Good morning, folks,
Hope everyone’s week is going well so far as we reach the midway point. It’s July 30. A tsunami advisory remains in effect for the Santa Cruz County Coast, though the waters appeared to be largely calm early Wednesday morning. (Read more about that here.) Still, it’s best avoid local beaches as they could still see dangerous waves and currents. Beyond that, we’re looking at another beautiful summer day with clear skies and highs in the low-70s.
JUMP TO … Latest News | Opinion | Events | Job Board | Puzzles
Hillary Ojeda takes a look at several Santa Cruz County school districts that have hired new administrators despite dwindling student enrollment in recent years. Officials point to state programs and increased social services as the main factors influencing the staffing changes.
Jessica Pasko’s weekly business column puts the spotlight on Farm-ng, a Watsonville agricultural tech company specializing in robotics and AI-based solutions for small and mid-sized farms, which was recently acquired by the San Jose-based firm Bonsai Robotics, Inc.
Kevin Painchaud was able to hang out backstage of Santa Cruz Shakespeare’s production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and get a firsthand look at what goes into putting on a professional stage production. He shares loads of photos from the experience.
A Q&A series by Peggy Flynn about locals who have changed careers in unexpected ways debuts today with John Flores’ story. After working as a hairstylist for over four decades, he became a watercolor artist — something he’s always wanted to be.
Now, to the headlines…
Tsunami advisory remains in effect for Santa Cruz County, but no major damage reported
Much of the Central Coast, including Santa Cruz County, remained under a tsunami advisory Wednesday morning, even as area beaches and harbors were largely calm.
As enrollment falls, some Santa Cruz County school districts see their ranks of administrators swell
Some Santa Cruz County school districts, including those facing budget cuts, have added administrators since the pandemic while losing students, with officials citing new state programs and increased social services as driving factors behind the staffing changes.
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Watsonville ag tech company acquired, Safeway strike averted
This week, Lookout business columnist Jessica M. Pasko brings the latest on the acquisition of a Watsonville ag-tech firm and a narrowly avoided strike by Safeway workers, along with local business openings, closures and upcoming events.
DAILY DIGEST
That’s it for this morning. Sign up here for breaking news alerts via email and text, and for all of our other newsletters. You can also find Lookout on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads.
Our content isn’t possible without community support, so if you’re not already, please consider becoming a Lookout member.
Y’all enjoy your Wednesday!
Max Chun