Greetings and salutations, readers. It is Friday, Dec. 5, and it’s looking like another nice sunny day around Santa Cruz County after a brrrrisk start, with temperatures heading into the mid- to upper 60s, and slightly warmer for the weekend. If that forecast has you thinking about heading to the beach, don’t forget about the king tides bringing possibly hazardous conditions.
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Thursday was a watershed moment in Santa Cruz County’s rail-and-trail saga, Max Chun reports, with the Regional Transportation Commission narrowly approving a proposal to build three segments of the planned pedestrian-bike trail over the existing railroad tracks. While the commission approved a resolution of support for future rail, it’s a major change for the project.
The long-planned “tiny village” homeless shelter in Watsonville will have to wait a few more weeks, Tania Ortiz reports, after several of the prefab units were damaged – possibly in transit, one official told her.
Hillary Ojeda was in a Santa Cruz courtroom Thursday as a judge approved a request that allows a UC Santa Cruz student charged in the 2024 pro-Palestine encampment raid and protests to avoid trial if she completes community service and complies with court conditions. Judge Mandy Tovar grew emotional as she granted diversion to Esmeralda Hurtado, the only one of 122 protesters arrested to face formal charges.
Lily Belli has her review of Home Away, the more casual, counter-service sibling of Soquel Village restaurant Home. The daytime spot is the culmination of several ideas that husband-and-wife team Brad Briske and Linda Ritten have bounced around for years but didn’t quite fit the traditional dining setting of their 9-year-old restaurant.
The TGIF headlines also include Wallace Baine’s recommendations for things to do and other news and notes from Santa Cruz County arts & entertainment – are you as ready as I am?
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RTC narrowly approves Keeley-Koenig ‘peace deal’ proposal to build trail segments over railroad tracks
In a 7-5 vote, the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission approved a proposal by Commissioners Manu Koenig and Fred Keeley to build three segments of the Coastal Rail Trail over the railroad tracks in a change of plans for the major project. The plan had previously included the trail running alongside the tracks. Staff will also continue to seek funding for the environmental work necessary for passenger rail. Max Chun has the story.
Home Away leans into casual fun with bold dishes in a cozy, counter-service space
Home Away, the new daytime offshoot of Soquel’s Home restaurant, offers a more casual, affordable space where chef Brad Briske showcases seasonal dishes, whole-animal cooking and products from longtime friends and collaborators. With counter service, grab-and-go items and an open kitchen that lets diners watch Briske work, the spot revives early Home favorites while introducing new seafood, snacks and rotating specials. Here’s Lily Belli’s review.
DAILY DIGEST
It’s a busy Friday already around Lookout, and more from Lily Belli is among what’s still on the menu, in the form of her Eaters Digest – one of the many free newsletters and breaking news alerts I highly recommend you sign up for here. There’s also an app for that – download the Lookout Santa Cruz app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for our award-winning local coverage on your smartphone. You can also find us posted up on social media – follow Lookout on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Threads and Bluesky for the latest.
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Here’s to a smooth Friday for one and all, and a safe, relaxing weekend. Thank you for reading!
Will McCahill