Hello there, Lookout friends. Tuesday, Sept. 16, is here, bringing with it more sunny, warm weather around Santa Cruz County, with upper 70s by the bay and upper 90s in the mountains.
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Lookout’s series on the aftermath of the CZU fire five years later has Max Chun heading to Big Basin Redwoods State Park to report on the yearslong rebuilding effort there. From a new visitor center complex in the Saddle Mountain area to adjustments to help the redwood habitat rebound, resilience and sustainability are the goals.
Lily Belli’s reviews of the dining options at the new luxury beachfront La Bahia Hotel & Spa continue as she turns her attention to the dinner-only High Tide. “High Tide delivered exactly what it promised: an elegant dining experience with exquisite service and a menu that has broad appeal without boxing itself into a definitive cuisine,” she writes. “However, I wished that Santa Cruz, with its bounty of farmers, fishers and local producers, had a seat at the table.”
Christopher Neely was on hand for Monday night’s meeting of the City of Santa Cruz’s Transportation and Public Works Commission, where e-bike regulation was a topic of conversation. While urging police to continue to go after models that aren’t street-legal, commissioners say safety education in local schools and lobbying for statewide rules – rather than rules specific to just Santa Cruz – are the most effective ways for the city to temper hazards.
In Lookout’s Community Voices opinion section, Santa Cruz physician Jeoffry B. Gordon sounds the alarm about Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s anti-vaccine campaign as head of the Department of Health and Human Services. Gordon says Kennedy’s limits on COVID shots are creating confusion and reducing access, even as measles spreads across the U.S. Gordon urges readers to get vaccinated and support legislation to help California bypass federal barriers.
The Tuesday headlines also include a power outage at Aptos High School and a recall affecting a notable local brand, but first a reminder …
Lookout hosts a film screening and panel next week: Lookout, along with our partners at CalMatters, will present a screening of the documentary “Stripped for Parts: American Journalism on the Brink” at the Del Mar Theatre in Santa Cruz on Wednesday, Sept. 24, from 7 to 9 p.m. After the film, we will have a panel discussion with media leaders on the fight to rescue local news and its importance to democracy. You can get your tickets here.
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Big Basin’s second act will center on its defining characteristic — resiliency
Five years on from the CZU fires, Big Basin Redwoods State Park is returning to life as trees regrow and new life blossoms from the ground below. The multiyear effort to rebuild the park in a sustainable and resilient way will bring many of the same amenities back to the area, while honoring its past life before the fires and celebrating the park’s new incarnation. Read more from Max Chun.
High Tide makes a splash at La Bahia, but Santa Cruz roots feel shallow
High Tide, the third and final restaurant to open at La Bahia Hotel & Spa, delivers an elegant fine dining experience with polished service, sweeping Monterey Bay views and a menu of Pacific Rim-inspired twists on classic American dishes. While the food and technique impressed, the lack of connection to Santa Cruz’s local farmers, fishers and producers left the restaurant feeling more like a polished resort destination than a reflection of its community. Here are Lily Belli’s first impressions.
DAILY DIGEST
What more does Tuesday have in store? Among what I know for sure is on the way as Lookout coverage rolls on is another slice of Santa Cruz County food & drink in the form of Lily Belli on Food, one of the many newsletters and breaking news alerts you can sign up for here. Download the Lookout Santa Cruz app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store to stay current that way, and if you’re on social media, follow along with Lookout on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Threads and Bluesky.
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Have a super Tuesday!
Will McCahill