Greetings! It’s Friday, March 20, and our friends at the National Weather Service say it’s the last day of the heat wave (and accompanying heat advisory), with temperatures from the upper 80s to near 100 around Santa Cruz County before a cooldown starting Saturday.
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Tania Ortiz has the latest on how local leaders and organizations are reacting to the allegations of sexual abuse by the late César Chávez. Along Soquel Avenue, Barrios Unidos’ mural of the labor leader is covered in black paint, while County Superintendent of Schools Faris Sabbah called the allegations about Chávez “horrifying and heartbreaking,” and added that the agency stands in solidarity with all survivors who have come forward.
Max Chun has the latest snapshot of the county real estate market, reporting that agents are seeing more listings and are hosting more open houses, which they believe could mean busy upcoming months – though the war with Iran could have some unpredictable effects.
Just in time for our current heat wave, Gran Gelato Caffè opened in Santa Cruz on Wednesday, one of the first retail tenants occupying ground-floor space in the wave of new downtown developments. Sandro and Luciana Costanza are branching out from Pizzeria La Bufala, their Abbott Square spot, Lily Belli reports.
Pajaro Valley Unified School District is weighing school closures and consolidations as part of a multiyear effort to address ongoing enrollment declines and long-term financial uncertainty, Hillary Ojeda reports. That news comes despite short-term budget improvements from recent layoffs.
Jana Marcus looks ahead to the Santa Cruz Symphony’s upcoming premiere of conductor Daniel Stewart’s original concert adaptation of “Amadeus,” which brings together actors from Santa Cruz Shakespeare and more than 90 singers from the Cabrillo Symphonic Chorus. That’s happening March 28 and 29.
The day’s headlines also include efforts to give youth better representation in county government and Santa Cruz Roller Derby getting ready to start a new season – onward.
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‘Horrifying and heartbreaking’: County leaders, organizations react to allegations against late labor leader César Chávez
Santa Cruz County leaders and organizations are responding to allegations of sexual abuse against César Chávez, who was a prominent figure in the farmworker and Latino communities. Tania Ortiz reports.
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Gran Gelato Caffè opens in downtown Santa Cruz, among first businesses in new developments
Gran Gelato Caffè, a new Santa Cruz café from the owners of Pizzeria La Bufala, has opened on Cedar Street, serving house-made Italian gelato, pastries and espresso. The shop is among the first retail tenants in the new downtown developments. Get the scoop from Lily Belli.
DAILY DIGEST
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Here’s to a smooth Friday all around, and a safe, relaxing weekend. Thanks for reading!
Will McCahill