A pleasant morning to you, readers – it is Wednesday, Oct. 29, and it’s looking like the warmest day of this nice week around Santa Cruz County, with mountain locales hitting the mid-80s and 70s closer to Monterey Bay.
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One of the students involved in last Thursday’s attacks at Watsonville High School had been facing possible expulsion for prior incidents when the violence broke out last week, school officials confirmed to Hillary Ojeda. A union rep said teachers had been raising concerns about the student going back to the prior school year.
A proposed county ordinance that would let tow operators immediately demolish abandoned vehicles is on pause after the American Civil Liberties Union warned supervisors that the measure could be illegal, Max Chun reports. Among the ACLU’s concerns are the law’s possible impact on members of the homeless community who live in their RVs.
Yakitori Toriman, which has brought Japanese street food to Santa Cruz County via pop-ups at a number of local venues, is putting down roots in Capitola’s Brown Ranch Marketplace, Lily Belli reports. The shop will be half restaurant, half Japanese grocery and market, in the style of the konbini convenience stores like 7-Eleven and FamilyMart that are a way of life in Japan, with yakitori skewers prepared outside over a traditional grill on weekends.
The future of the nearby Capitola Mall is on the agenda this week for that city’s planning commission, Jessica M. Pasko reports in her weekly look at Santa Cruz County business, with updating zoning codes to accommodate housing development there as the first order of business.
Santa Cruz ballot initiative Measure C is the topic in Lookout’s Community Voices opinion section, with the Lookout editorial board writing that its support still stands after getting some answers about how the city has spent money on affordable housing and homelessness, but it reiterates the need for city accountability on where the new tax dollars go.
To the headlines …
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Watsonville High student was suspended previously for fighting, aggressive behavior before Oct. 23 attacks
A Watsonville High School student arrested in last week’s assault had previously been suspended for fighting and was already facing possible expulsion for aggressive behavior, according to district and union officials. Hillary Ojeda has the latest.
Smoky skewers and Japanese snacks: Yakitori Toriman expands into restaurant and konbini-style market
After four years of pop-ups, popular yakitori spot Yakitori Toriman is settling down in Capitola’s Brown Ranch Marketplace before the end of the year, transforming into a permanent restaurant and high-end Japanese market called Toriman. Owners Kaito Akimoto and Yuko Asaoke plan to offer grab-and-go meals, specialty groceries and weekend yakitori grilling — bringing a slice of Japan’s street food culture to Santa Cruz County. Here’s more from Lily Belli.
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Thank you for reading, and enjoy what’s shaping up to be a beautiful Wednesday.
Will McCahill