Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: What do Santa Cruz’s new property assessment appeal rules mean for you?

Also, don't miss John Rybak + Friends @ Henflings Tavern on the Santa Cruz Patch calendar

Patch AM Team's profile picture
Patch AM Team, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge
Monday September 28th Patch AM
Monday September 28th Patch AM (Patch graphic)

Good morning to you Santa Cruz! Catch up on our news and events right here. Keep reading to stay in the know. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • What do Santa Cruz's new property assessment appeal rules mean for you?
  • How a Santa Cruz volunteer's dedication earned national AmeriCorps Seniors recognition
  • How Santa Cruz helped shape Catholic life in the Pajaro Valley

Also on today's calendar: John Rybak + Friends @ Henflings Tavern and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: How do you know the moon is going broke? 🤔 (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. Advertisement

Weather forecast:

  • Monday: Mostly sunny and pleasant, with a high of 74 and low of 50 degrees.
  • Tuesday: Partly sunny and pleasant, temps: high: 78, low: 54.
  • Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high of 80 and low of 56 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Santa Cruz County Adopts Revised Property Assessment Appeal Rules (tpgonlinedaily.com) — If you own property in Santa Cruz, new county rules are changing how you file and fix property assessment appeals, including stricter deadlines, a $50 fee with possible waivers, and clearer postponement and remote-hearing options. The Assessment Appeals Board will now record all proceedings and allow limited late-filing appeals, aiming to clarify the process while adding a bit more paperwork.
   

2. Santa Cruz resident honored as part of AmeriCorps Seniors Nationwide Celebration (santacruzsentinel.com) — A longtime Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County helper has been singled out nationally by AmeriCorps Seniors for years of driving and dispatching rides that keep local older adults connected and safe. The piece also spotlights RSVP Monterey Bay's senior-support programs, a Santa Cruz County real estate firm welcoming back two commercial agents, and a local student's academic honor.
   

3. Catholicism in the Pajaro Valley (santacruzsentinel.com) — Catholic life in the Pajaro Valley has long been intertwined with nearby Santa Cruz, from early mission-era worship to shared clergy, orphanages, and schools that served families across the region. This historical overview traces how Watsonville's churches, College Lake orphanage, and St. Francis School evolved, rebuilt after earthquakes, and remained connected to Santa Cruz's Holy Cross community and the Diocese of Monterey.
   

4. Moment aggressive sea lion knocks Santa Cruz paddle boarder into the ocean and tears at her hair (amedpost.com) — A local paddle boarder was knocked into the water and bitten by a sea lion while out between Capitola Wharf and Privates Beach near Pleasure Point in Santa Cruz, highlighting unusual marine animal behavior in Monterey Bay. Experts link recent aggressive encounters to domoic acid poisoning in sea lions and fur seals, and urge residents to keep at least 150 feet away from affected animals while conditions persist.
   

📸 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 ★

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

📣 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:

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

  • I am now the caretaker of a 72-year-old desert tortoise.
    Looking for other desert tortoise owners for education. I am very concerned about the upcoming rains this year due to El Nino. Appreciate any help. (Nextdoor Happy Valley/Jarvis/Vine Hill)
  • Does anyone have a copy of Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand they'd be willing to let me borrow?
    I currently have a copy from the library but someone else put a hold on it so I can't renew it! It's a long one, so ideally I'd be able to hang onto… (Nextdoor Beach Hill)
  • Santa Cruz City School District posted a job opening for Paraeducator After School Program - 19.5 hrs. - Gault Elementary- Position Starts August 6, 2026 in Santa Cruz. Apply here.
  • Global Medical Response, Inc. posted a job opening for Paramedic in Santa Cruz. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Santa Cruz 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: It's down to its last quarter. (Thank you Linda H. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what's happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

More from Santa Cruz