Good morning! It’s Friday, June 19 – Juneteenth – and the morning clouds look set to linger around Santa Cruz County, with patchy sunshine later and temperatures in the 60s and 70s.
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Black Surf Santa Cruz’s Juneteenth gathering returns to Cowell Beach at noon Friday, Tania Ortiz reports, with the annual Liberation Paddle-Out – which centers on Black, Indigenous and other people of color and their experiences in the local surf community – set for 3 p.m.
Both home sales and new listings were up last month, Max Chun reports in his latest update on the county’s housing market. That’s typical for this point in the summer season, though inflation fears could make for uncertainty ahead.
Ahead of International Surfing Day on Saturday, professional surfer and Santa Cruz native Shaun Burns has an appreciation of the sport and the ocean in Lookout’s Community Voices opinion section. A recent injury hiatus reminded him that the ocean is a gift, not a guarantee, and that surfing is about far more than catching waves — it also provides mental relief, community and a deeper connection to the coast.
The TGIF headlines also include your cheat sheet to the coming weekend – have at it.
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Black Surf Santa Cruz to hold annual Liberation Paddle-Out to commemorate Juneteenth
Black Surf Santa Cruz is hosting its sixth annual Liberation Paddle-Out to commemorate the Juneteenth holiday. The paddle-out is scheduled at 3 p.m. Friday, with the festivities beginning at noon at Cowell Beach in Santa Cruz. More here from Tania Ortiz.
County home sales and inventory continue to rise as summer begins
The Santa Cruz County housing market looked typical for the beginning of summer. Home sales and inventory have risen, bringing more balance to a market often dominated by sellers. However, a new Federal Reserve chair and increasing inflation due to geopolitical instability could lead to an interest rate hike at some point this year. Max Chun crunches the numbers.
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Here’s to a smooth Friday for us all, and a safe, relaxing weekend beyond. Thank you for reading.
Will McCahill