Encompass Community Services will hand off Santa Cruz County’s Head Start program to Denver-based Community Development Institute Head Start, which is expected to arrive Monday to begin reopening services that have been shuttered since Oct. 31.
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Posted inPolitics & Policy
Encompass Community Services to stop Head Start child care program after over 40 years
Santa Cruz County nonprofit Encompass Community Services announced Tuesday that it was stopping the Head Start and Early Head Start programs, but did not rule out resuming operations in the future. The organization has run Head Start locally since 1983.
Posted inLatest News
Initial reactions to Koenig-Keeley rail trail ‘peace deal’ are divided
Manu Koenig and Fred Keeley’s proposal to build Segments 8 through 11 of the Coastal Rail Trail over the tracks without railbanking was met with diverging reactions. One rail advocate would rather lose some of a state grant and build less of the trail but keep the design the same, while an outspoken 2022 Measure D supporter believes the community will back the proposal if it’s the fastest way to get a trail.
Posted inLatest News
Carmageddon: Fred Keeley and Manu Koenig believe they’ve found a ‘peace deal’ on rail and trail
Facing major cost overruns on a stretch of the Coastal Rail Trail and the risk of losing millions in state funding for the project, Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keeley and District 1 County Supervisor Manu Koenig believe they have found a way to move the trail along faster while continuing work on a passenger rail service.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Epitaph for a visionary: Remembering the art and life of Ben Faris
Santa Cruz artist Ben Faris, who died in 2024, is the subject of a new art show at the R. Blitzer Gallery that showcases his wide talents and his ability to tap into universal, even mythic themes and imagery.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Santa Cruz County officials mobilize resistance as Trump administration opens California coast to offshore oil drilling
The Trump administration confirmed Thursday that it plans to open the California coast to oil drilling, with two possible leases along the Central Coast. Local officials tell Lookout they’re organizing to fight offshore oil extraction with lawsuits.
Posted inHousing & Development
Santa Cruz County’s housing market stays active in October as sales, inventory remain high
Santa Cruz County’s housing market saw plenty of homes listed for sale in October, a trend that has continued for the better part of the year. While buyers are still snapping up properties, houses are taking longer to sell than they did that the same time last year, likely due to all the inventory.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Citing safety concerns, Santa Cruz County supervisors delay new battery storage law for up to three months
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors put off passing new rules regulating battery storage facilities for up to three months after elected officials raised concerns Tuesday with a proposed ordinance drafted by county staff.
Posted inFood & Drink
‘It feels impossible right now’: Ahead of Thanksgiving, families turn to food pantries in record numbers
Grocery prices and recent disruptions to federal food aid are pushing more Santa Cruz County residents to local food banks for the first time. Demand at some sites has doubled since early November.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Battery storage developer backs Santa Cruz County’s proposed new rules ahead of Tuesday vote
New Leaf Energy, the developer behind the proposed battery storage facility near Watsonville, tells Lookout that the company is hopeful the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors will move ahead on new regulations for battery plants on Tuesday.