Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: What neighbors learned about the 168-unit Portola Drive housing proposal

Make time for Rushadicus the Cello Goblin on the Santa Cruz Patch calendar

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Friday August 21st Patch AM
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Greetings Santa Cruz! Your go-to source for what's happening in town is here. Stay in the loop and read on. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • What neighbors learned about the 168-unit Portola Drive housing proposal
  • Will your middle schooler need this new e-bike permit?
  • How Santa Cruz's main weekly promises to correct its own mistakes

Also on today's calendar: Rushadicus the Cello Goblin and 2 more events.

Today's riddle: What is full of holes but still holds water? 🤔 (Answer below!)

From our Partner
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Weather forecast:

  • Friday: Low clouds breaking, with a high of 76 and low of 55 degrees.
  • Saturday: Areas of low clouds, then sun, temps: high: 78, low: 56.
  • Sunday: Areas of low clouds, then sun, with a high of 74 and low of 58 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Proposed Portola Drive affordable housing developers host meeting (santacruzsentinel.com) — A 168-unit, 100% affordable housing project is proposed for Portola Drive in Pleasure Point, drawing a packed community meeting in Live Oak as Santa Cruz County residents debated building height, parking and neighborhood fit. Developers pledged Spanish revival-style design and long-term involvement, while Supervisor Manu Koenig reminded attendees that state housing mandates require 5,000 new units in unincorporated Santa Cruz County.
   

2. Santa Cruz middle schools introduce e-bike parking permits with safety training (ksbw.com) — Middle schoolers at Branciforte and Mission Hill in Santa Cruz now need a free e‑bike safety course to get permits to park their bikes on campus. Developed by the City of Santa Cruz, Ecology Action and local police, the three-part training covers traffic laws, riding skills and supervised street practice as e-bike use and related crashes rise.
   

3. Ethics and Corrections Policy (goodtimes.sc) — Good Times, a Santa Cruz County-based publisher, has adopted a detailed ethics and corrections policy that governs all its local newspapers, magazines and digital outlets. The guidelines spell out how reporters verify information, handle errors, label opinion and sponsored content, and limit AI use, while emphasizing independence from advertisers and clear channels for readers to request corrections or raise concerns.
   

4. Santa Cruz woman celebrates her 100th birthday (santacruzsentinel.com) — A Live Oak centenarian who moved to Santa Cruz to live with her daughter just celebrated turning 100, crediting everyday habits like taking the stairs. Her life story spans wartime switchboard work, earning a physics degree in her 40s, a career with the Army Corps of Engineers, and a growing family of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
   

5. California graduates appear in Santana, Becky G's new music video. Here's why (sfchronicle.com) — UC Santa Cruz graduates are prominently featured in Becky G and Carlos Santana's new music video for "Mi Gran Amor," which uses footage from her surprise keynote at the campus Chicane Latiné celebration. The song and video highlight Latiné immigrants' struggles and pride, echoing Becky G's message to UCSC students about honoring family sacrifices while owning their achievements.
   

📸 Around Santa Cruz

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Santa Cruz

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

📣 Santa Cruz Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

    Saturday August 22
  • Back to School BBQ
    Ocean Alternative Education Center Live Oak Elementary School, 1916 Capitola Rd, Santa Cruz, CA 95
    11:00 am
    • Tuesday August 25
  • Felton Music Hall & (((FolkYeah)) presents... La Luz →
    Felton Music Hall, 6275 Hwy 9, Felton
    7:00 pm
    • Wednesday August 26
  • SPOT Nature Day - Henry Cowell Park
    Tierra Pacifica Charter Santa Cruz, CA 95062
  • Fall Picture Day
    San Lorenzo Valley Elementary School Felton, CA 95018
    8:20 am
  • Wednesday Night Trivia @6:30 PM →
    Cocoa Vino, 312 Capitola Ave, Capitola
    6:30 pm
    • Thursday August 27
  • LO: Back to School Night
    Ocean Alternative Education Center Santa Cruz, CA 95062
    5:00 pm
    • Friday August 28
  • Fort Building Day
    Tierra Pacifica Charter Santa Cruz, CA 95062
    11:15 am

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

 

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • This painting reminds us to slow down and notice the magic around us.
    Exploring tide pools with my daughter has given me some of my most peaceful and grounded memories. Slowing down is immediately required so you don't… (Nextdoor Mid East Side)
  • CallieKitty has been missing for several days now.
    He has an eye that causes weeping and discharge and clouds up the cornea. He hates prescription drops I need to put in his eyes and hides to avoid… (Nextdoor Lee Street)
  • Bellows Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electrical posted a job opening for Customer Service Representative in Santa Cruz. Apply here.
  • Whiting's Foods posted a job opening for Food and Customer Service Team Member 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: A sponge (Thank you Netty W. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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