Hello folks,
I’m sure that you’re looking forward to the long weekend (as am I), and hope you have something good planned. At the very least, fire up that grill and cook a meal outside!
It was a busy day here at Lookout, so let’s jump right into it…
Big Basin Redwoods State Park partially reopens to visitors next month
At long last: For the first time since the CZU Complex Fire devastated the Big Basin Redwoods State Park in 2020, visitors can explore a limited part of the park again starting July 22. Officials will limit the number of visitors to ensure their safety in the forest and provide a good visitor experience. Hillary has the update.
➤ REIMAGINING BIG BASIN: Following CZU fire devastation, what should the park become?
➤ VIDEO BY KEVIN PAINCHAUD
Santa Cruz’s flavored tobacco ban: County now leads the state in latest regulations
Coming soon: As Big Tobacco fights California’s statewide actions, Santa Cruz becomes the first bigger county to ban those products with “a taste or smell other than tobacco.” Scotts Valley’s new ordinance, to take effect July 15, completes city and county action intended to reduce fast-growing use among young people. Lily has the story.
Opinion!, trivializing Wallace, local puzzles — and Lookout’s growth
From our CEO: Ken Doctor discusses the next steps in our Community Voices section, Wallace Baine Trivia Nights and more in a quick update. See the whole thing here.
A quintessential Santa Cruz day, B9 fetes the Fourth and clockspotting
Weekender: Check out Wallace’s pre-Fourth-of-July Weekender, where he gives you the top events for the week ahead, plus his experience at Woodies on the Wharf and the Pleasure Point Street Fair. Read it all here.
➤ MORE: Bob Dylan comes to Santa Cruz
I bought my Aptos house for $100K in 1981. Friends tell me I’m lucky; I don’t agree.
‘Why I Live Here’: Claudia Sternbach landed in Santa Cruz County by chance in 1981, when she and her husband, Michael, were idealists searching for a way to make a life close to the water. Today, their Aptos home is worth 10 times what they paid, but people she has known for decades are leaving, unable to afford the soaring home prices. Her daughter can’t afford to live here. She wonders aloud what Santa Cruz is becoming and what will happen to adventure-seeking young people today. Read Claudia’s op-ed here.
➤ Check out our new opinion section, Community Voices.
County’s CORE Investments to fund 57 public service programs out of 127 that applied
Some gains, some cuts: The three-year grant cycle aims to address changing — and growing — social services needs throughout Santa Cruz County. There’s never enough money for all applicants, and this year the county board of supervisors applied some new priorities. Read the full story here.
- Events & Food Drives Project Manager at Second Harvest Food Bank
- Bus Operator (Driver) at Santa Cruz METRO
- Senior Health Services Manager at The County of Santa Cruz
- Accounting Specialist at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
- Horticulture Programs Technician at Cabrillo College
➤ Want more? Check out our Job Board.
Hiring? Post a job.
*NEW* Buy job board bundles of 4 or 8 to save 25%. Redeemable at any time; get your bundles here.
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More from here & elsewhere
➤ Operator of Monterey Zoo charged with wildlife trafficking (KSBW)
➤ California agency clears way for Oakland Athletics to move forward with $12 billion waterfront ballpark district (KION)
➤Dozens of renters still await help on eve of moratorium deadline (Pajaronian)
➤ Bay Area schools fare worse on number of qualified teachers than rest of state, data shows (Mercury)
➤ Climate activists poised to shift focus to states, businesses after EPA ruling (NBC)
And that does it for today. Happy Friday eve to all, and catch you tomorrow.
Max Chun
Correspondent