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By Eric Johnson
Published Jan 20, 2025

Edgar McGregor picking up trash on March 18, 2024 in Eaton Canyon. Ten months later, McGregor’s posts on Facebook saved a lot of lives as the Eaton Fire blazed through Altadena.
Edgar McGregor picking up trash on March 18, 2024 in Eaton Canyon. Ten months later, McGregor’s posts on Facebook saved a lot of lives as the Eaton Fire blazed through Altadena.

People Have the Power

Recognizing that today is both MLK Day and Inauguration Day, a fact that provides obvious opportunities to draw contrasts between Martin Luther King and Donald J. Trump, we choose instead to keep The Newsletter on message, which is to say local, and focused on solutions.  

Today we recognize two instances of people-power being exerted by a couple of ordinary heroes. The first you may have heard about—a young Altadena weather-watcher who mounted an effort on social media that saved a lot of people from possible fiery death. (As it happens, we know this guy.)

The second story is less-obviously heroic, but in this era of mass misinformation, the effort of another young man to counteract a campaign that could cripple smart development in the little city of Hollister is worth noting.

And in celebration of this issue's theme, dig this tune for our times from Patti Smith, singing one of the greatest small-d democratic anthems ever written— her own (you guessed it) “People Have the Power. This might be just the thing you need today.


Saving Lives and Fighting Lies

In LA County, a young meteorologist started a Facebook page to help his neighbors keep track of the weather. In San Benitio County, a student of land-use planning started a website to counteract misinformation (and incivility) on NextDoor. Sometimes, as they say, what happens online is happening In Real Life.  


Life and Death and Weather and Planning

Satellite image of Altadena before and after the Eaton Fire.
Raymond Martinez and Edgar McGregor are practitioners of the art of digital citizenship. As allies in this endeavor, we commend their righteous efforts.


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Santa Cruz County's Homepage

Direct your browser to https://santacruz.californialocal.com/ to catch up on the latest news in California and Santa Cruz County. Bookmark the link and visit often, there's a lot happening in your community!


Recipe of the Week

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 Winter! cookbook.


Serve season's oranges dressed for dinner -- or breakfast

Blood oranges deliver the eye-catching color in this plate of seasonal citrus. The lavender-lemon syrup, at upper right, is pretty, too.
Blood oranges and navels with a lavender-lemon syrup


Get to Know a Group

Santa Cruz Baroque Festival logo 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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The Pajaronian logo A Message of Peace—hundreds Attend MLK March

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KSQD logo New Leader at the MAH

The McPherson Art and History Museum has a new director, Ginger Shulick Porcella. She comes with experience at museums big and small, from Arizona to Minnesota, and has big ideas as the MAH approaches its 30th anniversary next year.

Santa Cruz Local logo Ballot Measure Aims to Build More Affordable Housing in Santa Cruz

A signature-gathering effort kicked off Thursday to put a new parcel tax and property transfer tax on the Nov. 4 ballot in the city of Santa Cruz. The taxes aim to raise $5 million annually for affordable housing and homelessness …

The Pajaronian logo Former Watsonville High Principal Pens Book on School Leadership

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The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees will hold a special study session on March 28 to discuss the district’s ethnic studies curriculum, the board voted Wednesday.

The Pajaronian logo PVUSD Trustees Cut More Than $5 Million From Budget

After a meeting that began Wednesday evening and stretched into the early-morning hours Thursday, the Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees agreed to a series of cuts that trim more than $5 million from the district’s budget.

Benito Link logo Cal Fire Warns About Scam Donation Requests

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) is alerting the public about fraudulent social media accounts impersonating Cal Fire and soliciting donations. Cal Fire does not solicit donations from the public, either in person or online.Additionally, all …

Press Banner logo Scotts Valley Council Cheers Fully-Staffed Milestone

As of mid-December, the City of Scotts Valley had caught up on its HR backlog and was fully staffed. This followed years of headaches in the police department and Public Works, as employees left for greener pastures elsewhere.

Press Banner logo San Lorenzo Valley Water District Receives $100K Grant to Replace Aging Water Meters

San Lorenzo Valley Water District has been awarded a $100,000 grant to update hundreds of water meters in Ben Lomond.

Local News Matters Stockton logo Where Are All the Eggs? Bird Flu’s Spread Not the Only Culprit in Crisis of Global Proportions

IF YOU HAVE tried to bake a cake recently, you might have had a hard time finding eggs. The empty shelves are a sign of the devastating impact of avian influenza, H5N1 or HPAI, on commercial poultry flocks in California.

The Pajaronian logo Moss Landing Fire Update: Battling Battery Fires Difficult

Monterey County officials say that the fire that erupted at the Moss Landing Power Plant Thursday night was difficult to fight because it was centered on a bank of Tesla batteries.

The Pajaronian logo Massive Blaze Erupts at Moss Landing Power Plant

A huge fire broke out inside a building at the Moss Landing Power Plant Thursday, forcing emergency crews to evacuate areas around Moss Landing and close the heavily traveled Highway 1 in both directions for hours.

Santa Cruz Local logo Watsonville Residents Among More Than 500 Laid Off at Monterey Mushrooms

North America’s largest producer of fresh mushrooms, Monterey Mushrooms, closed its Royal Oaks facility and laid off more than 500 workers in December. 

Santa Cruz Local logo As Los Angeles Burns, Santa Cruz County Officials Urge Wildfire Prep — And Not Just in the Mountains

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The Pajaronian logo Watsonville City Council, Monterey County Supervisors Signal Support for Immigrants

The Watsonville City Council and the Monterey County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday both unanimously passed resolutions to support the immigrant community, days before reelected President Donald Trump prepares to retake the office on Jan. 20.

Santa Cruz Local logo Watsonville Residents Push for Stricter Pesticide Rules

The California Department of Pesticide Regulation will present details of a pesticide proposal and accept public comments at two more hearings this month.

Santa Cruz Local logo 6-Story Apartment Complex Approved on Water Street in Santa Cruz

The Santa Cruz Planning Commission on Jan. 9 unanimously approved plans for a six-story, 83-unit apartment building on the 900 block of Water Street in Santa Cruz. 
The new homes would be less than a block away from a five-story …

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Government Announcements

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Image of County of Santa Cruz seal. 1/21/2025 - Workforce Santa Cruz County Strategic Vision Forums Announced
County of Santa Cruz   (01/21/2025)
Image of United States seal. D. Coluccio & Sons, Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Almonds in "Colussi Cantuccini Chocolate Drops" Cookies
D. COLUCCIO & SONS, in is recalling its 300 gram packages of "Colussi Cantuccini Chocolate Drops" chocolate chip cookies because they may contain undeclared almonds.
United States   (01/20/2025)
Image of Santa Cruz County Office of Education seal. Exciting News for 2025!
ed.PATH January Newsletter! The Santa Cruz County Office of Education (Santa Cruz COE) and San Jose State University (SJSU) are excited to announce a new Satellite Program offering a Preliminary Education Specialist Teaching Credential with an option to add a Master of Arts in Special Educationright here in Santa Cruz! Find out more by registering [...] The post Exciting News …
Santa Cruz County Office of Education   (01/17/2025)
Image of United States seal. Monkey Spit, LLC Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Milk/Wheat/Soy in Monkey Spit BBQ Sauces
People who have allergies to milk/wheat/soy run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products. The three recalled "Monkey Spit BBQ Sauces" were distributed locally in retail stores on the central coast of California and through mail orders on our website:
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Image of United States seal. Wismettac Asian Foods Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Milk in Curvee Puffs Corn Puff Snack Curry Flavor
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United States   (01/17/2025)
Image of County of Santa Cruz seal. Santa Cruz County Public Health Officials Provide Update on Moss Landing Plant Fire: Safety Tips for Residents and Sensitive Groups
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Pay to Park (funds stay local) ad from Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks.