READ THE STORY: Throwing a stokefest for Ben Kelly: Shark victim’s loved ones pay tribute with inclusive ‘No Contest’
(Via Katie Kelly)
Civic Life

Looking back at 2021: April-June

Welcome to Part 2 of our “Looking back” series. Today we’re looking at April through June, a busy set of months in Santa Cruz County.

April 2021

From allegations of misconduct at San Lorenzo Valley High School and of “institutional racism, misogyny and privilege” at O’Neill Sea Odyssey to vaccine hesitancy and the reaction to verdicts in the Maddy Middleton and George Floyd cases, April was an emotional month in Santa Cruz County. Click the links with the photos below for April’s big stories.

Women surfing

LOOKING BACK AT 2021

As we close the book on 2021, we take a look back at the stories that made headlines in Santa Cruz County, from the effects of the pandemic and local business, education and entertainment to everyday life around the county.

May 2021

In May, we mourned and remembered Santa Cruz County residents Ben Kelly, killed in a shark attack, and Michael Rudometkin, who was among nine victims in a mass shooting at a San Jose light-rail yard. Shockwaves continued to ripple from allegations of misconduct in multiple county districts — all with the COVID pandemic as backdrop. Click the links with the photos below for May’s big stories.

June 2021

June saw Santa Cruz County business reopen, cautiously, as COVID restrictions loosened — though the Delta variant arrived soon thereafter. A family and community grieved for a Watsonville soccer star gone too soon, we marked 20 years of “Living Like Jay,” and saw an iconic local property hit the market. Click the links with the photos below for June’s big stories.

Coming tomorrow: July through September.