With the weekend nearly here, check out things to do around Santa Cruz County with a recommendation from Lily Belli and a specially curated list from Lookout’s BOLO events calendar.
Westside / Downtown
Posted inEducation
UC, AFSCME 3299 reach tentative agreement and avert strike
The University of California and the union representing around 40,000 of its employees reached a tentative labor agreement early Thursday morning, averting a planned open-ended strike involving service and patient care workers across the UC system. The proposed contract includes wage increases, caps on healthcare premium hikes, expanded leave and workplace protections.
Posted inLatest News
Council candidate Hector Marin’s sentencing pushed to June in case involving driving on a suspended license following 2024 DUI
Sentencing for District 4 Santa Cruz City Council candidate Hector Marin for driving with a suspended license following a 2024 DUI arrest in Santa Clara County was delayed until June.
Posted inFood & Drink
Corralitos restaurant Circle & Square Bistro wins Santa Cruz Vegan Chef Challenge
Nearly 30 restaurants across Santa Cruz County participated in the county’s first Vegan Chef Challenge in April, offering special plant-based dishes aimed at attracting diners and encouraging restaurants to expand vegan options. Corralitos restaurant Circle & Square Bistro won the competition. Participating chefs said the event brought in new customers and inspired interest in keeping some vegan dishes on their menus permanently.
Posted inEducation
Pacific Collegiate School safe after false threat call, lockdown
Pacific Collegiate School went into lockdown Tuesday afternoon after receiving an anonymous threat call, but Santa Cruz police later determined the threat was not credible following a sweep of the campus. School officials said all students and staff were safe.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
Santa Cruz County business filings: Week of May 12
Businesses operating in Santa Cruz County must register with the county clerk. Lookout Santa Cruz reviews the public filings from local businesses to report on new businesses starting in the area.
Posted inEducation
Cabrillo College, UCSC among schools affected by nationwide cyberattack
Cabrillo College and UC Santa Cruz were among thousands of schools nationwide impacted last week after a cyberattack on Canvas parent company Instructure forced temporary shutdowns of the learning management platform just as students were preparing for finals. Officials at both campuses said Canvas has since been restored.
Posted inEducation
UC workers prepare for systemwide open-ended strike on Thursday, with local impacts to patients, buses, dining services
More than 40,000 University of California workers, including about 530 at UC Santa Cruz, are preparing for an open-ended strike beginning Thursday. Campus officials warned students and staff to expect disruptions to dining, transportation and health services.
Posted inLatest News
Carmageddon: RTC targeting fall 2026 completion of North Coast rail trail
The construction of the North Coast section of Coastal Rail Trail is shutting down an informal parking area near Davenport for about six months as the Regional Transportation Commission targets a fall 2026 completion date. Once finished, there will be nearly 10 miles of continuous trail between Davenport and the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
UCSC’s student success lies in the college system. Now the university is gouging it.
Two UC Santa Cruz students are concerned that university budget cuts are stripping resources from the beloved residential college system and weakening the student support networks that have benefited them and defined campus life since the campus’ inception. Alex Santiago and Isaac Belloso say staff layoffs and reductions in provost positions are eroding mentorship, belonging and academic success and implore university leaders to reconsider the cuts and include students in the decision-making process. These relationships, they say, shape opportunity – especially for first-generation and low-income students.
