Quick Take:

Liz Kroft, Lance Hulsey, and Jamie Manley, founders of Santa Cruz County’s own Sol Property Advisors, partnered with...

WALLACE BAINE: A year later, our ’21 for ’21′ crew looks back at 2021

From L-R: Rabbi Paula Marcus, Phil Kramer, Maria Elena De La Garza
From L-R: Rabbi Paula Marcus, Phil Kramer, Maria Elena De La Garza Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

The year that was: After yet another long year, Wallace Baine looks back on Lookout’s “21 for 21″ series, produced in the waning months of 2020. These were people and groups we thought would have a significant and critical impact in 2021. Read how they thought the year went.

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Final ‘Unsung’ for 2021: The story of a beloved bus driver who ‘vanished’ as COVID emerged

Domingo and Serena Tovar.

Wrapping up: For the final “Unsung” for this year, Mark Conley brings you the tale of Domingo Tovar — the second person in Santa Cruz County to die of COVID-19. As the two-year mark nears of his unexpected passing in April 2020, his family and friends still grapple with how loss unfolded at the beginning of a little-understood pandemic. Read his story here.

“Unsung Santa Cruz” series archive

Overwhelmed by volunteers, organizers say holiday meal proof ‘we do care for each other’

Alicia Wright helps hand out food on Dec. 24 as part of the Food Not Bombs holiday meal service.
Alicia Wright helps hand out food on Dec. 24 as part of the Food Not Bombs holiday meal service. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

Special meals: Keith McHenry, founder of Food Not Bombs, said he was overwhelmed by community support as he prepared to distribute free meals to the unhoused population this holiday season. The group had festive offerings for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Haneen Zain has the story.

Best of the week (ICYMI) …

Chelsea Cabrera (left) and Tram Vu at Mariposa Cuban Coffee
Chelsea Cabrera (left) and Tram Vu opened Mariposa Cuban Coffee inside Vu’s Sandwich Spot on Pacific Avenue in downtown Santa Cruz. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

EATERS DIGEST: Let Mariposa Cuban Coffee put some pep in your step (Lily Belli)
What you need to know about California’s new composting law — a game changer for food waste (Los Angeles Times)
Magnitude 4.0 quake strikes off Pacific coast near Fortuna (Los Angeles Times)
Omicron, boosters and the local response during the holidays (Grace and Haneen)

A veteran jack-of-all-trades journalist who is Lookout’s copy editor, writes and compiles Morning Lookout newsletter and produces Lookout’s other editorial newsletters and helps run Lookout’s social...