What’s shakin’, Lookout friends? It’s Wednesday, May 18, and it’ll be a touch warmer around Santa Cruz County today, with temps in the 70s and 80s under mostly sunny skies.
What remains uncomfortably hot, at least from prospective buyers’ perspectives, is the local real estate market. With rising interest rates adding another piece to the puzzle, Grace Stetson checked in with a pair of local realtors about what they’re seeing and what might be next.
And if housing prices have you wanting to drown your sorrows, you might soon be paying more for wine. The COVID pandemic is to blame for a worldwide glass shortage, one that’s affecting local winemakers, Lily Belli reports — and some will have to pass rising costs on to consumers.
So let’s get to the headlines, which also includes Santa Cruz County shuttering the last two of its COVID-driven homeless shelters.
‘Not everybody really gets to live in a beach town’
Suddenly rising interest rates have thrown a new wrench into the plans of prospective home buyers. Can it get any worse? We asked a pair of real estate agents, veteran Kelley Trousdale and relative newcomer Rebecca Wallace. Read their Q&A with Grace Stetson.
➤ MORE ON HOUSING AND AFFORDABILITY: Check out our Places section
Santa Cruz winemakers face a bottled-up glass supply
Get ready for odd-shaped wine bottles, higher prices — and maybe more reusable bottles, like Sones Cellars has pioneered in Santa Cruz. The culprit: Yes, it’s the supply chain, choked up around glass manufacturing and distribution. Here’s what Lily Belli found.
➤ MORE: Local eateries vs. the supply-chain blues: What we learned about pricing switch-ups, menu casualties, sourcing (Lookout)
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County closing last two COVID-driven Project Roomkey shelters
Project Roomkey provided shelter to more than 1,000 people in Santa Cruz County as a response to pandemic homeless needs. By the end of June, the county will close the last two of its six shelters — with most, but not all, of the residents placed in other housing. Grace Stetson reports.
➤ RELATED: Rehousing Wave ramping up efforts for the unhoused (Lookout)
Teen Kitchen Project turns 10, Salmon Week and why Lily’s pesto was almost the best-o
A local nonprofit is cooking up an anniversary celebration, fish in the spotlight and what Lily Belli found out about making pesto is just a taste of what you’ll find in her latest newsletter. Scope it out here.
➤ MORE FROM LILY: All of Lookout’s food & drink coverage in one spot
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Election 2022: Inside the race for California attorney general
With election season in full swing, Lookout has you covered at the local level, and statewide with an assist from our partners at CalMatters and the Los Angeles Times. The race for California attorney general could be the state’s biggest election this year, and we’re tracking the candidates and the issues. Find stories here.
➤ THE LOCAL FRONT: From the candidates to the ballot measures, get Lookout’s Santa Cruz County election coverage in one place
Will California voters approve betting on sports?
Four ballot measures to legalize sports wagering in California were proposed, but now it’s down to two, and only one might face voters this year. CalMatters has the details.
➤ TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: Want to share your thoughts on this topic or others? Send us a letter to the editor at letters@lookoutlocal.com
- Manager, Athletic Training at Cabrillo College
- Sales Associate at Yoso the Annex
- Shipping & Receiving Associate at Illuminee Inc
- Program Specialist – Extension at Cabrillo College
- Executive Director at Housing Santa Cruz County
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Around the county …
➤ Santa Cruz attorneys spar over ‘calm demeanor’ vs defendant’s ‘trauma’ (Santa Cruz Sentinel)
➤ Climate of Hope forum returns May 26 (The Pajaronian)
➤ Tracking down the elusive flower found only in the Bay Area (SFGate)
That’s it for now. If you’re enjoying our coverage, please tell your family and friends about our Lookout Newsletter & Text Center, where they can sign up for all the newsletters and alerts we offer. You can also keep tabs throughout the day by bookmarking our website and following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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Have an excellent Wednesday!
Will McCahill
Lookout Santa Cruz