Mike Rugg and The Bigfoot Discovery Museum Still Need Your Help

Mike Rugg of The Bigfoot Discovery Museum

Today (6/9/2012) the MercuryNews.com reported that Mike Rugg is behind on taxes and The Bigfoot Discovery Museum is in trouble. You can make a donation at http://bigfootdiscoveryproject.com/.

It is important to realize the historical and continued contribution Mike Rugg makes to the Bigfoot community.

Instead of explaining it ourselves watch the videos below hosted by Amazing Amanda. Then read the Mercury News article following the videos.

Part One



Part Two




Bigfoot museum founder, behind on taxes, hopes attendance will rise; county sets June 29 deadline




By JONDI GUMZ - Santa Cruz Sentinel
Posted:   06/09/2012 01:03:18 PM PDT
Updated:   06/09/2012 01:17:20 PM PDT

FELTON - Michael Rugg, owner of the Bigfoot Discovery Museum at 5497 Highway 9, was surprised to learn the county had set a deadline of June 29 for him to pay back taxes of $4,368 or see the property sold at auction.

He thought he had more time.

After seven years of operation and gaining local and international recognition, the museum sees 30 to 60 people a day in the summer.

Rugg says only now is he seeing revenue, and he had hoped a contact from a Hollywood producer could turn his Felton Bigfoot story into a reality television show. Meanwhile, a balloon payment on a loan he took out before the economy crashed will come due next year.

"Maybe people will rally and help us," Rugg said, noting the museum is open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day but Tuesday.

The county tax collector's office posted a legal notice in the Sentinel Tuesday warning a dozen commercial property owners to pay back taxes or set up a payment plan by June 29 to avoid a tax sale. Delinquent taxes from 2008-09 exceed $600,000, according to the tax office, which was closed Friday for furloughs.
Motel Santa Cruz owes the most in back taxes, $224,945, according to the county. Owner Manuben Patel has been reorganizing her debts in federal bankruptcy court. Last October, her attorney W. Austin Cooper said Motel Santa Cruz "is a viable property and operating well."

The Brookdale Inn and Spa in Brookdale owes $141,106, according to the county. The historic lodging place closed in April after Pacific Gas & Electric Co. shut off the power.

Soquel Main Street Village, a limited liability corporation based in Watsonville, owes $74,613 for property at 2590 S. Main St., Soquel, according to the county. Formerly the site of a nursery, Le Thu's Asian Art Emporium operates there now and a man tending the business Tuesday did not have any information about the old tax bill.

Ladis Pasillas said his family is making payments on a tax bill of $33,634 for Pasillas Tire in Freedom.
"They want us to keep operating so they get paid," he said.

Thomas Connolly, owner of Plant Works at 7945 Highway 9 in Ben Lomond, said he is following the terms of a Chapter 13 reorganization and making monthly payments on back taxes. The county says he owes $8,010.

"It's a business I've owned 35 years," Connolly said. "I'm hanging in here to pay it off."

Three Santa Cruz business owners owing taxes are no longer in operation.

The county says Marcelo Muzquiz owes $45,698 for 1520 Mission St., Santa Cruz, formerly home to Marcelo's restaurant.

Andy's BP, at 2003 Mission St., Santa Cruz, is closed. The county says owners Andy and Zaiba Saberi owe $11,396.

La Esperanza Market at 2-1400 E. Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz, is closed. The county says owner Cristal Vazquez owes $33,634.

La Esperanza Market at 345 Ocean St., Santa Cruz, also is shuttered. The county says owners Javier and Emilia Vazquez have unpaid taxes dating to 2007 totaling $42,138.

Follow Sentinel reporter Jondi Gumz on Twitter: @jondigumz

You can make a donation at http://bigfootdiscoveryproject.com/