Local News

Questions on the human and environmental effects from the Moss Landing Battery Plant fire on the Jan. 17, 2025 are still being explored. 

The March 17 Monterey County Board of Supervisors’ meeting contained an update on the progress of the cleanup, what some of the scientists are investigating and what they are discovering. There were four presentations that were followed by questions and comments. 

The first two were by the California Department of Toxic Substance Control (DTSC). One was on the human risk and the second on was on the ecological risk. The final two presentations were by community groups, the Estuary Monitoring of Battery Emissions and Residues (EMBER), and Never Again Moss Landing (NAML). 

First, the county provided an update on the Moss 300 Recovery site. It is one of the three battery systems at the site, and is operated by the Vistra Energy Corporation, but owned by PG&E. It was the one that was mostly destroyed in the Jan. 17, 2025 fire.  

It is in phase one of the cleanup and recovery effort, with 23,800 out of 35,772 lithium-ion battery units—about two-thirds—having been de-energized, removed and sent to an  out-of-state recycling facility. 

Phase two of the recovery is expected to begin in the middle of 2026, with “more extraction and removal,” officials said. 

There had been some discussion of restarting Moss 100, a second site where 256 Tesla power units had provided power before Jan. 17 fire. 

Those units had caught fire on Sept. 20, 2022. According to Dave Gabard from PG&E; the vent shield in a megapack was incorrectly installed, causing thermal runaway from a water leak. It turned out that 88 other megapacks needed to be repaired. Tesla has since modified the units and the alarms. The board declined to restart Moss 100 at this time.

Thermal runaway at a battery plant is a fast-moving chain reaction inside lithium-ion cells that can’t be contained once it starts. Internal temperatures can spike past 572 degrees Fahrenheit in milliseconds. The reaction begins when heat builds faster than it can be released, triggering gas buildup, toxic smoke, fire and, in some cases, explosions.

Hydrogen chloride and carbon monoxide were released in the smoke of the Vistra fire, scientists said. Catch basins collected the water so it did not go into the sloughs or bay. The system was shut down, Hwy. 1 was closed for 12 hours and a “shelter in place order” was issued by county officials. 

Weiying Jiang and Michael Garland, staff toxicologists from the Department of Toxic Substances Control, presented preliminary findings that found that to date there were no strong human health or ecological risks from chronic exposure. Although toxic metals associated with battery construction were found, they determined that the amounts they found were either naturally occurring or not in amounts to put humans or the environment in future danger. 

They noted a February 2025 report from California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) of a decline in the mosquito population after the fire in the area surrounding the Moss 300. They also referenced in that report the finding of 6-inch pieces of what appeared to be fire debris in Hester Marsh. Soon after, those pieces disappeared with the rains. Because DTSC did not start their investigation until eight months after the fire, that debris was not available to investigate. They emphasized that the results are still under review.

Estuary Monitoring of Battery Emissions and Residues (EMBER)—a group of scientists associated with Moss Landing Marine Laboratories—gave the next presentation. They represent Elkhorn Slough Foundation, Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, the Monterey Bay Aquarium and Amah Mutsun Land Trust. 

Kerstin Wasson,who spoke for the group, said that EMBER already had data on many parts of the slough going back years, and jumped into action soon after the Jan. 17 fire. 

That data includes metals measured in Hester Slough in 2023, which served as a baseline for after the fire. 

The large 6-inch pieces of fire debris referenced by the DTSC toxicologists were collected and analyzed, and found to be “pure cathide battery metals.” 

Since many of the pieces dissolved in the rain, it is likely that those metals are in the slough, researchers said.

The pieces were preserved, and are currently available for examination. 

The ash layer on the soil was very thin at 1 to 5 millimeters. When analyzed shortly after the fire, the concentration of nickel was ten times the 2023 measurement. The DTSC sample, which was done 8 months later, measured 3 inches deep in the soil, so the concentration would have been diluted. 

Through their analyses, they concluded that highly concentrated metals of nickel, cobalt and manganese found in thin patchy layers in Elkhorn marshes matched the proportions of metals and particle morphology of batteries. 

The rapid redistribution of the metals from the fallout from rains and tides flowed into the estuarine ecosystem. They did not disappear. 

The team also found cobalt and nickel in collected species of mollusks, crustaceans, fish, plants and algae. 

There is a 10-year study of mussels, but when they were tested after the fire, no evidence of battery metals were found. 

EMBER noted that bioaccumulation can be a slow process, so researchers said there needs to be more research.

EMBER’s main theme was that it is essential to conduct soil samples and take samples of organisms right after the fire to best determine the ecological impacts .

That needs to be followed by long-term sampling to determine if the metals have affected the environment through bioaccumulation. 

Never Again Moss Landing (NAML) gave a thorough report on their findings and their continued activities. That group received results from the hair samples collected earlier in the year from community members. 

NAML’s website contains information with ways to receive emails and to donate. 

Greg Bishop from Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board reported on concerns about the dangers in the runoff after the fire. 

His group is looking to work with Vistra on what’s in the sediment and where it goes. The Moss Landing Harbor gets dredged periodically, and runoff also goes into the sloughs as demonstrated by EMBER’s study on Hester Marsh.

Supervisor Glenn Church, whose district includes the power plant and has been proactive in keeping this issue alive, worried about the danger of continued bio-accumulation over time. 

Speakers from industries such as fishing, farming and tourism, as well as residents, also expressed concern during public comments. One speaker was concerned about Vistra paying for the DTSC’s reports that ended up finding no health or environment risks in their preliminary findings.

The board seemed receptive to the reports and comments, including that the reports should be shared and considered collectively.

A countywide celebration of visual and performing arts is set to run April 16–26. The Ripple Effect Santa Cruz County Arts Festival is the County’s effort to highlight the creative community during California’s Arts, Culture and Creativity Month. 

Organizers said the event brings together local artists, cultural organizations, and venues to showcase a broad range of artistic disciplines, including visual arts, music, dance, theater, poetry, fashion, and interactive workshops.

The festival opens with “Santa Cruz Dancing in the Streets” from 5–9pm in downtown Santa Cruz and concludes with a grand finale at The Grove near the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk from 4–9pm. Events include exhibitions, performances, pop-ups, and hands-on workshops across multiple venues throughout the county. While some activities are free, others, such as the finale, require tickets. 

Each venue manages its own events and ticketing, and parking options vary by location. 

The grassroots, volunteer-driven festival aims to strengthen the local arts community and economy, organizers said.
Watsonville events include various shows, performances by Esperanza del Valle, Ballet Folklorico Dance Company; “Many Truths, One World: Mariposa Arts Showcase & Artwork” by Claraty Arts at Watsonville Center for the Arts; the ongoing PV Arts exhibit, “Hot off the Walls: Art to Go!,” recent paintings by Annie Morhauser at Annieglass; and the Guelaguetza Festival on April 26.

For information, visit rippleartsfestsantacruz.org.

On a recent road trip to Atascadero, a city that lies about 115 miles south of Watsonville, my wife Sarah and I took umpteen diversions off the main highway to gather a better sense of the Salinas Valley and surroundings.

Heading out San Miguel Canyon Road, we caught Hwy. 101 south through Salinas and took our first exit through the tiny town of Chualar. 

The diversion paid off right away when we spotted a massive outdoor mural on the walls on Chaluar Market depicting the Braceros program. Bracero is Spanish for laborer. In the 1960s, the program brought around 5 million Mexicans to the U.S. agricultural industry. On Sept. 17, 1963, a train crashed with a truck carrying about 50 laborers, killing 32 of them in Chualar, as referenced in the mural.

A string of older shops run along downtown Gonzales.(Tarmo Hannula/The Pajaronian)

We were surprised to see a grand entrance to the town of Gonzales, a large green metal archway welcoming people to the small downtown area. Near the Post Office we spotted a group of about 10 men spread out on city benches. I waved to one of them and, as if by cue, every one of them swung around and offered us a hearty wave in return. On the Main Street in Gonzales we passed a number of small shops, many that wore the sign of a lot of years. 

As we passed through Gonzales we noticed the Lucky Bamboo Chinese Cuisine restaurant, couched in the corner of an early-day building beside a drug store with an old neon Rexall Drug sign hanging above its entrance.

Staying on the back roads, we wandered past scads of old barns, windmills and water tanks. We spotted the simple architecture of the 1935 San Bernardo Grange 50G. 

Oil rigs at the Ardo Oil Field, 20 miles north of Paso Robles keep the crude flowing from the ground. (Tarmo Hannula/The Pajaronian)

In a quiet neighborhood near Bradley we rolled past an older home whose large side yard was crowded with older model pickup trucks, most of them rusting and draped in dust and spider webs.

Near Bradley we came upon the Ardo Oil Field about 20 miles north of Paso Robles. 

According to Chevron, the large oil field is the eighth-largest producing oil field in California, and in 2021 produced approximately 7,000 barrels of oil per day.

It was here along the railroad tracks we spotted a red-tailed hawk standing on the metal rails as if posing for western style painting. Then an osprey cruised into the scene, its large wings holding on to the drift of wind.

Birding has long been a part of our travels. My mom was an advanced birder, and she always intoned the notion that it’s a hobby that can follow you wherever you go. She said you don’t have to be on a miles long rugged mountain rail to see birds, noting that she’s spotted amazing hummingbirds in a shopping center parking lot in Arizona, and a peregrine falcon in downtown San Diego.

We got off of Highway 101 in Atascadero and, by arrangement, we headed to the Carlton Hotel in the downtown area for the night. According to the brass plaque on the hotel it was built in 1928 as a single story building. Then, a 52-room hotel on the second floor, called the Annex, opened its doors at a gala event on Nov. 28, 1929. Our room was comfortable, tidy and spacious with a great view of the downtown strip.

In the second half of this story we meet our friends, Brett and Lucia, former teachers in the Pajaro Valley, for dinner in Paso Robles and take in the colors of the downtown corridor.

The Watsonville City Council voted in December to allow workers to clear a homeless encampment on Airport Boulevard and to bill the property owner approximately $300,000 in cleanup costs — $150,000 already spent and another $150,000 estimated for further work.

But the encampment remains, home to several dozen people who have erected makeshift shelters, pitched tents and driven vehicles onto the property.

Now, after reportedly ignoring the city’s requests to address the encampment, the property owner — Fremont-based KDS Dhaliwal Investments — has agreed to conduct the cleanup, Watsonville city spokeswoman Michelle Pulido said.

“He has agreed to do the cleanup, so he is going to do the outreach and seek out the resources,” she said.

The timeline remains unclear, though Pulido estimated the process could take a few weeks.

The City Council declared the parcel a public nuisance on Nov. 18, 2025.

The 2.75-acre wooded property along Corralitos Creek, across from the Freedom Centre shopping plaza, has been the focus of ongoing complaints and enforcement efforts. The site — identified as parcel 014-021-01 and lacking a formal street address — is home to as many as 40 people, according to city officials.

Over the past several years, neighbors and officials have raised concerns about accumulating garbage, makeshift shelters and vehicles leaking fluids onto the ground. City staff say activity at the encampment — including bathing, washing clothes and the discharge of bodily waste — has contributed to contamination of the creek.

Watsonville Senior Code Enforcement Officer Ruben Vargas previously described the situation as “untenable” and in need of abatement. Officials also report widespread alcohol and drug use at the site, with used needles found among the debris.

KDS Vice President of Operations Karam Singh has said the company delayed enforcing trespassing rules amid a dispute with the city over development plans for the site, which have included a car wash or retail use. Singh said the company intends to install fencing after the cleanup is completed.

City Attorney Samantha Zutler said the city will place a lien on the property if cleanup costs are not reimbursed.

Several people living at the encampment attended a recent City Council meeting, urging officials to pair any enforcement action with housing assistance. Residents said promises of services made during a previous sweep were never fulfilled. Many of those living at the site face mental health and substance use challenges, according to officials and advocates.

Santa Cruz County residents are being encouraged to apply for the next Civil Grand Jury, a volunteer watchdog panel that investigates local government operations and issues public reports aimed at improving transparency and accountability.

The 2026–27 term begins July 1, with the Superior Court expected to begin reviewing applications and interviewing candidates in the coming months, according to a statement from Santa Cruz County Superior Court Judge Katherin Hansen, who oversees the county’s civil grand jury.

Each of California’s 58 counties is required to impanel a civil grand jury annually—the only state in the nation with such a system. Unlike criminal grand juries, the civil panel operates as an independent investigative body, reviewing local agencies, programs and policies. Its work is conducted confidentially, but findings and recommendations are released in public reports.

In Santa Cruz County, the panel typically includes 19 members and 11 alternates who serve one-year terms and contribute about 20 hours per week, depending on the scope of investigations.

“It’s an incredible sense of reward and satisfaction when you’re done,” said Santa Cruz resident Kim Horowitz, who served as foreperson during the 2023–24 term and returned as a juror the following year. “Being a grand juror is the one way that just kind of an ordinary citizen can do something that has a real impact on local government and how it operates.”

In addition, Horowitz said she made the connections she sought after retirement.

“You’ve made lifelong friends in the process,” she said. “There’s a group of us ladies that get together every week. So you definitely keep in touch with people. You have a real kind of bond that’s formed.”

The commitment can be substantial. Jurors often spend months examining complex issues ranging from jail operations to building permitting and how the county allocates voter-approved tax revenue.

“The number of hours that a juror spends depends on how many investigations they want to get involved in,” Horowitz said, adding that some participants underestimate the workload and leave before completing the term.

“They should go in with their eyes open,” she said. “It is a lot of work. It’s a big commitment.”

Still, Horowitz said the experience offers both civic impact and personal connection.

“You just feel a real sense of accomplishment and reward,” she said. “In addition to the fact that you’ve made lifelong friends in the process.”

Recent grand juries have tackled a wide range of topics. During the 2024–25 term, investigations included climate action efforts, the county’s building permit process, human trafficking and operations within the Health Services Agency. The previous year’s panel examined county road conditions, jail healthcare and reentry services, child protective services and housing policy in the city of Santa Cruz.

The Civil Grand Jury completed nine reports in Horowitz’s first year and six in the following term.

While agencies are required to formally respond to grand jury findings, they are not obligated to implement recommendations. That can be frustrating, Horowitz said, but public scrutiny often prompts change, because the reports go to the Board of Supervisors and the media.

This often results in the “grand jury effect,” when departments begin making improvements even before investigations are complete.

Hansen said the panel plays a key role in local governance.

“The purpose of the civil grand jury is to strengthen local government through careful oversight, investigations, and thoughtful recommendations,” she said in the statement.

Officials are seeking applicants who are collaborative, community-minded and interested in public service. No prior experience is required.

Information and application materials are available at bit.ly/4mbgQdT. Questions can be directed to hr****@************rt.org.

A worker monitors the bottling process of apple juice at S. Martinelli & Co. in Watsonville on March 23, 1954.

Applications for the California Arts Council’s Individual Artists Fellowship program will open on April 15th.

The individual arts fellowship, which launches on the central coast, will accept applications from creators across Monterey, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, and Ventura counties. 

There are three fellowships being awarded: Emerging Artist Fellows for artists beginning their public careers, with a $5,000 award; Established Artist Fellows for mid-career artists with a consistent body of work, with a $10,000 award; and the Legacy Artist Fellows for artists with a significant body of work produced over a substantial period of time, with a $50,000 award.

The California Arts Council has selected Arts Council Santa Cruz County, which focuses exclusively on the Central Coast, as one of eight organizations statewide to lead the Individual Artists Fellowship. 

By collaborating with local arts agencies across neighboring counties, the program ensures that artists throughout the region receive the application support needed to access these state-funded fellowships.

The fellowships provide unrestricted funding, allowing artists to use the awards for any purpose that supports their creative endeavors.

Applicant orientations will be offered on April 15 from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., and April 23 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Zoom.. 

For marketing materials and toolkits, click here. 

For more information and links to register, click here.

The post Applications for artist fellowships open April 15th appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

Esta traducción fue generada utilizando inteligencia artificial y ha sido revisada por un hablante nativo de español; si bien nos esforzamos por lograr precisión, pueden ocurrir algunos errores de traducción. Para leer el artículo en inglés, haga clic aquí.

La ciudad de Watsonville y su departamento de policía están organizando un par de reuniones comunitarias para recopilar la opinión de los residentes sobre una nueva propuesta para liberar al violador convicto Michael Cheek de la custodia estatal y alojarlo en un hotel ubicado en el principal corredor comercial de la ciudad.

La propuesta, presentada por el Departamento de Hospitales Estatales de California (DSH), solicita al Tribunal Superior del Condado de Santa Cruz que libere a Cheek de la custodia y lo ubique en un motel situado en el 970 de Main St. en Watsonville, una zona cercana a parques y espacios orientados a familias. Si el tribunal rechaza la ubicación en Watsonville, Cheek podría ser alojado en un hotel en Ocean Street en Santa Cruz.

Las reuniones comunitarias están programadas para el 13 de abril a las 5:30 p.m. en la escuela secundaria Cesar Chavez y el 20 de abril a las 5:30 p.m. en la escuela primaria Starlight, según un comunicado de prensa de la ciudad.

Cheek fue condenado en 1980 por secuestrar a una mujer de 21 años en Seacliff State Beach y violarla a punta de pistola. Tras escapar de la custodia un año después, fue condenado por cometer un delito casi idéntico contra una menor de 15 años en el condado de Lake.

Cheek ha estado bajo custodia estatal desde 1981 y ha pasado casi 26 años en un hospital estatal del condado de Fresno. Fue autorizado para su liberación en 2019, pero el estado no pudo encontrar un lugar adecuado en la comunidad. En 2024, un plan para trasladarlo a una vivienda supervisada en un vecindario de Aptos se frustró tras las objeciones de funcionarios públicos y vecinos.

Funcionarios de Watsonville y Santa Cruz han expresado una fuerte oposición a la propuesta, afirmando que ubicar a Cheek en sus comunidades no es lo mejor para los residentes. Autoridades de Santa Cruz han señalado que se oponen a que Cheek sea ubicado en cualquier parte del condado de Santa Cruz.

La policía de Watsonville está alentando a operadores de educación en casa o guarderías cercanas al lugar propuesto a comunicarse con el capitán Donny Thul al 831-768-3314 o por correo electrónico a donny.thul@watsonville.gov. La ciudad también indicó que quienes no puedan asistir a las reuniones pueden enviar sus comentarios al tribunal antes del 27 de abril a través del correo electrónico criminalinfo@santacruzcourt.org.

Una audiencia sobre la posible ubicación está programada para el 22 de mayo a la 1:30 p.m. en el Tribunal Superior de Santa Cruz.

¿Tiene algo que decir? Lookout da la bienvenida a cartas al editor, dentro de nuestras políticas, de los lectores. Pautas aquí.

The post Watsonville organiza reuniones comunitarias tras propuesta de ubicar al violador Michael Cheek en un hotel de Main Street appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

The City of Watsonville and its police department are hosting a pair of town halls to gather community input about a new proposal to release convicted rapist Michael Cheek from state custody into a hotel located on the city’s main commercial corridor. 

The proposal, filed by the California Department of State Hospitals (DSH), is asking the Santa Cruz County Superior Court to release Cheek from custody and house him in a motel located at 970 Main St. in Watsonville, an area near parks and family-oriented spaces. If the court rejects the Watsonville location, Cheek could be placed in a hotel on Ocean Street in Santa Cruz. 

A map showing the location where the California Department of State Hospitals is proposing to place convicted rapist Michael Cheek. Credit: City of Watsonville

The town halls are scheduled for April 13 at 5:30 p.m. at Cesar Chavez Middle School and April 20 at 5:30 p.m. at Starlight Elementary School, according to a media release from the city. 

Cheek was convicted in 1980 of kidnapping a 21-year-old woman off Seacliff State Beach and raping her at gunpoint. After escaping from custody a year later, Cheek was convicted of committing a nearly identical crime against a 15-year-old in Lake County. 

Cheek has been in state custody since 1981, and has spent nearly 26 years in a Fresno County state hospital. He was cleared for release in 2019, but the state couldn’t find a placement in a community setting. In 2024, a plan to release him into a supervised home in an Aptos neighborhood fell through following objections from public officials and neighbors. 

Watsonville and Santa Cruz city officials have strongly opposed the proposal, saying that placing Cheek in their communities is not in the best interest of residents. Santa Cruz officials say they object to  placing Cheek anywhere in Santa Cruz County. 

Watsonville police are encouraging homeschool or daycare operators that are nearby the proposed location to contact Watsonville Police Capt. Donny Thul at 831-768-3314 or donny.thul@watsonville.gov. The city also said those unable to attend the town halls can submit their comments to the court by April 27 via email at criminalinfo@santacruzcourt.org.

A placement hearing is scheduled for May 22 at 1:30 p.m. at the Santa Cruz Superior Court.

The post Watsonville to hold town hall meetings following proposal to place convicted rapist Michael Cheek in Main Street hotel appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

After years of mounting costs and declining business, longstanding vegetarian restaurant Dharma’s in Capitola warned it could close, prompting an immediate surge of community support that filled tables and boosted short-term revenue. As owner Yogi Shapiro prepares to take over from his father, he’s now working to adjust prices, portions and the restaurant’s model to stay viable in a changing dining landscape.

The post A call for help brings diners back to Dharma’s, but long-term challenges remain  appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

National Weather Service meteorologists say they cannot determine whether Santa Cruz set heat records during last month’s extreme temperatures because a 130-year-old volunteer-run climate station — the only site meeting strict long-term data standards — stopped operating in 2022, leaving a gap in the official record despite widespread unofficial measurements from other local sensors.

The post Did Santa Cruz have record-breaking heat last month? NWS meteorologists can’t say after 130-year-old weather station stopped running in 2022  appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

The Watsonville High boys soccer team had one unforgettable season this past winter by collecting not one, but three championship trophies. 

It began with a Pacific Coast Athletic League Mission Division crown, followed by the program’s 13th Central Coast Section title and then the first-ever California Interscholastic Federation Northern Regional championship.

Without a doubt, the Wildcatz’s championship run was the definition of a true collective effort. 

But if there was one player who stood out amongst them all, it was senior forward Diego Guillen, who used his height and strength to his advantage in most situations on the pitch. He was named the PCAL Mission Division’s Offensive Player of the Year for the 2025-26 season.

Guillen tallied 71 points—24 goals and 23 assists—for the ‘Catz, according to statistics on the Max Preps website.

Gonzales senior Jorge Uribe was named the Mission Division’s Most Valuable Player as he finished with 62 points—28 goals and six assists. Teammate Luis Cabada was named the Defensive Player of the Year.

Guillen, along with seniors Eliseo Mora, Jose Ortiz and Adrian Fernandez each earned All-PCAL First Team honors for Watsonville, which finished with a 22-2-2 overall record this season.

Teammates Damian Mora, Alan Fuentes, Damien Amador and Damien Moreno each earned all-league second team honors.

Benjamin Cabrera of Monterey Bay Academy in La Selva Beach was named the PCAL Santa Lucia Division’s Offensive Player of the Year.

Pacific Coast Athletic League All-League Boys Soccer Teams Mission Division Individual Awards

Most Valuable Player: Jorge Uribe, Gonzales

Offensive Player of the Year: Diego Guillen, Watsonville

Defensive Player of the Year: Luis Cabada, Gonzales

First Team

Diego Guillen, Watsonville

Eliseo Mora, Watsonville

Jose Ortiz, Watsonville

Adrian Fernandez, Watsonville

Jorge Uribe, Gonzales

Luis Cabada, Gonzales

Jorge Lara, Gonzales

Emilio Padilla, Salinas

Jayden Hernandez, Salinas

Angel Moreno, King City

Rafael Merino, King City

Juan Carlos Lopez, Seaside

Andres Perez, Pajaro Valley

Zach DaSilva, Stevenson 

Second Team

Damian Mora, Watsonville

Alan Fuentes, Watsonville

Damien Amador, Watsonville

Damien Moreno, Watsonville

Luis Benavides, Gonzales

Kevin Tavares, Gonzales

Emmanuel Valdez, Gonzales

Mattheus Mariscal, Salinas

Henry Rempert, Salinas

Abiel Gomez, King City

Bryan Gonzalez, King City

Osvaldo Garcia, Seaside

Raymond Mata, Pajaro Valley

Soren Hilman, Stevenson

Richard Chamberlin All-Sportsmanship Team

Alan Fuentes, Watsonville

Gonzales, Jorge Lara

Henry Rempert, Salinas

Eduardo Acosta, King City

Felipe Garcia, Seaside

Jesus Segura, Pajaro Valley

Blake Jones, Stevenson

Elgi Bellizio All-Sportsmanship team

Stevenson

Cypress Division Individual Awards

Most Valuable Player: Jesus Ortiz, Soledad

Offensive Player of the Year: Jesus Ortiz, Solead

Defensive Player of the Year: Kristian Rocha, North Monterey County

First Team

Jesus Ortiz, Soledad

Bryan Alvarado, Soledad

Jason Rico, Soledad

Joshua Guzman, Soledad

Miro Balaban, Carmel

Alex Castagna, Carmel

Bodhi Melton, Carmel

Alex Sanchez, Rancho San Juan

Osvaldo Garcia, RSJ

Patrick Tracey, Monte Vista Christian

Kristian Rocha, NMC

Joseph Rocha-Ayala, Ceiba College Prep

Tristian Thelen, Pacific Collegiate School

Second Team

Adrian Sanchez, Soledad

Marcos Negrete, Soledad

Julian Valdez, Soledad

Daniel Magana, Soledad

Sebastian Blessing, Carmel

Georges Guerree, Carmel

Ian Lome, Carmel

Yandel Reyes, RSJ

Jaime Garcia, RSJ

Maxx Montenegro, MVC

Jose Mendoza, NMC

Steven Arana, Ceiba

Joseph McAndrew, PCS

Richard Chamberlin All-Sportsmanship Team

Christian Romero, Soledad

Sam Sibley, Carmel

Angel Salas, RSJ

Johnny Finney, MVC

Roalndo Garcia, NMC

Aiden Rocha-Ayala, Ceiba

Sebastian Gallardo, PCS

Elgie Abellizio All-Sportsmanship team

Carmel

Santa Lucia Division Individual Awards

Player of the Year: Paul Ramirez, Pacific Grove

Offensive Player of the Year: Benjamin Cabrera, Monterey Bay Academy

Defensive Player of the Year: Victor Rodriguez, Marina

First Team

Paul Ramirez, Pacific Grove

Grady Burczynski, Pacific Grove

Aidan McFarland Walton, Pacific Grove

James Lowen, Pacific Grove

Brandon Miranda, Marina

Victor Rodriguez, Marina

Hubert Garbaczonek, Marina

Moises Barrelleza-Camarena, St. Francis

Colton Stevens, St. Francis

Benjamin Cabrera, MBA

Joao Zidan, MBA

Diego Silva, York

Rai Fleizach, Oakwood

Christian Saldivar, Anzar

Second Team

Noah Abundis, Pacific Grove

Oliver Crandall, Pacific Grove

Alex Duarte, Pacific Grove

Bennette Paterson, Pacific Grove

Adriano Guzman, Marina

Victor Rodriguez, Marina

Tony Reyes, Marina

Ezequiel Barrelleza-Camarena, St. Francis

Vince Tovar, St. Francis

Davi Ravagnani, MBA

Jorge Estrada, MBA

Daniel Scott, York

Robin Klinghauf, Oakwood

Rickey Gutierrez, Anzar

Richard Chamberlin All-Sportsmanship Team

Noah Abundis, Pacific Grove

Hubert Garbaczonek, Marina

Gabriel Suarez, St. Francis

Finn Rhoads, York

Vitor Matias, MBA

Kenny Jeudy Bourdeau, Oakwood

Cesar Mutul, Anzar

Elgie Bellizio All-Sportsmanship team

York

This April is Global Volunteer Month—a time to honor the thousands of volunteers who show up for our community all year long. Research backs up what volunteers already know: service strengthens people, reduces isolation, and builds purpose. It reminds us we’re not alone.

When the world feels heavy, when we’re facing seemingly insurmountable challenges, volunteering brings us back to center—back to what matters. Back to community. Back to the knowing that one person can make a difference.

However you choose to give matters. Because volunteering changes everything!

This month, we invite you to take action: Volunteer your time, advocate for your favorite cause, or donate to support the power of volunteerism in our community.

April 18th: The biggest beach clean up of the year! Join Inspector Planet, Santa Clara University, UCSC Athletics, and the Volunteer Center to celebrate community, connection, and clean beaches! All ages and abilities are welcome. 10 Ways to Volunteer Locally

1. Join the Main Beach Clean-Up
   Saturday, April 18, 2026 | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
   Let’s come together in community and service. All ages and abilities welcome—whether you’re a long-time volunteer or this is your first time, you are ready to clean the beach or cheer from the deck. Together, let’s celebrate our volunteer community!
   
2. Help Seniors Age Safely at Home
   Install grab bars, change light bulbs, fix smoke detectors. Join the Helping Hands team where small repairs make a big difference. Flexible schedule, meet new friends, stay active while helping older neighbors stay safe.
   
3. Teach Adults English Literacy
   Help adults reach their educational goals and build brighter futures for themselves and their families. Attend a free information session to learn more!
   
4. Get Outdoors with the Santa Cruz County Parks Department:
   Restore habitats, support pollinators, keep our parks beautiful – choose from various outdoor maintenance and beautification roles across the county.
   
5. She Is Beautiful 5k/10k Race – Volunteer Day May 9
   Support domestic violence survivors and families at this uplifting community event on May 9 along West Cliff Drive. Perfect for individuals, families, and workplace teams.
   
6. Prepare Our Community for Emergencies
   Join our volunteer outreach team! Learn how to give presentations or talk one-on-one about disaster preparedness. Help neighbors be prepared, stay safe, and get ready with Listos California and the Volunteer Center.
   
7. Pitch In Santa Cruz County
   Join the community-wide cleanup effort in May with hundreds of neighbors across our community. Find your neighborhood and sign up to Pitch In!
   
8. Bake Birthday Cakes for Foster Kids – Cake4Kids
   Bake and decorate homemade cakes in your own kitchen, then deliver to youth in foster care and at-risk youth. You choose when and how often. (Ages 16+).
   
9. Help Coordinate Rides for Seniors
   As a transportation dispatcher, you will volunteer from home, helping local seniors find rides to doctors appointments, grocery stores, pharmacies, and other essential destinations!
   
10. Find Your Perfect Fit Not sure where you belong? We’ll match you with an opportunity based on your time, skills, and passion. Get matched!

Celebrate Together

After volunteering this month, join us to celebrate! The Be the Difference Awards on May 20 honors the volunteers, nonprofits, and community leaders making Santa Cruz County stronger.

In addition to this year’s honorees, we’ll honor Volunteer Center Executive Director Karen Delaney as she transitions to retirement, marking 40 years of transformative service and visionary leadership that built this thriving volunteer movement.

Whether you are a volunteer or you’re simply inspired by this community, you’re invited to celebrate what’s possible when we show up for one another!

About the Volunteer Center

At the Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County, we connect people for good because meaningful service is the heart of a strong, vibrant community and a healthy, happy life.

For 60 years, Santa Cruz County has trusted the Volunteer Center to help people connect for good, turning compassion into belonging and lasting impact. Our vision is a community where giving is the way of life — where everyone’s gifts matter, kindness is celebrated, and together we build a stronger, healthier, more connected community where everyone thrives.

Learn more at scvolunteercenter.org

The post April is for action: 10 ways to volunteer now in Santa Cruz County appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

With the weekend nearly here, check out things to do around Santa Cruz County with a recommendation from Lily Belli and a specially curated list from Lookout’s BOLO events calendar.

The post Best of Santa Cruz County arts & food events this weekend, April 9-12 appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

This week, I stood before the California State Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Health not only as the CEO of Dientes Community Dental Care, but as a voice for our 18,000 patients in Santa Cruz County—who rely on Medi-Cal for essential dental care. 

My message was clear: reject the Governor’s proposed cuts to Medi-Cal dental benefits. The consequences of repeating past mistakes are too great.

I am grateful to Assemblymember Dawn Addis, Committee Member Mia Bonta and Speaker Rivas for their continued support of oral health care for California’s most vulnerable communities. Their leadership reflects what is truly at stake: not just a budget decision, but the health and dignity of millions.

At Dientes, we have seen what is possible when California invests in comprehensive care. When I began leading the organization in 2004, we served fewer than 7,000 patients, most receiving only minimal care—perhaps a cleaning or a filling. Today, thanks to the Affordable Care Act and Medi-Cal expansion, we serve 18,000 patients annually. They receive life-changing—and often life-saving—care: root canals that stop infections, dentures that restore the ability to eat, and prenatal dental care that protects both mother and child. This is what a functioning safety net looks like.

Now, that progress is at risk.

The Governor’s proposal would eliminate full-scope adult dental benefits for certain Medi-Cal enrollees based on immigration status and cut Proposition 56 supplemental payments that sustain dental providers. While framed as a $2 billion savings, these cuts would in reality shift costs elsewhere—onto hospital emergency rooms and communities already under strain.

We know this because we have seen it before.

In 2009, California eliminated adult Medi-Cal dental benefits. The results were immediate and severe. Preventive care disappeared. Patients delayed treatment until pain became unbearable. Dental infections escalated into medical emergencies. Emergency departments—already stretched thin—became the default providers for preventable dental conditions. This was not cost savings; it was cost deferral, and at a much higher price.

Today, we risk repeating that same pattern. A 2025 analysis from the American Dental Association projects a $400 million loss over five years from eliminating benefits to the 1.5 million undocumented Californians on Medi-Cal, due to increased emergency visits, higher medical costs from untreated disease, and job losses in the healthcare sector. These cuts will not save money—they will move costs into more expensive and less effective parts of the system.

At the same time, reducing Proposition 56 funding threatens to unravel the already fragile provider network that serves Medi-Cal patients. Even now, access is limited: only one in three adults in our community can find a dentist who accepts Medi-Cal. Further reductions will push providers out of the system. Some large dental providers, like Western Dental, are already considering clinic closures. For many families, that would mean losing access to care altogether.

Dental care is not optional—it is essential health care.

Untreated oral disease worsens chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease, complicates pregnancies, and leads to avoidable pain and suffering. These impacts do not stay confined to the mouth; they ripple across the entire healthcare system, increasing costs for everyone.

We should be expanding access to care, not retreating from it.

I urge the Legislature to reject these cuts, protect adult Medi-Cal dental benefits, and preserve Proposition 56 funding. At a minimum, a one-year delay—made possible by stronger-than-expected state revenues—would give patients and providers critical time to prepare and avoid immediate harm.

California has already learned this lesson the hard way. We cannot afford to learn it again.

The choice before us is clear: invest in prevention and dignity or pay far more for crisis and neglect. For the health of our communities and the strength of our safety net, I urge lawmakers to choose wisely.

Laura Marcus is the CEO of Dientes Community Dental Care and a fierce advocate of oral health for all.

The city of Santa Cruz will celebrate the completion of the Wharf End Interim Repairs project, reopening of the southern end of the Santa Cruz Wharf to the public. 

Construction began on Nov 25, 2025 after winter storm damage in 2024. 

The celebration is scheduled for April 29, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., on the south end of the wharf.

The repairs mark a milestone in maintaining one of Santa Cruz’s most iconic community spaces.

“The wharf is where our community comes together to connect, enjoy the coast, and experience everything that makes Santa Cruz special,” parks and recreation director Tony Elliot said. “These repairs ensure this space remains accessible, welcoming, and resilient for years to come.” 

For more information about the Santa Cruz Wharf, ongoing improvements, and upcoming events, visit www.santacruzca.gov/wharf. 

The post Santa Cruz to celebrate completion of wharf repairs appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

The Santa Cruz County housing market began to heat up in March, as usual, with home sales and inventory both ticking up noticeably. Realtors say that some high-end buyers have shifted their perspective, opting to take out mortgages instead of paying all cash, in order to maintain their liquidity among geopolitical and economic uncertainties.

The post Santa Cruz County home sales tick up as more look to invest in real estate appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

OPINION: While Pleasure Point’s female surfer statue has broad support, Nikki Hotvedt takes issue with the proposed location and a process she says has moved forward too quickly.

The post The last patch of old Santa Cruz dirt: Pleasure Point’s female surf statue is kicking up a community dilemma appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

At a Nowruz celebration in Santa Cruz, Iranian students shared food, tradition, and quiet fears—caught between war abroad and uncertainty at home.

Watsonville Police respond to a three-vehicle crash Wednesday on Green Valley Road at Freedom Boulevard. Watsonville Police said that around 2:50pm a man driving a Honda Accord (right) southbound on Green Valley Road appeared to have lost control of his sedan and plowed into the front end of a Mazda sedan with a male driver at the entrance to Taco Bell. The Mazda was then shoved into a GMC Acadia SUV with a male driver. While the Honda driver suffered major injuries, the Mazda driver had minor injuries and the GMC driver was not hurt. The incident is still under investigation.