Santa Cruz-based Clifford Mae Henderson is poised to release her sixth novel, “Bait and Witch,” with a reading and book signing at Bookshop Santa Cruz on Jan. 18. But many locals might be surprised to learn that Henderson has ever written fiction at all. That’s because she’s best known for performing and teaching improv comedy with the Fun Institute.
Westside / Downtown
Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing sold to owners of Sante Adairius, Private Press
Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing owners Emily Thomas and Chad Brill have sold the 18-year-old Westside brewery to Adair Paterno, owner of Capitola-based Sante Adairius Rustic Ales, and Brad Clark, owner of Private Press Brewing in Santa Cruz. The acquisition marks the end of an era in the local craft beer community, which Thomas and Brill helped build over the past two decades.
Otter 841 and her pup start 2024 the way they ended 2023 — roaming free in Monterey Bay
Otter 841 and her pup are still in Monterey Bay waters and will remain there for the foreseeable future, as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has no plans to restart its efforts to capture the feisty marine mammal.
Santa Cruz County public schools projected to have steepest enrollment decline in California
Santa Cruz County’s public schools are set to see enrollment drop by more than 21% over the next decade, the steepest decline of any county in California, according to recent figures from the state. The dramatic projections are escalating concerns among education leaders across the county. Officials from at least one local district say they may have to start discussing whether or not to close schools.
Driver in UC Santa Cruz bus crash dies
Dan Stevenson, the bus driver who was behind the wheel of a bus that crashed on UCSC’s campus on Dec. 12, has died from his injuries. The school’s investigation into the cause of the accident is still ongoing.
Evacuation warnings, power outages as Santa Cruz County braces for more rain, wind and swells
The next round of rain is set to begin Friday afternoon, in time for the evening commute. The storm is expected to bring 1 to 2 inches in low-lying parts of the county and 2 to 4 inches in the Santa Cruz Mountains, along with strong winds and a 15-20% chance of isolated thunderstorms.
Santa Cruz County takes battering reminiscent of January storms, girds for another round
Rio Del Mar and Capitola Village saw the worst effects of Thursday’s high tides and swells reaching 30 feet, which rendered a number of roads closed and damaged some ocean-facing buildings. More rain and another set of large waves are expected to arrive on Friday and early Saturday, respectively.
Evacuation warnings lifted for Capitola, Aptos, but more rain and ocean swells on the way
Santa Cruz County officials lifted evacuation warnings for much of the region Thursday afternoon after high tides and huge waves caused flooding and damage to parts of Capitola and Aptos. But they warned that the county is set to see more rain on Friday, followed by another “significant coastal wave event” early Saturday morning.
Heroic Dose Records on the hunt for new original music in Santa Cruz
Local singer-songwriter Jim Rosenberg’s “Finding Joseph,” a tribute to those lost to homelessness, is the first single from Heroic Dose Records in Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz continuing efforts to make parklets, outdoor dining areas permanent
Streamlining the permitting process is among the goals for the City of Santa Cruz in 2024, as officials say they will keep working to create a permanent solution for outdoor dining areas on private property with temporary pandemic-era permits. Meanwhile, the city is already implementing its parklet program.

