Morning Lookout: Cabrillo-UCSC housing update, Gizdich’s pie powerhouse & fresh farmers market fare

What’s happening, friends and neighbors? It is Friday, June 2, and the Santa Cruz County forecast calls for gradually clearing skies and temps in the 60s and 70s as the sun comes out (a pattern that looks as though it’ll continue through at least the weekend).

There’s all kinds of fresh content from Lookout as we close out the workweek, but if you’re too busy for the tour, head this way.
JUMP TO ... Latest News | Opinion | Events | Guides | Puzzles | Obituaries

A joint Cabrillo College-UC Santa Cruz project that would build student housing on Cabrillo’s Aptos campus is closer to getting state funding, with local leaders optimistic that’s coming soon, Hillary Ojeda reports. “The odds look really good at this point,” State Sen. John Laird says of a $111 million grant being approved.

It’s a very foodie Friday here at Lookout, as it so often is. Laura Sutherland caught up with Nita Gizdich, the doyenne of the Santa Cruz County pie scene, at Watsonville’s Gizdich Ranch, and if you can get through the piece without plotting a way to score a pie or three, well ... I don’t even know who you are anymore.

Our Farmers Market Fridays series is back, with Jean Yi profiling H&H Fresh Fish, which has its tentacles in farmers markets from Aptos to Oakland, a mobile raw bar, a community-supported fishery program and more. And we’ve updated our definitive guide to Santa Cruz County farmers markets, so feast your eyes on that as you plan your meal calendar.

Wallace Baine is in the mix, too, with news of a new CEO for the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music.

The Friday headlines wouldn’t be complete without Weekender, Wallace’s recommendation-packed weekly look at our local arts and entertainment scene (and between Santa Cruz Pride and First Friday, it’s a busy weekend indeed), plus the latest Student Lookout. Follow me to the goods.

Joint Cabrillo College-UCSC housing project likely to get significant state funding grant, leaders say

(Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz)

State Sen. John Laird said he’s “very optimistic” that the state will put $111 million toward a 624-bed student housing project being jointly developed by Cabrillo College and UC Santa Cruz as part of a one-time $450 million campus housing fund that remains in Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposed budget, despite a looming $31 billion deficit. Hillary Ojeda has the update.

➤ PREVIOUSLY: Joint Cabrillo College-UCSC housing project proposal to compete for state funding

The dish on Nita Gizdich and her fabulous pies

(Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz)

Nita Gizdich has been making her famous pies for 57 years. Yes, you can buy them in shops around Santa Cruz County, but your best bet is to drive through the fields of Watsonville to the Gizdich family ranch and farm so you can have a piece of pie fresh out of the oven. Get a taste from Laura Sutherland.

➤ BRING HOME SOME WINE, TOO: South County sips: A guide to the Corralitos Wine Trail

Upcoming events in Santa Cruz County

FRIDAY 9/22
Midtown Fridays @1111 Soquel Ave.
Embroidery Workshop @Wallflower Santa Cruz
Zayante Fire Fundraiser @Felton Music Hall
Stephen Marley @The Catalyst Club
Bodhi Mojo @Woodhouse Blending & Brewing
Frequency Festival @Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History

SATURDAY 9/23
Santa Cruz Elks Oktoberfest @Santa Cruz Elks Lodge
Foodie Fruity Wreath Making Extravaganza @Scotts Valley farmers market
Vegan Italian Cooking & Wine Pairing Class @Flipjack Ranch
Teen Kitchen Project Everett Farm Dinner @Everett Family Farm
Echos Of Empire @Civic Auditorium

SUNDAY 9/24
For the love of dogs @Chaminade Resort & Spa
41st Santa Cruz Triathlon @Depot Park
Music at the park @Skypark
Jean Dawson @The Catalyst

A varied news diet as we hurtle toward the first weekend in June — and I hope you’ve been paying attention, because there will be a test. Yes, really — check back later Friday and follow Lookout on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to find Wallace Baine’s latest weekly news quiz and everything else we’ve got cooking. A great way to keep tabs on what’s going on around Santa Cruz County (and boost your quiz score) is via Lookout’s breaking news alerts and all of our other newsletters, which you can sign up for here. Among those newsletters are the specially curated Sunday Reads (coming, um, Sunday) and In the Public Interest, Christopher Neely’s Monday look at local politics and policy.

Our content isn’t possible without community support, so if you’re not already, please consider becoming a Lookout member.

Here’s to a painless Friday and a safe, relaxing weekend — I’ll see you on the other side.

Will McCahill
Lookout Santa Cruz