Morning Lookout: West Cliff traffic changes, Cabrillo renaming delay & Secret Summer suds

Greetings, fellow humans. It’s Friday, Sept. 8, and it’s looking like a nice one around Santa Cruz County, with sunshine plentiful and highs from the low 70s to upper 80s. Rinse and repeat for the weekend ahead.

Also ahead is another packed slate from Lookout; if you’d rather sort through it on your own, step this way.
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Up first is the latest on plans for the portions of Santa Cruz’s West Cliff Drive damaged by the winter’s fierce storms, with Max Chun reporting that the city is aiming to return the stretch from Columbia Street to Woodrow Avenue to two-way traffic by the beginning of 2024.

The renaming of Cabrillo College could be pushed back to 2028, Hillary Ojeda reports, after a governing board subcommittee recommended the full board vote on a delay at its next meeting, scheduled for Monday. The goal, subcommittee members wrote, is to “move forward in a way that reduces the divisions this has caused within our college’s region and helps unify the community around the college.”

No new options emerged Thursday at a hearing about where to house convicted sex offender Michael Cheek after a judge last month denied a request to house him in an RV on Santa Cruz County property. Another hearing is set for Tuesday.

This being Friday, another edition of Eaters Digest is on the way, and you can get a sip of that newsletter from Lily Belli with her recommendation of a golden lager from Watsonville’s Fruition Brewing that hits just right this time of year.

With the weekend within our grasp, the Friday headlines also include Wallace Baine’s roadmap for things to do across Santa Cruz County’s arts and entertainment scene — let’s go.

City set to restore two-way traffic to stretch of West Cliff Drive

(Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz)

Two-way traffic on West Cliff Drive could be back as soon as the beginning of 2024, with Santa Cruz’s public works department recommending that the city council vote next week to restore both lanes between Columbia Street and Woodrow Avenue. The section between Woodrow and Almar Avenue that’s been completely closed to traffic is still about a year away from repair. Details here from Max Chun.

➤ STORMS 2023: ROAD TO RECOVERY: Lookout’s continuing coverage of the aftermath of this winter’s storms

Cabrillo College subcommittee recommends delaying name change until at least 2028

(Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz)

In a recommendation published Thursday to Cabrillo College’s governing board agenda, the board’s Name Exploration Subcommittee, made up of trustees Christina Cuevas and Adam Spickler, called for not changing “the name of the college at this time, deferring any discussion of a name change to no sooner than 2028.” The board is set to vote on the recommendation during its regular meeting Monday evening. Hillary Ojeda has the latest.

➤ CABRILLO COLLEGE RENAMING: All of Lookout’s news and opinion coverage in one place

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

Much to sort through as we polish off the workweek. As I mentioned earlier, among what’s still to come Friday is Lily Belli’s latest Eaters Digest, and you can sign up for that and all of Lookout’s other newsletters by clicking right here. Our offerings also include the specially curated Sunday Reads and, coming Monday, Christopher Neely’s weekly dive into Santa Cruz County politics and policy, In the Public Interest. You can always stay current with local goings-on by following Lookout on social media: We’re on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads. And don’t forget our breaking news alerts, available via text and email.

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

Get out there and do Friday right, and have a safe, relaxing weekend! (Oh, and if you’re planning to be out and about Sunday, expect some delays due to an Ironman event.)

Will McCahill
Lookout Santa Cruz