Morning Lookout: Spotlight on ‘reunification therapy,’ Eaters Digest and coffee for a cause

Hello again, friends and neighbors. It’s Friday, Nov. 4, and a mostly sunny day is ahead around Santa Cruz County, with highs mainly in the 60s, before we hit a cloudy stretch with rain possible well into next week.

Fancy a solo stroll through all that’s new on Lookout? Step this way.
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Local officials are seeking answers after a video showing the violent removal of two children from a Westside home went viral, with Santa Cruz County Supervisor Ryan Coonerty and Santa Cruz Mayor Sonja Brunner holding a news conference there Thursday. Christopher Neely was on hand and has details on the controversial process known as “reunification therapy.”

Friday around these parts means Eaters Digest, and Lily Belli has the goods on a stellar local salami, weekend wine happenings and an upcoming event that will wow beer nerds. We’ve also got another installment of our Farmers Market Fridays series, with Thomas Sawano profiling Three Americas coffee.

It wouldn’t be a day that ends in y without something on local politics, and our Community Voices opinion section has an op-ed from downtown business owner Zach Davis outlining his and others’ opposition to Measure O. And on the education front, candidates for the Happy Valley Elementary School District board answered our questions about their priorities and concerns.

Another packed set of headlines also includes Weekender, Wallace Baine’s recommendation-laden jaunt through Santa Cruz County’s arts and culture scene, so let’s hop to it.

After violent video goes viral, Coonerty, Brunner seek answers on court-ordered ‘reunification therapy’

(Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz)

A violent viral video showing the forced removal of two Santa Cruz children from their home on Oct. 20 has left many in the community searching for answers. The catch? The removal was ordered by a Santa Cruz County Superior Court judge. Christopher Neely has more.

➤ PREVIOUSLY: Instagram video showing alleged forcible removal of kids from Santa Cruz home prompts furor (Lookout)

Sensational local salami, special wine events and a lambic extravaganza at Lúpulo

(Via Facebook)

San Juan Bautista-based Foustman’s Salami takes Italian dry to a new level, Rootstock and Wine & Roses celebrate local wine this Saturday and Gueuzerie Tilquin takes over Lúpulo in Santa Cruz next weekend. Get all that and then some in Lily Belli’s latest Eaters Digest.

➤ MORE FROM LILY: Find all of Lookout’s food & drink coverage in one spot

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That’s what we in the biz call a Friday news dump ... but in a good way! There’s plenty more in the Lookout pipeline, so I’d suggest following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to keep tabs on it all. We also offer breaking news alerts and a number of other newsletters — including our specially curated Sunday Reads — and you can sign up for those by clicking right here.

What better way to bank some karma ahead of the weekend than by supporting the independent local journalism that’s so crucial to our great democratic experiment? That’s what becoming a Lookout member is all about.

Have a super Friday and a safe, relaxing weekend — and don’t forget to set those clocks back an hour Sunday!

Will McCahill
Lookout Santa Cruz