What's up Santa Cruz! Let's start this morning right by getting caught up on what's going on around town. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☀️
In today's newsletter:
Also on today's calendar: Rushadicus the Cello Goblin and 2 more events.
Today's riddle: Why do fish live in salt water? 🤔 (Answer below!)
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1. Santa Cruz County holds first meeting to discuss soil steam pilot project (santacruzsentinel.com) — Santa Cruz County is testing soil steaming in Pajaro Valley berry fields near local schools as a possible alternative to pesticide fumigation, aiming to protect farmworkers, neighbors, and crop yields. Partnering with UC Santa Cruz, state regulators, and a tech firm, the pilot runs through fall with more community outreach planned and results expected to shape future farming practices.
2. Neighbors oppose possible Seabright housing development (fresnobee.com) — A major six-story housing proposal at 1214 Soquel Ave. in Santa Cruz's Seabright neighborhood has drawn strong opposition from residents and both declared mayoral candidates, who worry about traffic, lost local businesses, and neighborhood character. Developer Workbench is weighing either a large 100% affordable project or a senior living facility and says it's still refining designs and planning more community outreach before filing a formal application.
3. Teen pleads not guilty in Capitola Mall fatal stabbing of grandmother (amedpost.com) — A 19-year-old Santa Cruz resident has pleaded not guilty in the fatal July stabbing of Capitola artist and new grandmother Rachell Summers outside Capitola Mall, a case handled by Santa Cruz police and county prosecutors. Court records describe earlier concerns about his violent fantasies, while Summers' loved ones are raising money for her infant grandson's future through a college fund.
4. Gravity Water Turns Rooftops Into Clean Water Systems (goodtimes.sc) — A Santa Cruz–born nonprofit called Gravity Water is turning rooftop rain into safe drinking water for schools across Asia-Pacific, using systems first imagined amid our own winter storms. Founder Danny Wright, a Santa Cruz local, now pairs the nonprofit with a for-profit company, Cloudwell, to scale this climate-resilient technology globally while keeping its public-good mission rooted here at home.
5. Becky G and Carlos Santana feature UC Santa Cruz graduates in 'Mi Gran Amor' music video (ksbw.com) — UC Santa Cruz grads and campus scenes are prominently featured in the new "Mi Gran Amor" music video from Becky G and Carlos Santana, now streaming on Santana's YouTube channel. The project grew from Becky G's surprise June visit to campus, where she keynoted a Chicanx Latiné celebration, celebrated local family roots in Watsonville, and received the Chancellor's Medal.
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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: Pepper makes them sneeze (Thank you Karla H. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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