Aloha, Lookout friends. Friday, Oct. 10, is here, bringing Santa Cruz County (eventually, and your microclimate mileage may vary) mostly sunny skies and temperatures in the 60s and 70s. Note that Cal Fire has a prescribed burn planned at Locatelli Ranch west of Boulder Creek, so there could be some smoky skies, too.
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Lily Belli headed up Highway 1 to check out what new owners have done with the Davenport Roadhouse, finding that they’ve brought fresh ideas and a streamlined menu to the historic restaurant and inn, while preserving its old-school charm.
The “tiny village” homeless housing project near the Pajaro River levee in Watsonville is getting a boost as it nears completion, Tania Ortiz reports, with supervisors in neighboring Monterey County allocating more than $1 million in new funding to help get it across the finish line. The village is expected to open its doors in December.
After hearing, then dismissing, a code-of-conduct complaint last month against Councilmember Melinda Orbach, the Capitola City Council is moving to streamline that code and make the complaint process more transparent, Max Chun reports. Thursday’s council meeting also saw Orbach and Kevin Maguire, the resident who had brought the complaint, inform the public that they had met in person and begun to make amends.
And in Lookout’s Community Voices opinion section, Santa Cruz engineer and mother Emily Figurski argues that feminism’s next frontier isn’t dismantling masculinity — it’s redefining it. Figurski credits her husband’s equal partnership in parenting and housework as essential to her career success, saying real gender progress happens “in our homes as much as in Congress.”
The TGIF headlines also include Wallace Baine’s recommendations for things to do this weekend and beyond all over Santa Cruz County’s arts & entertainment scene. Let’s hop to it.
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Historic Davenport Roadhouse gets a gentle reboot with new owners and new menu
New owners Gavin Parsons and Ginny Miller took over the historic Davenport Roadhouse in July, updating its menu, patio and outdoor spaces while preserving the beloved inn’s coastal charm. With chef Roland “Uncie Ro” Konicke leading the kitchen, the revamped restaurant highlights local ingredients and approachable dishes that connect both travelers and the Davenport community. Go inside with Lily Belli.
Money from Monterey County could help finish construction on ‘tiny village’ for homeless in Watsonville
Monterey County officials have approved more than $1 million in funding to help finish construction of a 34-unit “tiny village” in Watsonville. The project is a joint effort between Santa Cruz and Monterey counties to address homelessness along the Pajaro River levee. Tania Ortiz has the update.
DAILY DIGEST
A varied menu to start your Friday, but be sure to save some room, because there’s more coming from Lookout. Lily Belli will be back a bit later with another helping of Santa Cruz County food & drink in the form of her Eaters Digest – just one of the many free newsletters and breaking news alerts you can sign up for here. Spruce up your smartphone by downloading the Lookout Santa Cruz app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store to bring our award-winning local coverage, games and more along on your daily journey, and keep up on social media by following Lookout on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Threads and Bluesky.
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Thanks for reading – here’s to a smooth Friday for all of us, and a safe, relaxing weekend beyond.
Will McCahill