Good morning, everybody!
Today is Tuesday, July 12, and we’re looking at another beautiful day of mild temperatures in the low- to mid-70s throughout most of Santa Cruz County.
It’s Mark filling in for Will again and I have the honor of promoting my own copy today, so please excuse that in advance. If you love a good comeback story, then Nat Young is right up your alley.
Nat is among the most successful athletes this area has ever produced and he’s getting a second chance at competing against the world’s best. But it has been anything but easy for him.
I had the chance to go deep on some topics with him before the season began. And now that he’s putting together an impressive season, and on the cusp of requalifying for 2023, it seemed like a good time to roll that to the world.
Of course, my guy Wallace also has a great tale about a homegrown talent, so keep on reading into the headlines…
Nat Young, Santa Cruz’s most accomplished pro surfer, seems to have re-found his flow
He is the top professional wave rider that Surf City has ever produced. But hanging onto your spot among the World Surf League’s top competitors is no small feat and Young’s tumultuous land life — watching his mom Rosie lose an extended battle with cancer — took a severe toll on his psyche. Sixteen months after her death, Young’s spirited and meditative comeback is in full swing. And this is only Chapter 1. My chat with Nat is here.
➤ PREVIOUSLY: The Comeback Kid: Santa Cruz surfer Nat Young scratches back onto the world tour in honor of his mom
Santa Cruz composer reflects on California’s new climate normal in ‘The End of Rain’
Santa Cruz native Scott Ordway will be on hand July 29 when the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music presents the world premiere of his multimedia meditation on life amid the threats of drought and wildfire. Wallace with the story here.
➤ CZU, One Year Later: For all of our one-year anniversary stories, go here.
Santa Cruz’s parking garage mistake: It would undermine library project, make affordable housing harder
Santa Cruz voters delivered a historic “no” vote on Measure F last month. Rick Longinotti attributes this to mistrust in city government. Longinotti believes city staff buried a consultant’s downtown parking strategic plan to win city council support for a new parking garage to be constructed along with a new downtown library. Read Longinotti’s Community Voices piece here.
- Elementary School Math Teacher at Orchard School
- Mental Health Client Specialist II at the County of Santa Cruz
- Accounting Director at Central California Alliance for Health
- Web Development Project Manager at Digital Nest
- Manager of Programs at Diversity Center of Santa Cruz County
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New variants, particularly BA.5, pushing a surge; but cases seem to be less serious
COVID Dashboard: New omicron subvariants appear to be driving yet another surge, but cases continue to be less severe as a whole than previously in the pandemic. See the latest numbers here.
➤ COVID: Are widespread layoffs coming? How the pandemic has changed employers’ recession strategy
First image from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope reveals thousands of galaxies in stunning detail
A new look: NASA reveals the first images from the James Webb Space Telescope, its $10-billion successor to Hubble. The LA Times with the details.
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Cal State’s Black students are falling behind other groups — and poor graduation data obscures the crisis
The way the Cal State system presents graduation rates obscures how the system is failing its Black students, a Cal Matters reports shows.
ICYMI: On self-care — and date night! — for Santa Cruz parents
Local tips: More than ever, COVID-beleaguered parents need “Waves of Self Care: It Takes a Village,” the new book by Capitola’s Jaime McFaden. And Lookout parenting columnist Liza Monroy helps out with a half-dozen tips on how to arrange a date night around Santa Cruz County. Read Liza’s latest here.
➤ THE OMICRON EXPERIENCE: Families with young children — including mine — still face pandemic purgatories
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Around the area …
➤ San Jose man to face trial in Santa Cruz child drug, sex abuse case (Sentinel)
➤ New details in case against man accused of killing Salinas cheer coach (KSBW)
➤ Flood prevention, safety upgrades underway at mouth of San Lorenzo River (KSBW)
➤ Hollister woman wins $5 million off lotto scratcher (KION)
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Have a great day!
Mark Conley
Lookout Santa Cruz