Local News

September 23, 2026 at 4:22 p.m.

SANTA CRUZ — Members of the UC Santa Cruz cross country team make use this...

Michael Cheek, a sexually violent predator convicted of two separate rapes in Santa Cruz and Lake counties in the early '80s, takes part in a court hearing over Zoom in 2021. The Santa Cruz County Sheriff voiced opposition over a proposal to house Cheek in a remote property in the Santa Cruz Mountains. (Shmuel Thaler — Santa Cruz Sentinel file)

Sheriff opposes proposal to house convicted rapist Michael Cheek in Santa Cruz Mountains

September 23, 2026 at 6:09 p.m.

The Santa Cruz County Sheriff voiced opposition Wednesday over a proposal to house a man...

Protesters carry signs into the Watsonville City Council Chambers urging the council to terminate its contract with Flock Safety to provide 37 automated license plate readers in the city. (Nick Sestanovich — Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Watsonville City Council directs staff to reduce Flock cameras, conduct more community outreach

September 23, 2026 at 3:40 p.m.

Following a discussion that lasted nearly four hours, the Watsonville City Council voted 5-2 to...

Babe Payne, center left, as Cassie, puts the moves on Kip Allert, center right, as Lenny Ganz in Mountain Community Theater's "Rumors." (Credit — Lyle Troxell)

Mountain Community Theater’s ‘Rumors’ is a glamorous, funny time

By Jake Thomas

September 23, 2026 at 3:25 p.m.

"It is a ridiculous play, that’s what a farce intends to be, that is played...

San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan speaks while standing next to San Jose Police Chief Paul Joseph during a press conference at the San Jose Police Department in San Jose, Calif., on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2026. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

San Jose pushes for tighter controls on Flock camera data after police officer abuse

By Robert Salonga

September 23, 2026 at 4:04 p.m.

Mayor Matt Mahan is pushing for more real-time supervision of license-plate reader data and the...

Amanda Engeldrum Magaña has been named the interim CEO of Pajaro Valley Prevention and Student Assistance. (Contributed — Facebook)

Amanda Engeldrum Magaña named interim Pajaro Valley Prevention and Student Assistance CEO

September 23, 2026 at 3:01 p.m.

Amanda Engeldrum Magaña, a licensed clinical social worker and chief quality officer for Pajaro Valley...

Annie and the orphans performing a dance in the Scotts Valley Performing Arts' production of "Annie." (Credit — Mike Ross)

Scotts Valley Performing Arts produces heartwarming ‘Annie’

By Jake Thomas

September 23, 2026 at 1:30 p.m.

"Part historical drama, part coming of age story, part rags to riches tale, 'Annie' is...

Calendar of Events | Bands battle it out for big break at Catalyst

September 23, 2026 at 12:19 p.m.

This week's events include a battle of the bands at the Catalyst Club, the Duck...

Cayuga Street resident Jenny Evans is seen on a screen as she speaks during Oral Communications at the Santa Cruz City Council on Tuesday to express her opposition to local developer Workbench's proposed six-story project at 1214 Soquel Ave. on the corner of Soquel and Seabright avenues. (Shmuel Thaler — Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Neighbors bring Seabright housing concerns to Santa Cruz City Council

September 22, 2026 at 4:21 p.m.

Members of multiple neighborhood groups showed up to a Santa Cruz City Council meeting Tuesday...

Santa Cruz County Chief Elections Officer and County Clerk Tricia Webber holds a ballot Tuesday like one that will be cast by county residents in the November election. Santa Cruz County Elections held a Media Day Tuesday to get out the word about voting. (Shmuel Thaler — Santa Cruz Sentinel)

‘Everything is as goes’: Santa Cruz County clerk eases voter misinformation, distrust ahead of Nov. 3 election

September 22, 2026 at 3:58 p.m.

This year's election cycle has seen a slew of election-related noise from the federal government,...

Ja’Marion Grace celebrates after receiving his diploma during graduation from Vanden High School in Fairfield in 2025. Grace recently died in a single-vehicle crash on Highway 101. (Chris Riley/Times-Herald)

19-year-old College of San Mateo football player killed in Highway 101 crash

By Caelyn Pender

September 23, 2026 at 5:58 p.m.

Two other football players from the college were involved in the vehicle collision, one of...

Ed Acosta. (Contributed — Rebecca Stark Photography)

Ed Acosta seeks to bring governing body experience to Watsonville City Council

September 22, 2026 at 1:50 p.m.

Ed Acosta, a Santa Cruz County Board of Education trustee and former planning commissioner, is...

Cardinal red still holds a place of honor at Palo Alto's The Pro sports bar, a revival of the legendary favorite known as The Old Pro for nearly 60 years. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group)

Bay Area sports bars: 5 discoveries for game day eats and sips

By Linda Zavoral

September 22, 2026 at 3:12 p.m.

Here are five new (or newish) Bay Area sports bars and restaurants to add to...

San Jose MMA fighter Paea “Bad News” Tukuafu, 33, will compete in the historic sumo wrestling tournament at Kaiser Permanente Arena in Santa Cruz on Saturday. (Contributed)

San Jose’s Paea “Bad News” Tukuafu is late addition for Saturday’s historic sumo wrestling tournament in Santa Cruz | World Elite Sumo

By Jim Seimas

September 22, 2026 at 1:06 p.m.

Breaking news: Paea “Bad News” Tukuafu, 33, will replace massive Mathew Westwood at this weekend's...

San Jose Sharks fans celebrate a goal during their game against the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday, March 1, 2026, in San Jose, Calif. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group)

Sharks fans rejoice as team announces it will have a new goal song

By Curtis Pashelka

September 22, 2026 at 1:25 p.m.

The San Jose Sharks' goal song from last season, “Power Bite,” will soon bite the...

A runner casts a long late afternoon shadow on the concrete while striding past a bike rack in front of the East Field House at UC Santa Cruz. (Shmuel Thaler - Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Photo | Runner casts long late afternoon shadow at UC Santa Cruz

September 21, 2026 at 4:02 p.m.

A runner casts a long late afternoon shadow on the concrete while striding past a...

Open Studios Program Manager Bree Karpavage, right and and m.k. contemporary art co-director Rose Sellery hang work as a preview show for Open Studios goes up at the downtown Santa Cruz gallery. The show, one of three upcoming in the county featuring the work of artists participating in the Santa Cruz County Open Studios, opens on Friday. For three weekends in October, artists throughout the county will open their workspaces to the public for the 41st Open Studios art tour. This year features more than 350 artist and a new mobile app. During the event, members of the public get an opportunity to meet artists where they create, experience the creative process firsthand, discover new work, and purchase original art directly from the artists. South County artists open their doors Oct. 3-4, North County artists, including Scotts Valley and the Santa Cruz Mountains hold Open Studios Oct. 10-11, and more than 250 artists across the county will participate in an encore weekend Oct. 17-18. The other preview shows open at Pajaro Valley Arts in Watsonville on Sept. 26 and at the Santa Cruz Art League on Oct. 2. Go to santacruzopenstudios.com for information. (Shmuel Thaler - Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Photos | Preview show for Santa Cruz County Open Studios comes downtown

September 21, 2026 at 3:55 p.m.

Open Studios Program Manager Bree Karpavage, right and and m.k. contemporary art co-director Rose Sellery...

Vice Mayor Gerry Jensen, left, Capitola City Manager Jamie Goldstein and Public Works Director Jessica Kahn inspect the storm-damaged Capitola Wharf on Sept. 7, 2023. (Shmuel Thaler — Santa Cruz Sentinel file)

Capitola City Manager Jamie Goldstein to retire

September 22, 2026 at 11:22 a.m.

Since 2010, Capitola has faced challenges ranging from storm damage to decreasing revenue, all with...

Protesters during a “Stop the AI Race” demonstration calling for a slowdown in the development of advanced artificial intelligence systems outside City Hall in San Francisco on Thursday. KARL MONDON/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES

Monterey Bay Economic Partnership’s AI summit calls for local action

By Sean Tubo

September 21, 2026 at 4:15 p.m.

The summit gathered AI experts from around the country to tackle problems like AI regulation...

One of Flock Group Inc.'s solar-charged license plate reader cameras. (Flock Safety — File Photo)

Flock camera discussion to return to Watsonville City Council

September 21, 2026 at 12:14 p.m.

More than a year after the Watsonville City Council voted 5-2 to extend its contract...

Students head to and from the East Remote parking lot at UC Santa Cruz on Friday during the six-day move-in process for the fall quarter that concluded on Saturday. According to the UCSC website, "total enrollment for Fall 2026 is expected to remain flat at approximately 19,700 to 20,000 students overall, aligning closely with recent years." Undergraduate students comprise around 18,100 students, with roughly 5,700 incoming first-year and transfer students entering across the academic year. Graduate students are expected to be near 1,900 to 1,950 students. UC Santa Cruz provides on-campus housing for more than 9,300 students on the university's 10 Residential Colleges and campus-owned communities. (Shmuel Thaler — Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Photos | UC Santa Cruz students gear up for new year

September 20, 2026 at 12:36 p.m.

Students settle in as UC Santa Cruz prepares for its fall quarter, which begins Thursday.

Clayton Conroy, a 2012 Santa Cruz High School graduate who acted last year in Netflix's "The Gringo Hunters," learns to walk again at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center after being injured by a speeding vehicle in April. (Contributed — Britt Crennell)

Santa Cruz actor Clayton Conroy reflects on recovery process after car crash

September 20, 2026 at 11:37 a.m.

Clayton Conroy, an actor and 2012 Santa Cruz High School graduate who was getting more...

Croatian apple growers “Mekis & Pekoch” proudly advertised that they raised Watsonville apples. (Contributed — Agricultural History Project)

Pajaro Valley orchard days | Ross Eric Gibson, Local History

By Ross Eric Gibson

September 20, 2026 at 9:53 a.m.

In 1910, C.H. Rodgers, Santa Cruz County horticultural commissioner and president of the Pajaro Valley...

Dotty Rudolph, 10, gets a heart painted on her face as her “Heal the World” event gets under way Saturday afternoon at Charlie Hong Kong in Santa Cruz. (Shmuel Thaler - Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Local 10-year-old organizes Heal the World event at Charlie Hong Kong

September 19, 2026 at 3:51 p.m.

Dotty, her grandparents, parents and Charlie Hong Kong community spent their Saturday turning the Charlie...

Flames and smoke were visible Friday morning from a fire that broke out at the battery storage facility. COUNTY OF MONTEREY FACEBOOK PAGE

Officials on Saturday say Moss Landing fire concerns under control — for now

By Sean Tubo

September 19, 2026 at 3:31 p.m.

Friday’s battery fire in Moss Landing appeared to be well under control by Saturday morning...

An angler casts from a perch along West Cliff in Santa Cruz as a pelican glides northward. Rock cod are the most commonly caught fish in the area although ling cod and cabezon are sometimes hooked as well. (Shmuel Thaler – Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Photo | Angler casts from a perch along West Cliff in Santa Cruz

September 19, 2026 at 2:35 p.m.

An angler casts from a perch along West Cliff in Santa Cruz as a pelican...

Andrew Goldenkranz seeks to bring experience to Pajaro Valley school board

September 19, 2026 at 10:56 a.m.

Andrew Goldenkranz, who worked for decades in education, wants to bring that experience to the...

A view of Bay Avenue in Capitola after the opening of the Disco store in 1964. The Disco chain was a giant “everything under one roof” type of discount store once found throughout Northern California and Nevada. Disco was built near the former site of one of the area’s earliest businesses, the California Beet Sugar Co., which operated between 1874 and 1880. The Disco store on Bay Avenue closed in 1975 due to financial problems with its parent company. The building presently houses CVS Pharmacy, Nob Hill Foods, Capitola Self-Storage and several smaller businesses. The complex is now referred to as the Nob Hill Shopping Center. (Courtesy Capitola Historical Museum)

Focal Point | Disco store opens on Bay Avenue in Capitola, 1964

September 19, 2026 at 10:55 a.m.

A view of Bay Avenue in Capitola after the opening of the Disco store in...

San Jose State Spartans’ Naseri Danielson (3), San Jose State Spartans’ Dylan Lee (4), San Jose State Spartans’ Malakai Hoeft (24), San Jose State Spartans’ Dejon Roney (48) and San Jose State Spartans’ Nate Lewis (99) tackle Cal Poly Mustangs’ Misa Paiau (0) during the first quarter at CEFCU Stadium in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)

What to know before San Jose State kicks off rivalry game vs. Fresno State

By Niles Hall

September 19, 2026 at 12:45 p.m.

San Jose State and Fresno State meet for the 89th time, but something will be...

Stanford Cardinal’ Gabe Kaminski (49) celebrates Hawaii Rainbow Warriors’ Micah Alejado (12) getting sacked in the second quarter at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)

College football: What to know before Stanford visits Duke

By Darren Sabedra

September 19, 2026 at 8:14 a.m.

Stanford will aim to slow down Duke running back Nate Sheppard, the national leader in...

A cyclist pedals across the bridge spanning Arana Gulch after cycling through the Arana Gulch Open Space. The primary trail route in Arana Gulch provides a connection from Agnes Street to the upper harbor. Dirt hiking trails also encircle the meadow areas, from Hagemann Bridge to the harbor-side entrance and cycling is not allowed on the dirt trails. Visitors are asked to stay on the designated trails. The open space features valuable habitats, including wetlands, Central Coast riparian scrub, Central Coast live oak riparian forest, and coastal terrace prairie. Approximately one-third of Arana Gulch features wetlands. The multi-use bike and pedestrian path in Arana Gulch officially opened in January 2015, following more than 20 years of legal battles that tried to thwart or change the project. (Shmuel Thaler - Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Photo | Cyclist pedals across the bridge spanning Arana Gulch

September 18, 2026 at 5:25 p.m.

A cyclist pedals across the bridge spanning Arana Gulch after cycling through the Arana Gulch...

This season, Konjoe Burger is making Texas Fries with brisket, melted queso, pickled jalapeños and a chipotle barbecue drizzle for fans in the stands at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)

49ers fans: Your new food choices at Levi’s Stadium

By Linda Zavoral

September 18, 2026 at 4:29 p.m.

Barbecue brisket, Dungeness crab, loaded nachos highlight the 80th anniversary season menu.

Conor O'Brien, Greater Santa Cruz Federation of Teachers president, holds up a sign reading "The district is saving for a rainy day while we are drowning." Several of the 50 educators who attended Wednesday night's Santa Cruz City Schools meeting carried the sign as they spoke to the board about their cost of living experiences and urged board members to agree to raise salaries during the current contract negotiation period. However, Sam Rolens, Chief of Communication and Community Engagement at Santa Cruz City Schools, said the district does not have a "rainy day fund." Instead, it has a a balance of one-time restricted dollars leftover from the COVID-19 period that it uses to spend on student services. (Gabrielle Gillette -- Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Santa Cruz City Schools teachers union speaks out about rising cost of living

September 18, 2026 at 4:17 p.m.

GSCFT began its contract bargaining process with SCCS in May, and will return to the...

District 5 Santa Cruz County Supervisor Monica Martinez and Watsonville City Councilmember Maria Orozco spoke at the kickoff event for Yes on Measure E Thursday evening. (Caroline Hemphill — Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Yes on Measure E campaign kicks off in Santa Cruz County

September 18, 2026 at 3:58 p.m.

A campaign promoting Measure E, a half-cent sales tax supporting emergency services, kicked off Thursday...

Scotts Valley Police Department K-9 Sam sits in front of the methamphetamine and heroin he sniffed out earlier this month. (Courtesy Scotts Valley Police Department)

Scotts Valley police dog sniffs out drugs in vehicle at checkpoint

September 18, 2026 at 2:00 p.m.

The Scotts Valley Police Department said it arrested a person Sept. 5 after finding methamphetamine...

A fire broke out early Friday morning at the Moss Landing Power Plant. PHOTO BY JOE RIAMONDI, SPECIAL TO THE HERALD

Officials link Friday’s Moss Landing battery storage fire to 2025 fire

By David Kellogg

September 18, 2026 at 4:40 p.m.

Officials are terming Friday morning’s fire at the Moss Landing Power Plant, a flare-up linked...

A cyclist pedals along the Coastal Rail Trail between Santa Cruz and Davenport as a field of Brussels sprouts is irrigated. According to the 2024 Santa Cruz County Crop Report, the county’s Brussels sprouts crop was cultivated on 448 acres and was worth $8,944,000 - down from $10,538,000 in 2023. The Brussels sprout is a member of the Gemmifera group of cabbages and has long been popular in Brussels, Belgium, from which it gained its name. Brussels sprouts are thought to have originated in Rome, but they really hit their stride in Belgium where they became popular as a vegetable crop in the 16th century. French settlers brought Brussels sprouts to Louisiana around 1800 and commercial production began there in 1925. In the 1940s Brussels sprout production moved to the Central Coast of California as part of the growing frozen food industry. The vegetable is especially rich in vitamin K, which is necessary for blood clotting, and is also high in vitamin C and fiber. (Shmuel Thaler/Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Photo | Cyclist pedals along the Coastal Rail Trail near field of Brussels sprouts

September 17, 2026 at 3:50 p.m.

A cyclist pedals along the Coastal Rail Trail between Santa Cruz and Davenport as a...

A deer scampers across the 18th fairway at DeLaveaga Golf Course in Santa Cruz. There is no official exact count of how many deer live in Santa Cruz County, though our region supports a stable population of Columbian black-tailed deer. The Ohlone people, who lived in the region for thousands of years before European colonization, used deer for food, clothing and tools, ensuring that every part of the animal was respected and used without waste. Deer meat was an important year-round source of protein; the skins were used to make clothing. Bones and antlers were crafted into practical items like awls, antler wedges, and scapular saws and the hooves were used to create rattles for traditional ceremonies and dances. (Shmuel Thaler - Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Photos | Deer scamper around in Santa Cruz

September 17, 2026 at 3:48 p.m.

A deer scampers across the 18th fairway at DeLaveaga Golf Course in Santa Cruz.

Redwoods rising into the sky at Big Basin Redwoods State Park show the burns of the CZU Lightning Complex fires. (Shmuel Thaler – Santa Cruz Sentinel file)

Bay Area family donates $6 million to help restore Big Basin Redwoods State Park

September 17, 2026 at 2:45 p.m.

Recovery efforts for Big Basin Redwoods State Park following the CZU Lightning Complex fires took...

The pies are baked, and the contestants have entered their best creations for the Santa Cruz County Fair. (Courtesy Rachel L. Harper)

Home & Garden Digest

September 17, 2026 at 12:19 p.m.

The Santa Cruz County Fair has returned and will be open through Sunday. There are...

Santa Cruz Police Chief Bernie Escalante was sworn in to office in 2022. (Jessica A. York — Santa Cruz Sentinel file)

Santa Cruz police Chief Bernie Escalante to retire after 30 years

September 17, 2026 at 4:34 p.m.

Santa Cruz police Chief Bernie Escalante will retire next month after serving his hometown for...

Santa Cruz author Jonathan Franzen, right, seems inspired to smile by a sign he stands next to as he is introduced by Bookshop Santa Cruz Events Director Chorel Centers Sunday night. The Bookshop event celebrated the 25th anniversary of the publication of Franzen's novel, "The Corrections," which won the National Book Award, has been recognized as one of the best books of the 21st century by The New York Times and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. (Shmuel Thaler - Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Photos | Bookshop Santa Cruz event celebrates 25th anniversary of Jonathan Franzen’s novel

September 16, 2026 at 4:18 p.m.

Local author Jonathan Franzen took part in a book signing as part of a Bookshop...

Josiah Dominguez of the troupe Powerhouse Percussive Dance, left, jumps up to give a high-five to stilt walker Karen Quest at the opening of the 2026 Santa Cruz County Fair. (Nick Sestanovich — Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Families turn out for discounted opening day of Santa Cruz County Fair

September 16, 2026 at 3:49 p.m.

For many, Wednesday was a day families had been looking forward to all year. From...

Cabrillo College’s Watsonville campus. (Shmuel Thaler - Santa Cruz Sentinel file)

Cabrillo College board approves budget with $2.36 million deficit

September 16, 2026 at 3:37 p.m.

Cabrillo College anticipates a nearly $2.36 million budget deficit for the 2026-2027 year. The college’s...

Railroad Earth will celebrate the release of a new album with a show Friday night at Felton Music Hall. (Courtesy Ant Braaten

Railroad Earth releases new album, set to play Felton to celebrate 25th anniversary

By Michael Gaither

September 16, 2026 at 11:44 a.m.

Ten studio records, countless EPs and live recordings, and 25 years together as a band....

Calendar of Events | Schizophonics bring ruckus to Moe’s Alley

September 16, 2026 at 11:21 a.m.

This week's events include progressive bluegrass band Railroad Earth at Felton Music Hall, garage rock...

The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors rejected a motion, proposed by District 3 Supervisor Justin Cummings, to begin working on a ballot measure for March 2028 requiring voter approval of data centers and high intensity computing facilities in Santa Cruz County at its Tuesday meeting. (PK Hattis - Santa Cruz Sentinel file)

Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors rejects motion for ballot measure requiring voter approval for AI data centers

September 16, 2026 at 2:39 p.m.

The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors rejected a motion to begin working on a...

A truck sits on its side after overturning while making the transition from River Street to Highway 1. No major injuries were reported from the mishap and traffic backed up on southbound Highway 1 as lane closures were needed to get the truck upright and remove it. (Shmuel Thaler - Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Truck overturns, causes traffic delays in Santa Cruz

September 15, 2026 at 3:21 p.m.

Emergency crews responded when a Budget rental truck overturned near River Street and Highway 1...

A few selections at a Mac Down in Davis - photo credit Jackie Va

Quick Bites | Carne restaurant now serving customers on East Cliff Drive

By Tara Fatemi Walker

September 15, 2026 at 1:54 p.m.

Carne is now open at 21511 East Cliff Drive. Carne, which is a combination butcher...

Pajaro Valley Unified School District office. (Nick Sestanovich — Santa Cruz Sentinel file)

Pajaro Valley teachers union ratifies tentative agreement with school district

September 15, 2026 at 11:10 a.m.

The agreement was ratified by the Pajaro Valley Federation of Teachers Friday, with 85% of...

A truck crosses the Murray Street Bridge in June, avoiding Soquel Avenue. (Shmuel Thaler - Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Santa Cruz | Murray Street Bridge to reopen eastbound lane Sept. 28

September 15, 2026 at 10:55 a.m.

The Murray Street Bridge in Santa Cruz will reopen to eastbound traffic Sept. 28, the...

County coroners and Santa Cruz police and fire respond to the San Lorenzo River levee after a dead body was found in the San Lorenzo River by kayakers near Blaine Street in Santa Cruz on Sunday. (Shmuel Thaler - Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Santa Cruz | Body found on San Lorenzo River levee

September 15, 2026 at 10:52 a.m.

A body was found on a San Lorenzo River levee in Santa Cruz Sunday afternoon,...

Members of the local Jewish community gather at Natural Bridges State Beach on Sunday for the Tashlich ritual organized by Temple Beth El and led by Rabbi Shifra Weiss-Penzias. In Hebrew “Tashlich” means to “cast” and the ceremony is held on Rosh HaShanah (the Jewish New Year) beside a flowing body of water where participants symbolically cast away sins using crumbs, seeds, peas or pebbles into the water. Tashlich opens the door for Jews to live better lives in the coming year. The custom developed around the 13th century and became widespread despite objections from rabbis who feared superstitious people would believe that the casting off rather than actual repentance had the power to change their lives. In Judaism, the Ten Days of Awe, also called the High Holidays, began Friday at sunset with Rosh HaShanah and end at sundown on Sept. 21 with Yom Kippur. Traditionally it is a time many Jews take to meditate on the themes and intentions of the holidays and ask for forgiveness from anyone they have wronged. (Shmuel Thaler – Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Photos | Members of Santa Cruz County Jewish community gather for Tashlich ritual

September 14, 2026 at 3:50 p.m.

Members of the local Jewish community gather at Natural Bridges State Beach on Sunday for...

The Coastal Community Justice Center opened in April and celebrated its grand opening Monday. The center will serve as a "one stop shop" for survivors of interpersonal violence to access resources. (Caroline Hemphill — Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Coastal Community Justice Center opens in Live Oak

September 14, 2026 at 3:44 p.m.

Around 100 people gathered for the grand opening of the new Coastal Community Justice Center...

Tina Whisler, Teri Wempe and Carol Kitayama judge entries in the flower bouquet youth division in the Floriculture exhibits at the Santa Cruz County Fair. Entrants created the bouquets on Sunday. (Shmuel Thaler — Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Santa Cruz County Fair ready to kick off fall season

September 14, 2026 at 3:31 p.m.

All day Monday, volunteers were on hand hanging banners and setting up booths for this...

The dancers of Kalpulli Ehecacoatl bring color, spirit and a sense of community to Watsonville Sunday as they perform at Fiestas Patrias. A large crowd filled Main Street between West Beach and Second streets for the annual Mexican Independence Day celebration. The free family-friendly event included music, dancing, food and children's activities. Speakers included Consul General de México en San José Neftali Said Pérez González, County Schools Superintendent Faris Sabbah and organizer Oscar Rios. Performers included Los Fugitivos, Los Nuevos Miravalle, Banda Fuerza Armada, Esperanza del Valle and Mariachi Nuevo Jalisco. The cultural and educational mission of Kalpulli Ehecacoatl is to preserve pre-Columbian and Mexica dance in Watsonville and to keep ancestral roots alive. Mexican Indepence Day commemorates when Catholic priest Miguel Hidalgo in 1810 made the cry for independence hours after midnight by giving a riveting speech in the town of Dolores and ringing the town's church bells. The moment, which became known as the Grito de Dolores, was the start of the 11-year Mexican War of Independence that resulted in Mexico gaining freedom from Spain after being under colonial rule for more than 300 years. (Shmuel Thaler — Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Photos | Community flocks to downtown Watsonville for Fiestas Patrias

September 14, 2026 at 10:36 a.m.

The community turned out in large numbers on Sunday for Fiestas Patrias in Watsonville.

Visitors to the Farm at UC Santa Cruz climb a hill above the Cowell Ranch Hay Barn near the campus main entrance. The farm is part of the UCSC Division of Social Sciences' Center for Agroecology whose mission is to advance agroecology and equitable food systems through experiential education, participatory research, agricultural extension and public service. Through its 59 years, the center grows and distributes more than 32,000 pounds of produce for basic needs on campus and has engaged more than 3.4 million learners through online and in-person programs. (Shmuel Thaler — Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Photo | Down on the farm

September 13, 2026 at 10:36 a.m.

Visitors to the Farm at UC Santa Cruz climb a hill above the Cowell Ranch...

Sara Holmes Boutelle. (Contributed — Author’s photo from her book “Julia Morgan — Architect”)

The ‘Lost Generation’ found | Ross Eric Gibson, Local History

By Ross Eric Gibson

September 13, 2026 at 10:22 a.m.

The story of sisters Sara Holmes Boutelle and Mary Holmes, who mingled with the Lost...

Meilin Obinata’s Pajaro Valley school board campaign focused around planning

September 13, 2026 at 9:40 a.m.

Meilin Obinata, a senior college admissions counselor atInsight Education, is running for a Pajaro Valley...

Greater shothole borers make holes around 3.8 millimeters across in trees, including box elders, willows and sycamores. The trees may then become infected with a fungus that can kill them. (Courtesy of Brian Woodward, UC Cooperative Extension)

Santa Cruz County | Tree-killing invasive beetles prompt community meetings

September 13, 2026 at 9:32 a.m.

As an invasive tree-killing beetle species appears to spread in Santa Cruz County, the county...

The Capitola Art and Wine Festival returned to the Capitola Village for its 43rd year of art, wine, food and entertainment for locals and tourists alike. This year had 140 fine artists, as well as other artisanal food vendors and food trucks, said Carrie Arone, chief executive officer of the Capitola-Soquel Chamber of Commerce. (Gabrielle Gillette — Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Crowds flock to the Capitola Village for Capitola Art and Wine Festival’s 43rd year

September 12, 2026 at 3:47 p.m.

The 43rd annual Capitola Art and Wine Festival returned to the Capitola Village this weekend,...

People cooled off in the Pacific Ocean at Natural Bridges State Beach this week as mid-week temperatures rose to near triple digits. A cooling trend to normal temps kicked in Thursday and the National Weather Service forecasts temperatures mostly in the mid-70s over the next few days. About Natural Bridges namesake formations, UC Santa Cruz distinguished professor of Earth and planetary sciences Gary Griggs wrote, “The natural bridges or arches fascinated early visitors (to our area) as they do today, but rock weaknesses that allowed the waves to erode those arches have also led to their demise. Natural Bridges State Beach lost two of its three bridges, one in about 1905, and the second during a storm on the night of Jan. 10, 1980. Today only a single bridge remains.” (Shmuel Thaler — Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Photo | Cooling off at Natural Bridges State Beach

September 12, 2026 at 3:12 p.m.

People cooled off in the Pacific Ocean at Natural Bridges State Beach this week as...

Folklórico dancers from Los Lupeños de San José pose for a photo near the base of the UC Santa Cruz campus. The dancers are part of Cashion Cultural Legacy, a nonprofit arts organization based in San José, and came to Santa Cruz for a recent photo shoot. Los Lupeños de San José is a professional dance company that brings Mexico’s diverse regional traditions to life through research-based performance, artistic excellence, community engagement and intergenerational cultural learning. (Shmuel Thaler — Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Photos | Los Lupeños de San José folklórico dancers strike a pose at UC Santa Cruz

September 12, 2026 at 1:42 p.m.

Folklórico dancers from Los Lupeños de San José pose for a photo near the base...

On Sept. 9, 1919, members of the Lenox family watched a South Pacific Coast Railroad train make its way down San Lorenzo Valley. Today, Highway 9 between Santa Cruz and Felton follows the old train route, originally built by the Santa Cruz & Felton Railroad. This popular pullout and viewing spot, located 2.5 miles south of Felton, is called Inspiration Point. After Eben Bennett established his toll road up San Lorenzo Valley in 1867, many thousands have enjoyed and taken photographs of this sweeping panoramic view of the gorge. In March 1905, the Southern Pacific Railroad built the current concrete arch bridge and today you can still find many versions of postcard views taken from this very spot. Though over the past 100 years, tall second-growth redwoods have grown to block much of the vista, Inspiration Point is still worth a stop. (Courtesy The Lionel Tracy Lenox Collection, Capitola Historical Museum)

Focal Point | The view from San Lorenzo Valley’s Inspiration Point in 1919

September 12, 2026 at 11:37 a.m.

On Sept. 9, 1919, members of the Lenox family watched a South Pacific Coast Railroad...

The second-floor wall gapes open over Highway 9 after a fire in 2024 ripped through an apartment in the building that housed the historic Brookdale post office in the San Lorenzo Valley. The post office has remained closed since the incident, and the United States Postal Service has recently proposed to close the office all together. USPS held a community meeting Friday to hear community input about the feasibility of closing the post office location. (Shmuel Thaler - Santa Cruz Sentinel file)

USPS weighs community concerns about proposed Brookdale Post Office closure

September 11, 2026 at 5:59 p.m.

The United States Postal Service held a virtual community meeting Friday for its proposed closure...

The Roaring Camp Beach Train heads toward the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk after traveling over the crossings at Encinal, Fern and Coral streets and Highway 1. (Shmuel Thaler - Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Photo | Roaring Camp Beach Train heads toward Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

September 11, 2026 at 4:23 p.m.

The Roaring Camp Beach Train heads toward the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk after traveling over...

Central Fire Captain Miguel Rodriguez finishes his 13th ascent from the beach to the top of the bluffs Friday morning during the annual 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb at Seacliff State Beach in Aptos. The 13 trips total 2,071 to 2,200 steps, mirroring the 110-story ascent firefighters made in the World Trade Center towers on Sept. 11, 2001. Many local firefighters, firefighter family members and other first responders completed the grueling laps wearing full turnout to honor the 343 FDNY firefighters, 60 law enforcement officers and eight paramedics/EMTs who made the ultimate sacrifice on 9/11. The event was hosted and coordinated regionally by the Professional Firefighters of Santa Cruz County Local 3535. (Shmuel Thaler — Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Firefighters recognize 25th anniversary of 9/11 with Seacliff stair climb

September 11, 2026 at 4:13 p.m.

A crowd of firefighters and community members gathered on Seacliff State Beach Friday morning to...

Intermittent detour routes for the San Lorenzo Way Bridge between September to October will be provided using an existing private road on the east side of the San Lorenzo River that connects to Mount Hermon Road. (Contributed — Santa Cruz County)

San Lorenzo Way Bridge to temporarily close as bridge replacement project kicks off

September 11, 2026 at 1:32 p.m.

The San Lorenzo Way Bridge in Felton will close to all traffic Sept. 15 to...

A group of friends hit the water Wednesday afternoon at Mitchell’s Cove Beach below West Cliff Drive near David Way in Santa Cruz. According to a National Weather Service reading, the temperature in Santa Cruz hit 104 degrees Wednesday. The weather service forecast calls for temperatures to return to seasonal norms beginning Friday with temperatures at the coast in the high 70s and closer to 90 in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The highest temperature ever recorded in the city of Santa Cruz was 110 degrees on Sept. 3, 2017. (Shmuel Thaler — Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Heat wave forecast to end after bringing triple digit temps to Santa Cruz County

September 10, 2026 at 3:59 p.m.

Wednesday’s temperatures sat consistently in the 90s and triple digits throughout Santa Cruz County, reaching...

A fiery sunset lights up the sky above the Costco gas station in Santa Cruz this week. Atmospheric conditions lately have been ideal for vibrant sunrises and sunsets in Santa Cruz County. According to University Corporation for Atmospheric Research Center of Scientific Education website, "Colorful sunsets and sunrises happen because low solar angles force sunlight to travel through a much thicker layer of the atmosphere, scattering short blue wavelengths away while letting longer red, orange, and yellow wavelengths pass through." The University Corporation for Atmospheric Research is a nonprofit consortium of more than 120 North American colleges and universities focused on research and training in Earth system and atmospheric sciences. (Shmuel Thaler - Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Photo | Sunset colors the sky above Santa Cruz

September 10, 2026 at 2:42 p.m.

A fiery sunset lights up the sky above the Costco gas station in Santa Cruz...

A bicyclist rides along East Cliff Drive. The Santa Cruz City Council signed off on a response to a Santa Cruz County Civil Grand Jury report at its meeting Tuesday, disagreeing with most of the report's findings and recommendations on pedestrian safety. (PK Hattis — Santa Cruz Sentinel file)

Santa Cruz refutes pedestrian safety recommendations from Civil Grand Jury

September 10, 2026 at 2:13 p.m.

The Santa Cruz City Council signed off on a response to a Santa Cruz County...

A new bicycle and pedestrian overcrossing over Highway 1 is taking shape at Mar Vista Drive in Aptos. Highway 1 will see two days of full overnight closures as a part of the construction process Sept. 20 and 21. (Shmuel Thaler — Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Full overnight closures to impact Highway 1 in Aptos in September

September 10, 2026 at 1:50 p.m.

A section of Highway 1 in Aptos is set to have two full overnight closures...

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 20: Brock Purdy #13 of the San Francisco 49ers throws a pass against the Los Angeles Chargers during the first quarter in a preseason game at SoFi Stadium on August 20, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)

Do I need Netflix to watch the 49ers vs. Rams season opener?

By Pueng Vongs

September 10, 2026 at 3:22 p.m.

The San Francisco 49ers take on division rivals the Los Angeles Rams in a Week...

USPS to hold virtual community meeting on proposed Brookdale Post Office closure

September 9, 2026 at 4:02 p.m.

After a fire at the Brookdale Post Office in December 2024 that left residents in...

A sign on West Cliff Drive in Santa Cruz might be a helpful suggestion for many of us. The sign is there to alert pedestrians of vehicular and bicycle traffic, but it might be more helpful if it also included a suggestion to see. The Oxford Dictionary definition of looking is to direct one’s gaze in a specified direction. The definition of seeing is the action of seeing someone or something. In an essay in 2020 by Grant Scott, founder and curator of United Nations of Photography, he wrote, “Looking is relatively easy and therefore open to all, seeing is more difficult and requires the eye to be trained and regularly exercised." (Shmuel Thaler — Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Photos | Signs of everyday life in Santa Cruz County

September 9, 2026 at 3:22 p.m.

SANTA CRUZ — A sign on West Cliff Drive in Santa Cruz might be a...

Retrofitting of the historic gazebo — closed to the public since the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake — at City Plaza Park in Watsonville is now underway. The park is undergoing a redesign, which the City Council voted to allocate $803,252 in Measure Q funds toward at Tuesday's meeting. (Nick Ssestanovich — Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Watsonville City Council OKs Measure Q allocations for 2026-27

September 9, 2026 at 3:14 p.m.

The money will go toward funding the remodel of City Plaza Park and two full-time...

Rider McCormick, a Santa Cruz native and Stevenson School alum, prepares to make a play at defensive back for Carleton College in Minnesota. (Carleton Athletics)

‘Cerebral’ Rider McCormick prides himself on being a shutdown cornerback for Carleton | County Connections

By Ray Hacke

September 9, 2026 at 1:47 p.m.

Rider McCormick excels at keeping opposing quarterbacks’ passes out of their intended receivers’ hands.

Calendar of Events | Nashville songwriter Greylan James comes to Felton

September 9, 2026 at 9:34 a.m.

This week's Santa Cruz County offerings include Nashville singer-songwriter Greylan James at Felton Music Hall,...

San Jose Sharks forward Adam Gaudette celebrates his second period goal against the Utah Mammoth during their game on Monday, Dec.1, 2025, in San Jose, Calif. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group)

The Sharks asked fans for input on in-arena experience. They got a resounding response

By Curtis Pashelka

September 10, 2026 at 5:38 a.m.

Will the San Jose Sharks' much-derided goal song be changed this season?

California Golden Bears wide receiver Jonathan Brady (6) catches a touchdown pass from California Golden Bears quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) in the second half of their 127th Big Game against the Stanford Cardinal at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, Calif., on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

Letters: Cal and Stanford should quit the college football circus

By Letters to the Editor

September 9, 2026 at 4:30 a.m.

Also: Long odds | Basics of living | Dishonest attacks | Bogus board | Prevent...

A cyclist pedals up the Coolidge Drive hill at UC Santa Cruz. Cows, horses, oxen and even a small herd of buffalo were kept at the Cowell Lime Works ranch before the land became UC Santa Cruz and cattle still graze on the meadow atop the hill that rises above the cyclist. (Shmuel Thaler - Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Photo | Cyclist pedals up Coolidge Drive hill at UC Santa Cruz

September 8, 2026 at 3:04 p.m.

A cyclist pedals up the Coolidge Drive hill at UC Santa Cruz. Cows, horses, oxen...

Crosswalks, bike lanes, lane markers and arrows form a cacophony of design in this aerial view of the intersection at Water Street and North Branciforte Avenue. (Shmuel Thaler — Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Photo | Crosswalks, bike lanes, lane markers, arrows mark road in Santa Cruz

September 8, 2026 at 3:00 p.m.

Crosswalks, bike lanes, lane markers and arrows form a cacophony of design in this aerial...

Nancy Bilicich seeks return to Watsonville City Council

September 8, 2026 at 2:38 p.m.

Nancy Bilicich, who previously served on the Watsonville City Council from 2009 to 2018, is...

A red-tailed hawk lifts off from a no parking sign on Shaffer Road in Santa Cruz. According to Cornell Lab’s All About Birds website, “This is probably the most common hawk in North America. If you’ve got sharp eyes, you’ll see several individuals on almost any long car ride, anywhere. Red-tailed Hawks soar above open fields, slowly turning circles on their broad, rounded wings." (Shmuel Thaler – Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Photo | Red-tailed hawk lifts off from sign in Santa Cruz

September 7, 2026 at 3:43 p.m.

A red-tailed hawk lifts off from a no parking sign on Shaffer Road in Santa...

(Left to right) Albi Romero, chair of the Cabrillo College Federation of Teachers' Committee on Political Education; Rebecca Hadley of the California School Employees Association; and Steve McDougall, president of the Salinas Valley Federation of Teachers urge attendees to approve Proposition 3 at the Monterey Bay Central Labor Council's annual Labor Day picnic. The proposition would permanently extend the high-income tax rates approved in 2012. (Nick Sestanovich — Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Monterey Bay Central Labor Council annual picnic celebrates unions, calls for action in November

September 7, 2026 at 3:32 p.m.

The organization, which represents more than 80 affiliated unions and more than 37,000 members throughout...

Residents say the trailer for the new CBS legal drama show “Cupertino” bears little resemblance to the actual city, particularly its predominantly Asian population. (Google Maps)

CBS named its new legal drama ‘Cupertino.’ Some locals barely recognize their city

By Stephanie Lam

September 7, 2026 at 1:02 p.m.

Noticeably absent from the trailer are Asian lead characters and shots of familiar neighborhoods, leading...

Staff are recommending the Watsonville City Council include funding for the revitalization of City Plaza Park, seen here from above via drone, in its five-year Measure Q expenditure plan. (Shmuel Thaler — Santa Cruz Sentinel file)

Watsonville City Council to consider allocation of Measure Q funds

September 7, 2026 at 10:24 a.m.

The Watsonville City Council will consider allocation of Measure Q funds at its Tuesday meeting.

Cupertino TV show makes its debut — but trailer is missing key shots and traits of the city

By Stephanie Lam

September 7, 2026 at 4:16 a.m.

Noticeably absent from the trailer are Asian lead characters and shots of familiar neighborhoods, leading...

A concrete pour has begun to create the parking garage floor at the corner of Water Street and North Branciforte Avenue as Walnut Creek-based Novin Development builds a four- and five-story residential project called 831 Water St. The Santa Cruz Planning Commission approved the proposal for a 100% below-market-rate building with 140 homes. The development will span nearly an acre from 823 to 833 Water St. and consist of two parts: a four-story section and a five-story section. The project, as approved, would also contain 800 square feet of retail space, a community room, shared spaces, on-site laundry and a manager's office on the ground floor. The structure's two sections would contain 140 housing units with studios, one-, two-, three-bedroom and work/live apartments. (Shmuel Thaler — Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Photo | Foundation moves along for 831 Water St. project

September 6, 2026 at 10:38 a.m.

The development will span nearly an acre from 823 to 833 Water St. and consist...

John D. Chace, popular former mayor of Santa Cruz. (Ross Eric Gibson collection)

Chace’s life of labor | Ross Eric Gibson, Local History

By Ross Eric Gibson

September 6, 2026 at 10:15 a.m.

John Day Chace encouraged the establishment of a Santa Cruz chapter of the Ancient Order...

Alicia Jimenez is running for Pajaro Valley Unified School District Trustee Area 5. (Contributed)

Alicia Jimenez, former longtime district employee, seeks Pajaro Valley school board seat

September 6, 2026 at 10:11 a.m.

Months after retiring from a 25-year career at Pajaro Valley Unified School District, where she...

The window of the 98 Cents Store in Watsonville was boarded up after a driver crashed through the window Friday, injuring himself and two others. (Nick Sestanovich — Santa Cruz Sentinel)

One arrested after vehicle crashes into Watsonville business, yields 3 injuries

September 6, 2026 at 9:30 a.m.

Watsonville police arrested Edwin Wetterstrom, 73, on suspicion of driving under the influence after his...

Michelle Marty sticks to the raised center of Aptos Beach Drive as she checks out the flooding in Rio Del Mar in 2023. The flooding was a result of La Niña conditions in Santa Cruz County, though experts warn residents to stay prepared for flooding and other weather events ahead of the predicted El Niño. (Shmuel Thaler — Santa Cruz Sentinel file)

Santa Cruz County releases safety guide for residents ahead of El Niño

September 5, 2026 at 3:28 p.m.

El Niño conditions are often associated with heavier rain, flooding, landslides, large waves and coastal...

A great blue heron looks out as it forages on the grass in front of the Santa Cruz County Superior Courthouse. About the bird, Cornell University’s All About Birds website says, “Whether poised at a river bend or cruising the coastline with slow, deep wingbeats, the Great Blue Heron is a majestic sight. This stately heron with its subtle blue-gray plumage often stands motionless as it scans for prey or wades belly deep with long, deliberate steps. They may move slowly, but Great Blue Herons can strike like lightning to grab a fish or snap up a gopher." Great blue herons can be seen throughout the entire United States and all of Central America. (Shmuel Thaler — Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Photo | Great blue heron hunts for its next meal

September 5, 2026 at 3:15 p.m.

A great blue heron looks out as it forages on the grass in front of...

A drone view of a potential U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center in Gilroy, Calif., on Friday, May 29, 2026. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)

San Jose federal judge issues tentative ruling to pause ICE project near Gilroy

By Ethan Baron

September 5, 2026 at 1:22 p.m.

ICE said last month in a court filing that the facility just east of Highway...

A group of young students captivated by teacher Bernice Corrigan on the first day of the new term at Hyde School in 1958. The stress and excitement of the first day of a school term has been a common annual experience in our county for over 160 years. Early local schooling, in the mid-1800s, was private and community-based, often associated with particular churches or individuals. Public schools began to be established in the 1850s and 1860s, with some of the earliest county schools with dedicated buildings including Mission Hill, Roache, Pajaro, Watsonville Primary, San Andreas and Carrolton schools. By 1875 there were 54 established public schools in the county. The county’s earliest high school began on a dedicated floor in a Santa Cruz school building, with Watsonville High being the first dedicated high school building, in 1894. Countywide enrollment in educational institutions began with handfuls of students in the mid-1800s, soon increasing to hundreds by the 1870s, to a current rough estimate of over 74,000 students enrolled in all county school districts, private schools, UC Santa Cruz and Cabrillo College. (Photograph by Register-Pajaronian photographer Sam Vestal via Pajaro Valley Historical Association).

Focal Point | First day of new term at Hyde School in 1958

September 5, 2026 at 11:51 a.m.

A group of young students captivated by teacher Bernice Corrigan on the first day of...

A prismatic halo surrounds the midday sun above downtown Santa Cruz. According to the National Weather Service website, Earth's atmosphere sometimes produces "colorful displays when conditions are right." Among these optical effects are halos, sun pillars and sundogs. The NWS website explains, "A halo is a ring or light that forms around the sun or moon as the sun or moon light refracts off ice crystals present in a thin veil of cirrus clouds. Sundogs are colored spots of light that develop due to the refraction of light through ice crystals. They are located approximately 22 degrees either left, right, or both, from the sun, depending on where the ice crystals are present. Sun Pillars appear as a shaft of light extending vertically above the sun, most often at sunrise or sundown. They develop as a result of ice crystals slowly falling through the air, reflecting the sun’s rays off of them." (Shmuel Thaler — Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Photo | Ring of light circles sun above Downtown Santa Cruz

September 5, 2026 at 11:29 a.m.

A prismatic halo surrounds the midday sun above Downtown Santa Cruz. According to the National...

A new student housing complex rises next to the Cabrillo College softball field in this view from McGregor Drive across Highway 1 in Aptos. Named Costa Vista, the project is historic as it is the first California Community College and University of California student housing collaboration to be located on a community college campus. The 257,000 square-foot, 624-bed development will span three buildings, with 60% of the beds designated for Cabrillo College students and 40% for UC Santa Cruz students. It will include single occupancy, double occupancy and family units, and feature a childcare center for its residents. The project developer is Greystar, the general contractor is Devcon Construction, the public private partner is Collegiate Housing Foundation, and WRNS Studio is the project architect. By state statute, rents for all units will be affordable. (Shmuel Thaler – Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Photo | Work progresses on joint UC Santa Cruz student housing project at Cabrillo College

September 4, 2026 at 5:03 p.m.

A new student housing complex rises next to the Cabrillo College softball field in this...

A surfer grabs a wave on a recent overcast morning at Steamer Lane in Santa Cruz. The Mark Abbott Memorial Lighthouse sits atop Lighthouse Point where the original Santa Cruz lighthouse was first lit in 1870. (Shmuel Thaler — Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Cliff continues crumbling at Steamer Lane in Santa Cruz

September 4, 2026 at 4:23 p.m.

Another large chunk of the cliffs at Steamer Lane in Santa Cruz fell into the...

The Santa Cruz County Youth Commission stands with the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors at the commission's swearing-in ceremony Aug. 24. The group of 11 local high school students age 14 to 18 had their first formal meeting Monday, marking a milestone in Santa Cruz County’s efforts to broaden participation and representation in local government. (Courtesy of Santa Cruz County)

New Santa Cruz County Youth Commission holds first meeting