Good morning, all, and I hope you’re not too much worse for wear after the windy overnight hours. Wednesday, Dec. 24, is here, and coastal Santa Cruz County is under a high wind warning until 8 a.m., then again after a daytime lull from 8 p.m. until 10 a.m. Thursday as another front moves through. There are wind advisories in those same windows for much of the rest of the county, and we’re also under a flood watch until 10 p.m. Friday with a good bit of rain in the forecast.
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Our Newsmakers 2025 series continues as Tania Ortiz goes inside the monthly food distribution events that are a lifeline for many agricultural workers in the Pajaro Valley as the growing season ends. Families come for food, toiletries, clothes and even holiday gifts as they try to get through the slow season on tight budgets – all with the threat of deportation hanging over their heads.
The Seymour Marine Discovery Center on Santa Cruz’s Westside is likely to see a number of visitors these couple weeks as folks have time on their hands, and it’s preparing for a big permanent exhibit, Hillary Ojeda reports: See More HQ will reflect the center’s shift toward becoming a collaborative hub for coastal resilience and connecting local scientists, the general public and community organizations focused on problem-solving.
Jessica M. Pasko has this week’s survey of what’s happening around Santa Cruz County business, including how Joby Aviation is positioning itself for a landmark 2026 and a look back at businesses that shut down in 2025.
Downtown Santa Cruz’s Bad Animal is not only expanding in 2026, Lily Belli reports, but it’s bringing its restaurant operations in-house after years of chef residencies. Come January, former Hanloh chef de cuisine Nick Hahn will bring a modern Parisian bistro style influenced by both California ingredients and his Korean heritage.
And Cat Cutillo found a beacon of holiday spirit at the Aptos Goodwill location, introducing us in words, photos and video to Daniel Ambrose, who for years has welcomed donors with costumes, jokes and puns.
The Wednesday headlines also include a new police chief for Watsonville – away we go.
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Newsmakers 2025: Food and toiletries distributions for undocumented ag workers become offseason lifeline
As the Pajaro Valley’s growing season comes to a close, many of its workers turn to a monthly food distribution event hosted by the Center for Farmworker Families to alleviate the financial burdens that come with no work for a few months. Tania Ortiz has the story.
➤ NEWSMAKERS 2025: Find the whole series here
Seymour Marine Discovery Center prepares for biggest exhibition update since its opening 25 years ago: See More HQ
For the first time since opening 25 years ago, the Seymour Marine Discovery Center will debut a new permanent exhibit this spring, See More HQ, designed to position the center as a collaborative hub connecting local scientists, community groups and the public around coastal resilience. The digitally focused exhibit will highlight local research and youth scientists and feature an interactive wave model examining the destructive December 2024 storm that damaged the Santa Cruz Wharf and harbor. Hillary Ojeda takes us inside.
DAILY DIGEST
Among what’s still coming from Lookout this Christmas Eve is a final Weekender from Wallace Baine (who’s retiring at year’s end, if you hadn’t heard), previewing New Year’s celebrations and more from Santa Cruz County arts & entertainment. Sign up here for Weekender and whichever of our many other newsletters tickle your fancy, plus breaking news alerts – all free. Get all of our award-winning local coverage, with breaking news notifications, games and plenty of other features right on your smartphone by downloading the Lookout Santa Cruz app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, and don’t forget to follow Lookout on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Threads and/or Bluesky for your social media fix.
A programming note before I go: No Morning Lookout on Thursday or Friday, but fear not, we’ll be back in your inbox first thing Monday. Lily Belli’s Friday Eaters Digest newsletter is also on hiatus through the end of the year.
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Stay safe amid this rough weather, and good tidings to you all – I very much appreciate you reading.
Will McCahill