By Sharan Street
Published Sep 26, 2022

Watch for the tiny ruby-crowned warbler as it heads south from its boreal breeding range.

Image credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Public Domain

9-26-22: On the Move

Last Thursday was officially the first day of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere, also known as the fall equinox: that moment in September when the sun is exactly above the equator, and day and night are equal in length. Nature is less precise than the cosmos, so seasonal changes across the globe tend to be more gradual. That’s especially true for birdwatchers, who keep a close eye out for fall and spring migrants. Some bird species leave their northern breeding grounds in the middle of summer, whereas others linger and may still be on the move when the winter solstice arrives. But by the time the equinox rolls around, fall is on its way, with hooded orioles heading to the tropics and ruby-crowned kinglets arriving from their summer range in Alaska and Canada.

Natural Wonders of Santa Cruz ... Autumn Edition

To mark the arrival of autumn, California Local’s Kimberly Hickok once again talked to the folks at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History to get the lowdown on some of the season’s most fascinating natural phenomena.

Splendor in the Leaves

Though the Santa Cruz Mountains are known for redwoods and other evergreens, deciduous trees bring color to autumn hikes.

We asked the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History to share a few of their favorite things about autumn in the Monterey Bay region.

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Motion Studies

Human migration is less predictable, and it comes with its own perils. Whether it’s walking to work, commuting on crowded highways, or navigating a long road trip, there are risks involved with travel. As the City of Santa Cruz tweeted recently, September is Pedestrian Safety Month—just one of many public campaigns that attempt to get citizens to follow the rules of the road. One big traffic safety initiative, called “Vision Zero,” kicked off in 2018, when Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation to create a “Zero Traffic Fatalities Task Force.” California Local reporter Jonathan Vankin looks at some of the reasons why, this year in particular, road deaths have been on the rise.

Vision Zero: Cities Struggle With Goal of Ending Traffic Deaths

Vision Zero aims to implement steps that would make roads safer, and stop traffic death entirely.

The Vision Zero program sets a goal for California cities to eliminate traffic fatalities, but almost a decade into the effort, the goal remains distant, and horrific tragedies on the road continue to stack up.

Why Zero Traffic Fatalities Remains a Distant Goal

California traffic deaths remain high, but it doesn’t have to be that way.

California’s goal of zero traffic fatalities remains distant. Here are some common causes of deaths on the road that can be fixed, but haven’t been.

Keep Tahoe Safe, Sane, and Strong

As we enter the new season here at California Local, we're pleased to share our first Impact Report, which we wrote, designed and published for our awesome friends at the Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation. After completing the project, our own Eric Johnson was so impressed with the quality and scope of work that TTCF does on behalf of the North Tahoe communities, he was inspired to share their story in this blog post.

TTCF: Delivering Impact in North Lake Tahoe

California Local is helping a powerful organization tell a big story about confronting problems that threaten the soul of the North Lake Tahoe community.

Get to Know a Group

Santa Cruz Baroque Festival

The Santa Cruz Baroque Festival has been active since 1974, presenting early music as it sounded in its own era. Members strive for artistic excellence while transmitting the joy of Baroque music to future generations.

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Recent Local News

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● Some Accept Shelter as Benchlands Camp Closure Continues

As the eviction deadline for “Zone 3” of the San Lorenzo Park Benchlands encampment loomed, 10 individuals accepted city assistance to move to the National Guard Armory, said City Homeless Response Manager Larry Imwalle. The Zone 4 closure is expected to affect about 24 people, who will have until Oct. 5 to move.

(09/26/2022) → Read the full Santa Cruz County Sentinel report

● 2022 General Election: 18th Congressional District

Peter Hernandez and Zoe Lofgren are in the runoff for the redrawn 18th Congressional District, which includes all of San Benito County, as well as the eastern half of Monterey and Santa Clara counties and the southeastern part of Santa Cruz County.

(09/26/2022) → Read the full Benito Link report

● How a Business College Begat a Junior College

Columnist Ross Eric Gibson recounts how a business school founded in 1884 was the first step to bringing both a junior college and a university to Santa Cruz County.

(09/25/2022) → Read the full Santa Cruz County Sentinel report

● Here’s How Homeless Residents Can Vote in the November Election

It’s a common misconception that a physical address is required to cast a ballot. For individuals living in shelters or encampments, California offers several options for participating in local elections.

(09/25/2022) → Read the full Santa Cruz County Sentinel report

● Downtown Redo: Six Multistory Buildings, Thousands of New Residents

Lookout Local writer Wallace Baine takes his readers on a tour through a short distance—just a few blocks along Front and Laurel in downtown Santa Cruz. But it’s also a journey into the future to see how upcoming projects will change downtown—and herald even more high-density development.

(09/20/2022) → Read the full Lookout Local report

● Santa Cruz RV Safe Parking Program Launches

Pamela Bright was among the first participants in a recreational vehicle safe parking program sponsored by the city of Santa Cruz and located in the parking lot outside the National Guard Armory in DeLaveaga Park. Nonprofit service provider The Free Guide is managing the program.