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By Eric Johnson
Published May 06, 2024
On January 29, The Newsletter ran a piece under the headline “The California Exodus and ‘California Forever’.” Both of these big stories moved significantly over the past week, and we revisit them today.
Also, as always: Peruse your cureated local News Feed; learn about a local nonprofit doing good work; and check out our Recipe of the Week.
Last Tuesday, the company that plans to build a high-tech, green, walkable city of 400,000 in rural Solano County announced that it had gathered enough signatures to qualify for the November ballot. The story involves an insane amount of money, some insanely powerful billionaires, and a detailed set of plans that appear to be quite sane, if not visionary. Here, amid well-earned controversy, we offer two pieces that consider the project on its own terms.
California Forever: Building a New Community From the Ground Up
California Forever CEO on Democracy and City Planning
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Santa Cruz County's Homepage |
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The California Department of Finance announced this week that the state’s population rose last year, after declining in both 2021 and 2022.
Is the ‘California Exodus’ Over?
Our friends at Sacramento Digs Gardening publish a recipe from their gardens every Sunday, which we feature here so you can start your week with some yum.
See more recipes in their Taste Spring! cookbook.
Happy Cinco de Mayo! Time to dig into this fruity salsa
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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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From Our Media Allies |
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Lake Lompico: A Labor of Love |
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The Lompico Pond Restoration and Demonstration Project involves a group of dedicated outdoor enthusiasts who have been meeting on the last Saturday of every month to restore a small mountain lake. |
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Watsonville Celebrates New Housing Complex |
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Dozens of people gathered Friday to celebrate the opening of a 53-unit housing complex, the latest in Watsonville’s drive to provide housing for all income levels. |
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Full House at Business Expo and Job Fair |
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Hundreds of people attended the 2024 Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture Business Expo Job Fair at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds April 25. |
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Into the Woods: Watsonville to Plant Thousands of New Trees |
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Over the next two decades, the city of Watsonville plans to add thousands of trees to its landscape, create a plan to take care of them and train crews of young people to aid in that effort. |
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Volunteers Shine at ‘Be the Difference’ Awards |
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On May 8, the Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz is throwing a fête to honor the contributions of those who give their time, talent and treasure to local agencies. |
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New Training Facility Proposed for Santa Cruz Police and Fire |
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Leaders of Santa Cruz Police and Santa Cruz Fire have a new $20 million training center in their long-term plans to replace outdated facilities inside and outside the city. |
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Scotts Valley Water District Well Replacement Project Restarts |
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Construction of Scotts Valley Water District’s 1,500-foot-deep Sucinto Well is underway. |
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State Report on Homeless Services Calls for More Accountability |
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A recent state report about two California cities’ homeless services spending echoes concerns raised in a 2023 Santa Cruz Local investigation about how money is spent on homeless services in Santa Cruz County. |
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Organic Rising: Central Coast Farmers Featured in New Film |
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Anthony Saua, director of Organic Rising, talks about the rise of organic agriculture and its importance to health, the environment and slowing global warming, |
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Female Lowriders Celebrated in Watsonville |
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Filmmaker Gloria Morán discusses her film, Unique Ladies about an all-female lowrider club in San Diego. Her screening is part of a five-day Cinco de Mayo celebration in Watsonville of lowrider culture. |
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Following the Fall Creek Fish Ladder Trail |
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It is a short walk from where you park on Farmer Street to the bridge over the new $2.3 million rebuild of the Fall Creek Fish Ladder. |
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Soquel Drive Housing Complex Proposal Draws Concerns |
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A Monday night meeting about a proposed five-building housing complex on Soquel Drive drew dozens of residents who lambasted developers about the project’s size, additional traffic and other concerns. |
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Is Cowell Beach the Best Beginner's Surf Break in the World? |
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A practical, user-friendly guide to learning to surf in Santa Cruz: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly |
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Recent Local News |
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Recent Statewide News |
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Government Announcements |
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Recall_Supplier Recalls Impact Two Hy-Vee Products Third-Party Manufacturers Alert Retailer of Potential for Contamination; No Illnesses Reported |
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Hy-Vee, Inc., based in West Des Moines, Iowa, is voluntarily recalling two varieties of its Hy-Vee Cream Cheese Spread out of an abundance of caution due to the potential for contamination with Salmonella. Additionally, Hy-Vee is voluntarily recalling its bulk-packaged Cookies & Cream Mix out of an
United States (05/06/2024)
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Empowering Equitable and Inclusive Computer Science Education: 2024 CS CoP Conclusion |
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Four Years of Impact: Serving 72 Teachers and 1,440 Students The Computer Science Community of Practice (CS CoP) has proudly concluded its fourth year, marking a significant milestone in advancing equitable and inclusive computer science (CS) education in our community. This year's program was expertly facilitated by: Stephanie Sumarna, EdTech & Innovation ToSA at the [...]
The post Empowering Equitable …
Santa Cruz County Office of Education (05/06/2024)
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5/6/2024 - Public Hearing to Consider the Revised Low-Impact Camping Area Ordinance on May 8 |
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County of Santa Cruz (05/06/2024)
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Palmer Candy Company Recalls White Confectionary Products Because of Possible Health Risk |
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Palmer Candy Company, Sioux City, Iowa, is recalling its "White Coated Confectionary Items" because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immu
United States (05/05/2024)
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Groundbreaking Ceremony for Ramsay Park Renaissance Project |
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City of Watsonville (05/03/2024)
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Recognize a Teacher |
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Dear community member, One of the highlights of the role of County Superintendent of Schools is getting to recognize the exemplary educators who work across all levels of our TK-12 school community. As we head into Teacher Appreciation Week, from May 6-10, the COE is thrilled to provide a way for students and families to [...]
The post Recognize a …
Santa Cruz County Office of Education (05/03/2024)
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Chuao Chocolatier Recalls Its: .39 oz /11 Gram Potato Chip Mini Bar Lot 4022 Due to Undeclared Hazelnuts |
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May 3, 2024, Chuao Chocolatier is voluntarily recalling a single production of Potato Chip mini bar .39oz/11 gram LOT 4022 because some packages may contain undeclared hazelnut. People who are sensitive or have allergies to hazelnut could be at risk of a serious or life-threatening allergic reactio
United States (05/03/2024)
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Hormel Foods Sales, LLC Recalls a Limited Number of Planters® Honey Roasted Peanuts 4 Oz. and Planters® Deluxe Lightly Salted Mixed Nuts 8.75 Oz. Because of Possible Health Risk |
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Hormel Foods Sales, LLC is voluntarily recalling a limited number of two PLANTERS products that were produced at one of its facilities in April. This recall only impacts two retailers in five states. These products are being recalled because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria
United States (05/03/2024)
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Congratulations Nick Merolla: 2024 Youth Champion of the Year! |
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City of Watsonville (05/03/2024)
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FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Raw Pork Chorizo Products Due to Possible Foreign Matter Contamination |
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WASHINGTON, May. 2, 2024 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert due to concerns of raw pork chorizo products...
United States (05/02/2024)
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