A pleasant morning to you – it’s Thursday, Sept. 18, and Santa Cruz County just might see a few showers, with thunderstorms possible, during a mostly cloudy day as tropical moisture moves through; temperatures from the mid-60s to midto-80s are forecast.
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Lookout’s series on the aftermath of the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex fire continues with a visual story from Kevin Painchaud, who recounts his experience photographing the blaze and the resilience he’s seen in the years since in Santa Cruz Mountains communities devastated by the disaster.
Hillary Ojeda has the story of a Santa Cruz teen whose annual lemonade stand has raised thousands for Second Harvest Food Bank. Now a senior at Santa Cruz High, Drew Trowbridge is preparing for one last pour, set to include multiple local school bands and featuring donations from a number of area businesses, on Sept. 28 on the Westside.
Max Chun looks at the latest numbers from the county housing market, finding that there were many more homes for sale last month than in previous Augusts, and while they’re staying on the market longer, prices are up.
In Lookout’s Community Voices opinion section, a recent Aptos High grad pushes Pajaro Valley Unified School District to do more to invest in the school and rebuild a culture of confidence, opportunity and support. Budget cuts, Ian Hsu writes, have slashed key programs and worsened morale, leaving teachers stretched thin and students unmotivated.
Photo of the day
Around 150 Santa Cruz officials and community leaders gathered at Lighthouse Field on Wednesday evening to celebrate the life of Mike Rotkin. Rotkin, who died June 18 at 79, served five terms as mayor of Santa Cruz and was a longtime lecturer in community studies at UC Santa Cruz, where he taught courses on urban politics, community organizing and social justice. Beyond politics and teaching, he was deeply involved in social justice activism, tenants’ rights, labor issues and environmental causes in Santa Cruz. He also worked with unions and nonprofits, focusing on affordable housing and local social services, and wrote about local politics for Lookout’s Community Voices opinion section.
The Thursday headlines await – onward.
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CZU then and now, in photos: From fire’s devastation, a picture of resilience in Santa Cruz Mountains
Lookout photojournalist Kevin Painchaud describes what he saw in the days and weeks after the CZU Lightning Complex fire ignited in 2020 and the resilience of Santa Cruz Mountains communities in the five years since. Find his visual story here.
➤ CZU FIRE, FIVE YEARS LATER: Read more in Lookout’s ongoing series here
A Santa Cruz teen’s lemonade stand fundraiser has helped feed thousands. After 7 years, it’s his final pour.
Santa Cruz High senior Drew Trowbridge will host his seventh and final lemonade stand fundraiser on Sunday, Sept. 28, aiming to surpass $5,001 for Second Harvest Food Bank — capping a community effort that has raised more than $16,400 since 2018. The event, featuring performances by local school bands and food from area businesses, marks the end of a tradition the teen began at age 10 to fight hunger in his community. More here from Hillary Ojeda.
DAILY DIGEST
The weekend is getting closer in the window, and Wallace Baine’s recommendation-packed weekly stroll through Santa Cruz County arts & entertainment is among what’s still coming Thursday from Lookout – get signed up here for Weekender and all of Lookout’s other free newsletters, plus breaking news alerts. Breaking news notifications are one of the many good reasons for downloading the Lookout Santa Cruz app, now available in both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. And don’t forget to make our award-winning local coverage part of your social media scroll by connecting Lookout on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Threads and Bluesky.
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Be good, everyone, and thanks for reading.
Will McCahill