Morning Lookout: Killer shrimp tacos, help for Watsonville Community Hospital & Weekender

Good morning, surfers of Santa Cruz County news and views. It’s Friday, Aug. 25, and the forecast says we’ll all see the sun at some point, but ... you know how we do. And a sunny weekend looks to be in store, with highs ranging from the 70s to the 90s.

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There’s good news for Watsonville Community Hospital, Christopher Neely reports, in the form of an interest-free $8.3 million loan from the state. Now under nonprofit management, it has trimmed losses that once hit $20 million or more a year, but still faces a “desperately low” cash flow as officials work on options.

Giving you plenty of time to plan ahead for lunch and/or weekend consumption, Lily Belli samples the Mexican seafood fare at Miches and Ceviches in Pleasure Point. The popular food truck’s brick-and-mortar location inside Off the Hook deli “boasts the kind of menu where there is no wrong answer,” she writes — so read on for more. (Lily’s Eaters Digest newsletter hits inboxes later Friday, and you can sign up for that right here.)

This being Friday, the headlines also include the latest recommendation-packed Weekender from Wallace Baine, so please join me as we take it all in.

‘That first bite is everything’: Stellar seafood at Miches and Ceviches

(Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz)

Seafood-focused food truck Miches and Ceviches has a new brick-and-mortar location on 41st Avenue, just a few blocks away from the Hook surf spot inside Off the Hook deli. Its menu of fresh, made-to-order ceviches, aguachiles, tostadas and tacos offers huge flavors inspired by owners Perla Pineda and Sergio Ferreira’s family gatherings. Lily Belli takes you there.

➤ MORE FROM LILY: Sign up here for her newsletters — Lily Belli on Food (Tuesdays) and Eaters Digest (Fridays)

Ailing Watsonville Community Hospital receives $8.3M rescue from state to ease cash crunch

(Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz)

Annual losses of $20 million or more have been trimmed to a $5 million operating loss under the nonprofit health care district that now runs Watsonville Community Hospital, and a no-interest loan from the state’s Distressed Hospital Loan Program will help with financial flexibility as officials work on other measures. Get the details from Christopher Neely.

➤ WANT MORE LOCAL POLICY AND POLITICS? Get Christopher Neely’s In the Public Interest newsletter, sent Mondays

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

And just like that, it’s the last Friday in August. Be sure to keep it tuned to Lookout for the latest in Santa Cruz County goings-on — sign up here for breaking news alerts via text and email, and while you’re there, treat yourself to some (or all!) of Lookout’s other newsletters. On the horizon is the specially curated Sunday Reads (I’ll let you figure out when that hits inboxes), and Monday brings In the Public Interest, Christopher Neely’s look at local politics and policy. And yes, Lookout is on the socials, too — find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads.

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Here’s to a very pleasant Friday and a safe, relaxing weekend beyond. See you Monday.

Will McCahill
Lookout Santa Cruz