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Hula’s Island Grill has been a fixture in the community since 2006, but when the pandemic hit, they experienced...
Hello and congratulations, everyone — we made it through another Monday.
And with this being the week, one year removed, of George Floyd’s death, there is much more to reflect upon than normal during these already reflective times. To that end you must put our Wednesday event on your calendar if it isn’t there already The lowdown:
One year later, have we gotten anywhere?
Lookout invited some key community voices to speak about how far they believe we’ve come, both as a community here in Santa Cruz County and as a nation over the past year.
➤ WHEN: Wednesday, 6 p.m., via Zoom
➤ WHO: UC Santa Cruz professor of African history Dr. David H. Anthony III, founding director of the Black Health Matters Initiative Cat Willis, Watsonville native and playwright Spike Wong and local economic equity activist Maria Cardenas.
➤ SIGN UP: Here
And now to the COVID-19/vaccine news of the day…
Important shovels in the ground: Groundbreaking in Live Oak
Sights of groundbreaking at Live Oak health care, affordable housing campus: Health care and affordable housing organizations came together with Santa Cruz County politicians, donors and community members Saturday to celebrate the groundbreaking at the campus at 1500 Capitola Road in Live Oak. The center’s importance to the community has only grown since the pandemic began. Kevin Painchaud has the great visuals from Saturday here.
Welcome back, California Honky Tonk!
Hank & Ella with the Fine Country Band return from pandemic break: The pandemic took Hank & Ella with the Fine Country Band off the road and gave the group time to make a new album. Now they’re ready to reengage audiences with their brand of “California honky tonk,” starting Saturday at Michael’s on Main. Wallace Baine has the lowdown here.
Tips for older adults to regain their game after being cooped up for more than a year: Experts offer advice on how seniors struggling with physical, emotional and cognitive challenges following a year of being cooped up can address issues such as muscle weakness, poor nutrition, disrupted sleep, anxiety and social isolation. More from Kaiser Health News on that here.
California is seeing a COVID-19 baby bust. What is causing it? The humble IUD, shorthand for intrauterine device, is just one of many reasons California is expected to see almost 50,000 fewer births in 2021, the nadir of a national COVID-19 “baby bust” that has sparked political backlash and left young families and would-be parents drowning in demographic quicksand. More from the LA Times here.
Latino, Black Californians ramp up vaccinations but lag far behind Asian, white residents: About 35% of Latino and 36% of Black California residents are at least partially vaccinated, while 52% of white and 63% of Asian American residents are. More from the Times here.
More from here & elsewhere
➤ U.S. citizens warned not to travel to Japan as Tokyo Olympics near (CNN)
➤ What we know about Tokyo Olympics as Japan added to ‘do not travel’ list (USA Today)
➤ U.S. intel report identified 3 Wuhan lab researchers who fell ill in November 2019 (NBC News)
➤ U.S. still hasn’t ruled out lab accident origin for Covid because China hasn’t been transparent (NBC News)
➤ Croatia’s Economy Needs Tourists. It’s Now Opening The Doors To Vaccinated Americans (NPR)
➤ Half of U.S. states have fully vaccinated at least 50% of adults (CNN)
➤ New York City Schools Will Fully Reopen With No Remote Option This Fall (NPR)
➤ CDC investigating cases of heart inflammation in teens, young adults who got two-shot COVID vaccine (USA Today)
➤ These are the international cities Bay Area travelers most want to visit. But can you? (SF Gate)
Please sign up the event, consider becoming a Lookout members and I will see you tomorrow!
Mark Conley
Deputy Managing Editor