Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: How will Santa Cruz County’s new workforce report affect your paycheck?
Also, don't miss Spanish Guitar Concert in Santa Cruz with Latin Grammy Winner Twanguero on the Santa Cruz Patch calendar

Good day Santa Cruz! We're here again with what you need to know today. Grab a cup of coffee and read on. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- How will Santa Cruz County's new workforce report affect your paycheck?
- How will teen commissioners reshape youth policy in Santa Cruz County?
- What Steamer Lane's latest cliff collapse means for your coastal safety
Also on today's calendar: Spanish Guitar Concert in Santa Cruz with Latin Grammy Winner Twanguero and 5 more events.
Today's riddle: Where do math teachers go on vacation? 🤔 (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®. Based on analysis by Ookla® of Speedtest Intelligence® data 1H 2026. 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.
- Saturday: Mostly sunny and delightful, with a high of 77 and low of 51 degrees.
- Sunday: Mostly sunny and pleasant, temps: high: 76, low: 53.
- Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high of 81 and low of 56 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. Workforce report highlights job growth, economic challenges in Santa Cruz County (pressbanner.com) — Santa Cruz County's latest State of the Workforce report shows modest job growth but a heavy tilt toward lower-wage work, leaving many residents short of a true living wage. It highlights sector gains and losses, population decline, and five priority strategies, from AI training to expanded apprenticeships, that could shape local career opportunities and affordability.
![]()
2. New Santa Cruz County Youth Commission holds first meeting (santacruzsentinel.com) — A new Santa Cruz County Youth Commission of 11 high school students has just held its first full meeting, giving local teens a formal voice in county policy. Members will meet monthly during the school year to advise supervisors on youth issues like mental health, road safety near schools, and representation for disabled and Latino students. Their recommendations could shape future programs and services for young people countywide.
![]()
3. Cliff continues crumbling at Steamer Lane in Santa Cruz (mercurynews.com) — Cliffs at Steamer Lane in Santa Cruz continue to crumble, with another sizable collapse prompting city officials to remind visitors to heed warning signs and stay back from bluff edges. Experts link the erosion to powerful swells and broader coastal changes, while the city advances long-term shoreline plans to protect West Cliff and adapt to future storms and El Niño conditions.
![]()
4. Lifeguards warn of dangerous conditions as families visit Santa Cruz beaches for Labor Day (ksbw.com) — If you're heading to Santa Cruz beaches this Labor Day weekend, lifeguards are warning about hazardous surf, including high tides, sneaker waves, rip currents, and dangerous rocks and jetties. They urge visitors to stay near staffed lifeguard towers, check in before swimming, and skip the water if conditions feel unsafe. Extra lifeguards will be on duty through Monday so families can enjoy the coast more safely.
![]()
5. Barilla buys better-for-you mac and cheese brand Goodles (fooddive.com) — A fast-growing mac and cheese startup that keeps its headquarters in Santa Cruz has just been acquired by global pasta giant Barilla, but will continue operating as an independent brand. Founded in 2020, Goodles focuses on higher-protein, higher-fiber boxed mac and cheese and plans to use Barilla's backing to expand and innovate while remaining rooted in Santa Cruz.
![]()
📸 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 ★
- Spanish Guitar Concert in Santa Cruz with Latin Grammy Winner Twanguero →
Peace United Church of Christ, 900 High St, Santa Cruz
7:30 pm
Thursday September 10
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- Giacomo Puccini's Opera: The Girl of the Golden West →
Colligan Theater at the Tannery Arts Center, 1010 River St, Santa Cruz
2:00 pm - Giacomo Puccini's Opera: The Girl of the Golden West →
Colligan Theater at the Tannery Arts Center, 1010 River St, Santa Cruz
7:00 pm - PLAYTRI - IRONMAN 70.3 SANTA CRUZ →
Santa Cruz CA - Giacomo Puccini's Opera: The Girl of the Golden West →
Colligan Theater at the Tannery Arts Center, 1010 River St, Santa Cruz
7:00 pm - Hive Live! Featuring Amber Coverdale Sumrall and Jen Siraganian →
Bookshop Santa Cruz, 1520 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz
7:00 pm - John Rybak + Friends @ Discretion Brewing →
Discretion Brewing, 2703 41st Ave, Soquel
5:30 pm - Ranch Kid Field Trip Day at Wilder Ranch →
1401 Coast Rd, Santa Cruz
11:00 am
Sunday September 6
Friday September 11
Sunday September 13
Tuesday September 15
Friday September 18
Wednesday September 23
📣 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!
🗓 Events Nearby
- Village Market | September →
Ben Lomond County Park, 9525 Mill St, Ben Lomond
10:00 am - Harvest Vine and Wine Walk with French Worker's Lunch →
Roberts Ranch Vineyards, 875 Roberts Rd, Ben Lomond
11:30 am - Flat Sun Society →
Felton Music Hall, 6275 Hwy 9, Felton
7:00 pm - Labor Day - Non Student/ Non Staff Day (All Sites)
Scotts Valley Unified Scotts Valley, CA 95066 - No School for Students or Staff
Tierra Pacifica Charter Santa Cruz, CA 95062
Saturday September 5
Monday September 7
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
- Summer Clouds in Santa Cruz.
Pastel on paper. Plein Air in the afternoon… (Nextdoor Alta Vista) - I was heading up N.
Branciforte this morning and witnessed what nearly was a serious accident involving a high school boy and a driver who wasn't paying attention. The… (Nextdoor Prospect Heights)
- Whole Foods posted a job opening for Produce Team Member (Clerk, Floor Service) - Part Time in Los Gatos. Apply here.
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: Times Square (Thank you Jean K. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
👉 Help make Patch AM better
- Help us grow by suggesting local news sources.
- Shape this newsletter with your feedback.
- List items for sale or services offered
We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what's happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.