Hello! Friday, Sept. 26, is here, bringing pleasant fall weather around Santa Cruz County right through the weekend – sunny skies and temperatures from the 70s to the low 90s in the mountains.
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Max Chun was on hand Thursday night as a packed house saw the Capitola City Council dismiss a code-of-conduct complaint against Councilmember Melinda Orbach. Orbach spoke of “polarization at all levels of politics,” while complainant Kevin Maguire maintained that what Orbach “said is not the truth.”
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors will have its first hearing on an ordinance regulating battery storage facilities at its Nov. 18 meeting, Tania Ortiz reports. The topic has come to the fore since January’s fire in Moss Landing and with a Massachusetts company seeking to build a storage facility outside Watsonville.
After a report from a consulting firm and analysis of enrollment trends and projections, Live Oak School District won’t move to close any of its schools, Hillary Ojeda reports. New housing in the pipeline for the district and an uptick in local births are among the factors weighing against consolidation.
Ashby Confections, a local candy and chocolate maker, is moving into a long-vacant storefront in downtown Santa Cruz, Lily Belli reports, transforming the former Joe’s Pizza and Subs into a production kitchen and retail shop. Owner Jennifer Ashby, who has built her reputation on artisanal, organic sweets, expects the new space to open by Easter.
To the headlines!
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Capitola City Council drops code-of-conduct complaint against Councilmember Melinda Orbach
The Capitola City Council unanimously dismissed a code-of-conduct complaint against Councilmember Melinda Orbach at a packed Thursday meeting. The council invited the complainant, Kevin Maguire, to return to its next meeting to further share his thoughts. Here’s what Max Chun heard and saw.
Live Oak district will not move to close schools, with report citing new housing and birth increases as potentially boosting enrollment
Live Oak School District has decided not to pursue school closures at this time, citing a potential stabilization of student enrollment over the next few years. Officials are remaining cautious of the projections as the district faces continued uncertainties from federal funding cuts. Details here from Hillary Ojeda.
DAILY DIGEST
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May your Friday be a smooth one, and here’s to a safe, relaxing weekend beyond. Hope to see you Monday!
Will McCahill