The severe storms and flooding that hit the region in 2023 had a significant impact on the production of berries and other crops in Santa Cruz County, according to a report the county released Friday. In 2023, the total estimated gross production value was $654,710,000, a 1.8% decrease from 2022.
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Posted inLatest News
Input sought on future of Seacliff and New Brighton beaches
California State Parks and Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks will host a community workshop on Thursday, Sept. 26, to share information about the future of Seacliff and New Brighton state beaches, which were badly damaged by storms in early 2023.
Posted inLatest News
Santa Cruz County libraries tackle bystander intervention, banned books
Santa Cruz Public Libraries will observe the overlapping United Against Hate Week from Sept. 21-27 and Banned Books Week from Sept. 22-28 with bystander intervention training and a panel discussion.
Posted inCapitola & Soquel
Two-month full closure ahead for Bay Avenue on-ramp to Highway 1 in Capitola
As part of the auxiliary and bus-on-shoulder lane project that in April saw the demolition of the nearby Capitola Avenue overpass, the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission said in a news release Thursday that the on-ramp to southbound Highway 1 from Bay Avenue would close Sept. 29 for two months.
Posted inLatest News
Full overnight closure of Highway 1 south starts Sunday, Sept. 22
Full overnight closures of southbound Highway 1 in Santa Cruz between Capitola and Aptos will take place on four nights Sunday through Thursday, Sept. 22-26, to accommodate work on north and southbound auxiliary lanes and bus-on-shoulder improvements. Motorists will be detoured off Highway 1 southbound between Park Avenue and State Park Drive and should expect delays of up to 10 minutes.
Posted inHealth & Wellness
Santa Cruz County orders masking in some health facilities Nov. 1
As fall creeps in and respiratory virus season draws closer, Santa Cruz County Health Officer Dr. Lisa Hernandez has issued a health order, effective Nov. 1, that requires face masks indoors in acute care facilities, skilled nursing facilities, surgical and maternity centers and infusion centers for treatments such as dialysis and chemotherapy.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
West Cliff: Santa Cruz hopes to turn 50-year vision into 5-year plan
The City of Santa Cruz is seeking public input at three upcoming community meetings as it develops a “five-year roadmap” for West Cliff Drive that aligns with a “50-Year Community Vision” unveiled earlier this year.
Posted inHousing & Development
Cruz Hotel will move forward after Coastal Commission gives it a green light
The California Coastal Commission last week approved the long-discussed and debated Cruz Hotel project proposed at the corner of Front and Laurel streets in downtown Santa Cruz. The project had been appealed to the Coastal Commission, as expected, following the Santa Cruz City Council’s 5-1 approval of the hotel in March.
Posted inLatest News
Jimmy Dutra trial deliberations head to a third day as jury fails to reach verdict
A Santa Cruz Superior Court jury failed to reach a verdict in Watsonville City Councilmember Jimmy Dutra’s civil sex-abuse case on Monday, its second day of deliberation. The jury deliberated for about three hours on Friday and about another seven on Monday.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Tourism agency promotes Santa Cruz as filmmaking destination
An official with regional tourism agency Visit Santa Cruz County recently attended the Association of Film of Commissioners International week in Los Angeles to promote the county as a destination for filmmaking.