, in spite of his barely-cockney accent. Then a reluctant Walt Disney had to be persuaded to give Van Dyke an added role of elderly banker Mr. Dawes Sr., which became a hilarious bit part; as was Ed Wynn, laughing himself to the ceiling.

And when the change in the weather came denoting Mary Poppin’s departure, one reluctantly left this invented world behind that lived in the Del Mar, emerging back out into the chill of a drizzling evening, and the lines of crowds waiting to get into the next two shows. But the magic stayed with you, as the closing song echoed in the memory “Let’s Go Fly A Kite.”

thanks

My gratitude to Daisy Gandolfi, a former Del Mar usherette, who asked people like myself, to give early recollections of the Del Mar Theatre, for her 2002 oral history “Theatre Del Mar: Now Playing In Santa Cruz.”

Facade of the Del Mar Movie Palace, with the Delmarette Fountain on the left. (Friends of the Del Mar Collection).

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SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF/AP) — An underwater volcano spectacularly erupted near the Pacific nation of Tonga on Saturday, sending large tsunami waves across the coast and triggering a rare tsunami alert for the northern California coast.

The National Weather Service issued the alert tweet – “A tsunami advisory has been issued for the US West Coast, including our area. Wave arrival time: around 7:35 this morning. A tsunami is expected that can create strong currents that endanger swimmers, boats and coastal structures.”

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Waves of 1-3 feet are possible.

The Weather Service issued the following estimated arrival times for the tsunami wave:

• Fort Bragg – 7:35 am
• Monterey – 7:35 a.m
• Crescent City – 8:00 a.m
• San Francisco – 8:10 am

#Tsunami is expected to reach #SanFrancisco around 8:10 am this morning, which corresponds to #HighTide for #SanFrancisco at 9:09 am. Expect low lying flooding and minor flooding, particularly in areas like #MarinHeadlands. #Cawx pic.twitter.com/PoR3WYZ13D

— NWS Bay Area (@NWSBayArea) January 15, 2022

The weather service tweeted: “This is especially important for people who are just waking up and may not be checking the news or social media before heading out for their morning walk on the beach. Please consider phoning loved ones if you know they are currently on shore to let them know of the danger.”

Stay on higher ground. This is an actual view of Miramar Beach in Half Moon Bay. @SMHarbor #CaWx #California @sanmateoco @sccounty pic.twitter.com/irnxkofMGi

— CAL FIRE CZU (@CALFIRECZU) January 15, 2022

The San Leandro police also issued a warning.

“Extensive flooding is not expected at this time, but damaging wave activity could occur in ports and marinas,” the alert said. “While no large waves or extensive flooding are expected in the area, we are advising residents to avoid waterways until the warning is canceled as the waves could still pose a hazard to boats and swimmers.”

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San Francisco Emergency Medical Services officials also issued a warning.

“A tsunami advisory means strong, dangerous currents are expected to affect San Francisco’s beaches, ports and marinas, and finger piers in coastal areas,” the alert said. “Dangerous currents are expected to begin at 8:10 a.m. and continue for many hours.”

The wave hit the Hawaiian Islands around 6 a.m

“A tsunami is currently being observed by the emergency management of all islands,” the weather service tweeted. “We are relieved that there is no reported damage and only minor flooding on the islands.”

There were no immediate reports of injuries in Tonga or the extent of the damage as communications with the small nation remained problematic. Videos posted on social media showed large waves washing ashore in coastal areas and swirling around homes and buildings.

2022-01-14: (Correction on date) Large volcanic eruption near Tonga (Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano) seen from space today. Shown on visible images by Himawari satellite. #hiwx #tsunami #earthquake pic.twitter.com/Y18W7wvXl9

— NWSHonolulu (@NWSHonolulu) January 15, 2022

The New Zealand military said it was monitoring the situation and remained on standby to assist if asked.

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Satellite imagery showed a massive eruption, a cloud of ash, steam and gas, mushrooming over blue Pacific waters.

A tsunami warning was in effect for the entire archipelago, according to Tonga Meteorological Services, and data from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center showed waves of 80 centimeters (2.6 feet) were measured.

Residents of American Samoa were alerted to the tsunami warning by local broadcasters and church bells ringing nationwide. An external siren warning system was out of order. Those living along the coast quickly moved to higher ground.

As night fell, there were no reports of damage and the Hawaii-based tsunami center canceled the warning.

Authorities in the nearby island nations of Fiji and Samoa also issued warnings, urging people to avoid the coast because of strong currents and dangerous waves. The Japan Meteorological Agency said there may be a slight swell in the water along Japan’s coasts, but no damage is expected.

News site Islands Business reported that a convoy of Tonga’s police and military troops escorted King Tupou VI. evacuated from his palace near the coast. He was among the many residents who moved to a higher level.

The explosion of the Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha’apai volcano was the latest in a series of spectacular eruptions.

A Twitter user identified as Dr. Faka’iloatonga Taumoefolau released video showing waves crashing ashore.

“Can literally hear the volcano erupting, sounds pretty intense,” he wrote, adding in a later post, “It’s raining ash and tiny pebbles, darkness covers the sky.”

Earlier, the Matangi Tonga news site reported that scientists observed massive explosions, thunder and lightning near the volcano after it erupted early Friday. Satellite imagery showed a cloud 5 kilometers (3 miles) across that rose about 20 kilometers (12 miles) into the air.

More than 2,300 kilometers away in New Zealand, officials warned of storm surges from the outbreak.

The National Emergency Management Agency said some parts of New Zealand could expect “strong and unusual currents and unpredictable coastal waves” after a major volcanic eruption.

The volcano is about 64 kilometers (40 miles) north of the capital, Nuku’alofa. Already in late 2014 and early 2015, a series of eruptions in the region created a small new island and disrupted international air traffic to the Pacific archipelago for several days.

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About 105,000 people live in Tonga.

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SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) – A cloud of atmospheric subtropical river moisture that stalled over the San Francisco Bay Area on Monday triggered steady downpours, gusts of wind of 40 miles per hour or more, minor rock slides, and localized flooding on roads.

The heavy rainfall in the southern part of the Bay Area has resulted in authorities issuing multiple flood warnings and warnings.

Early Monday evening, Santa Cruz County announced that areas of the CZU Burn Scar, Felton Grove and Paradise Park were under an evacuation warning due to heavy rains that began to fall on Sunday.

Due to heavy rainfall, parts of the CZU Burn Scar, Felton Grove and Paradise Park were placed under an evacuation warning. If you are feeling insecure or need extra time to leave, now is the time to make arrangements. This is just a warning. https://t.co/0HS4Yp39mW #knowyourzone pic.twitter.com/pskxebV0yf

– Santa Cruz County (@sccounty) December 14, 2021

Residents evacuating are asked to follow these steps:

• Follow the instructions of the local authorities, including for travel routes.
• Wear protective clothing and sturdy shoes.
• Take your emergency go-bag or emergency supply kit with you.
• Lock your home
• Turn off the water, gas, and electricity when prompted.
• Let others know when you left and where you are going.
• Make arrangements for pets and livestock if necessary.

Residents can use the Zonehaven.com website to check that they are in the evacuation warning area.

The National Weather Service previously issued a Flash Flood Watch for the fire area of ​​the CZU Lightning Complex, which includes the southern part of San Mateo County and the northern part of Santa Cruz County. The clock went into effect on Monday at 4 p.m. and ends at 10 p.m.

An earlier flash flood warning was issued at 10:51 a.m. for the fire area of ​​the CZU Lightning Complex in San Mateo County

“Doppler radar and automatic rain gauges indicated that heavy rainfall was falling over the fire area of ​​the CZU Lightning Complex,” said the National Weather Service. “The expected rate of precipitation is 0.5 to 1 inch in 1 hour. Flash floods are underway or are expected to begin shortly. “

The flash flood warning expired at 11:45 a.m. and was downgraded to a flood warning. An additional flood warning issued to more of the area, including San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz counties, expired at 12:15 p.m.

The San Lorenzo River has risen and the fast-flowing streams carry large logs and debris that have not been washed away by the drain in years.

It was an impressive show, even for the locals.

“This is wild! Just wild. Kind of exciting, ”said Andrea Randall from Boulder Creek.

Randall came out to see the river after her own house was flooded. The drain behind their house flooded the culvert and flowed into the family
Kitchen a few inches deep.

“It was like a flash flood, like everyone worried about just getting through. So much water in such a short time, ”says Matt Randall.

The storm made driving particularly treacherous. Flooding occurred in numerous places on Highway 9 as storm drains flooded trenches.

“It was really hard. It flooded the street and fell on our property, ”said Harry Clark, a resident of Boulder Creek.

Street teams hopped from place to place and cleared the gullies.
There were also a number of mudslides. One blocked a lane on Southbound 17 near Sugarloaf Road.

However, some local residents weren’t too surprised by the persistent downpour of the atmospheric river.

“It’s a good storm, but it’s not uncommon for here in the mountains,” said Troyan Lean of Boulder Creek.

The Bay Area National Weather Service office also released new information on Monday afternoon about the flash flood surveillance that was in effect for fire areas in Monterey County.

The weather service said the watch would be in effect from 7:00 p.m. Monday evening through 1:00 a.m. Tuesday morning in the scars of the River, Carmel, Dolan and Coleman fires.

UPDATED FLASH FLOOD CLOCKS FOR COMBUSTION AREAS pic.twitter.com/Rm7Z3sqw5c

– NWS Bay Area (@NWSBayArea) December 13, 2021

Monterey County authorities had previously issued an evacuation warning for the Dolan Fire scars area and areas in and around River Road in Salinas around 5 p.m. Sunday until Tuesday morning as the atmospheric river storm system brought heavy rain to the county on Sunday.

Forecasters said rainfall is likely to hit thresholds for increased risk of debris flow activity, particularly in areas near the fires in August 2020. Properties and people located below or downstream of the fire areas are at increased risk.

Areas affected by the alert are Pine Canyon Road, Trimble Hill, Mesa Road, Manzanita Way, Wildwood Way, Redding Drive., Belmont Circle, the southwest end of Berry Drive, Limekiln Road, and the 800 Block of River Road.

Highway 1 was closed at Deetjens Big Sur Resort (Postmile 42.1) and Ragged Point on Sunday from 8 p.m.

The lockdown should remain in effect until Tuesday, then the transit agency will review the conditions.

Caltrans said it is working with local authorities to minimize travel to Big Sur so residents and businesses can evacuate in the safest of conditions. Highway 1 is closed at the request of the California Highway Patrol.

Floods forced the closure of Highway 92 between Highway 1 and State Route 35 in both directions.

HIGHWAY 92 CLOSED: Highway 92 is flooded from Spanish Town to 12000 block (at Repetto’s Greenhouse Florist) #CaWx #California #TurnAroundDontDrown pic.twitter.com/WwG0YRouN2

– CAL FIRE CZU (@CALFIRECZU) December 13, 2021

Cal Fire later confirmed that two people trapped in flood water in their vehicle on Highway 92 needed to be rescued, but there were no injuries in the incident.

This video shows the Coastside Fire Engine 40 helping two people trapped in flood in their vehicle on Highway 92 in @sanmateoco. Fortunately there were no injuries. A couple of inches of water can sweep a large vehicle off the road. #TurnAroundDontDrown #CaWx pic.twitter.com/pCSHzxFePM

– CAL FIRE CZU (@CALFIRECZU) December 13, 2021

Elsewhere in San Mateo County, massive scaffolding collapsed on southbound El Camino Real, forcing 3rd Avenue to 5th Avenue to be closed. No casualties were reported and there was no ETA if the lanes were opened.

Firefighters also provided assistance at the flooded San Mateo Credit Union branch in Half Moon Bay. The firefighters controlled the flow of water with sandbags and helped remove the accumulated water.

FLOOD IN HALF MOON BAY: San Mateo Credit Union staff thanked them today after firefighters came to the rescue. The firefighters used sandbags to control the flow of water, then clear away all the water and dry out electrical equipment. #CaWx pic.twitter.com/FZZwi2jTEN

– CAL FIRE CZU (@CALFIRECZU) December 13, 2021

In Hillsborough, crews from the San Mateo Consolidated Fire Department and Central County Fire District rescued a resident from a flood.

This morning Engine 24 responded @centralcountyfd to a Hillsborough house where 1 resident was rescued.

With the storm continuing, remember to turn around, don’t drown! Flooded roadways can occur and the water can be deeper than it appears, which can hide hazards. pic.twitter.com/oN4wQXaaGF

– San Mateo Consolidated Fire Department (@SMCFireDept) December 13, 2021

Hillsborough police said there had been significant local flooding in the city. Rescue workers were on duty the entire time to mitigate the flooding and remove dangerous debris.

In South Bay, Mountain View police reported around 1:30 p.m. that a fallen power pole had fallen on Rengstorff Avenue near the intersection with San Luis Avenue. PG&E crews were on site.

So far there has been no forecast of when the road will be released again.

A large power pole has fallen on Rengstorff and San Luis Avenue. Traffic will stop in both directions while crews work to make the area safe. @ PGE4Me has been notified.

Be prepared for traffic obstructions in the area. An expected time of reopening has not been set. pic.twitter.com/WAx8RnhgWR

– Mountain View Police (@MountainViewPD) December 13, 2021

Until shortly before 3 p.m., the Mountain View police were still responsible for traffic control in the area. Around 4,000 PG&E customers were without electricity.

Power lines interrupted in Mountain View (Mountain View Police Department)

Cal Fire reported that a small mudslide had temporarily closed part of Felton Empire Road Monday morning. No casualties were reported and the crews had one lane free.

LITTLE MUDSLIDE: A small mudslide temporarily blocked part of the Felton Empire Road. No injuries, crews have one lane open. #CaWx #California @sccounty pic.twitter.com/x5ZcqGBmjR

– CAL FIRE CZU (@CALFIRECZU) December 13, 2021

The flood triggered a flood warning for parts of the districts of Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo and Santa Clara on Monday morning.

At 8:53 am, the weather service tweeted: “We are closely monitoring the streams and creeks in the area, as several are rising rapidly in North Bay. Here is a quick snapshot of Napa Creek, Corte Madera Creek, and Santa Rosa Creek. “

A wind warning was also in effect for gusts of up to 80 km / h.

“Doppler radar and automatic rain gauges indicate heavy rain,” wrote the meteorologists. “Flooding poor drainage areas have already resulted in minor flooding on Interstate 880 and Highway 101. Between 0.5 and 1 inch of rain has fallen.”

Berkeley police warned motorists that “Ashby Avenue west west of 7th Street will be closed due to flooding for the next few days. Please avoid the area. “

There were also several reports of rains between six and 30 centimeters that had accumulated on the roads in Piedmont. A fallen tree fell over a roadway in Santa Clara in Santa Clara and another tree crashed into a bedroom of a house in Felton, in the rain-soaked Santa Cruz Mountains.

In Orinda, floods have been reported on Moraga Way and Glorietta Blvd.

The strongest blow of the storm had been delivered in the North Bay from Sunday afternoon.

“The rain totals for 24 hours starting at 4 a.m. include: 7.77 inches for Mt Tamalpais, 4.78 inches for Ben Lomond and 1.32 for downtown San Francisco,” the weather service posted on social media.

At 9 a.m., the total of 24 hours was 6.45 inches in Ben Lomond and 5.15 inches in Scott’s Valley.

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Eric Cruz joined DDB San Francisco as Executive Creative Director and works with ECD Ben Wolan.

“Eric is different from me in a number of ways, and I know that,” said Wolan. “I wanted a partner who had different skills and experiences than me, but who shared the same passion for creativity as I did. Eric brings outstanding design and experience skills and with his global lens he will help us write more unexpected stories. I couldn’t be more excited to work with him, expand our creativity and expand the SF office. “

As a Filipino-American globalist, creative director, designer and educator, Cruz brings over 23 years of industry experience to the table. He has held various management positions at agencies around the world such as Sid Lee, AKQA, Leo Burnett and Wieden + Kennedy.

Most recently, as Sid Lee USA and Executive Creative Director for Innovation & Design at Digital Kitchen, Cruz was responsible for pushing the boundaries of digital storytelling, products, platforms and experiences for clients such as Facebook Reality Labs, Tubi, Journi, the Los Angeles Rams and Warner Brothers. Before that, as ECD of AKQA Shanghai, he headed the Greater China team and helped shape the future through innovative brand storytelling for Nike, Jordan, Converse, Apple, Airbnb, NBA, Diageo, J&J, Gore-Tex, Lycra, The. to help shape the city of Shanghai and Hong Kong. During his tenure as the creative director of Leo Burnett Malaysia, Cruz helped grow a traditional agency with 90 employees into a future-oriented agency with 320 employees.

Cruz started his career at Wieden + Kennedy, where he spent over 11 years in Portland, Tokyo and London. He was co-founder and director of the W + K Tokyo Lab, the agency’s creative think tank and experimental music brand. Cruz regularly lectures to inspire the next generation of talent and has taught design, advertising, and moving media at the Center for Creative Studies Detroit, Temple University Tokyo, and The One Academy Kuala Lumpur. Cruz was also a founding member of TEDx Shanghai, which aimed to spark China’s innovation renaissance through creative dialogue, exchange of ideas, and transformative evolution.

Cruz said, “The DDB network has a strong legacy and the vision to create Unexpected Works is one that I have followed throughout my career. The opportunity to deal with new economy brands and to explore new ways of brand building in the digital age and in Web 3.0 is super exciting. I am eager to shake things up with John (DDB SF President McCarthy), Ben and the great team at DDB SF. “

Cruz has received worldwide recognition on a number of fronts including the Tokyo ADC, Cannes Lions, ADC New York, One Show, D&AD, Spikes Asia, AdFest, The Webbys, and Japan Media Arts Festival.

The post Eric Cruz Joins DDB San Francisco As Exec Inventive Director appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

John McCarthy, President of DDB SF, said: “This is a great moment for us. Eric represents both the momentum of our growth so far and key skills to guide us into the future. He will undoubtedly be a fantastic partner for Ben. And.” I am incredibly excited to see what is to come for this dynamic team. “

Cruz is a Filipino-American globalist, creative, designer, and educator with over 23 years of industry experience. He is known for combining design, storytelling, experience and innovation to deliver the unexpected. Cruz also brings broad international experience, as he has held various management positions at agencies worldwide at Sid Lee, AKQA, Leo Burnett, and Wieden + Kennedy, are developing a model for the creative network of the future and researching how creativity can invent this morning.

Most recently as Sid Lee United States of America and Executive Creative Director for Innovation & Design for Digital Kitchen, Cruz led the task of exploring worlds beyond belief and the limits of digital storytelling, products, platforms and experiences for clients like Facebook Reality Labs, Tubi, Journi, the LA Rams and Moving Warner Brothers. Previously, as ECD of AKQA Shanghai, he headed the Greater China Team that helps shape the future for Nike through innovative brand storytelling, Jordan, Converse, Apple, Airbnb, NBA, Diageo, J&J, Gore-Tex, Lycra, The Shanghai city and Hong Kong. During his tenure as the creative director of Leo Burnett Malaysia, Cruz helped grow a traditional agency with 90 employees into a future-oriented agency with 320 employees.

Wolan said, “Eric is different from me in a number of ways and he is very aware of that. I wanted a partner who had different skills and experiences than me, but who shared the same passion for creativity as me. Eric brings great design and experience with skills and with his global perspective he will help us write more unexpected stories. I couldn’t be more excited to work with him, expand our creativity and expand the SF office.

Cruz began his career at Wieden + Kennedy, where he worked in Portland, Tokyo and London. He was co-founder and director of the W + K Tokyo Lab, the agency’s creative think tank and experimental music brand. Cruz regularly lectures to inspire the next generation of talent and has taught design, advertising and moving media at the Center for Creative Studies Detroit, Temple University Tokyo and The One Academy Kuala Lumpur. Cruz was also a founding member of TEDx Shanghai, which aimed to ignite China Innovation renaissance through creative dialogue, exchange of ideas and transformative evolution.

Cruz said, “The DDB network has a strong legacy and the vision to create Unexpected Works is one that I have followed throughout my career. The opportunity to deal with brands of the new economy and explore new ways of branding in the digital age and Web 3.0 is super exciting. I am eager to shake things up with John, Ben and the great team at DDB SF! ”

Cruz was recognized by the Tokyo ADC, Cannes Lions, ADC New York, A show, D&AD, Spikes Asia, AdFest, AdStars, The Webbys, The FWA, CSS Design Awards and Japan Media Arts Festival.

Born in the Phillipines and grew up in the US and Spain, he’s “at home” in right now The angel around the world after a 20 year old backpack.

ABOUT DDB WORLDWIDE
DDB Worldwide (www.ddb.com) is one of the world’s largest and most influential advertising and marketing networks. DDB has been recognized by D&AD and ADC as Network of the Year 2021 as well as multiple awards from the Cannes International Festival of Creativity and the leading advertising publications and award ceremonies in the industry. The WARC has listed DDB as one of the top 3 global networks for 12 of the last 15 years. Clients on the network include Molson Coors, Volkswagen, McDonald’s, Unilever, Mars, Peloton, JetBlue, Johnson & Johnson and the US Army. Founded in 1949, DDB is part of the Omnicom Group (NYSE: OMC) and has more than 200 offices in over 70 countries with its flagship office in New York, NY.

ABOUT OMNICOM
Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE – OMC) is a leading global marketing and corporate communications company. Omnicom’s brand networks and numerous specialist firms provide advertising, strategic media planning and purchasing, digital and interactive marketing, direct and promotional marketing, public relations and other specialized communications services to over 5,000 customers in more than 70 countries.

CONTACT: Donna Tobin, Global Chief Marketing & Communications Officer; [email protected]

SOURCE DDB worldwide

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Eric Cruz joined DDB San Francisco as Executive Creative Director and will work with the current Executive Creative Director Ben Wolan.

Cruz is a self-proclaimed “hybrid creative” with 23 years of industry experience around the globe and has held various management positions at the agencies Sid Lee, AKQA, Leo Burnett and Wieden + Kennedy.

Cruz was most recently Sid Lee USA and Executive Creative Director of Digital Kitchen for innovation and design, building digital storytelling, products, platforms and experiences for clients such as Facebook Reality Labs, Tubi, Journi, the Los Angeles Rams and Warner Brothers. Before that he was ecd of AKQA Shanghai and headed the Greater China team for clients such as Nike, Jordan, Converse, Apple, Airbnb, NBA, Diageo, J&J, Gore-Tex and others. During his tenure as the creative director of Leo Burnett Malaysia, Cruz helped grow a 90-person agency into a 320-strong business.

“Eric represents both the momentum of our growth so far and important skills to help us start into the future. There is no doubt that he will be a fantastic partner for Ben and I am incredibly excited to see what this dynamic team will see in the future. ” John McCarthysaid President of DDB SF in a statement.

“Eric is different from me in a number of ways and he is very aware of that. I wanted a partner who had different skills and experiences than me, but who shared the same passion for creativity as me. Eric brings great design and experience skills and with his global lens he will help us create more unexpected stories, “added Wollan in a statement.

Cruz, born in the Philippines and raised in the USA and Spain, began his career at Wieden + Kennedy and spent over 11 years in Portland, Tokyo and London. He was co-founder and director of the W + K Tokyo Lab, the agency’s creative think tank and experimental music brand.

Cruz regularly lectures for the next generation of talent and has taught design, advertising, and moving media at the Center for Creative Studies Detroit, Temple University Tokyo, and The One Academy Kuala Lumpur. He was also a founding member of TEDx Shanghai.

“I came to DDB because I believe in their Unexpected Works creative philosophy, a mission to bring world class creativity in ways you did not expect. I loved it when Ari Weiss, global CCO, said, “As creatives, our job is not just to follow best practices, but to break them intelligently and rewrite the rules. The game has changed. The new world requires new rules. Beyond advertising, it is an invitation to shape and renew the way people experience and connect with brands. It’s an opportunity to reinvent brand engagement in the connected age. Unexpected Works is the ambition that unites us. ‘ That’s convincing. And I am very happy to be a part of it. “

Cruz has received several awards including Tokyo ADC, Cannes Lions, ADC New York, One Show, D&AD, Spikes Asia, AdFest, AdStars, The Webbys, The FWA, CSS Design Awards, and Japan Media Arts Festival.

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BOULDER CREEK (CBS SF) – With the sky lightening and a strong atmospheric river moving south, Santa Cruz and San Mateo County officials announced on Monday that they were lifting evacuation orders for residents in or within the Live close to the burn scar left by the massive CZU complex fire in 2020.

The order went into effect on Sunday in parts of San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties, where fears were heightened about the fire-ravaged areas of the Santa Cruz Mountains’ ability to withstand the torrential rains.

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The National Weather Service reported that the mountain town of Ben Lomond had fallen 7 inches in the past 24 hours, but the hills seemed to be holding up.

KPIX 5 weather center: Current conditions, maps, forecasts for your region

Many residents ignored the order and survived the storm in their homes.

“Yes, we’ll stay tuned,” said Steven Coleman from Boulder Creek to KPIX 5 on Saturday night. “Where else should we go?”

Those who stayed cited their experiences of dealing with large storms, evacuation fatigue, and fear of looting.

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“We’ll stay until it gets unsafe,” said Coleman.

“We decided to stay,” said another resident of Gloria Sitz.

Most people like Sitz either stayed with family and friends or paid more than a month for hotel rooms during last year’s CZU fire evacuation.

They said they don’t want to deal with it anymore.

“At my location we have a generator, we have chainsaws, we know how to use it, and we are prepared,” said Sitz.

There were lines at the local gas station in Boulder Creek on Saturday night as residents filled gas cans to power their generators.

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“If the power goes out, we have extra power,” said Alfredo Ramirez, who had just filled a five-gallon can. He also stopped.

The post Santa Cruz, San Mateo County Officers Elevate Evacuation Orders For CZU Hearth Burn Zone – CBS San Francisco appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

SANTA CRUZ (CBS SF) – As an “atmospheric flow” rainstorm was approaching the Bay Area, evacuation orders for higher risk areas of Santa Cruz County were issued on Saturday afternoon as MPs went door-to-door to notify residents.

County residents are encouraged to call (831) 454-2181 with questions about evacuations and resources, and the county expects to open housing at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, according to Nicole Coburn, the county’s assistant administrator.

“The sheriff’s office began door-to-door operations on Saturday in anticipation of evacuations in higher risk areas,” Coburn said. MPs are contacting homes in the low-lying, high-risk areas with the highest potential for evacuation, the deputy administration official said.

TIED TOGETHER: Flood clocks issued as a storm against fire-scarred Northern California

Residents are encouraged to look up their evacuation zone at https://community.zonehaven.com. Residents are also advised to register landline, cellular, or VoIP phones with CodeRED by visiting https://www.scr911.org and signing up for notifications or texting SCR911 at 99411.

“We are in the process of finalizing plans for the evacuation shelter site and once we have solidified the site, we will inform the public of the site,” said Coburn.

Order to evacuate streams of debris for areas in and near the #CZUFire burn scar due to a strong storm. The order will take effect on Sunday, October 24th at 8 a.m. #KnowYourZone by looking up your address at https://t.co/s5GvnBLmyF.

– Santa Cruz District (@sccounty) October 23, 2021

Debris streams are fast moving masses of mud, rocks, boulders, trees, and sometimes houses or vehicles. They move fast and are often fatal to those who get in their way.

According to the district, the only way to avoid debris flows is to get to safety before a debris flow event.

Residents can find information about the debris flow at http://www.santacruzcounty.us/FireRecovery/DebrisFlow.aspx

County residents are encouraged to seek refuge with friends and families and local news or county social media accounts at http://www.twitter.com/sccounty or http://www.facebook.com/countyofsantacruz for Updates and additional information to keep track of information.

© Copyright 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. and Bay City News. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed

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A year after a massive forest fire devastated California’s oldest state park, Big Basin Redwoods, the cleanup is in full swing.

Over the past few weeks, construction workers in hard hats have been cleaning up the debris of all the burned buildings and charred vehicles in popular Santa Cruz Mountains Park – from the bent metal and blackened granite of the park’s headquarters from the 1930s to the broken glass and broken propane tank inside its popular museum and once busy campsites.

More than 3,300 charred trees, mostly Douglas fir, that threatened to topple along the winding 6-mile driveway of Big Basin, were felled and hauled away. Burned out power lines were dismantled and destroyed wooden bridges replaced.

Almost every one of the Big Basin’s famous ancient sequoia trees, which can grow up to 90 meters tall and are 2,000 years old, survived, biologists say, although many have burn scars on their trunks or scorched branches that will last for decades.

“It was remarkable how much work was done in the park. I’m confident about the future, ”said Chris Spohrer, superintendent of the Santa Cruz District of the state park. “Every time I go in there are more green sprouts.”

Others who have worked to restore the park agree.

State parks, CalOES and contractors are reviewing the protection of the culture and natural resources at the Old Lodge site, where the stone fireplace and chimney will remain. (Courtesy California State Parks)

“There is a lot of sunlight. It’s warmer and drier than before. But the landscape doesn’t look so wounded. Green is everywhere, ”said Sara Barth, managing director of the Sempervirens Fund, a Los Altos nonprofit group that has bought and protected 35,000 acres of sequoia forests in the Santa Cruz Mountains since 1900. “It’s surprising how much better it looks with the ruins and infrastructure gone. It’s peaceful again. You hear birds. It feels better and looks better than it was. “

But it will be a while before visitors are allowed to return to the park.

State park officials this week launched a new website at reimaginingbigbasin.org to track the progress of the rebuilding.

Spohrer said public meetings to plan the rebuilding of the parks will begin in two or three months. The planning process will take about a year, he said.

After that, it could take another two or three years for the large buildings to be rebuilt, he said. At some point along the way, the redwood portion of the park will be partially reopened to the public, possibly with guided tours.

“After we have made the main access roads safe, the question arises of how much effort it takes to make the paths safe,” said Spohrer. “I have no estimate.”

The crews have already removed more than 15,000 trees that have fallen, fallen, or threatened to fall in popular areas including campsites and access roads that rangers use to access the Big Basin hinterland. Almost all of them were Douglas firs, brown oaks, madrons, and other trees that are not as fire resistant as sequoias.

Amazingly, some trees still burn for a year after the fire.

For months after the fire, the crews put out small fires that were ignited by winds blowing up the roots of some trees that were still red-hot. More recently, said Spohrer, embers have been found in the crowns of the old sequoias that are still glowing.

California state park crews are installing a makeshift bridge on May 1, 2021 to replace a wooden bridge that burned in the CZU Lightning Complex Fire in August 2020. (Photo: California State Parks)

The fire that devastated the Big Basin was the worst in the history of the region. Triggered by multiple lightning strikes on August 16, 2020, the fire, the CZU Lightning Complex Fire, burned 86,509 acres in the rural districts of Santa Cruz and San Mateo, an area almost three times the size of the city of San Francisco.

Flames destroyed 1,490 buildings, making it the twelfth most devastating fire in the state’s history and a disaster that caused more damage to the Santa Cruz district than the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake.

In total, 97% of the Big Basin’s 18,000 acres were burned.

But Big Basin isn’t just any state park. Its landscape of giant trees, thick ferns, waterfalls, misty forests, ranger chats, scouting jamborees, and marshmallow roasts has been central to generations of families since the park was founded in 1902. That year, San Jose photographer Andrew P. Hill convinced California lawmakers to Buy the Old Trees northwest of Boulder Creek because lumberjacks turned the nearby old forests into fence posts and railroad ties.

“These trees, because of their size and age, were among the natural wonders of the world and should be saved for posterity,” Hill wrote in his memoir.

Rebuilding the Big Basin after the fire started slowly. But after reporting and attention from environmental groups and political leaders, Governor Gavin Newsom has included in his revised May budget the entire $ 186 million that park officials estimate will go towards rebuilding the campsites, visitor center, utilities, bridges, the Hiking trails and other facilities are required.

The new facilities are unlikely to be rebuilt in the same places as the old ones. Shops, parking lots, and other buildings were built on the root systems of some ancient trees a century ago. Rangers who evacuated more than 1,000 visitors during the fire are skeptical of an increased risk of fire in the coming decades.

Some new facilities could be built outside of the park, perhaps in Saddle Mountain or Little Basin a few miles southeast. Buildings are made of more refractory materials. An outdoor parking lot and a shuttle bus system can be created for the busiest weekends.

“In our view, protecting the redwood forest and enjoying it for people needs to – those things don’t have to conflict,” said Sam Hodder, president of the Save the Redwoods League in San Francisco. “Here there is an opportunity for us to find a better balance between the natural ecosystem and the experience of the public.”

The campfire amphitheater in Big Basin Redwoods State Park on the 30th. (Photo: California State Parks)

The post One yr after devastating hearth, burned wreckage cleared, rebuilding planning simply beginning – Santa Cruz Sentinel appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

“This is a beautiful two year old male mountain lion. He is looking very healthy and has been radio chained by UC Santa Cruz so we know a little about him. He is young so he probably broke up with his mother recently,” said Dr. Alex Herman, vice president of veterinary services at Oakland Zoo.

California Fish and Wildlife crews safely removed the mountain lion found in a tree after someone who parked his car picked it up on Santa Marina Street near Mission Street near the Bernal neighborhood around 10:00 p.m. Wednesday night Heights had discovered.

State officials used an arrow to calm the big cat. Then it fell asleep on the porch under the tree and took him to the Oakland Zoo.

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The mountain lion is believed to be the same one spotted Tuesday morning in the Portola and Bernal Heights neighborhoods.

Our vet and zookeeper investigated the mountain lion rescue we received last night. Overall, the 2-year-old man is in excellent health! After his exam and vaccinations, he was sent to @CaliforniaDFW along with our best wishes for release in a safe location in Santa Clara County. pic.twitter.com/wWhMWjhp5a

– Oakland Zoo (@oakzoo) May 20, 2021

The mountain lion wore a tracking collar, so it is known to state wildlife officials.

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“I think I’ve called him Mr. Handsome several times! That’s the name that came to mind,” she said.

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Mr. Handsome was busy. Cameras caught him roaming the streets of San Francisco’s Bernal Heights and Portola neighborhoods, walking next to parked cars, strolling through backyards and even checking someone’s porch.

A spokesman for the Puma project said they fitted him with a tracking device shortly after he was born to study the behavior of mountain lions. They say his long distance travel is normal as he looks for turf to call himself.

Officials will now take him back to the wild and hope he stays there this time.

“Official policy is, I can’t say where he will be released, but he probably won’t go back to Santa Cruz because we don’t want him to come back to San Francisco,” Herman said.

Copyright © 2021 KGO-TV. All rights reserved.

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