Lookout columnist Claudia Sternbach has a succinct message: “Aging sucks.” Here, she humorously guides us through her sadness at the changes she’s noticed now that she’s a septuagenarian and offers a few bits of inspiration for those who, like her, struggle to hear in loud restaurants and order food on a computer, not via a human.
Health & Wellness
Posted inCOVID Today
COVID Dashboard: Future exposure at younger ages could lead to weakened virus
News of the week Monday’s update of the Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency’s COVID case count showed 328 active cases. That’s 65 fewer than last Monday. No new deaths were reported locally, keeping the county’s pandemic death toll at 276. Hospitalizations are down across the country according to the Centers for Disease Control. Local […]
Posted inHealth & Wellness
Santa Cruz Community Health and Dientes among 11 recipients of 2023 Kaiser Permanente health grants
Kaiser Permanente, one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit healthcare organizations, is funding local health and social service organizations in Santa Cruz, as part of its larger commitment to building and maintaining healthy communities. The Santa Cruz Community Health and Dientes Community Dental clinics are among 11 local organizations that received a total of $1.5 million […]
Posted inK-12 Education
Amid youth mental health crisis, teens ask for a kinder college admissions process
High school students stress one aspect of the “youth mental health crisis” is the pressure they feel to be perfect and successful so they can get into choice colleges.
Posted inEducation
UC Santa Cruz’s new mobile crisis response team first of its kind in UC system
Aiming to have trained mental health professionals, rather than police officers, respond to mental health crises, the Campus Mobile Crisis Team is now responding to calls four days a week on the UCSC campus and is ramping up to seven days a week. You can reach the service by calling 831-502-9988.
Posted inCOVID Today
COVID Dashboard: County health pivoting to wastewater data rather than case counts
News of the week A Monday update of the Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency’s COVID case count showed 338 cases, down by 56 from the previous Monday. No new deaths were reported locally, keeping the county’s pandemic death toll at 276. Hospitalizations are down across the country according to the Centers for Disease Control. […]
Posted inWatsonville / Pajaro
Watsonville Community Hospital on track to break even as early as end of 2023, leaders say
After millions in annual losses under for-profit management, Watsonville Community Hospital recorded its first month of positive cash flow in years in October as it transitions to public ownership. Next moves include establishing a charitable foundation to help continue the community fundraising that was crucial in making that transition happen.
Posted inHealth & Wellness
Expiration of California, federal COVID emergencies could end some free services in Santa Cruz County
California ends its COVID-19 emergency declarations Tuesday, just shy of three years since they were first issued. While that move might not immediately affect much locally, federal emergency declarations are set to sunset in May, which could end some of the free services introduced during the pandemic.
Posted inCOVID Today
COVID Dashboard: California passes 100,000 deaths
California ends its COVID-19 emergency declarations Tuesday, just shy of three years since they were first issued. While…
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Three Stanford degrees, two healing choices — one uncertain path
Lookout opinion writer Marisa Messina’s résumé is impressive: She has three Stanford degrees and has worked for Fortune 500 companies. But her most intense work is learning to take care of her own body and brain and figure out “the good life.” Here, she invites you into her work-in-progress wellness journey, which includes farm fields and the acupuncture table.