Ahoy, mateys. Tuesday, Sept. 23, is upon us, and looking like the hottest day of the week for Santa Cruz County – around 100 in the mountains and in the 80s even at the beach. All that is ahead of a changing weather pattern that will bring chances of showers and thunderstorms on Wednesday.
JOIN US: Lookout, along with our partners at CalMatters, will present a screening of the documentary “Stripped for Parts: American Journalism on the Brink” at the Del Mar Theatre in Santa Cruz on Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m. After the film, we will have a panel discussion with media leaders on the fight to rescue local news and its importance to democracy. You can get your tickets here.
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Our series on the aftermath of the CZU fire five years later continues, with Max Chun talking to local real estate agents about the blaze’s impact on homebuying in the Santa Cruz Mountains. It’s still a popular market due in part to more bang for the buck compared to other areas of the county, but the trouble and cost of getting homeowner’s insurance is now a big obstacle.
The restaurant space at Watsonville Municipal Airport is getting a new tenant, Lily Belli reports, with the city choosing Monterey chef and restaurateur Tim Wood to take over the vacancy left by the June closure of Ella’s at the Airport. Wood has turned his Woody’s at the Airport into a Monterey institution.
Jana Marcus is back with a review of Mountain Community Theater’s ongoing production of “The Addams Family.” With a cast brimming with energy and just the right dose of spooky camp and darkly funny charm, it’s well worth the drive to Ben Lomond, she writes.
In Lookout’s Community Voices opinion section, former Santa Cruz mayor and housing advocate Don Lane writes about the affordable housing coming soon to the city, and urges residents to vote yes on Measure C on the November ballot while taking aim at realtor-backed Measure B.
The Tuesday headlines also include news that an appearance by former first lady Jill Biden set for this weekend at Kaiser Permanente Arena has been canceled, with little explanation – let’s go.
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Santa Cruz Mountains housing market is still popular post-CZU — but buyers face new difficulties
Despite the destruction the CZU fires brought to the Santa Cruz Mountains, prospective homebuyers continue to look in part due to better value for price. But anxious memories are making some think twice, while insurance uncertainty makes purchasing there a bigger gamble than before the fire. Here’s the story from Max Chun.
Monterey chef Tim Wood tapped to bring new restaurant to Watsonville airport
Chef Tim Wood, known for Woody’s at the Airport in Monterey, has been selected to take over the restaurant space at Watsonville Municipal Airport following the closure of Ella’s after 12 years. Airport staff are negotiating lease terms, which must be approved by the city council, with hopes that Wood’s new restaurant could open by the end of the year. Details here from Lily Belli.
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Plenty yet to come from Lookout, not least of which is another pinch of Santa Cruz County food & drink in the form of Lily Belli on Food – one of the many local newsletters and breaking news alerts you should sign up for here. Download the Lookout Santa Cruz app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, and get our award-winning local coverage in your social media feed by following Lookout on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Threads and Bluesky.
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Stay cool, friends – see you next time.
Will McCahill