A video promoting Santa Cruz Metro’s “One Ride at a Time” campaign, which showcased the agency’s efforts to support environmentally sustainable transit, won the California Association of Public Information Officials’ 2025 STAR Award for Best Promotion of a Public Agency.
Ashley Palma-Jimenez
Ashley Palma-Jimenez is a junior at UC Santa Cruz, where she is pursuing a bachelor's degree in literature. As a writer, she is passionate about telling stories that often go unrecognized, and her goal is to tell these stories in a way that is accurate, honest and trustworthy. She joins Lookout Santa Cruz as an intern through the UCSC Humanities Excel program.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Nominations for Watsonville Youth Poet Laureate now open
Watsonville’s Youth Poet Laureate to recognize poets, rappers, writers and spoken-word artists under the age of 20 for their literary accomplishments. Nominations are due by Nov. 15.
Posted inWestside / Downtown
Section of Coastal Rail Trail in Santa Cruz to be closed starting next week
The City of Santa Cruz plans to temporarily close part of the trail from the California/Bay entrance to the Depot Park trestle from Oct. 13 to Oct. 20 for vegetation control.
Posted inEducation
Santa Cruz City Schools recognized among nation’s healthiest
All campuses in the Santa Cruz City Schools district were among 1,120 nationwide to be named to the America’s Healthiest Schools list put out by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, a nonprofit focused on children’s health.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Santa Cruz Public Libraries to feature documentary, Orwell’s ‘1984’ in Banned Books Week events Oct. 5-11
Santa Cruz Public Libraries is recognizing Banned Books Week in October with a documentary screening and a focus on “1984,” George Orwell’s iconic dystopian novel of government censorship.
Posted inLatest News
California State Parks plans prescribed burns at Wilder Ranch
California State Parks is planning to conduct prescribed burns at Wilder Ranch State Park over the next two weeks after the first significant rain event of the season.
Posted inLatest News
Big Creek Lumber offers its School Garden Grant Program for 2026
A grant program sponsored by Davenport-based Big Creek Lumber that gives students and teachers the opportunity to learn through hands-on projects in science, biology, agriculture, carpentry and forestry is continuing in 2026, the company announced in a media release.
Posted inSan Lorenzo Valley
San Lorenzo Valley Water District moves to protect water supply from wildfire
The San Lorenzo Valley Water District announced this week that it is taking action to create and conserve defensible space around dozens of water supply sites.
Posted inFood & Drink
Harvest Festival returns Saturday to downtown Santa Cruz
Seasonal produce, live music, carnival games, food vendors and a petting zoo will all be part of the second annual Downtown Santa Cruz Harvest Festival, happening Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. on Church Street between Cedar Street and Center Street.
Posted inLatest News
Bike Santa Cruz County seeks nominations for Wheelie Awards
Bike Santa Cruz County is seeking nominations for its annual Wheelie Awards, which aim to recognize people, organizations and projects that contributed to cycling in Santa Cruz County in 2025.