Welcome to Wednesday night’s Lookout PM.
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Santa Cruz bartenders shake, stir and sprint at Venus Spirits’ third annual competition
Bartenders from across Santa Cruz County packed Venus Spirits’ Westside tasting room for a raucous, holiday-themed bartending competition that mixed creative cocktails, speed challenges and theatrics, drawing support from an industry crowd.
Mental health organization MHCAN hopes to resume its services; supervisors move to fill Housing Matters mail void
County behavioral health staff met this week with members of the Mental Health Client Action Network board of directors, who say they want to resume services within six months — but need to get past obligations paid first. On Tuesday, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors took steps to prepare for homelessness nonprofit Housing Matters ending its day services in March, particularly the mail services that are a lifeline for many vulnerable residents.
This week in Santa Cruz County business: County ranked in GoFundMe’s top 10 for donations; investors snapping up local homes
An annual report from crowdfunding and fundraising platform GoFundMe spotlights big generosity from our small county, Jessica M. Pasko reports in her weekly look at local business. She’s also got news on real estate trends, dates, names and numbers to know and more.
Applications open for Santa Cruz city arts commission
The City of Santa Cruz is seeking applicants for a position on its arts commission, to be appointed by District 5 City Councilmember Susie O’Hara for a three-year term.
‘We may be deporting the wrong people’: Poll shows public doubt about immigration crackdown
A poll shared exclusively with CalMatters adds to a slate of recent surveys suggesting Californians’ support is waning for President Donald Trump’s harshest immigration enforcement policies.
Watsonville Fire Chief Rudy López announces retirement after 35 years of service
After nearly 35 years of service, the fire chief who led evacuations in Watsonville during the 2023 floods announced his retirement Tuesday morning. Rudy López’s last day will be Dec. 31.
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Best of Santa Cruz County events, December 19-21
Here are some events you may be interested in this weekend:
Friday, Dec. 19
- Mindful Movement with Horses | 9 a.m. @ BEYOND liberty | $25 (This class included with membership)
- Guided Tour | 1 p.m. @ Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History
- Run Club Winter Ball | 7 p.m. @ The Grove | $12.51 (Tickets are $12.51 online. $15 at the door.)
- Free Photo With Santa | 3 p.m. @ Capitola Mall
- The Cherry Orchard | 7 p.m. @ Broadway Playhouse | $15 (General Admission)
Repeats once more on December 19
- Hold and the Helpers | 8 p.m. @ The Crepe Place | $20
- Free Holiday Gift Wrapping | 12 p.m. @ Downtown Santa Cruz | Free
- Community Support Group | 3 p.m. @ The Lotus Collaborative | Free
Saturday, Dec. 20
- Cars and Coffee | 9 a.m. @ East Lake Village Shopping Center | Free
- Aptos Farmers Market | 8 a.m. @ Cabrillo College | Free
- A Very Shut-Ins Christmas | 7 p.m. @ The Crepe Place | $10
- Christmas Market Watsonville | 4 p.m. @ City Plaza Park | Free
- Santa Clara Broncos Mens Basketball vs Loyola University Chicago | 2 p.m. @ Kaiser Permanente Arena
- Snail | 8 p.m. @ Felton Music Hall | $38 to $43 (Flat fee $50.93 per ticket www.feltonmusichall.com TIXR)
- Holiday Mega-Market | 11 a.m. @ Logos Books & Records | Free
Repeats once more on December 20
- Medically Guided Community Ketamine Journey For Mental Health Empowerment | 3 p.m. @ Breath + Oneness | $250 (General Admission: 250.00)
Sunday, Dec. 21
- Open Mic Comedy at Shanty Shack | 7 p.m. @ Shanty Shack | Free
- Winter Solstice Community Sing & Song Bath | 3 p.m. @ The German Cultural Center | $20 to $25
- Grief Tending with SoulCollage® | Winter Solstice Workshop | 2 p.m. @ Tumbleweed Found | $55
- Drag Bingo! | 4 p.m. @ Bruno’s Bar and Grill | Free
- Holiday Gift Making (Ages 7-12) | 10 a.m. @ Santa Cruz Maker Studios | $50 to $100
- George Kahumoku Hawaiian Christmas, with special guest, Santa | 2 p.m. @ Pono Hawaiian Grill Downtown Santa Cruz | Children 8 and under are free
- Meet Santa Claus | 4 p.m. @ Pono Hawaiian Grill Downtown Santa Cruz | Free
- Candlelight Christmas at Santa Cruz Bible Church | 10 a.m. @ Santa Cruz Bible Church | Free