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Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

Murray Street Bridge closure delivers fatal blow to Seabright Social

After five years, Seabright Social will serve its last meal at the end of the month, with owners citing the Murray Street Bridge closure as the clear cause of a 30% drop in business.

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Credit: Lily Belli / Lookout Santa Cruz

Betty’s Eat Inn in downtown Santa Cruz to close Sunday, citing challenging environment

After 15 years, Betty’s Eat Inn in downtown Santa Cruz will close Sunday, with owner Laurie Negro citing declining foot traffic, fewer visitors and a challenging downtown environment as key reasons.

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Credit: City of Santa Cruz

With construction underway, city invites public to ceremonial groundbreaking for downtown Santa Cruz library mixed-use project

The public is invited to Lot 8, across Lincoln Street from the site of the future downtown Santa Cruz library and affordable housing on Lot 4, for a ceremony marking the occasion at noon next […]

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Credit: Santa Cruz Art League

Weekender: Lewis Black’s last tour swings through, landscapes to love and Gladwell on the horizon

Wallace Baine’s guided tour through Santa Cruz County arts & entertainment, including recommendations for things to do this weekend and beyond.

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Credit: Santa Cruz Warriors

Downtown Plan Expansion — with 1,600 new housing units and pathway to new Santa Cruz Warriors arena — wins state’s OK

The California Coastal Commission has signed off on Santa Cruz’s Downtown Plan Expansion, clearing the way for taller buildings, up to 1,600 new housing units and a potential new Santa Cruz Warriors arena south of […]

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Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

Imminent Pajaro River encampment sweeps will displace dozens of levee residents before ‘tiny village’ opening

The Pajaro Regional Flood Management Agency announced Wednesday it will move forward with scheduling its encampment sweep along the Pajaro River for the end of August, which will displace dozens of levee residents before temporary […]

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Credit: Vajra Films

Santa Cruz Film Festival planning a big ‘resurrection’ in October

After having been dark for three years, the Santa Cruz Film Festival is coming back in October with new leadership and new energy. The goal? Not only to entertain and illuminate audiences, but also to […]

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Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

OPINION: What PIT count says about county homelessness numbers: We are making progress amid uncertainty

Robert Ratner, director of Housing for Health for Santa Cruz County’s human services department, and Larry Imwalle, director of Homelessness Response & Community Programs for the City of Santa Cruz, interpret the point-in-time count numbers, […]

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Best of Santa Cruz County events, Aug. 15-17

Here are some events you might be interested in this weekend:

Friday, Aug. 15

Saturday, Aug. 16

Sunday, Aug. 17



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