A pleasant morning to you, Santa Cruz County, It is Friday, Sept. 13, and plentiful sunshine is again the order of the day, with temperatures headed into the 70s by the bay and cresting 90 in the mountains.
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With closing arguments set for later Friday in the civil sex-abuse lawsuit against Watsonville City Councilmember Jimmy Dutra, Max Chun reports on Thursday’s wide-ranging proceedings. That included testimony from fellow councilmember Casey Clark about his troubled past romantic relationship with Dutra, Dutra’s sister and his ex-partner disputing previous testimony by plaintiff Stephen Siefke and Dutra himself calling the lawsuit “the darkest time of my life.”
Tania Ortiz reports on the glow-up at the Capitola Wharf, where grand reopening festivities are set for Sept. 25 after millions in renovations – capped by more than $400,000 in community donations – to get it back into shape after it was pounded in 2023’s winter storms.
After a recent civil grand jury report criticized the City of Santa Cruz for its handling of rape cases and of affordable housing, the city council is taking more time to formulate its responses – rather than rejecting the findings as Mayor Fred Keeley was initially inclined to do, Christopher Neely reports.
And ahead of her Eaters Digest newsletter later Friday, Lily Belli has word on a big expansion for farmers market fave Adorable French Bakery, which last week opened brick-and-mortar spots in not only the former Malone’s Grille in Scotts Valley but also the former Vinocruz in Soquel.
The Friday headlines also include Wallace Baine’s roadmap to the coming weekend – onward, friends.
Dutra trial: Fellow councilmember describes troubled romantic relationship; ex-partner defends Dutra
In testimony in the civil lawsuit in which Jimmy Dutra is accused of molesting a 12-year-old boy in 2005, fellow Watsonville City Councilmember Casey Clark spoke Thursday about a past romantic relationship with Dutra. Clark accused Dutra of “mental and psychological abuse” while they were together and talked about helping the son of Watsonville’s former city manager after he said he was groped by Dutra at a city event in 2018. Dutra’s sister and his partner at the time of the alleged molestation contradicted some of the claims in previous testimony. Closing arguments are set for Friday at 9 a.m. Details here from Max Chun.
Capitola Wharf grand reopening marks end of yearlong renovation project
The Capitola Wharf is set to reopen to the public on Sept. 25 following a yearlong renovation project. The community has invested heavily in the rebuild, raising $425,000 for additional features and participating in an art installation for the wharf’s gate. Tania Ortiz and Kevin Painchaud have a look.
DAILY DIGEST
And that’s what I know as we head into Friday and toward a welcome weekend. As mentioned, Lily Belli will be back a little later with another serving of Eaters Digest, one of the many Lookout newsletters and breaking news alerts you can sign up for here (including specially curated weekend staple Sunday Reads). On Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and/or Threads? Yeah, Lookout is, too, so gives us a follow and you won’t miss any of our award-winning Santa Cruz County coverage.
A reminder about a pair of upcoming forums Lookout is hosting featuring candidates for Santa Cruz County supervisor, part of our ongoing election coverage: Next Wednesday, Sept. 18, Christopher Neely will moderate an event at Felton Community Hall with District 5 supervisor candidates Christopher Bradford and Monica Martinez, and you can reserve your spot here. On Monday, Sept. 23, District 2 supervisor candidates Kristen Brown and Kim De Serpa will take to the stage at Cabrillo College; RSVP here.
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Here’s to a smooth Friday and a safe, relaxing weekend beyond.
Will McCahill