Hello! It’s Wednesday, Sept. 23, and we’re turning the heat back on in Santa Cruz County, with temperatures forecast to hit the low 90s in the mountains, 80 at the bay after the usual morning clouds.
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Hillary Ojeda starts things off with an introduction to Live Oak School District’s new superintendent. Jennifer Baldwin is stepping into the role after the district experienced several years of instability stemming from financial crises, layoffs and turnover in its leadership teams under two superintendents.
The candidates in Santa Cruz’s mayoral race will take the stage Wednesday night at The 418 Project downtown, and Max Chun has a preview of the Lookout candidate forum. The event featuring Ami Chen Mills and Ryan Coonerty is at capacity, but it will be livestreamed.
Jessica M. Pasko has her weekly look at local business, including an upcoming summit that will bring together business leaders, community leaders and innovators from across Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Benito counties to explore the role that arts and culture play in the region’s economic future. She also notes a tentative deal for the union representing workers at Santa Cruz-based Verve Coffee Roasters; Lily Belli also has coverage of that agreement, which has some first-in-the-coffee-industry provisions.
And in Lookout’s Community Voices opinion section, Steve Smith writes about the difficulties facing county residents who want to dispose of waste responsibly. A simple garage cleanout can mean eight different waste streams, multiple destinations, limited hours and hundreds of dollars in fees, he writes.
Onward to the headlines …
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Live Oak’s new superintendent has a plan — and it starts with 15 minutes with every teacher
Newly appointed Live Oak School District Superintendent Jennifer Baldwin is launching a major community outreach effort to rebuild stability and craft a five-year strategic plan following years of financial turmoil and leadership turnover. Hillary Ojeda has the story.
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Summit on economic opportunities for local arts; Verve workers reach tentative contract; voting underway for Lookout List
A Monterey Bay Economic Partnership summit focused on improving the economic health and quality of life of Santa Cruz, San Benito and Monterey counties, a union deal for local Verve Coffee Roasters employees and how to show your favorite local businesses some love – it’s all part of Jessica M. Pasko’s weekly column. Read it here.
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Be good, and I’ll see you next time. Thanks for reading!
Will McCahill