Hello there, Santa Cruz County. Tuesday, Nov. 25, is here, bringing with it sunny skies and temperatures around 70 in our warmer locales.
JUMP TO … The Lookout List Winners | Neighborhood Roundup | Latest News | Opinion | Briefs | Event Calendar | Job Board | Puzzles | Story Map
Max Chun has been gauging local reaction to the “peace deal” on Santa Cruz County rail and trail reached by County Supervisor Manu Koenig and Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keeley. One rail advocate isn’t a fan of their plan to build the trail over existing tracks; a longtime trail proponent, meanwhile, says he thinks the community will get behind a deal to get the trail done sooner.
Ahead of her Tuesday food & drink newsletter, Lily Belli brings word that the daytime sister spot to Soquel Village restaurant Home has opened its doors. Home Away, just around the corner, is in a soft opening phase with limited hours, with an expanded schedule coming Dec. 3.
In Lookout’s Community Voices opinion section, Keven Cook writes about the concerns he shares with some of the 46% of his fellow Santa Cruzans who voted against the city’s Measure C. He urges all city residents and the media to be vigilant about accountability for the new tax, and notes that the 2026 and 2028 elections will provide opportunities to push for new city leadership.
The Tuesday headlines also include the recent rescue of an entangled pelican off Cowell Beach – read on, won’t you?
Were you forwarded this newsletter? Sign up here to receive Morning Lookout in your inbox every weekday.
Initial reactions to Koenig-Keeley rail trail ‘peace deal’ are divided
Manu Koenig and Fred Keeley’s proposal to build Segments 8 through 11 of the Coastal Rail Trail over the tracks without railbanking was met with diverging reactions. One rail advocate would rather lose some of a state grant and build less of the trail but keep the design the same, while an outspoken 2022 Measure D supporter believes the community will back the proposal if it’s the fastest way to get a trail. Here’s what Max Chun heard.
Home restaurant launches daytime sister spot Home Away in Soquel
Home restaurant in Soquel Village has opened Home Away, a casual daytime bar and market around the corner from the original restaurant, serving seasonal small plates, soups, salads and local beer, wine and cider. After a soft opening with limited hours, the new spot will expand to a Wednesday-Sunday schedule starting Dec. 3 and will add grab-and-go items in January. Lily Belli has the update.
DAILY DIGEST
Tuesday’s only just getting started here at Lookout, so be sure you’re keeping track of it all. As I mentioned earlier, Lily Belli will be back a little later with more news, notes and recommendations from around Santa Cruz County food & drink with Lily Belli on Food, one of the many free newsletters and breaking news alerts you can sign up for here. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Threads and Bluesky are where you’ll find Lookout on social media, and take all our coverage, games and more along on your smartphone by downloading the Lookout Santa Cruz app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
Our content isn’t possible without community support, so if you’re not already, please consider becoming a Lookout member.
Have a super Tuesday!
Will McCahill