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PVUSD family, special education staff say proposed cuts will ‘devastate’ most vulnerable students
Parents and educators in Pajaro Valley Unified School District warn that proposed cuts to more than 40 special education positions will severely undermine services for the district’s most vulnerable students, who they say are already under-supported.
In the Public Interest: Rail trail changes; Flock Safety searches; veterans’ appeal to supervisors
Headlines to know from around Santa Cruz County politics & policy, plus a look at what’s on local agendas this week and beyond. Continue reading…
Citing understaffing, mismanagement at county Veterans Services Office, vets will take case to supervisors this week
Some local veterans have objections to the way the county oversees the Veterans Services Office, and a group of them plans to speak at Tuesday’s meeting of the board of supervisors to ask that the VSO be an independent department. They also plan to meet Monday with County executive Nicole Coburn. Continue reading…
Carmageddon: After major reversal on Coastal Rail Trail segments, what comes next?
The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission’s decision to shift toward building three segments of the Coastal Rail Trail over the tracks means that the RTC and planners working on the project have their work cut out for them, both at the state level and with the other parties involved with the rail line. Continue reading…
What The Catalyst means to Santa Cruz’s music scene, its culture and its sense of itself
With The Catalyst in the news as the possible site of a new downtown housing development, maybe it’s time for a reminder of just how influential and central this performance venue has been to Santa Cruz’s musical subcultures.
State health agency warns of poisoning linked to foraged death cap mushrooms
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has issued an urgent advisory following a recent outbreak of amatoxin poisoning linked to the consumption of wild, foraged death cap mushrooms (Amanita phalloides).

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Best of Santa Cruz County events, December 8-11
Here are some events you may be interested in this week:
Monday, Dec. 8
- Knitting at the Library @ Felton | 12 p.m. @ Felton Branch Library
- VOLUNTEER AT HOPES CLOSET / VOLUNTARIADO EN HOPES CLOSET | 10 a.m. @ Hopes Closet | Free
- Yoga, Meditation & Sound Healing | 6 p.m. @ Bruno’s Bar and Grill
- Seasonal Secrets of Seaweeds | 5 p.m. @ Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History | Free
- Game Night | 5 p.m. @ Aptos Vineyard Tasting Room | Free
- Santa Cruz Animal Shelter Empty the Shelters $50 Adoption Special! | 11 a.m. @ Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter | Free
- Tide & Seek | 9 a.m. @ Seabright and Harbor | Free
- December Slugs and Steins with Richard Mahon (Cowell ’78) | 6 p.m. @ UC Santa Cruz
Tuesday, Dec. 9
- Exhibition—”Weather and the Whale” | 12 p.m. @ Institute of the Arts and Sciences
- Board Game Playtesting at Peoples Coffee in Santa Cruz | 6 p.m. @ People’s Coffee | Free
- FRONT ST., INC. 8 HIGHLAND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ANNUAL HOLIDAY CRAFT FAIR | 10 a.m. @ County of Santa Cruz Behavioral Health | Free
- Salsa Social | 7 p.m. @ Abbott Square Market | Free
- Gateway School Tour | 9 a.m. @ Gateway School | Free
- Tacos and Trivia Tuesday! | 7 p.m. @ Bruno’s Bar and Grill | Free
- Santa Cruz SPCA After School Preteen Paws Program Tier 1 | 4 p.m. @ SPCA | $75 ($75 pays for three 2-hour lessons)
Repeats once more on December 9
- STICK MEN featuring Tony Levin, Pat Mastelotto and Markus Reuter. | 8 p.m. @ UCSC Music Center Recital Hall | $45 to $55
Wednesday, Dec. 10
- Pilates & Posture with Horses | 9 a.m. @ BEYOND liberty, Center for Learning, Wellness, Sanctuary and Horse Retirement | $25 (This class included with membership)
- Motion Pacific: Dance for PD | 1 p.m. @ The 418 Project
- (((folkYEAH))) Presents: JONATHAN RICHMAN With TOMMY LARKIN | 8 p.m. @ The Crepe Place
- Mike Renwick (21 and Over) | 7 p.m. @ Felton Music Hall
- PAPERBILLS TOUR | 10 p.m. @ The Catalyst
- Santa Cruz SPCA After School Junior Paws Program Tier 2 | 4 p.m. @ SPCA | $75 ($75 pays for three 2-hour lessons)
- Whiskey and Wings with Nick Disalvo! | 6 p.m. @ Bruno’s Bar and Grill | Free
- Live Music at The View, Featuring Tom Jackman | 5 p.m. @ Chaminade | Free
Thursday, Dec. 11
- Sewing Lessons for Beginners | 10 a.m. @ Everything Home | $60 to $90 (Save 10% when you purchase 6 weeks up front.)
- Persephone Restaurant Thursday Night Pasta Special | 5 p.m. @ Persephone Restaurant | $40
- Roaring Camp Railroads Chanukah Train | 5 p.m. @ Roaring Camp Railroads | $37 to $80
- Chris Smither and The Motivators | 7 p.m. @ The Landing
- Winter Wonderland | 6 p.m. @ Watsonville Family YMCA | Free
- Mark Van Haren – ’70s pop-soul | 7 p.m. @ Parish Publick House Aptos
- Snazzy Productions presents CHRIS SMITHER and THE MOTIVATORS | 7 p.m. @ The Landing, a Performing Arts Center | $43
- Twistmas Caroling with the Trolley Drop Holiday Jug Band | 6 p.m. @ Abbott Square Market | Free
Repeats once more on December 11






