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🌱 Patch AM: How will UCSC’s 40% housing increase actually help students this fall?

Make time for Live Oak Jack Rabbit 1-Mile Run and Student Art Contest on the Santa Cruz Patch calendar

Sunday April 19th Patch AM (Patch graphic)

Greetings Santa Cruz! We’re your go-to source for what’s happening in town. Read on to get plugged in! ☕️️

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In today's newsletter:

  • How will UCSC’s 40% housing increase actually help students this fall?
  • New Shingle Fire just sparked this afternoon in Santa Cruz County
  • How Felton’s volunteer bucket brigades became today’s fire protection district

Also on today's calendar: Live Oak Jack Rabbit 1-Mile Run and Student Art Contest and 6 more events.

Today's riddle: Why aren't koalas actual bears? 🤔 (Answer below!)


From our Partner Today's Santa Cruz Patch AM is brought to you in part by T-Mobile. After investing billions to light up their network from big cities to small towns, T-Mobile is America's best mobile network in the US, according to Ookla Speedtest. We thank T-Mobile for their support in helping to keep communities like ours connected and for making today's Santa Cruz Patch AM possible. Find a T-Mobile store near Santa Cruz.


Weather forecast:

  • Sunday: Cooler with sun and clouds, with a high of 64 and low of 52 degrees.
  • Monday: A couple of afternoon showers, temps: high: 62, low: 55.
  • Tuesday: A shower and thunderstorm, with a high of 60 and low of 51 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Video shows massive line for one house near UCSC amid housing shortage (ksbw.com) — UCSC students are facing intense competition for scarce rentals near campus, with lines of more than 100 students vying for a single house and spending hours on housing searches. University officials say they’re working to boost student housing capacity by 40%, including new Delaware Avenue apartments and a partnership with Cabrillo College, and urge students to start their fall housing hunt immediately.    

• Update: Shingle Fire in Santa Cruz County (sacbee.com) — A new wildfire dubbed the Shingle Fire was discovered this afternoon on private land in Santa Cruz County, starting around 4:04 p.m. and burning for less than an hour so far. Officials have not yet reported any containment or identified a cause, and residents should stay alert for further updates from fire authorities.    

• Felton Fire Protection District: A Local History of Volunteer Service and Growth (slvpost.com) — Felton’s fire protection story traces how local volunteers in the Santa Cruz Mountains built today’s Felton Fire Protection District, from informal bucket brigades to a tax-funded special district. The piece highlights the Fetherston family, New Deal-era station construction, and the long-standing Kirby Street firehouse that still serves nearby mountain communities today.    


📸 Around Santa Cruz

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!


🗓 Upcoming Events in Santa Cruz

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!


📣 Santa Cruz Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

    Sunday April 19
  • Fascial Maneuvers: Upper Body Expansion
    Breath+Oneness Yoga , 708 Capitola Ave , Capitola
    11:00 am
  • Redwood Loop Tour - Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
    Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park , 101 N Big Trees Park Road , Felton
    12:00 pm
  • Big Basin: Redwood Grove Guided Walk
    Big Basin Redwoods State Park , 21600 Big Basin Way , Boulder Creek
    12:00 pm
  • Intro to Gong Playing
    Breath+Oneness Yoga , 708 Capitola Ave , Capitola
    3:30 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.


 

Thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making Santa Cruz PatchAM possible:

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Ben came right home!
    Thank you neighbors. Now calming down the dog sitter on the phone! Ugh. He came back! (Nextdoor Lower Escalona)
  • Hi neighbors.
    We had a new dog sitter watching our dog and she just got there fri (4/17) and he bolted. She ia looking for him And we arenout of town. So stressful… (Nextdoor Lower Escalona)
  • The Stepping Stones Group, LLC posted a job opening for School Counselor in Santa Cruz. Apply here.
  • Scotts Valley USD posted a job opening for Flag Football Coach, High School - Girls in Scotts Valley. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Santa Cruz here.

🗞 Nearby News

Felton

  • Santa Cruz County Live Music & Entertainment Roundup: Friday April 17 (slvpost.com)

Soquel

  • Harbor beach volleyball spikes visiting MVC (santacruzsentinel.com)
  • California's clean fleet rules must not compromise emergency response (santacruzsentinel.com)
  • CRVS Stock Surges 10%, Hits 50-DMA For First Time In A Month – Here's Why Goldman Sachs Sees A 166% Upside (stocktwits.com)

Scotts Valley

  • Mahan's Poll After Swalwell Exit Shows Bigger Boost in Support Than Independent Poll (sanjoseinside.com)

Ok Santa Cruz! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: They don't meet the koalafications! (Thank you Gary M. for sending it in!)Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!


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