Lookout photojournalist Kevin Painchaud describes what he saw in the days and weeks after the CZU Lightning Complex fire ignited in 2020 and the resilience of Santa Cruz Mountains communities in the five years since.
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A significant story with interest across the county
Posted inLatest News
Big Basin’s second act will center on its defining characteristic — resiliency
Five years on from the CZU fires, efforts to rebuild Big Basin Redwoods State Park in a sustainable and resilient way will bring many of the same amenities back to the area, while honoring its past life before the fires and celebrating the park’s new incarnation.
Posted inSan Lorenzo Valley
One way out: Did Lompico’s narrow escape from CZU leave it more vulnerable to the next big wildfire?
Five years after narrowly escaping the CZU fire, the San Lorenzo Valley community of Lompico is betting everything on its ability to outrace the next megafire. Residents are safeguarding their properties and plans are in the works to construct a second road out of the box canyon.
Posted inHousing & Development
With city council vote, path to Capitola Mall redevelopment begins to take shape
The Capitola City Council voted unanimously Thursday to advance plans to redevelop the Capitola Mall, setting a proposed January deadline for a rezoning process that could allow the long-stalled project to finally begin to move forward.
Posted inEducation
Live Oak School District plan to move students to new school sparks parent backlash
Facing staffing challenges and an unexpected increase in transitional kindergarten enrollment, Live Oak School District is asking families to voluntarily transfer students to another school in the district.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Watsonville votes to expand use of controversial Flock license plate readers despite immigration fears
The Watsonville City Council voted Tuesday night to renew a two-year contract with Flock Safety for automated license plate readers and add 17 more cameras throughout the city. Nearly 50 community members filled the council chambers to voice concerns over immigration enforcement risks.
Posted inFood & Drink
La Bahia’s Pearl bar shines, but Low Tide restaurant falls short of lofty expectations
La Bahia Hotel & Spa, Santa Cruz’s long-awaited luxury hotel, opened this week with great fanfare. But while the glittering Pearl lobby bar dazzles with whimsical cocktails and stylish small plates, Low Tide’s opening menu leans too heavily on familiar fare, falling short of the high expectations.
Posted inEducation
Five years after CZU, Bonny Doon Elementary lost students, but found a renewed purpose in healing
Five years after narrowly escaping the CZU fires, Bonny Doon Elementary has transformed from a small mountain school into a vital community anchor. Despite falling enrollment, the school expanded mental health services and created new programs to help students and families heal from dual traumas of wildfire and pandemic isolation.
Posted inLatest News
Rail trail cost overruns push RTC to revive railbanking debate
Faced with a $72 million shortfall for some sections of the Coastal Rail Trail, the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission on Thursday resurrected a plan to remove railroad tracks despite voters rejecting the idea in 2022.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
In high-cost Santa Cruz County, a generation of young workers increasingly turns to unions
Young local workers once viewed service jobs as temporary steppingstones. Now, more than 80% told UC Santa Cruz researchers that they are open to unionizing, motivated by both economic pressures and a broader vision of workplace democracy.