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Pop-up crab traps aim to save Central Coast’s struggling fisheries and its threatened whale population
After years of trials, whale-safe “pop-up” crab traps will be available to all commercial crabbers for the first time in spring 2026. The traps are a breakthrough for an issue that has plagued fishing communities […]
Beyond ‘dog catcher’: Santa Cruz County’s animal control officers have become lifelines for pets and people alike
Animal control officers in Santa Cruz County have evolved beyond their traditional “dog catcher” stereotype to provide a range of services, including welfare checks, dangerous dog situations and bridging the gap between law enforcement and […]
In the Public Interest: A decision on ballot language could turn the campaigns for Santa Cruz’s ballot measures
Inside Santa Cruz County politics & policy with Lookout correspondent Christopher Neely.
Downtown Santa Cruz library to break ground Aug. 20
The downtown library mixed-use project will officially start construction with a private groundbreaking ceremony on Aug. 20. Shovels were expected to hit the ground in June, but a series of delays pushed the timeline into […]
Carmageddon: RTC still facing funding gap for passenger rail environmental work
As the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission’s passenger rail project continues to move forward, the agency still needs to find funding for the project’s environmental analysis. While it would prefer to secure a state […]
The SMART way: What Sonoma/Marin’s experience with passenger rail means for Santa Cruz County
Wallace Baine took a trip to the North Bay, to experience the train ride, to get a sense of its possibilities and problems, and to anticipate what lessons the SMART train system can provide for […]
Best of Santa Cruz County events, Aug. 12-14
Here are some local events you might be interested in this week:
Tuesday, Aug. 12
- “All the Pages Are My Days”: Print and Visual Culture of the Grateful Dead in Context | 12 a.m. @ McHenry Library
- Breathwork & Meditation with Horses | 9 a.m. @ BEYOND Liberty | $25 (this class included with membership)
- Ghosh, S. (CMPM) – Scientific Sensemaking with Spatial Data in Collaborative Virtual Reality | 9 a.m. | Virtual
- Birds & Blooms Tours | 9 a.m. @ UCSC Arboretum & Botanic Garden | Free
- Resistance Training for Peri/Post Menopause | 9 a.m. @ SoulCare Studios | $25 (Drop in $25; 10 Class Pass $220; Unlimited Monthly $125)
- Downtown Streets Work Readiness Meeting | 10 a.m. @ The 418 Project
- Exhibition—”Weather and the Whale” | Noon @ Institute of the Arts and Sciences
Wednesday, Aug. 13
- Redwood RX: Forest Qi Gong | 9 a.m. @ Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
- Bilingual Baby Laptime | 10 a.m. @ Freedom Branch Library
- Bilingual Toddler Storytime | 11 a.m. @ Freedom Branch Library
Thursday, Aug. 14
- Crew Days at Big Basin | 8 a.m. @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Tai Chi in the Library | 10 a.m. @ Aptos Branch Library
- Sewing Lessons for Beginners | 10 a.m. @ Everything Home | $60 to $90 (Save 10% when you purchase 6 weeks up front.)
- Yoga In The Pasture | Noon @ BEYOND Liberty, Center for Learning, Wellness, Sanctuary & Horse Retirement | $25 (this class is included with monthly membership.)
- Weekly Farmstand | Noon @ Cowell Ranch Hay Barn
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