What’s happening, Lookout friends? Wednesday, Oct. 28, is shaping up to be another nice fall day around Santa Cruz County, with mostly sunny skies and temperatures from the mid-60s to lower 70s. The coastal flood advisory remains in effect along the Monterey Bay shoreline and has been extended to Saturday evening.
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Wednesday means Santa Cruz County business coverage from Jessica M. Pasko, and she delivers. She not only introduces us to a pair of independent bookstores set to open soon, one in downtown Santa Cruz and one in Aptos Village, she’s also got word of pop-up opportunities at a pair of notable Pacific Avenue spots as part of her weekly roundup.
Tania Ortiz was on hand Tuesday afternoon as nurses at Watsonville Community Hospital held an emergency news conference following reports of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on the property earlier in the day. Seeking to reassure the local immigrant community that it’s safe to seek care at the hospital, one nurse explained that immigration agents are not allowed in patient areas, and that patients are kept away from common areas, with security stationed at the main entrances and exits.
Ahead of a board meeting Wednesday evening that could decide the fate of Watsonville Community Hospital’s maternity and newborn care units, veteran pediatrician Madhu Raghavan takes to Lookout’s Community Voices opinion section to urge board members to give Measure E – the sales-tax increase before county voters on the Nov. 3 ballot – a chance to bring in new funding before making a final decision.
The Community Voices section also continues Lookout’s free Election 2026 coverage, with the Lookout Editorial Board weighing in on what’s become a contentious race for Capitola City Council with its latest candidate endorsements.
Alia Yee Noll was in the crowd late Monday as Bookshop Santa Cruz held its first midnight book release party in a decade, and fans who showed up for Sarah J. Maas’ latest, “A Court of Splintered Harmony,” were treated to tattoos, tarot readings, a DJ and high-spirited, costumed festivities – that, too, is among the hump-day headlines, so keep on reading.
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Two new independent bookstores bring fresh energy to Santa Cruz County – one for romantasy, one for adventure
The Burning Ember opens this week in downtown Santa Cruz, stocking romance and romantasy. Trailside Books is set to follow next month in Aptos Village, with shelves built around adventure, children’s books and local history. Jessica M. Pasko has more on this new chapter.
Watsonville Community Hospital nurses reassure immigrant patients after reported ICE sighting
Nurses at Watsonville Community Hospital held an emergency news conference Tuesday afternoon following reports of immigration agents patrolling the property. They say patients are still safe to seek services at the hospital. Tania Ortiz was on hand.
DAILY DIGEST
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Thank you for reading – have a good Wednesday.
Will McCahill