Apple pies, monster trucks & live music: Don’t miss the 2026 Santa Cruz County Fair

Get ready for five days of classic fair fun! The 2026 Santa Cruz County Fair returns Sept. 16-20 with live entertainment, carnival rides, local food, community traditions and plenty of surprises. This year’s theme, “Apple Pies and Starry Skies,” celebrates the homegrown traditions of the Fair and the natural beauty of the Watsonville fairgrounds. Rev […]

This Santa Cruz County literacy program changes lives: here are three ways you can help

Teresa sat across from a hiring manager, answering interview questions in English. Although she had been studying English with her literacy tutor, they hadn’t reached the lesson on job interviews yet. But Teresa (a pseudonym, used to protect her privacy) applied for the caregiving role on her own. She got the job, and has since […]

Plan your next step at Cabrillo College’s College & Career Family Night

Choosing a college, planning for a career or figuring out how to pay for higher education can feel overwhelming. Cabrillo College’s College & Career Family Night 2026 gives students and families the opportunity to explore their options, connect with college representatives and get answers to important questions — all in one evening. Join Cabrillo College […]

Take a Musical Journey Through America With Santa Cruz Symphony

What does America sound like? Santa Cruz Symphony’s season opening concert responds in spectacular fashion with a program spanning more than two centuries. It highlights trumpet fanfares, jazz-inflected rhapsodies, and melodies born from struggle and hope. This patriotic concert begins, fittingly, with “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Francis Scott Key created the poem in 1814 after watching […]

Cabrillo College student housing takes shape

New student housing is taking shape at Cabrillo College, bringing 647 beds and new amenities to the Aptos campus. Here’s what students need to know about the project and how to stay updated. Cabrillo College is moving closer to opening its new Costa Vista student housing community, a first-of-its-kind partnership with UC Santa Cruz that […]

Community Health Trust of Pajaro Valley’s forum to spotlight youth mental health, introduce allcove™ Watsonville

The Pajaro Valley will take a closer look at youth mental health — and the future of local support for young people — at the Community Health Trust of Pajaro Valley’s 2026 Health Forum on Friday, Sept. 18. This year’s forum, “Youth Mental Health in Pajaro Valley: Understanding Needs, Building Solutions,” will bring together health […]

Four financial steps to take as fire and storm season arrives on the Central Coast

Natural disasters have a way of disrupting more than the forecast.   Here on the central coast, wildfire, heavy rain, flooding, fallen trees, road closures, and power outages can quickly affect where we live, how we get to work, and our expenses.  We have seen just how quickly that can happen. You cannot control the weather, […]

The Pacific is preheating. Is your home ready?

The Pacific Ocean appears to have cranked the thermostat—and misplaced the remote. El Niño is officially underway, and NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center says it could become “very strong” this fall. That’s what often earns an event the unofficial—and slightly dramatic—nickname “Super El Niño.” El Niño happens when parts of the tropical Pacific warm above normal. […]

Accepting help can change your life – Meet Rafael and Rosa

Meet Rafael and Rosa. For them, life looks brighter now. But not long ago, life was different. Rafael was struggling with serious health issues and his family faced housing uncertainty. The family had difficulty facing Rafael’s medical diagnoses and proposed treatment. They were overwhelmed by the systems responsible for his medical and housing benefits. It […]

The secret Santa Cruzans have always known is becoming our city’s next great space. Be part of what’s next.

The Friends of the Santa Cruz Public Libraries just announced that they are only $50,000 away from their $3 Million goal towards the build-out of the new Downtown Library. You might be surprised where you fit in this story — read on. Long before there were think pieces about third spaces and the loneliness epidemic, Santa Cruzans […]

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