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.
Corralitos / Freedom
Posted inEducation
San Luis Obispo school district to hire PVUSD Superintendent Heather Contreras
After less than two years on the job, Pajaro Valley Unified School District Superintendent Heather Contreras is in line to be hired by San Luis Coastal Unified School District.
Posted inEducation
Pajaro Valley school board Area I race: Meet Andrew Goldenkranz, Robin Sukow and Meilin Obinata
Andrew Goldenkranz, Robin Sukow and Meilin Obinata are running for the Pajaro Valley Unified School District Trustee Area I seat after incumbent Joy Flynn decided not to seek reelection. All newcomers, the candidates are diverse, with two coming from education backgrounds and one having business experience.
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.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Step inside: The magic of Santa Cruz County Open Studios
Open Studios has begun. For the first three weekends of October, Santa Cruz County artists are opening their studios — inviting us into the places where the work gets made. This year, close to 350 artists are participating, including 69 newcomers, with a new preview exhibit at MK Gallery offering a first look at what’s to come. There’s also a new app to help art lovers find artists and plan their studio-hopping adventures across the county. We stepped inside the preview to meet some of the artists and get a taste of the work and creative energy waiting behind those studio doors.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
How a Watsonville project is preserving the stories of Filipino farmworkers for a new generation
The fifth annual Watsonville Filipino American History Month festival, hosted by the Tobera Project, celebrates Filipino culture, food and music while uplifting the Manong generation of farmworkers in the Pajaro Valley.
Posted inEducation
Incumbent Misty Navarro faces Mads Realmuto in PVUSD Trustee Area VII race
Incumbent Misty Navarro and district parent Mads Realmuto are competing for the Trustee Area VII seat on the Pajaro Valley Unified School District governing board. Navarro was appointed to the seat in October 2024, after Jennifer Holm resigned from the board.
Posted inEducation
PVUSD school board candidate Curt Wilcox charged with felonies related to candidacy filing
Pajaro Valley Unified school board candidate Curt Wilcox was arrested Sept. 18 and faces felony charges related to his candidacy filing, including allegations involving his residency and voter registration.
Posted inEducation
Pajaro Valley school board Area V race: Alicia Jimenez, Curt Wilcox vie for open seat
Retired administrator Alicia Jimenez and Watsonville craftsman Curt Wilcox are competing for the open Trustee Area V seat on the Pajaro Valley Unified School District governing board. A third candidate, Jennifer Schacher, remains on the ballot despite saying she will not actively campaign.
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.
