Starbucks locations in Soquel and Watsonville are among the 250 nationwide affected by another wave of closures at the coffee giant, Jessica M. Pasko reports in her weekly look at Santa Cruz County business.
Capitola & Soquel
Posted inInside Lookout
Stepping away from the desk and giving back with Second Harvest Food Bank
This past week, five members of Lookout Santa Cruz volunteered at Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Cruz County, filling over 200 bags of groceries for local families. The experience provided the opportunity to engage with the work and community members which Lookout Santa Cruz tells stories about every day, and served as a reminder that giving back doesn’t need to be complicated. Simply asking “How can I help?” can go a long way in helping local families, and even inspire others to do the same.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Santa Cruz County elections 2026: Which city candidates are raising the most campaign cash?
Thursday was the deadline for candidates running for local office to file their first campaign finance disclosures ahead of the Nov. 3 general election. Here’s what the numbers say.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Capitola must fix the Stockton Avenue Bridge — and explain how maintenance fell through the cracks
For years, Caltrans inspection reports flagged maintenance needs for Capitola’s Stockton Avenue Bridge. Yet those recommendations apparently never came before the city council. Now, taxpayers face hundreds of thousands of dollars in near-term repairs — and potentially millions more for rehabilitation or replacement. Before the city fixes the bridge, Capitola resident Kevin Maguire wants some answers. He wants to understand how Capitola got here – and what steps the council will take to make sure such mistakes don’t happen again.
Posted inInside Lookout
Inside Lookout: What’s ahead this fall, from election coverage to a new arts correspondent
From a new arts correspondent to a newsroom gearing up for election season, there’s a lot ahead at Lookout Santa Cruz this fall. Executive Editor Richard Martin shares what’s new, what the newsroom is working on and how you can connect with the journalists behind the coverage.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Carmageddon: Capitola City Council approves short-term repairs for Stockton Avenue Bridge to extend lifespan
The Capitola City Council voted on Thursday to approve a polyester concrete overlay for the Stockton Avenue Bridge, the Caltrans-recommended course of action, to buy time as the city moves toward long-term work for the nearly 100-year-old structure, which could involve full replacement.
Posted inVisual Story
25 years later: Santa Cruz, Bay Area first responders honor 9/11 victims with memorial stair climb
More than 60 people honored the fallen first responders of 9/11 by climbing Seacliff State Beach’s stairs 13 times – equal to the World Trade Center’s 110 stories – at Friday’s 25th anniversary memorial climb in Aptos.
Posted inLatest News
Santa Cruz County’s heat wave, one job at a time
As a heat wave gripped the region, Lookout journalists spoke with workers from Santa Cruz to Capitola to Watsonville about how they were getting through it, shift by shift.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
New Capitola Village public art brings Monterey Bay wildlife to Monterey Avenue railing
Capitola artist Bruce Harman has spent months painting 50 aluminum panels along a 625-foot stretch of railing on Monterey Avenue, turning it into a mural of jellyfish, otters, seahorses and other Monterey Bay sea life. The panels go on public display this weekend when the street closes to cars for the Capitola Art & Wine Festival.
Posted inLatest News
Nearly 6,500 Capitola and Live Oak residents without power; outage caused by equipment issue
Nearly 6,500 residents in Capitola and Live Oak are without power Wednesday afternoon, according to PG&E officials.
