The Central Fire District of Santa Cruz County is holding a veterans career event on Nov. 7 from 9 a.m. to noon at Station 5, 6934 Soquel Dr. in Aptos. The goal is to help veterans, transitioning service members and eligible military-connected family members build careers in both public and fire services.
Capitola & Soquel
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Capitola City Council: Meet the five candidates vying for three open seats
In Capitola, five well-known names in the community are on the ballot competing for three open seats on the city council. The top three vote-getters will win. This is also the last election cycle under Capitola’s at-large system.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Carmageddon: Capitola City Council adopts 41st Avenue corridor plan
The Capitola City Council formally adopted the 41st Avenue corridor plan at its Thursday meeting. The plan aims to form a long-term vision for the city’s main artery to give it more vibrancy and public spaces, as well as improve mobility.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Ghosts among us: Five of Santa Cruz County’s most haunted places
Phantom children, mysterious nuns, a woman in white, and one invisible dog with a very bad attitude. Just in time for Halloween, Santa Cruz Ghost Hunters founder Mary Anne Porter takes us through five of her favorite haunted places, where local history and ghostly legends have a way of getting tangled together.
Posted inLatest News
Santa Cruz County coast faces possible coastal flooding, 16-foot waves and dangerous surf
The National Weather Service will issue a coastal flood advisory beginning on Friday and a beach hazards statement on Saturday.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Capitola City Council candidates agree on budget, rail trail — but differ slightly on housing
Five candidates for the Capitola City Council discussed a variety of issues affecting the city, including the city budget and the Coastal Rail Trail, during an election forum Wednesday evening.
Posted inWestside / Downtown
Santa Cruz County Election 2026: Get the latest news, candidate forums and fact-checks
Ballots are heading out to Santa Cruz County voters this week — and Lookout’s election coverage is in full swing. From covering the Santa Cruz mayoral race to hosting and co-hosting forums across Watsonville, Capitola, or Felton, Lookout is committed to digging into the issues and questions that matter to voters. As always, Lookout election coverage is free, so we’ll be here throughout the campaign and after the votes are counted, too.
Posted inFood & Drink
The best things I ate and drank in Santa Cruz County in September
September is Santa Cruz County’s quiet stretch of summer, when the crowds thin out and the weather holds. It’s a good month to eat where locals eat, and four dishes worth tracking down are a sourdough smash burger piled high, lobster cacio e pepe, an agua fresca with a chamoy-coated rim, and squash bread brushed with harissa butter.
Posted inFood & Drink
As Starbucks closes stores, what does it mean in a city built around independent coffee?
Starbucks has closed four Santa Cruz County locations in the past year, including two that shut down in September. We asked local coffee drinkers and independent baristas whether the closures matter in a city with a thriving independent coffee scene — and the answer depends on what customers want from their morning cup.
Posted inInside Lookout
Lookout in the Community: October events & ways to connect
With next month’s midterm elections on the horizon and Halloween fast approaching, the months are flying by! Luckily, October hosts an abundance of opportunities for locals to stay connected and informed, so don’t be scared of missing out on anything this spooky season. Including a Trivia Night hosted by Wallace Baine and two public forums, here are some places you’ll find Lookout in the month to come.
