Community Corner
š± Patch AM: Are you on track with Santa Cruzās El NiƱo winter checklist?
Be sure to catch Santa Cruz Kirtan on the Santa Cruz Patch calendar

Good morning Santa Cruz! We're back in your inbox this morning to keep you in the loop with what's happening in and around town. Grab a cup of coffee and read on. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- Are you on track with Santa Cruz's El Niño winter checklist?
- See the rare wave-like clouds that rolled over Santa Cruz
- How might a Santa Cruz-connected educator reshape Pajaro Valley's school board?
Also on today's calendar: Ranch Kid Field Trip Day at Wilder Ranch and 9 more events.
Today's riddle: What do an island and the letter "t" have in common? 🤔 (Answer below!)
From our Partner
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- Sunday: Low clouds, then some sun, with a high of 72 and low of 56 degrees.
- Monday: Partly sunny and cool, temps: high: 71, low: 56.
- Tuesday: Cool with clouds and sun, with a high of 69 and low of 56 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
• Preparing Santa Cruz today for the winter ahead (santacruzsentinel.com) — City crews are already clearing drains, shoring up creeks, and planning long-term coastal protections to get Santa Cruz ready for potentially stormy El Niño conditions this winter. Residents are urged to sign up for CruzAware alerts, know their evacuation zones, prepare emergency supplies, and use the county's El Niño resource hub to reduce flooding and power-outage risks at home.
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• Rare tornado spotted in Utah mountains (cnn.com) — Santa Cruz makes a brief but striking appearance in this national weather video roundup, featuring rare wave-like asperitas clouds that recently rippled over the local sky like an upside-down ocean. The rest of the piece highlights unusual weather and climate phenomena around the world, but the Santa Cruz segment offers residents a quick, visual look at an uncommon cloud display right overhead.
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• Andrew Goldenkranz seeks to bring experience to Pajaro Valley school board (santacruzsentinel.com) — Aptos resident and longtime educator Andrew Goldenkranz is running for Pajaro Valley Unified's Trustee Area 1 seat, drawing on experience that includes leading Pacific Collegiate School in Santa Cruz and serving on local boards like Housing Santa Cruz County. He says he wants to stabilize board relations, improve budget decisions after recent layoffs, and keep any school closures focused on minimizing disruption for students.
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📸 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!
★ Featured events ★
- Santa Cruz Kirtan →
Santa Cruz
7:30 pm
Monday September 21
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- Community Kirtan with Rob & Melissa →
Yoga Studio, 3707 Portola Drive, Santa Cruz
7:30 pm - Companions of the Sun with Farima Berenji →
Branciforte Branch – Santa Cruz Public Library, 250 Gault St., Santa Cruz
3:00 pm - Lookout Santa Cruz mayoral election forum: Ryan Coonerty and Ami Chen Mills →
The 418 Project, 155 River Street South, Santa Cruz - Ranch Kid Field Trip Day at Wilder Ranch →
1401 Coast Rd, Santa Cruz
11:00 am - Capitola Beach Festival: Toy Takeover! →
Capitola Village, Capitola
8:00 am - Simplify To Thrive Online Workshop →
9:00 am - Santa Cruz Elks Lodge Fall Festival →
Santa Cruz Elks Lodge #824, 150 Jewell St, Santa Cruz
12:00 pm - Oktoberfest Santa Cruz →
Messiah Lutheran Church, 801 High St, Santa Cruz
12:00 pm - Fire & Grace & Flamenco with Special Guests Fanny Ara and Ian Scarfe →
UCSC Music Center Recital Hall
7:30 pm - Santa Cruz Bake & Gather →
Midtown Community Center, 115 South Morrissey Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA 95062
1:30 pm - Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour →
Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz
7:00 pm
Monday September 21
Tuesday September 22
Wednesday September 23
Saturday September 26
Friday October 2
Saturday October 10
📣 Santa Cruz Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
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:
- Illusive Comics & Games, LLC — (408) 985-7655
- El Capulin Nursery — (831) 840-9195
Click here to show your appreciation! 💚
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- SantaCruz Online —Michael A. Lewis Read on Patch
- Greyhound Rock Open House in Davenport, CA —merritt grooms Read on Patch
- Sometimes we never know the impact we have on those we interact with, so just be kind to one another.
It's free and it feels so good. A simple gesture or compliment to a stranger can make a change to the way their day is going. I just traveled to… (Nextdoor NOLO) - In the past few weeks I've been riding my bike with my husband from our home down the levy to the boardwalk trestle and back.
I haven't done this in years due to the increasing feelings of fear and risk related to individuals who took over these spaces. I've been enjoying… (Nextdoor Grant Park)
- Babki posted a job opening for Part-Time Game Tester in Santa Cruz. Apply here.
- Panda Restaurant Group posted a job opening for Shift Leader (P1-1360917-1) in Santa Cruz. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Santa Cruz here.
🗞 Nearby News
Capitola
- California's "Cigarette Surfboard" documentary highlights scourge of discarded cigarette butts (cbsnews.com)
Felton
- Bringing the art of repair back to the community (pressbanner.com)
- Raynes Releases 'Pure Blue' Single Ahead of Debut Album RADIO REMIND ME (broadwayworld.com)
- Brandy Clark to Release THE BIRD Album January 15; TAKE FLIGHT WORLD TOUR 2027 (broadwayworld.com)
Soquel
- Harbor's defense steals the show in win over Rancho San Juan (santacruzsentinel.com)
- Origins of Santa Cruz County place names (santacruzsentinel.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 are both in the middle of water. (Thank you Curt K. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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