Morning Lookout: Cal Fire’s new bird, Santa Cruz Shakespeare looks to ’23 & an appeal to city council

Good morning, folks. It is Tuesday, Aug. 23, and after another signature foggy morning in some parts, Santa Cruz County will see mostly sunny skies and the typical range of temperatures from the 70s to the 90s.

Want to skip my spiel and peruse Lookout for yourself? I won’t judge!
JUMP TO ... Latest News | Opinion | Events | Guides | Puzzles

For those of you still with me, I’ve got a variety of new stuff. In another edition of our Ask Lookout series, Blaire Hobbs checks in with Cal Fire about that big new helicopter Santa Cruz residents might have seen swooping back and forth between the San Lorenzo River and the small fire that broke out recently in DeLaveaga Park.

Wallace Baine also checks in from DeLaveaga, with news on Santa Cruz Shakespeare — a stellar 2023 season is on tap, with the return of a well-known local face, and the company has some big changes ahead.

Ahead of Tuesday’s Santa Cruz City Council meeting, meanwhile, Gary A. Patton of community group Save Santa Cruz has a Community Voices opinion piece weighing in on proposed changes to the city’s objective standards and development process.

And I hope you’ve watched our interviews with residents of the county’s largest homeless encampment; you can find them all here, and on this day we’re highlighting the voice of Lawrence “Blue” McGregor, a transgender Iraq War veteran who has been homeless since the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake destroyed his grandmother’s home.

Lots of headlines to get to — and follow along to find out how you can score some Boardwalk wristbands.

(Community Printers)

Ask Lookout: What was that big helicopter going back and forth to the DeLaveaga fire recently?

(Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz)

Folks around downtown might have seen a new addition to Cal Fire’s air attack dipping into the San Lorenzo River near the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk to help fight a recent blaze. Blaire Hobbs has a closer look, with photos from Kevin Painchaud.

➤ YOU ASK, WE ANSWER: From the Fishhook to the Virgin Mary in Watsonville to composting, find our Ask Lookout series here
*****
SPECIAL OFFER: The first three people to purchase annual Lookout memberships will each receive two wristbands to the Santa Cruz Boardwalk ($120 value)! Just click this link or tap the image below, choose annual membership and use promo code BOARDWALK.

*****

After ‘most successful season,’ Santa Cruz Shakespeare announces 2023 plays — and Paul Whitworth’s return to the stage

(Via r.r. jones)

After enduring a divorce from UCSC and then the pains of the pandemic, Santa Cruz Shakespeare releases its 2023 schedule and big plans for major physical improvements to its Grove theater. Wallace Baine has the details.

➤ MORE FROM WALLACE: We are different people, you and I, two years after the CZU fires

Much to chew over this here Tuesday — and if you’re jonesing for something you can literally chew on, Lookout’s food maven will be along presently with Lily Belli on Food, so keep Lookout bookmarked and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for that and everything else we’ve got in the pipeline.

None of this content is possible without community support, so if you’re not already, please consider becoming a Lookout member. And if you like what we’re doing, tell a friend.

May your Tuesday be a pleasant one, and I’ll catch you back here Wednesday morning!

Will McCahill
Lookout Santa Cruz