Preservationists say Santa Cruz County’s adoption of a tax relief program for historic properties could help spur interest in saving buildings such as the Bayview Hotel in Aptos and Redman-Hirahara House in Watsonville. Some critics argue such laws mainly serve as a windfall for wealthy homeowners.
William S. Woodhams
William S. Woodhams is a newsroom intern at Lookout. He is a native of Santa Cruz where he grew up on the Westside. In 2024, he wrote for Good Times and Santa Cruz Local, covering housing development, the chaos at Live Oak School District and the pro-Palestinian protests at UCSC, among other stories.
Currently, he attends UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism. He hopes to write about the unknown heroes and eccentrics of the area because after leaving and coming home, he believes it is the people who make Santa Cruz special.
Posted inCapitola & Soquel
Capitola City Council appoints planning commissioner Susan Westman to vacant seat
Capitola has a new city councilmember, the second in more than five months, after the city council voted Thursday to appoint Susan Westman to fill a vacancy left by former councilmember Alexander Pedersen.
Posted inLatest News
Henry Cowell campground reopening pushed back to April 2026
The park was expected to reopen April 1, before being pushed back to Aug. 1 because of weather delays and supply chain disruptions.
Posted inWatsonville / Pajaro
Fate of Watsonville’s Redman-Hirahara House to be decided in August
Santa Cruz County supervisors are set to vote in August on a plan to strip historic status from Watsonville’s Redman-Hirahara House, a Victorian mansion that sheltered Japanese American families after World War II, and clear the way for developers to demolish it.
Posted inLatest News
Longer hours for Graham Hill Road work begin Monday
One-way traffic on Graham Hill Road between Sims Road and the 4600 block of Graham Hill Road will extend from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. until Aug. 6 as the Newell Creek Pipeline relocation continues. Previously, construction was confined to 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Japanese Cultural Fair returns to Santa Cruz on Saturday with food, art and tradition
The annual Japanese Cultural Fair is back in Santa Cruz this Saturday at Mission Plaza park from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Posted inFood & Drink
Three Santa Cruz County food businesses finalists for USA Today’s best in nation
Marini’s Candies, Marianne’s Ice Cream and Pacific Cookie Company are nominees, along with Mount Madonna Center, for the national paper’s readers’ choice awards.
