After a series of punishing winter storms and a violent tidal surge dramatically damaged the Capitola Village restaurant in early January, the iconic beachfront spot anticipates a closure of several months while it rebuilds, and aims to reopen by Memorial Day.
Capitola & Soquel
Posted inLatest News
Biden the first president to visit Santa Cruz County since Bush’s stop after ’89 quake
No, Abe Lincoln never got to fulfill his wish to visit Santa Cruz, but Benjamin Harrison and Teddy Roosevelt, marveling at our redwoods, whistle-stopped through.
Posted inLatest News
Biden to visit Watsonville, Capitola, Seacliff State Beach in tour of Santa Cruz County storm damage
White House officials said President Joe Biden and Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell would spend around three hours Thursday afternoon meeting with local officials and residents and touring areas of Santa Cruz County devastated by landslides, flooding and surf swells.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
A Lookout View: President Biden, please come to Santa Cruz County and visit those who need help the most
Editorial: As the governor and the president visit storm-torn California, where they visit is a meaningful act. Beyond scenic photo ops, it’s a sign of where their attention — and funding — might go. Santa Cruz County deserves a stop — but not just in scenic Capitola.
Posted inCoast Life
Paradise with a price: John Laird’s long view of dealing with the aftermath of natural disaster
Before he was state Sen. John Laird, he was the County of Santa Cruz’s John Laird, and before that, he was Santa Cruz mayor, city councilmember and staffer John Laird. They were formative years for observing and responding to disasters. And they taught him perspective both on accepting nature’s random, inevitable penance and finding ways to make this uniquely disaster-prone county as ready as possible for the next lashing.
Posted inCapitola & Soquel
Capitola Village’s magic has taken a beating, but you can help rekindle the #capitolalove
It’s hard to visit Capitola Village and not come under its spell — and that makes it even harder for anyone who’s felt the magic to see it in its current storm-ravaged state. And while our Santa Cruz County gem will always be vulnerable, we can all do our part to help the healing process by returning that love now.
![FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell [second from right] views damage to Seacliff State Beach with state and local officials.](https://i0.wp.com/lookout.co/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/urlhttp3A2F2Flookout-local-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com2F152F522F4259b26b416c9ef9b4f4da12953c2F97a2656.jpg?resize=872%2C490&ssl=1)
Posted inLatest News
Where we stand on Sunday: Biden declares major disaster in Santa Cruz County amid more storm evacuations, flooding
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell and members of her staff visited parts of Rio Del Mar and Capitola, and were set to survey areas of San Lorenzo Valley as part of a multiday tour to asses whether to issue a major disaster declaration for Santa Cruz County communities devastated by floods, landslides and power outages after several rounds of intense storms.
Posted inFood & Drink
EATERS DIGEST: Start the day at Busy Bees, Happy Boy Farms floods and a virtual D.E.W.N. wine tasting
Chef Ty Pearce offers comforting breakfast classics at Busy Bees Café and Catering in Capitola, Happy Boy Farms launches a GoFundMe to help keep it afloat after a devastating flood and a virtual wine tasting to challenge your palate.
Posted inLatest News
Storm damage tops $36 million across Santa Cruz County, but local officials warn estimates could double
Santa Cruz County and its four cities sustained more than $36 million in damages to public infrastructure in storms that also damaged at least 200 homes. Local officials say they expect that figure to grow dramatically in the weeks to come as they continue to assess the devastation wrought by storm surges, floods and landslides. And more rain is on the way.
Posted inLatest News
How much will California help pay for Santa Cruz storm repairs? Newsom signals ‘assessments’
Santa Cruz County has taken a battering over the past 10 days, and Gov. Gavin Newsom visited Capitola on Tuesday, witnessing the damage. To the questions of state aid, he acknowledged that small businesses might have to wade through a number of different resources to find disaster relief, but said his office will put together “a sheet” with more streamlined information on resources.