Hello again, readers! It is Thursday, Jan. 4, and the Santa Cruz County forecast is for a dose of sunshine – but brisk temperatures, with highs maybe scraping 60 in some spots.
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Max Chun starts us off with an update on our most famous local sea mammal, finding that Otter 841 and her pup are still roaming free and that there are no plans to try to capture the noted surfboard thief.
Lily Belli is in the mix with news of a milestone on our local craft beer scene: Pioneering Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing is being sold to the owners of Capitola-based Sante Adairius Rustic Ales and Santa Cruz’s Private Press Brewing.
And ahead of his Weekender newsletter, coming later Thursday, Wallace Baine catches up with author Clifford Mae Henderson – who, despite a sixth novel coming to bookshelves soon, might be better known around here for her improv work.
Ready for some headlines? Join me!
Otter 841 and her pup start 2024 the way they ended 2023 — roaming free in Monterey Bay
Otter 841 and her pup are still in Monterey Bay waters and will remain there for the foreseeable future, as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has no plans to restart its efforts to capture the feisty marine mammal. Max Chun has the update.
Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing sold to owners of Sante Adairius, Private Press
Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing owners Emily Thomas and Chad Brill have sold the 18-year-old Westside brewery to Adair Paterno, owner of Capitola-based Sante Adairius Rustic Ales, and Brad Clark, owner of Private Press Brewing in Santa Cruz. The acquisition marks the end of an era in the local craft beer community, which Thomas and Brill helped build over the past two decades. More here from Lily Belli.
DAILY DIGEST
That’s where things stand this first Thursday of 2024, and with the first weekend of the year coming soon, Wallace Baine will be along later with his recommendation-packed roadmap to Santa Cruz County arts and entertainment. Sign up for Weekender and all of Lookout’s other newsletters, plus breaking news alerts via text and email, by clicking here. Be sure to follow us on social media, too, to keep up with local news and views: Lookout is on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads.
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Have a good Thursday!
Will McCahill