Prosecutors in the murder trial of Theo Lengyel began their closing argument, aiming to paint the defendant, a former rock musician charged with killing Alice “Alyx” Herrmann of Capitola last year, as having a history of violence and aggressive behavior, specifically toward his romantic partners. They hope to convince the jury to convict Lengyel of first-degree murder, and pointed to a dramatic recording of an argument between Lengyel and Herrmann that was played during the trial that appears to capture Herrmann’s death.
Capitola & Soquel
Posted inHousing & Development
Lot at 41st and Soquel will get 289 units of affordable housing under new project
After sitting dormant for several years, a vacant lot on the corner of 41st Avenue and Soquel Drive has been sold to an affordable-housing developer, which plans to build a new two-tower apartment complex with 289 units. The site had once been eyed for a car dealership.
Posted inEducation
Soquel High School welding teacher wins $50,000 prize
Laurie Hilderbrand, a welding teacher from Soquel, has been named a winner of the 2024 Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence, which comes with $15,000 prize for her and $35,000 for her program at Soquel High.
Posted inLatest News
Stretch of southbound Highway 1 will close Monday night
Southbound Highway 1 will close at Park Avenue from 11 p.m. Monday, Oct. 7, to 6 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8, to accommodate work on north and southbound auxiliary lanes and bus-on-shoulder improvements between the Bay Avenue/Porter Street and State Park Drive interchanges.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Under the specter of housing growth and coastal resilience, four candidates face off for Capitola City Council
Two seats are open on the Capitola City Council this fall. Incumbent Margaux Morgan is seeking reelection, Gerry Jensen and Enrique Dolmo Jr. return to the ballot after narrow losses in 2022 and Melinda Orbach, the lone political newcomer, enters the race with a vision for the city’s west side and 41st Avenue corridor.
Posted inCapitola & Soquel
Capitola seeks ideas for strategic plan at community forum Tuesday
The City of Capitola will ask residents to weigh in on a strategic plan for the community at a public forum from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 1, in the Community Room at Capitola City Hall. City officials said they hope residents will “share their ideas for how they want Capitola to look and feel five years from now.” In addition to the in-person forum, the city is asking residents to complete an online survey, conducting stakeholder interviews, collecting data and asking residents to submit ideas online.
Posted inFood & Drink
Eaters Digest: Everett Family Farmstand
Lily Belli heads up Soquel San Jose Road to savor the bounty of the season at one of her favorite local spots.
Posted inFood & Drink
Best of Santa Cruz County food & drink events, Sept. 27-Oct. 3
Lookout food & drink correspondent Lily Belli highlights top events happening around Santa Cruz County in the coming week, plus more listings from Lookout’s BOLO events calendar.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Coke, Pepsi and Red Bull spend big to defeat Santa Cruz’s soda tax
A key pre-election campaign finance reporting deadline on Thursday revealed that the biggest players in America’s soft drink industry, including the parent companies of Coke, Pepsi, Dr Pepper and Red Bull, have donated nearly $1 million to defeat a city of Santa Cruz ballot measure this fall that would enact a special tax on sugary drinks.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Baine’s Nine: Nine necessary know-abouts for the week ahead in Santa Cruz County arts & entertainment, Sept. 26-Oct. 3
With the weekend nearly here, get your B9 shot in the form of Baine’s Nine, Wallace Baine’s recommendations for things to do around Santa Cruz County via Lookout’s BOLO events calendar.