Ahoy, Lookout fam. It is Wednesday, Dec. 17, and the Santa Cruz County forecast says morning showers are likely, followed by some sun and temperatures in the 60s.
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Max Chun starts us off with moves by the county to bolster services for some vulnerable residents. Members of the Mental Health Client Action Network board of directors met this week with county staff as part of a push to reopen after financial woes shuttered the peer-run operation in September; Tuesday, the county board of supervisors took the first steps in reestablishing day services, particularly mail, following the announcement that homelessness nonprofit Housing Matters would end its program in March.
Santa Cruz County, the second-smallest county in California, is punching above its weight when it comes to charitable donations, according to crowdfunding platform GoFundMe. The county is in the top 10 nationally, Jessica M. Pasko reports in her weekly survey of local business, which also includes a look at the impact of investors on the county real estate market.
Lily Belli and Kevin Painchaud were on hand Monday night for Venus Spirits’ annual bartending competition, finding that the event is as much a celebration of Santa Cruz County’s cocktail culture and hospitality community as a showcase of creativity behind the bar.
Lily’s Tuesday newsletter update on the local food & drink scene, meanwhile, has word about two coming additions in downtown Santa Cruz, so let’s check that and all the day’s headlines out below.
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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. Details here from Max Chun.
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. While the elaborate drinks are unlikely to appear on menus, organizers and competitors said the annual event is less about winning than celebrating local cocktail culture and strengthening camaraderie in a tight-knit hospitality community. Here’s what Lily Belli saw and heard.
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Be safe if you’re out on wet roads today (and don’t forget to turn your lights on if you’re using your wipers), and thanks as ever for reading.
Will McCahill