Morning Lookout: Cabrillo’s housing plan; garden-focused learning sprouts in Watsonville
Greetings and salutations, Lookout friends! Today is Monday, March 21, and the forecast calls for a sunny day around Santa Cruz County, with highs into the 70s as a warming trend moves in.
Ease into the new week? Nah, here at Lookout we’re hitting it at full speed:
- The local housing crunch is nothing new, and though it missed out on one round of state funding, Cabrillo College is moving ahead with plans for on-campus housing as it seeks to be a solutions-oriented contributor.
- Students at Watsonville’s Starlight Elementary School will have access to a state-of-the-art garden and kitchen center next fall, in part thanks to a national grant from a celebrity chef’s foundation.
- A round of layoffs at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History is raising larger questions about how solid the footing is for Santa Cruz County’s most prominent arts organization, Wallace Baine writes.
- And Lily Belli has your guide to the al fresco renaissance sprouting on the local dining scene.
So let’s get to those headlines:
How Cabrillo’s plan for 300 on-campus beds is taking shape
Cabrillo College tried to tap a new $2 billion state fund to build on-campus housing. While it was shut out for the first year of a three-year program, the school is moving ahead with its planning for its first on-campus units. Mark Conley has the update here.
➤ MORE FROM HIGHER ED: ‘It feels like a personal attack’: UCSC, Cabrillo College officials condemn hate-related vandalism (Lookout)
Green grows Watsonville elementary education as new garden-focused learning sprouts
Starlight Elementary School students will have access to a state-of-the-art garden and kitchen center next fall after the Pajaro Valley Unified district won a national grant to fund its innovation. We talked with Starlight Principal Jackie Medina on how it happened and what it will do. Read her Q&A with Hillary Ojeda here.
➤ MORE ON K-12 EDUCATION: Find all of Lookout’s coverage in one place
MAH layoffs highlight uncertainty of this post-pandemic period
News that the Museum of Art & History laid off three full-time staffers earlier this month raises larger questions about how solid the footing is for Santa Cruz County’s most prominent arts organization, Wallace Baine writes. Read his full column here.
➤ MORE FROM WALLACE: Singing for the children of Ukraine, Santa Cruz Chorale matches the moment
- Community Programs Operations Director at Ecology Action
- Admission and Records Technician at Cabrillo College
- Executive Director at Coastal Watershed Council
- Warehouse Worker / Delivery Driver at Cabrillo College
- Participant Service Representative at Community Health Trust of Pajaro Valley
➤ Want more?Check out our Job Board.
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The al fresco renaissance
With a two-year pause leading to high demand, local chefs, farms and winemakers are putting on their best al fresco show with a full calendar of farm-to-table meals, tasting salons and special outdoor dinners. Here’s Lily Belli’s full guide to the season ahead.
➤ MORE FROM LILY: Get all of Lookout’s food and drink coverage here
Will the evenly divided Senate complicate Jackson’s road to Supreme Court?
The Democrats have a majority, but just barely. That means an unusual process for Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson as hearings kick off today for President Joe Biden’s first Supreme Court nominee. Our partners at the Los Angeles Times explain.
➤ BACKGROUND: Biden names Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to Supreme Court in historic pick (Los Angeles Times)
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Around the county ...
➤ Sidewalk vending reform back on table for Santa Cruz (Santa Cruz Sentinel)
➤ Illegal search lawsuit against Scotts Valley PD officers moves toward settlement (The Press Banner)
➤ Virtual roundtable to discuss Latinas role as caregivers (The Pajaronian)
That’s all for just now, but with plenty more in the Lookout pipeline, I’d encourage you to keep tabs throughout the day by bookmarking our website and following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. And you can get breaking news alerts and all our other newsletters — including Lily Belli on Food, hitting inboxes tomorrow — by visiting our Lookout Newsletter & Text Center.
To ensure you’re staying informed about all the goings-on in Santa Cruz, consider becoming a Lookout member. Our content isn’t possible without community support.
Now get out there and show Monday who’s boss!
Will McCahill
Lookout Santa Cruz
