Motion Pacific will occupy a new space on Frederick Street in Santa Cruz after two years of bouncing around rented spaces for its dance classes and community programming.
Alia Yee Noll
Alia Yee Noll joins Lookout Santa Cruz as the California Local News Fellow to cover arts, entertainment and culture. Alia recently graduated from the University of Southern California, where she studied journalism and minored in documentary film and gender studies. She's interested in reporting on the intersections of art, accessibility and diversity.
She has interned at the Los Angeles Times, Ms. Magazine and Getty Publications, and she edited the arts and features sections for her college paper, the Daily Trojan.
Alia grew up in Fullerton and is excited to continue living and writing in the best state there is. She's looking forward to exploring Santa Cruz County's restaurants and live music scene, frequenting the public library, and discovering the best hikes and tea lattes.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Santa Cruz shaped Ben Flocks’ jazz career. Now he’s returning to Kuumbwa
Kuumbwa Jazz Honor Band alum, saxophonist and music educator Ben Flocks will return to Santa Cruz on Thursday to perform songs from his new album, “Moonshades,” joined by Billy Mohler and Jay Bellerose.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Cabrillo College’s ‘La Resiliencia’ celebrates Latino identity, art and community
Cabrillo Gallery’s “LatinXperiencia 2026: La Resiliencia” celebrates the resilience of the Latino community through ceramics, paintings and mixed media work. Alyssarhaye Graciano, who curates at MACLA in San Jose, selected works that show how artists are processing identity and the political climate, with a focus on self-preservation and sustainability. The show runs until Oct. 27.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
How a Watsonville project is preserving the stories of Filipino farmworkers for a new generation
The fifth annual Watsonville Filipino American History Month festival, hosted by the Tobera Project, celebrates Filipino culture, food and music while uplifting the Manong generation of farmworkers in the Pajaro Valley.
Posted inHealth & Wellness
Santa Cruz County reinstates mask requirement in skilled nursing facilities, infusion centers
Santa Cruz County will reinstate its seasonal mask requirement in all skilled nursing facilities and infusion centers beginning Nov. 1, requiring employees, visitors and other non-patients to wear face masks indoors.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Santa Cruz journalist Martha Mendoza goes inside the global scam industry for new PBS documentary
Santa Cruz journalist and UCSC lecturer Martha Mendoza spent the past year investigating the global online scam industry for a new PBS “Frontline” documentary. Then scammers hit close to home, targeting people close to her in Santa Cruz.
Posted inRecreation & Sports
Santa Cruz Surfing Museum is turning 40 – and celebrating with a newly restored lighthouse beacon
The Santa Cruz Surfing Museum will celebrate its 40th anniversary Saturday with music, Hawaiian cultural performances and the unveiling of a newly restored beacon at the Mark Abbott Memorial Lighthouse. The restoration was made possible by more than $90,000 raised by the community.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Santa Cruz’s newest music festival is coming to a porch near you
Santa Cruz’s first Porchfest will bring 50 bands to 14 porches and other downtown locations on Saturday, Oct. 3. The free festival aims to showcase local musicians while creating new opportunities for neighbors to gather and enjoy live music.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
‘Music is in my blood’: Santana singer Andy Vargas returns to Watsonville for Santa Cruz County Fair performance with his dad
Santana’s lead singer, Andy Vargas, will return to his hometown of Watsonville to perform at the Santa Cruz County Fair on Friday night. His father, celebrated mariachi musician Javier Vargas, will join him onstage.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
‘La música está en mi sangre’: el cantante de Santana, Andy Vargas, regresa a Watsonville para presentarse con su padre en la Feria del Condado de Santa Cruz
Andy Vargas, cantante principal de Santana, regresará a su ciudad natal de Watsonville para presentarse el viernes por la noche en la Feria del Condado de Santa Cruz. Su padre, el reconocido músico de mariachi Javier Vargas, lo acompañará en el escenario.
