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On June 11, I had the opportunity to attend the Youth & Adult Partnership (YAP) Summit at Cabrillo College’s Horticulture Center. I attended the event as a member of the United Way of Santa Cruz County’s team helping facilitate the event and as a Cal State Monterey Bay student. I am passionate about youth voice and community change for the betterment of future generations. Throughout the day, youth leaders, educators, nonprofit professionals and community partners had an opportunity to come together and discuss how we can strengthen youth-adult partnerships as well as create spaces where young people are not only invited into conversations but are empowered to create the change they want to see in the world, as Gandhi would say. 

On the day of, I helped support the event behind the scenes. While I was helping, I also had the opportunity to take a step back and witness the conversations taking place. I was able to see youth and adults engage in meaningful conversations about leadership, decision-making and what it honestly means to share perspectives across generations. 

One of the themes that I connected with most was the distinction between giving youth a chance to speak and genuinely listening to what they have to say. Speaking for myself, I feel that young people are invited into spaces as participants, but not always as partners. The YAP Summit is different that way – it challenges partners and community leaders to think differently. The summit created an environment where youth feel valued, heard and respected. This event gives youth the opportunity to be heard and collaborate with leaders in their community. 

Throughout the day, I had the opportunity to hear directly from different peers whose experiences reflected the impact that meaningful youth engagement can have. 

Alina C., a member of Pathways to Possibility (P2P), shared: 

“Being in P2P for the last eight months has been super rewarding! One memory that really stands out to me is when we had our New Year’s party and played the Saran wrap game – it was a great bonding experience. To me, P2P acts as a program that has allowed me to grow both as a person and a peer, therefore allowing me to become a better member of our community.” 

Alina’s reflection reminded me that youth leadership programs are more than just projects, meetings or presentations. They are about young people creating relationships with their community, and helping young people recognize the value they bring to their communities.

I was also inspired by Giovanni (“Gio”), who attended the summit for the first time and participated as both an attendee and presenter. 

“Being able to attend this Youth and Adult Partnership Summit for the first time was an experience I will never forget. I went not only as an attendee but also as a part of one of the presentations. Working alongside United Way has been a choice I will never regret. They allow young people, including me, to show up and be something bigger. Getting to meet the different people that make all of this possible is a surreal experience, and it was inspiring to see not only adults but other youth in the room as well.” 

One of Gio’s most powerful takeaways captured the meaning of the summit: 

“It isn’t the youth changing to fit with the adults, but the adults changing to fit with the youth. It shouldn’t be on the youth to morph who they are to fit in. If adults want to work with youth, they should be willing to create spaces where young people can show up as themselves.”

Gio’s words stayed with me because they challenged a common assumption that youth have to adapt to existing systems. Instead, Gio showed us that authentic partnership requires adults and organizations to reflect on how they can better support and learn from young people. We have ideas and opinions, and with adult experience and guidance, think of what we can accomplish together. 

Another perspective that stood out came from Crystal H., an All Children Thrive (ACT) coach supporting the Pathways to Possibility initiative. Crystal reflected: 

“It felt refreshing to share space with youth and adult leaders and dig into how young people can serve as real experts and partners in systems change. I’m bringing those ideas back to the ACT team to strengthen how we amplify youth voices and build genuine partnership, not just participants. Excited to build and strengthen Pathways to Possibility!” 

She also shared: 

“The YAP Summit gave me real, usable ideas. I’m bringing them back to the ACT team to strengthen how we amplify youth voice and create genuine opportunities for partnership. Youth engagement isn’t a checkbox; it’s a partnership. The summit sharpened how I think about that, and I’m taking those ideas straight to the ACT team and our projects.” 

YAP Summit was a reminder of why this work matters in Santa Cruz County. Growing up here and now as a young adult, there have been moments when I’ve questioned whether my voice would make a difference. Being in a room filled with youth and adult leaders who were actively discussing how to collaborate and better their community, it reminded me that change is possible when people are willing to listen and learn from one another. Events like this are important to this community; they give us the opportunity to learn from people of different walks of life. 

I left the 2026 YAP Summit feeling confident that the ideas shared throughout the day have an opportunity to turn into action. The youth leaders who attended this meeting shared their experiences with adult partners so that the adults reflect on how they can improve when collaborating with young people. United 4 Youth’s mission is to “uplift youth voice, expand access to resources and champion youth well-being.” The summit showed what can happen when communities are invited to learn from one another and create change. 

As I continue my journey professionally and as a member of this community, I will take all the lessons, conversations and stories from this year’s YAP Summit and let them empower me to listen and understand other people’s perspectives. I will carry the responsibility to help create spaces where young people are not just present, but encouraged to lead, influence decisions and shape the future of our communities.

Acucar “Sookie” Ramos is a Cal State Monterey Bay student & the Community Impact Coordinator for United Way of Santa Cruz County

The post Reflections from the 2026 Youth & Adult Partnership Summit appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

From beach cleanups to delivering meals, here’s how to join a community built on hope, joy, and belief in people.

Last week at Harvey West Park, something beautiful happened. Volunteers of all abilities gathered to revitalize the Friendship Garden, a special space dedicated to community members with disabilities. They planted, raked, laughed, and connected. It was a simple project with a powerful message: when people come together, communities thrive.

That’s the spirit of volunteering, and the motto of Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County. For forty-four years, under the leadership of Executive Director Karen Delaney, the organization has built something rare: a culture where hope and joy aren’t just words—they’re the backbone of how we show up for each other.

After 44 years as Executive Director, Karen Delaney is stepping into retirement. Her belief: everyone can make a difference. Let’s carry her torch forward – join your community in service today!

And, this is your personal invitation to join the hope and joy club, where everyone is welcome, and every gift matters!

Here’s 10 ways to volunteer (and nurture that hope and joy) this month:

1. July 5: Community Coastal Clean Up at Twin Lakes Help Twin Lakes Beach bounce back after the Fourth of July: collect litter, protect marine life, and meet people who care about keeping our coastline clean. Bring reusable gloves, water, and comfortable shoes. Learn more & sign up →
   
2. Every Saturday: Food Sort With Second Harvest Pack fresh produce and food for families in need at the Watsonville warehouse (7:45am-11am or 11:15am-2:30pm shifts). Bring your family or friends—ages 13+ welcome.
   
3. Child Care Safety Plan Support Help parents plan for the unexpected and protect their children’s future.
   
4. Life Lab Summer Camp Inspire the next generation of gardeners as an assistant camp counselor for children ages 7-10.
   
5. Give Rides to Seniors Be a friendly driver for seniors in need—flexible hours, you choose your schedule, county-wide need – you can be the difference!
   
6. Childcare during Support Groups Watch children while parents attend sobriety support groups—flexible hours, morning and evening shifts available.
7. Youth Planning Committee: Queer, Trans & Allied Summit Help plan an inclusive summit for LGBTQ+ youth and allies on the Central Coast.
   
8. Library Council for Teens Teens! Shape your library’s future and have your voice heard on what comes next.
   
9. Teen Kitchen Project – Delivery Angels Deliver medically tailored meals and brighten the day of someone who needs it most.
   
10. Evergreen Cemetery Friday Work Party Preserve local history and restore this beautiful site. Join us every Friday 9:30am-12pm, all abilities welcome.

Hands in the work, joy in the heart. The joy in these faces is what volunteering looks like.

Looking for something else? Visit scvolunteernow.org for 150 more volunteer opportunities, or meet with our volunteer matchmaker and get paired with your new favorite activity.

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 10 ways to make a difference this July: Volunteer in Santa Cruz County appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

Nurses and their supporters hold an informational picket at Dominican Hospital on June 30. (Amaya Edwards — Santa Cruz Local/CatchLight Local)

LIVE OAK >> Dominican Hospital nurses rallied in front of the medical center on Tuesday, one month after layoff notices were sent to about 20 nurses and staff. Drivers honked their horns in support as they passed dozens of nurses and their supporters chanting, waving signs and blowing whistles. 

Hospital workers say the proposed cuts would jeopardize patient safety by stretching the staff thin and taking time away from patient care. CommonSpirit Health, which owns the hospital and more than 2,000 other health care centers in the U.S., did not say why the cuts were proposed.

CommonSpirit did not make anyone available for an interview with Santa Cruz Local. In an emailed statement, spokesperson Christina Zicklin wrote that “the safety of our caregivers and patients is our highest priority,” and said hospital operations were not affected by the rally.

Born and raised in Santa Cruz, Carly Chavez-Ellis has worked as a nurse at Dominican for three years. She said the cuts would slash “critical” staff positions. In the cardiac unit where she works, they are set to lose the person responsible for coordinating patient transportation and fielding phone calls from family members, other hospitals, doctors, nursing homes, patients who were discharged, and more.

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“It’s scary, because all the nurses are wondering who’s going to take that role,” she said from the picket line. “I fear that nurses will be expected to step up and do those things, and that’s going to take nurses away from the bedside with direct patient care.” 

Chavez-Ellis said the cardiac unit lost a staffer a couple years ago when CommonSpirit reduced the number of aides to three from four.

“Safe staffing saves lives,” she said, adding that the cuts are “under the guise of saving money, but their CEO made $14 million in 2025.”

Carly Chavez-Ellis, left, and Clara Hernandez rally against proposed layoffs at Dominican Hospital. (Amaya Edwards — Santa Cruz Local/CatchLight Local)

Tax returns from the nonprofit show that the 30 top-paid employees each made more than $1 million in the fiscal year ended June 2025, and brought in more than $128 million collectively. CommonSpirit reported a total of $822 million spent on salaries for its roughly 160,000 employees. Top-heavy executive compensation is not unusual for large hospital systems.

Rory O’Moore, who’s worked in health care for nine years and has been at Dominican for two, said the decisions are being made by executives who don’t necessarily understand the direct effects cuts have on patients. 

“This is people’s lives that they’re playing around with, and they just want to save a couple dollars,” O’Moore said. “We’re going to keep escalating until we have something.”

O’Moore said that ostensibly the reason for the cuts is the effect of the Republican-backed One Big Beautiful Bill Act, that decimated funding for Medicaid, but that the effects of that bill also mean fuller emergency rooms and the need for staff has only increased.

“It’s very short-sighted,” O’Moore said of the proposed cuts.

Rory O’Moore, left, and his twin sister, Elaine O’Moore, are nurses at Dominican Hospital. They hold union signs that read ‘Some cuts don’t heal.’ (Amaya Edwards — Santa Cruz Local/CatchLight Local)

Lauren Bailey works in the ER at Dominican and said she is also concerned about the effects on patient outcomes if the cuts go through.

“If these ancillary services get cut, then more is going to be on the plate of the nurses, which means less time with patients, less time being able to review charts, to get reports from the ER nurses trying to get patients upstairs,” she said. Fewer staff would slow the process of moving patients from the ER to other units, she said, which also means fewer available ER beds.

Proposed cuts include the staff responsible for answering call lights from patients, she said, which come from “patients who are asking for emergent things. ‘I have to go to the bathroom. I need pain medicine.’ Basic human needs. And again, that’s going to fall on the plate of the nurses.”

She added, “when you’re in a scenario where you feel like you’re stretched too thin, things get missed.”

Evelia Carter, an environmental services technician, blows a whistle during an informational picket at Dominican Hospital on June 30. (Amaya Edwards — Santa Cruz Local/CatchLight Local)

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The post ‘We’re going to keep escalating’: Dominican Hospital nurses decry proposed layoffs appeared first on Santa Cruz Local.

This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for its newsletters.

California scored another win against the Trump administration in their battle over how to address the homelessness crisis here and nationwide. 

A federal judge this week shot down the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development’s 2025 attempt to divert money away from permanent housing and instead fund temporary shelters and programs that require sobriety. But the judge stopped short of banning the Trump administration from making such changes in the future.

“The federal court’s decision to reject the Trump-Vance Administration’s attempt to disrupt essential housing services for people experiencing homelessness, including families, seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities, is both appropriate and just,” Renee Willis, chief executive of the National Low Income Housing Coalition, wrote in a media release. 

In November, the Department of Housing and Urban Development said jurisdictions applying for about $4 billion in federal Continuum of Care funding can’t spend more than 30% of it on permanent housing – a move that would result in a significant cut to the type of long-term housing that for years has been a cornerstone of the fight against homelessness.

Last year, California communities spent about 90% their share of that money on permanent housing. 

A group of states, including California quickly sued. San Francisco, Santa Clara County and a group of national homelessness nonprofits filed a separate lawsuit. In December, a federal judge in Rhode Island temporarily blocked the changes. In February, Congress ordered HUD to renew grants from 2025 under the old rules. 

This week, U.S. District Judge Mary McElroy partially granted the plaintiffs’ request for summary judgement in both cases. She ruled that the federal agency did not try to foresee the harm its “breakneck” transition away from the country’s longstanding “housing first” model – which prioritizes getting people into housing without first forcing them to seek treatment – would have on the country’s homeless individuals.

“Overall, the actions undertaken by HUD in attempting to hastily eliminate its housing first approach serve as the hallmark of unreasoned decision making,” McElroy wrote. 

HUD did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The ruling wraps up both cases, unless the Trump administration decides to appeal. 

But the fight isn’t over. The Trump administration tried again last month, moving to shift 2026 federal funding away from permanent housing and the housing first framework. Housing advocates tried to challenge that latest shift in the prior lawsuit. The judge rejected that attempt, but welcomed the plaintiffs to file a new lawsuit. 

The housing advocates said they are weighing their next steps.

Have something to say? Lookout welcomes letters to the editor, within our policies, from readers. Guidelines here.

The post Judge shoots down Trump’s homeless funding shift:  ‘The hallmark of unreasoned decision making’ appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

This post is updated throughout the day to reflect the latest incidents. It was last updated at 9:31 a.m..

Here’s what’s happening on the roads this morning…

▼︎ new incidents   ▼︎ long-term incidents

Road incidents as of 9:30 a.m. on July 2

• Alternating lanes are closed on Highway 9 at Riverdale Park in San Lorenzo Valley because of bridge work. The closure is expected to last until 6:59 a.m. on April 30, 2027.
   
• There is one-way traffic on Highway 9 at Cascade Avenue in San Lorenzo Valley because of ongoing work. This closure will last until August 31.
   
• Highway 9 is facing closures in both directions at Pool Drive in San Lorenzo Valley because of bridge work. The closure will end at 5:59 a.m. today.
   
• A lane on North Highway 9 at Two Bar Road in San Lorenzo Valley is closed for bridge work. The closure will end at 6:01 a.m. today.
   
• A lane is closed on westbound SR-152 at Clifford Drive/Ohlone Parkway in Watsonville/Pajaro for asphalt paving. The closure will last until 5:59 a.m. tomorrow.
   
• CHP helped with construction work at the intersection of Highway 9 and San Lorenzo Ave. in San Lorenzo Valley today.
   

Long-term projects

These have been going on for a while, but are still worth keeping in mind.

• Mill St. between Main St. and Highway 9 in Ben Lomond will be closed to general traffic on July 4, August 1, September 5, and October 3 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. Emergency vehicles and local driveway access will still be allowed.
   
• Pine St. (between Hwy 236 and Harmon St.) and Lomond St. (between Pine St. and Railroad Ave.) in Boulder Creek will be closed for the Boulder Creek 4th of July Parade.
   
• Soquel Drive between State Park Drive and Trout Gulch Road in Aptos will be closed on July 4 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. for the annual Aptos 4th of July Parade.
   
• Playa Boulevard will be closed between Palma Avenue and Benito Avenue in La Selva Beach on July 4 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. for the annual La Selva Beach 4th of July Parade.
   

Disclosure: Traffic incidents are partially generated by artificial intelligence. We are constantly working to improve the accuracy and quality of our AI-generated content. However, there may still be errors or inaccuracies. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us.

The post Thursday morning traffic: Highway 9 lane closures, July 4 parade road closures appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

One of the most difficult situations for a young athlete is having to sit on the sidelines following a major injury.

Mostly because they are so used to being active.

Thus was the case for St. Francis High graduate Jacob Jimenez, who went on the “injured reserve” list for three weeks during the football season while he nursed his ailing ribs. 

“It was definitely hard, but I just try to be out there, try to coach [my teammates] up, and be there for them as much as possible,” he said.

During that same time, one of his teammates was also out with an injury. But instead of moping around, they pushed each other until both players were ready to get back on the field.

St. Francis athletic director and head football coach John Ausman paid close attention to how Jimenez handled what could’ve been a potential crisis. 

“You really get to see the character of someone when things go rough, how they respond, and what’s their demeanor,” Ausman said. 

Ausman believes it’s what separates superb athletes such as Jimenez apart from others, and allows them to have success. 

“I knew [he’d return] because of his mentality, because of his character,” Ausman said.

Jimenez overcame the adversity, and earned All-Pacific Coast Athletic League First Team honors in the Mission Division–North. He went on to earn all-league second team honors in boys basketball in the winter, and won a pair of division championships for the track and field team in the spring.  

“What he’s done on the court, on the field and on the track speaks for itself, but what I admire the most is what he does outside of that,” Ausman said. “How he treats all those around him, his family, his little sister whenever she shows up every time. Not only is he a great athlete, great student, but he’s just a better young man, and I couldn’t be more fortunate to have coached him for the last four years.”

Academics was also important to Jimenez, who graduated with a 3.9 grade point average. He was a member of the Varsity Council, and part of the Sports Med Club where he learned the basics of what athletic trainers do. 

“It’s always student before athlete,” he said. “I just take pride in getting good grades and just putting all my effort into the classroom, as well as the field. I owe it to my parents because they sacrificed a lot for me, so the least I could do is try hard in school and just get into good colleges. And hopefully make something out of my life.”

Jimenez is what most coaches and teachers would consider the ideal student-athlete, which is why he was named The Pajaronian’s Male Athlete of the Year for the 2025-26 school year.

“It’s an honor,” he said. “I just like to thank my coaches, my friends, my teammates, my family for just pushing me through everything and helping me get to this point. It just feels good to see all the hard work get noticed.”

The rib injury occurred just two weeks into the young football season in a non-league game against Pajaro Valley on Sept. 6. 

Jimenez waited patiently for his time to return as he continued to put in the work by himself, even when nobody was watching. 

“They get these accolades, which are well deserving, but it’s knowing they truly deserve them,” Ausman said. “Not just because of what God has given them, but taking those gifts and putting in the work to make them the best version of themselves.”

Jimenez hauled in 23 receptions for 435 receiving yards and a pair of touchdowns in seven games played, according to the Monterey Bay Preps website.

Yet, it was his ability to block defenders and sometimes act as a decoy that separated him from other wide receivers. 

“I always try my hardest,” he said. “It’s not all about catching it. What you do off the ball is how you show your love to your teammates. So, if you block for someone, then that’s how you can tell that you care for him.”

For Jimenez, there’s no other sport like football. He talked about working every day just to play one game a week, and the brotherhood that’s created during those grueling summer workouts.

“You’ll never make that type of bond anywhere else because you go through the same stuff,” he said. “You win together, you lose together, you go through everything together, so it’s definitely a brotherhood.”

In the winter, Jimenez reunited with his teammates on the basketball team – another clique he’s been a part of since his freshman year. He finished with an average of 16.2 points per game, according to Monterey Bay Preps.

Jimenez said once all the hard work came together, there was nothing better than being on a team with a bunch of guys working towards the same goal.

St. Francis was in a tight race for the Mission Division crown during most of the season. In the end, they fell short to league co-champions Hollister and Marina.

“I knew it was my last season, so I was just trying to make the most out of every game,” he said. “Just put the pedal to the metal, and then just not let up.”

After the Sharks were eliminated from the Central Coast Section playoffs, Jimenez transitioned to the track team. 

It wasn’t always that way, though. He was once a member of the baseball team during his freshman and sophomore years. 

Jimenez said it was fun at first because all his friends were on the squad, yet he began to feel he wasn’t progressing. He was then convinced by track and field coach Britney Hill to join their program, which boosted his confidence to perform at a high level.

“Sometimes I do miss baseball,” he said. “But track’s good because it’s a team sport, but it’s also just you versus you within your events.”

Jimenez was the PCAL Cypress Division champion in both the high jump and triple jump events, and runner-up in the long jump. He was the top qualifier in the high jump at the PCAL Masters Meet, which earned him a spot to the CCS Championships.

Jimenez has had plenty of role models throughout his athletic career, starting with his parents, Holly and Jaime. He said they sacrificed a lot for him and doesn’t know where he’d be without them.

However, it wasn’t until he met Ausman, who Jimenez said became another father figure by showing players how to be good young men.

“Trying to teach us how to grow up and just be respectable,” Jimenez said.

One of Jimenez’s favorite questions Ausman would ask often was “Rent is due, what are you gonna do?”

Jimenez said when it comes down to the line, and the family’s banking on the paycheck, just put the head down and grind. Always just trying to improve. 

“I feel like that’s always been my goal, just to be the best person I can,” Jimenez said. “But the thing that motivates me is probably my family, just wanting to be good for them and being around for them.”

Jimenez will continue his football career at San Jose City College this upcoming fall.

#tdi_1 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item1 { background: url(https://pajaronian.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/PAJ2627-Jacob-Jimenez-2025-26-Male-AOY-football-WEB-1-80x60.jpg) 0 0 no-repeat; } #tdi_1 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item2 { background: url(https://pajaronian.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/PAJ2627-Jacob-Jimenez-2025-26-Male-AOY-basketball-WEB-1-80x60.jpg) 0 0 no-repeat; } #tdi_1 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item3 { background: url(https://pajaronian.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/PAJ2627-Jacob-Jimenez-2025-26-Male-AOY-WEB-1-80x60.jpg) 0 0 no-repeat; } 1 of 3 Team White's Jacob Jimenez is tackled by Team Black's Gabriel Prieto of Gonzales during the 40th Annual Central Coast High School All-Star Football Game at Rabobank on Saturday, Jan 31. (Raul Ebio/The Pajaronian) St. Francis High graduate Jacob Jimenez finished with an average of 16 points per game for the boys basketball team during the 2025-26 winter season. (Juan Reyes/The Pajaronian) St. Francis High graduate Jacob Jimenez was named The Pajaronian's Male Athlete of the Year for the 2025-26 school year. Jimenez competed for the football, boys basketball and track and field teams during his senior year. (Juan Reyes/The Pajaronian)

Santa Cruz County homeowners embraced backyard cottages after state and local reforms made accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, far easier to build, but that boom is already fading. Rising construction costs, high interest rates and other economic headwinds have sharply slowed new ADU projects, making it harder for the county to meet its housing goals.

The annual Santa Cruz Sunrise Rotary Firecracker Run will honor longtime emcee and community booster Rod Caborn, who died in January after battling ALS, with a new spirit award celebrating the joyful, patriotic flair that made him a beloved Fourth of July fixture.

“We are repeatedly told that artificial intelligence will provide faster, more personalized and more efficient service, Stanford scholar Robert M. Kaplan writes after a series of chatbot misadventures. “Yet consumer frustration with AI interfaces has become commonplace, and many problems remain unresolved. “

This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for its newsletters.

$3.3 million. 

That’s how much May Sung estimates it’ll cost to rebuild her Pacific Palisades home.

With her two-bedroom house atop a hillside abutting the Pacific Ocean, she had what she considered a quaint dwelling since 2005. 

She doesn’t know if she’ll rebuild it on the empty lot there now.

“Because of all the expenses with building on the hillsides, on the coast, I don’t know if I’m going to rebuild or not,” she said. “I may have to sell.”

More than a year after wildfires tore through Los Angeles, state lawmakers are weighing a new proposal that would give the powerful California Coastal Commission more oversight over homes destroyed by future natural disasters. New buyers would need approval from the commission to rebuild, a reversal from current state law that allows homes ruined by fires or other catastrophes to sidestep the controlling state agency.

Buyers today can rebuild homes without commission review as long as they are largely the same as before the disaster and are no more than 10% larger than the original home.

Gov. Gavin Newsom last year broadened these exemptions to include rebuilds that aren’t similar to their original design when he suspended the commission’s authority over rebuilding efforts in L.A. to speed up what so far has been a grueling slog for the city. 

In Malibu and the Pacific Palisades, where many homes hug the Pacific Coast, dozens of parcels of land have been purchased by developers from owners who can’t afford to pay what could be millions of dollars to remake their houses from scratch.

More than 40% of homes sold in the Palisades last summer were bought by investors, according to real estate company Redfin, which defined investors as buyers with “LLC,” “Inc,” “Corp” or “Homes” in their names.

Some residents have questioned what expanses of investor-owned lots could mean for the character of fire-torn communities, said Sen. Ben Allen, who authored Senate Bill 1229 and represents the Palisades area.

The legislation is one of few bills this session that would broaden the authority of the commission rather than weaken it, bucking a trend of longstanding disdain among top state and federal leaders about how the agency has controlled development along California’s invaluable coastline.

The potential law would not apply to homes destroyed by last year’s fires.

State Sen. Scott Wiener speaks at the Capitol in Sacramento in January 2024. Credit: Fred Greaves for CalMatters

Senate Democrats overwhelmingly supported the bill when it passed the chamber last month. San Francisco Sen. Scott Wiener was the sole Democrat to join Republicans in voting against it in a 29-9 vote. 

“It could set a troubling precedent that we’re more focused on only empowering the original owner to build,” Wiener said. “I thought it was a very, very dangerous precedent and that’s why I felt the need to vote ‘no.’”

A long road ahead

Rebuilding after disaster has never been easy in California. 

Fewer than 40% of homes destroyed in the state’s most destructive fires from 2017 to 2020 have been rebuilt, according to a 2025 Los Angeles Times investigation. Low insurance payouts, rising construction costs and permitting requirements are some of the reasons.

For many in L.A., the decision not to rebuild comes down to affordability and practicality, between skyrocketing mortgage rates and a lack of stamina to endure what could be a monthslong, byzantine permitting process.

Before the fire, Sung’s property was valued at $2.5 million. She said she received $700,000 in Mercury insurance payments after the home was destroyed on Jan. 7, 2025. Although her land isn’t up for sale, nearby lots go for around $1 million. She’s considering selling it to a developer.

“There’s already so much burden for these properties,” Sung said of rebuilds. “People can’t afford to build because of all these requirements,” such as the higher fire safety and fire codes common in wildfire-prone areas, she said.

A muddy reputation on housing

Critics, including Newsom, accuse the commission of not permitting enough affordable housing or doing so too slowly for years, as lawmakers have gutted numerous housing laws to make it easier to build more apartments quickly.

In the Palisades, where affordable housing was already scant, affordability critiques carried a sharper edge. Just a few hundred units in a town of roughly 28,000 were deemed affordable and local mandates post-fire to build more have become their own flashpoint, separate from the coastal commission.

The 12 voting-member commission is governed by the California Coastal Act, a 50-year-old statute created in the wake of the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill to protect the coast and its natural habitats. 

It is one of California’s most scrutinized state agencies, as federal and local officials have questioned how it has used its authority over nearly 900 miles of coastline to block certain projects, such as rejecting billionaire Elon Musk’s request to increase the number of Space X rocket launches off the Santa Barbara coast.

Newsom and other top Democrats appointed three pro-development officials to the commission last year to help get more housing approved along the coast.

Wealthy Los Angeles real estate developer Jaime Lee was appointed by Newsom last October to replace Effie Turnbull Sanders, an attorney lauded by environmentalists for championing environmental justice issues at the agency.

Last May, Democratic Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas – whose district includes part of Santa Cruz County – selected Chris Lopez, a Monterey County supervisor, and Chula Vista Councilmember Jose Preciado to the commission, both of whom are seen as pro-development. Lopez replaced Santa Cruz County Supervisor Justin Cummings on the commission.

Newsom and President Donald Trump have found common cause in attacking the commission. The governor has publicly chided the agency and issued a sharply worded mandate when suspending its authority over rebuilding efforts in the Palisades.

“The scope of destruction of these fires has created a need for immediate shelter and temporary housing that will require unlocking every available strategy to house displaced individuals,” he wrote.

Both Democrats and Republicans in the state Legislature have pushed to curb the commission’s authority, including an attempt to exempt the entire city of Santa Monica from the commission’s purview.

Last week, Newsom’s office briefly considered a proposal that would have exempted mixed-use and multi-family housing projects along Santa Monica’s coast from the Coastal Act.

The proposal would have assumed all those projects complied with the act unless the commission could prove otherwise within just 30 days, according to a copy of the plan obtained by CalMatters.

Trump has also repeatedly scolded the commission for blocking projects it views as environmentally dangerous. Longstanding tensions between the president and the commission have accelerated in the president’s pursuit to extract more oil from the coast. Those tensions accelerated last week when the federal government announced it was investigating the agency.

‘People are already stuck’

Allen, the bill’s author, said the governor’s orders created an opening that investors can misuse to circumvent coastal rules and build projects harmful to the environment.

“We just want to make sure that we’re not rolling back these important protections too far,” Allen, who is running for insurance commissioner, said about his legislation, and that it would not apply to homes destroyed by last year’s fires, but to future natural disasters.

The bill aims to filter out investors by only allowing the owner of a property before disaster struck to skirt the coastal commission approval.

Environmentalists who support the bill have said the governor’s actions put key issues the commission works to protect — natural habitats and public access to the beach — in jeopardy by allowing developers to take advantage of fewer rules.

“An outside developer who buys, say, a burned lot for the low market value, they get the same fast-tracking as a displaced family,” said Jennifer Savage, associate policy director at Surfrider Foundation. “And that’s not what the law was designed for.”

The commission, which had briefly contested Newsom’s orders, supports the bill for similar reasons.

“It closes a loophole that could be misconstrued as allowing larger replacement structures to be located in hazardous or environmentally sensitive areas when rebuilding after disaster,” spokesperson Joshua Smith said in an emailed statement.

Neither the coastal commission nor Allen could provide examples of investor-owned projects that have misused the law.

“We don’t have any record or knowledge of this having happened, although since most disaster rebuilds are handled by local governments, we don’t know for certain the extent to which this has been going on,” Smith said.

California YIMBY, a pro-housing group, said legislation focused on rebuilding should address why so many fire survivors are opting to sell their land in the first place.

“I’m not sure the emphasis on the Coastal Act makes a ton of sense,” spokesperson Matthew Lewis said, saying the problem lies with insurance, construction and permitting costs that make it too expensive for most people to rebuild.

The group, which has endorsed Allen for commissioner, doesn’t have an official stance on the bill. Lewis said he doesn’t know enough about the issues Allen is trying to address to say if the legislation could make it harder for owners to rebuild.

Sung worries such changes would intimidate developers worried about falling under the commission’s authority, making it harder for her and her neighbors to sell.

“If anything, it just makes the landowner stuck. Because you can’t afford to sell, and you can’t afford to build. And so you’re stuck with this property that has absolutely no use to anybody.”

CalMatters reporter Yue Stella Yu contributed reporting.

Have something to say? Lookout welcomes letters to the editor, within our policies, from readers. Guidelines here.

The post Should coastal commission get more power over rebuilding after wildfire? Some lawmakers say yes appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

In a letter to the editor, Shannon Kessler, the Republican nominee in the race for the District 30 seat in the California Assembly, applauds the Supreme Court’s recent ruling allowing states to ban transgender student-athletes from playing on girls’ and women’s teams.

United Way Santa Cruz County and the Santa Cruz County Office of Education have launched the 17th annual Stuff the Bus campaign, with a goal of providing 2,500 backpacks filled with school supplies to students experiencing homelessness, housing insecurity and other hardships.

The campaign, which began July 1, is seeking donations and corporate sponsors to help provide backpacks to students before the start of the school year. A $30 donation covers the cost of one backpack stocked with school supplies.

This year also marks the first time the campaign will include smaller backpacks designed specifically for Transitional Kindergarten and early childhood students.

According to the Santa Cruz County Office of Education, 2,866 TK-12 students were identified as experiencing homelessness during the 2024-25 school year under the federal McKinney-Vento Act.

That includes 2,322 students who were living doubled up with other families, 308 who were unsheltered, 171 living in shelters and 65 staying in hotels or motels.

“The first day of school should be a moment of excitement and belonging for every student,” Santa Cruz County Superintendent of Schools Faris Sabbah said. “For families facing homelessness, housing instability or other hardships, basic school supplies are one more financial burden. Stuff the Bus is one way our community helps students start the year with confidence, knowing they are seen, supported, and have what they need to succeed.”

United Way Santa Cruz County CEO Yvette Lopez Brooks said the annual campaign helps remove one barrier for students and families already facing significant challenges.

“A backpack filled with school supplies can help a student walk into class feeling prepared, confident and supported,” she said. “Stuff the Bus reflects what is possible when our community comes together around children and families, and we are grateful for the donors, volunteers, sponsors and partners who make this campaign possible each year.”

The campaign will culminate with the Stuff-A-Thon on Aug. 1 from 10am-1pm at Kaiser Permanente Arena in Santa Cruz, where volunteers will fill backpacks for distribution to students throughout the county.

The event is held in partnership with the Santa Cruz Warriors and supported by UPS.

People interested in donating, volunteering or becoming a sponsor can find more information at unitedwaysc.org/stb.

Martial arts icon Bruce Lee, who was born in San Francisco, will become the first Chinese American in California history with an annual namesake day – May 17.

The upcoming Santa Cruz County Fair will look different this year, as the sheep and pig livestock barns are slated for demolition in July, nearly four years after the initial board vote on the plans, and only a few months before the county fair returns on Sept. 16 – 20.   

The barns will be replaced with tents during the fair, said Dori Rose Inda, the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds CEO and fair manager. The tents will be similar to the ones elsewhere on the fairgrounds. 

California Construction Authority—the governing body overseeing the demolition— says that the reason for the demolition is that “the existing Livestock Barn has outlived its usefulness and has become a danger for the fairgrounds, anyone inside or near the structure. The State Fire Marshall wants the full structure demolished before the next (2026) or fully secured with no admittance.” 

The two barns were built in the 1950s and sit on the east side of the fairgrounds, parallel to livestock road, in the livestock area of the fair. 

They now pose a safety concern, said Ron Haedicke, the marketing director for the fairgrounds, citing the structures’ age and ability to withstand earthquakes and strong winds. 

“This year, we had to move forward either with rebuilding or demolition,” said Inda, “we couldn’t plan and rebuild quickly enough, so we are moving forward with demolition.”

According to Inda, the current estimate for the demolition cost is around $430,000, adding that the total could change as the demolition is still in the planning stage. 

The demolition is planned to begin in late July, said Haedicke, who added that this will follow approval of the contractor’s bids, which are due July 20. The demolition is planned to begin immediately after, clearing the area before the fair begins in September. 

The fairgrounds are also used as an evacuation center during county emergencies. While the fairgrounds are without replacements for the sheep and swine barns, according to Haedicke, anything that normally has been housed in those barns would be moved to the beef barn. 

The barns “have served the fair quite well all these years,” said Haedicke, “and it’s this time that they are going to have to be replaced.”

To honor the old barns, the sign that hangs above the swine barn has been preserved, “and it will be used in whatever new construction is done,” said Haedicke.

In 2022, the Pajaronian reported on the demolition plans when the board originally approved them in a 6-2 vote. 

The final decision following the vote regarding the barns went to the California Construction Authority, because the fairgrounds are state property, said Haedicke. 

The goal is to hopefully preserve some part of the old barns, such as the cement horse racks in both the swine and sheep barns, said Haedicke, “and then the tents will somehow work around that.” 

The tents are planned to go in approximately the same place as the old barns, but it depends on the fair’s planning, Haedicke added. “It’ll all come together when the fair opens.” 

Nonetheless, the demolition will leave the fairground without a permanent structure to replace the barn until they can afford to build new barns. This process, Haedicke believes, will take two to three years, adding that they are considering reimagining the livestock area and building a larger, multi-use building for year-round events and livestock.   

“It’s a very exciting to have the prospect of what will be the future buildings there,” said Inda, “we’ll do a very thorough process of engaging with community, and making sure that we are thinking through what we are replacing at the barns to be the best use for the community that we serve.”

Kokoro no Gakko, an annual one-week program dedicated to the culture and arts of Japan, wrapped up its 37th year Friday during an open house at the Watsonville Buddhist Temple. 

Formed in 1989, the school, which translates to School with a Heart, welcomed 53 students, grades kinder through six. 

Five days of lessons covered traditional Japanese activities, including bonsai, ikebana, origami, calligraphy, cooking, language arts and music.

CULTURE TODAY Kindergarten students perform a Japanese dance  at the close of the week-long Kokoro no Gakko classes Friday. (Tarmo Hannula/The Pajaronian)

One highlight of the course was a visit from 97-year-old Janice Tao, who—along with her family—was rounded up with Pajaro Valley people of Japanese descent and sent to a detention camp during World War II. 

Around 120,000 people were relocated and incarcerated in 10 concentration prisons, with at least two-thirds of them being American citizens.

SPEAKING HISTORY Janice Tao, 97, answers questions from students about her years in a detention camp in Poston, Arizona during World War II. (Tarmo Hannula/The Pajaronian)

Tao told a group of fifth graders that she was a grade school student at Pajaro School when her family rented and ran a strawberry farm where Aladdin Nursery now stands on Freedom Boulevard.

Tao said the news of the Pearl Harbor attack was blaring over a radio on the streets of Pajaro the day after the event.

“When I went to school the kids were calling me Jap; it was one of the worst days of my life. And I know there’s some of this still going on today. One thing I’ve learned is that you have to fight for your life.”

When her family and others were rounded up and shipped off to the detention centers, she said, “We could only take what we could carry.”

In the camps she said,  “There was nothing to do. My enjoyment was reading books; I love to read. There were arts and crafts; there was a lot of talent there. But overall, there was not much to do.” 

YOUNG ART A student named Mika created this traditional sumi-e, or black ink painting. (Tarmo Hannula/The Pajaronian)

After internees were released four years later, Tao’s family first moved to Los Angeles, then Watsonville. 

Friday’s event treated a crowd of more than 250 people to choral works and dances punctuated with theatrics and more. The gathering, headed up by principal Melissa Eguchi-Song, included a raffle and potluck meal.

Gakko is a parent-cooperative that is largely fueled by the students’ families and facility support of the Buddhist Temple. 

Performance directors Denise and Bob Gómez have taught at Gakko for years and have traveled to Watsonville’s sister city in Japan, Kawakami, seven times. The couple helped orchestrate and choreograph, through guitar playing, poetry and singing, and six stage works that represented each grade.

Around 150 people gathered June 28 at Pinto Lake City Park to learn of the next steps on a proposed Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Watsonville from Executive Director of the California Energy Commission, Drew Bohan.

The public meeting, hosted by Stop Lithium BESS in Santa Cruz, featured several guest speakers and members of the public who addressed concerns about what organizers described as “the proposed hazardous, flammable, explosive BESS right next to homes at 90 Minto Road.” 

The project on Minto Road,  a short distance from Pinto Lake, was proposed in January 2025 by Massachusetts-based New Leaf Energy. The CEC is the lead agency reviewing New Leaf’s application and will be the deciding factor in whether a BESS can be built at 90 Minto Road.

Back in May New Leaf Energy said it will bypass Santa Cruz County’s permitting process and instead seek state approval for its storage system.

In a May 1 letter to the county, the company said it would withdraw its application for the Seahawk project at 90 Minto Road and pursue the California Energy Commission’s “opt-in” permitting process under Assembly Bill 205.

“Your voice matters; don’t ever let anyone tell you it doesn’t matter,” local activist Becky Steinbruner told the crowd. “The ordinance that was written was severely flawed. We need to demand that the ordinance prohibit any BESS facility on agricultural land.”

Protesters are calling for a buffer zone of 1,000 meters between the facility and residents, schools, daycare centers and care facilities.

“This project was filed on June 8th,” Bohan said. “My staff and I have 30 days to determine whether the project is complete.” Bohan went on to explain that his team welcomes all input.

“Every comment that gets filed gets published in what we call the docket,” he said. He added that the file is typically not complete and involves a “back-and-forth process” that can take 10 or 11 months.

Once the project is complete, Bohan said he and his bosses will come to Watsonville and interview the community formally after presenting their findings about the application.

In a statement provided to The Pajaronian, New Leaf Project Lead Max Christian said that the project will meet or exceed the safety regulations included in Santa Cruz County’s draft BESS ordinance, which he described is “the strongest ordinance in the U.S., if not the world.”

Christian said that the project will include approximately 200 double-walled steel, sealed containerized batteries that will use lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry, as opposed to the more volatile, heavy-metal lithium-ion nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) chemistry that was used in first-generation systems like Moss Landing. 

Much of the concern stems from the Jan. 16, 2025 fire at the Moss Landing Vistra Power Plant that led to hazardous toxic fallout and a thermal runaway at the edge of the Monterey Bay Sanctuary and ignited concern in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties about battery storage systems.

Santa Cruz County Supervisor elect Tony Nuñez offered words as well about assuring safety for the community.

“Public safety is what I ran on,” he said. 

Organizers said the incumbent supervisor, Felipe Hernandez, was invited but was not present.

Scores of people expressed concern about why a BESS plant was being considered in a tightly packed residential area on the narrow Minto Road with one way in and out, and about lack of appropriate training for firefighters should a fire erupt inside the facility. Appropriate evacuation routes and centers were also discussed.

To file a comment, go to efiling.energy.ca.gov/Ecomment

For years, Rose Ann Woolpert heard stories from her mother-in-law about a remarkable woman in the family’s history.

The woman was Mary Catherine “Molly” McIntyre Pacheco, a playwright and novelist who married Romualdo Pacheco, the only Latino to serve as governor of California.

But while Romualdo Pacheco’s place in history was well documented, his wife’s story had largely faded from view.

That changed this year with the release of Mrs. R. Pacheco, Woolpert’s first novel, a work of historical fiction that blends extensive research with imagination to recreate the life of a woman whose accomplishments were largely forgotten.

“I’ve always loved history,” Woolpert said. “One of the things that I’m finding at this point in my life is I’m really interested in learning about not only California history, but the people whose stories really haven’t been properly told—especially women.”

The novel follows McIntyre Pacheco as she arrives in California in 1859, marries the rising California politician and discovers her own creative voice amid the state’s rapidly changing social and political landscape.

Woolpert describes the book as family-friendly historical fiction based on real people and real events.

“It’s written for families,” she said. “It’s not written specifically as a children’s book, but it’s suitable for young people.”

The story began decades ago, when Woolpert married into her husband’s family and became intrigued by stories about his ancestors.

“My mother-in-law would talk about her great-grandmother, who came to California after she was widowed in 1859,” Woolpert said. “She had three teenage daughters, and the eldest, Mary McIntyre, married Romualdo Pacheco, who at the time was a very romantic California politician and eventually became governor of California. I just wanted to know, ‘How did this all come about?’”

That curiosity launched years of research.

Woolpert dug through books, historical articles and museum archives, including resources in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara, where the Pacheco family lived for a time. While there was ample material about Romualdo Pacheco, information about his wife was much harder to find.

“There was a fair amount of information about him,” she said. “But Mrs. R. Pacheco was a playwright. Her story was never really told, but there were articles written about her back in the 1800s because she was very well known at the time.”

McIntyre Pacheco wrote plays and books, and one of her works was adapted into the popular musical Three Twins.

Still, much of her life remained undocumented.

“When people’s stories aren’t fully told, you need to fill in the blanks,” Woolpert said. “That’s where fiction comes in.”

The research also uncovered lesser-known pieces of California history.

One detail that surprised Woolpert was the journey McIntyre’s family took west. Rather than crossing the continent by wagon train, they traveled by ship to Panama, crossed the isthmus by train and then boarded another ship for California—a route many travelers and the U.S. mail used before the transcontinental railroad.

“It wasn’t without danger,” she said. “But it was the way a lot of people traveled, and it was fun to learn about the adventures that could have happened that I was able to add to my story.”

The project also answered questions Woolpert had carried since childhood.

“I grew up in Southern California, and I never heard about those years between the Gold Rush and Hollywood,” she said. “I was always wondering what went on in those times. I was able to answer my own questions through this research.”

Mrs. R. Pacheco is Woolpert’s first novel, but not her first book. She has also written three children’s books: Engine Number 10, Big Bill and His Little Mixer Truck and Cauliflower Boulevard.

She said the historical novel is the first of several planned books centered on overlooked women in California’s past.

“I’ve got three more books—one getting close to finished, another in the works and a third that I’m still figuring out,” she said. “They’re all untold stories about fascinating California women.”

For Woolpert, those forgotten lives are where history becomes most compelling.

“Women were doing fascinating things, too,” she said. “They just weren’t getting their stories told. That’s what I’m really interested in right now.”

Mrs. R. Pacheco is available through major book retailers.

Booksellers, libraries, and event coordinators may order directly at bit.ly/4vHNsA5

Contract negotiations between the Pajaro Valley Unified School District and the Pajaro Valley Federation of Teachers have reached another impasse, with both sides now entering the formal fact-finding process after mediation failed to produce an agreement.

Fact-finding is a dispute resolution process used after a union and employer reach an impasse in contract negotiations. A neutral panel reviews evidence and arguments from both sides before issuing non-binding recommendations aimed at resolving the dispute.

The process is the final formal step in California’s impasse procedures before additional legal options become available to both parties.

In a message to union members following mediation, PVFT President Brandon Diniz said the district remained unwilling to move away from its proposal to cap district contributions toward employee health benefits.

“A few hours into the second day of mediation, we were informed that Kit Bragg had spoken with our superintendent,” Diniz said. “The superintendent, via the district’s negotiation team, made it clear that despite the concessions we were willing to make on salary in order to preserve our benefits, the district is unwilling to show any movement without an agreement to place a cap on benefits.”

The union has consistently opposed the proposed cap, saying it would shift rising health care costs onto employees.

“Our membership has made it clear from the beginning of this process that health and welfare benefits must be protected,” negotiations team member Emily Halbig said. “We presented proposals that would have protected our benefits while mitigating the rising cost of health care, keeping the district fiscally solvent. We worked as hard as we could, but in negotiations, it takes both parties.”

Member Minc Brooker said the district’s latest proposal reduced its health benefit contribution even further.

“The district came to mediation with proposals that contribute even less to our benefits than what they proposed months ago when they first put the cap on the table,” Brooker said.

In an email sent to media, district officials said the fact-finding panel will include a neutral chairperson, one representative appointed by the district and one appointed by the union. The panel will review information from both sides and issue recommendations intended to move negotiations toward a resolution, the district said.

“Although we are entering this next phase, our commitment to reaching a fair and sustainable agreement remains unchanged,” the district said. “We value our certificated employees and deeply appreciate the dedication they bring to our students and families every day. The district remains committed to providing competitive compensation and benefits while maintaining the fiscal responsibility necessary to serve more than 14,000 students now and into the future.”

While the fact-finder’s recommendations are not binding, they mark the final step before the district could impose its last, best and final offer. Under California labor law, the union could then choose whether to strike, although negotiations may continue throughout the process.

The district and union have been at odds for months over wages and health benefits. The district has proposed a three-year salary increase totaling 7.77% while seeking to cap its contribution toward employee health insurance. The union has argued the cap would leave teachers responsible for increasingly expensive premiums and has made preserving current health benefits a central issue in negotiations.

PVFT leaders said they will hold a bargaining information session for members next week to discuss the fact-finding process and possible next steps.

“He comes home every day confident, happy and positive. It’s a bit of magic.” – Natascha, Gateway Parent

At Gateway School, magic happens daily in our Kindergarten program. With an emphasis on exploration, discovery, and hands-on learning, everyone at Gateway turns your child’s natural curiosity into a lifelong love of learning.

What makes Gateway’s Kindergarten so special?

Here are ten reasons parents and students fall in love with Gateway:

1. The Gold Standard in Education
   Gateway is the only K-8 school in Santa Cruz County accredited by both the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) and the California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS), ensuring a top-tier, well-rounded education.
2. Specialist Programs that Inspire
   From Spanish and Art & Technology to Life Lab Science, Music, and Physical Education, our weekly specialist programs are taught by experts who bring their passions to life, sparking inspiration in every child.
3. Fluent Futures in Spanish
   Our robust Spanish program starts in Kindergarten and continues through 8th grade, preparing graduates to excel in advanced high school courses and beyond.
4. Hands-on, Minds-on Learning
   Imagine your child learning science by growing a garden or solving math problems through building projects. Gateway’s experiential approach helps students think critically, collaborate effectively, and retain knowledge with joy.
5. The Power of Play
   At Gateway, play is more than fun—it’s essential. From creative free play to structured activities, our program fosters healthy brain development and essential life skills. As Zoe, class of 2031, puts it: “Play might actually be learning!”
6. Big Buddy, Little Buddy
   Through our cherished Buddy Program, Kindergarteners are paired with 4th and 8th grade students for shared activities and mentoring. These connections build confidence, nurture empathy, and strengthen our school community.
7. Small Classes, Big Attention
   With an average class size of just 15 students and a student-teacher ratio of 7:1, every child receives personalized support. Each classroom has both a full-time teacher and a full-time assistant, ensuring that every child feels seen and heard.
8. Kindy Island: A Place to Imagine
   Kindergarteners have their own special space—Kindy Island—designed for safe, imaginative play. It’s a sanctuary where creativity knows no bounds.
9. Whole-Child Focus
   Social-emotional learning is seamlessly woven into daily routines. From developing empathy to building resilience, we nurture the emotional well-being that underpins academic success.
10. A Community that Cares
    Gateway is more than a school—it’s a family. With close-knit relationships among students, faculty, and families, we create an inclusive environment where every voice is valued.

Discover the Gateway Difference

When your child steps into Gateway’s Kindergarten, they’re stepping into a world of endless possibilities. From the first day, they’ll grow confident, happy, and curious, just like Natascha’s child. Come see the magic for yourself!

Learn more or register for a tour at gatewaysc.org, or admissions@gatewaysc.org

The post 10 reasons Gateway School’s Kindergarten is the perfect start for your child appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

Top 10 exciting job opportunities in Santa Cruz County – Apply today!

Are you searching for your next career move in Santa Cruz County? Look no further! We’ve curated a list of the top 10 job opportunities recently posted to our job board, spanning various industries and roles. Whether you’re a recent graduate, seasoned professional, or someone seeking a fresh start, Santa Cruz has something to offer for everyone.

1. Pastry & Kitchen Manager at The Penny Ice Creamery
2. Assistant Manager of Operations at The Quail
3. Maintenance Engineer at The Quail
4. Caregiver for Seniors – Part Time at Home Senior Care, Inc.
5. Accounting Technician at County of Santa Cruz Human Resources Department
6. Shop Manager at The Penny Ice Creamery
7. Short Term Camp Bus Driver at Camp Ramah in Northern California
8. Forest Stewardship Manager at Sempervirens Fund
9. Project Manager 1 at MYNT Systems
10. Residential Community Service Supervisor at UC Santa Cruz

Why work in Santa Cruz County?

Santa Cruz County boasts a vibrant community, picturesque surroundings, and diverse career opportunities. From academic roles at UC Santa Cruz to impactful positions in healthcare and local government, the perfect place to support both your professional growth and work-life balance.

Ready to take the next step?

Apply for these exciting job opportunities in Santa Cruz County today!

FIND MORE ON THE LOOKOUT JOB BOARD >> Looking to hire? Build your team with us

• List your open positions: Amplify your job listings to reach engaged Santa Cruz County job seekers – post your job today.
• Save with job bundles: Purchase a job board bundle of 4 or 8 listings and save 25%. Redeem your jobs anytime. Bundles never expire. Get Your Bundles Here.
• Exclusive discounts for Marketing Partners: Are you a Lookout Marketing Partner? Contact your representative today to access your exclusive discount.

Questions about the job board? Reach out to Brittany at brittany@lookoutlocal.com.

The post 10 Hot Jobs in Santa Cruz County: Week of July 2 appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.