Good morning, readers. It’s Monday, Oct. 19, and the Santa Cruz County forecast is for increasing clouds and temperatures mainly in the 60s as we head into a stretch that could bring us some showers Tuesday night into Thursday.
I WANT TO … Become a Lookout member | Download the Lookout app | Browse latest news | Community Voices opinion | Get other Lookout newsletters | Solve a puzzle | Find local events | Advertise
Cate Peters leads things off with an introduction to Girl Grom Surf Club, a nonprofit that aims to build confidence in the water and foster a community of young female surfers. “It’s fun to just go surfing, but sometimes when it’s big, it can be scary,” said one 10-year-old. “But if you have a bunch of other people around you, it’s a bit less scary and more fun.”
The Community Traffic Safety Coalition’s annual crash report released in September shows that deaths and serious injuries in Santa Cruz County have generally declined in recent years, Max Chun writes in his weekly Carmageddon column. But they remain a significant problem on local roads, particularly for bicyclists.
Wallace Baine previews the visit to Bookshop Santa Cruz this week by artist and naturalist Obi Kaufmann, whose new book, “California Inside Out: Mapping an Ecology of Mind,” argues that the state’s identity is rooted less in its political boundaries than in its ecological systems and the Indigenous stewardship that helped shape them.
Lookout’s free Election 2026 coverage continues in our Community Voices opinion section. You can hear from the candidates for Santa Cruz mayor, Ami Chen Mills and Ryan Coonerty, in their own words via short videos, and read an endorsement from the Lookout Editorial Board in the race for the Area 6 seat on Cabrillo College’s governing board.
The Monday morning headlines also include coverage of the latest round of “No Kings” rallies, upcoming “The Lost Boys”-themed gatherings and a report from our sister site, Lookout Eugene-Springfield, on the aftermath of last week’s school shooting in Bend, Oregon. Read on.
Were you forwarded this newsletter? Sign up here to receive Morning Lookout in your inbox every weekday.
Get your first year of Lookout for $99
Take advantage of our election season special and get your first year of Lookout for just $99. Keep reading past Election Day with full access to all Lookout’s coverage — local government, arts & culture, food & dining and more. Sign up now to stay informed year-round.
Santa Cruz surf club helps girls build confidence and find their place in the lineup
Girl Grom Surf Club brings girls ages 6 to 16 together for free monthly surf sessions at Capitola Beach, helping them build skills, confidence and friendships in a sport where they often feel outnumbered. Founded in San Diego in 2024, the nonprofit now has four California chapters and aims to foster confidence and stronger mental health through surfing. Read more from Cate Peters.
Carmageddon: Santa Cruz County traffic deaths and serious injuries are declining, but cyclists remain at risk
The Community Traffic Safety Coalition’s crash report from September shows that deaths and serious injuries on the road have decreased in recent years, although the problem remains serious overall. Details here from Max Chun.
DAILY DIGEST
Download the Lookout Santa Cruz app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store to keep all our local coverage close at hand, including via breaking news notifications. We also offer breaking news alerts via email – sign up for free here, and check out our library of other free newsletters while you’re at it. For you social media mavens, give Lookout a follow on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram and/or Threads to keep up that way.
Our content isn’t possible without community support, so if you’re not already, please consider becoming a Lookout member.
Here’s to a smooth Monday all around – thanks for reading.
Will McCahill