There is an important message:

Happy 5th Anniversary to our friends at Sacramento Digs Gardening!

Santa Cruz County Localist Articles


Image caption: When walking around this spring, keep an eye out for the stunning Calochortus lily.
Spring Forward!

The long, wet winter is finally over. The Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History has some tips on what to see in the blossoming new season.

Image caption:
Help Others, Help Yourself

Volunteering it a great way to help your community. But you also reap benefits, including the chance to learn skills, reduce isolation and ease polarization.

Image caption: Fresh and dried fruit, wine, nuts and more can be found at Casa De Fruta, a venerable stop for drivers traversing Pacheco Pass.
Roadside Attractions

California is the top agricultural producer in the U.S., and a top beneficiary of visitor spending. So naturally, we’ve got fun, food-driven tourist magnets.

Image caption: Clockwise from upper right: Architect Paul R. Williams, Assemblyman Frederick Madison Roberts, abolitionist Mary Ellen Pleasant, and Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley (with President Gerald Ford).
California Pioneers

Black History Month provides an opportunity to remember the achievements of African Americans who fought for equality in the Golden State.

Image caption: Ever little bit helps in the fight against climate change.
Small Steps in the Right Direction

Don’t just be a spectator in the fight against climate change. Here are some small steps you can take to reduce your carbon footprint.

Image caption: Dairy products are California’s top agricultural commodity, but the industry is often criticized for its impact on the environment.
Sustainable Sustenance

California is a leading producer of agricultural crops. So it’s not surprising to find cutting-edge ideas taking root here.

Image caption: Workers clean up after flooding in Capitola Village.
Disaster Prep: Alerts, Maps and Apps

Prepare for disaster in Santa Cruz County by keeping crucial information at your fingertips—just one touch away on your smartphone.

Image caption: The winter solstice brings king tides, mating elephant seals and other natural wonders.
Exploring Wintertide

We asked the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History to throw a spotlight on the most intriguing natural phenomena during the darkest time of the year.

Image caption: Need legal services, transportation, home health care? You name it—there’s somewhere to turn for assistance.
Senior Momentum

California’s senior population is growing—and these local organizations are here to help.

Image caption: Though the Santa Cruz Mountains are known for redwoods and other evergreens, deciduous trees bring color to autumn hikes.
Splendor in the Leaves

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

Image caption: Santa Cruz is lucky to have local groups that look beneath the surface of homeless encampments and find ways to help.
Doing the Work

Experts see these organizations as the most effective at fighting homelessness.

Image caption: The newly opened Presidio Tunnel Tops provides free entertainment in pricy San Francisco.
Cheaper Thrills

California has some top-notch tourist attractions—with top-shelf prices. Here are some that won’t break the bank.

Image caption: Like ripples in a pond, the hip impulse moved through Santa Cruz and beyond, and continues across generations.
How Did Santa Cruz Get So Hip?

Looking back at the Sixties and Seventies in Santa Cruz

Image caption: The Santa Cruz Mountains, an inspiration for local artists for many decades.
10 Over 40

Too much emphasis is placed on what’s shiny and new. Just as important is what endures. We salute some of Santa Cruz’s oldest cultural institutions.

Image caption: Though all of its wooden parts have been replaced, the Giant Dipper looks the same as it did nearly a century ago.
I’m Still Here

A lot has changed in Santa Cruz County. But these things remain the same.

Image caption: Breeding wood ducks, blooming coastal bush lupines, and farewell-to-spring blossom are among the summer delights in Santa Cruz County.
Summer Sensations

We asked the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History to highlight the area’s most thrilling warm-weather attractions.

Image caption: Many of Robert Kerbeck’s neighbors in Malibu Park lost their homes in the 2018 Woolsey Fire, which left behind lots where only chimneys still stood.
Give Your Home a Fighting Chance

California wildfires are becoming larger, more frequent and more ferocious. ‘Malibu Burning’ author Robert Kerbeck shares simple steps you can take to protect your home.

Image caption: Saving water has become more crucial in California’s drought crisis.
How to Save Water: Simple Steps You Can Take

Saving water is more important than ever in California, due to the region’s worst drought conditions in 1,200 years. Here are some steps you can take to help.

Image caption: From the coast to the mountains, Santa Cruz County’s landscape has given way to human development. But residents can make all parts of the region more hospitable to native species.
Backyard Ecology

Tips for creating wildlife-friendly habitat in Santa Cruz County, no matter where you live.

Image caption: Feeling blocked? These mental health organizations can help.
Finding Piece of Mind

Feeling stressed? Confused? Or just a little blue? Help is just a phone call away for residents of Santa Cruz County.

Support California Local

$10 • $25 • $50 • Our Impact

Santa Cruz County Newsletter

Weekly digest of curated state and local news, upcoming government meetings and community events.

LOCALIST

Article with links to local online information resources about a given topic.

Upcoming Meetings → View All

Event sponsor logo
County of Santa Cruz
City Selection Committee
TODAY   1:00 PM

Event sponsor logo
City of Santa Cruz
Zoning Administrator
Wednesday June 7 2023   10:00 AM

Event sponsor logo
County of Santa Cruz
Integrated Community Health Center Commission
Wednesday June 7 2023   4:00 PM

Event sponsor logo
County of Santa Cruz
Water Advisory Commission
Wednesday June 7 2023   4:00 PM

Event sponsor logo
County of Santa Cruz
Latino Affairs Commission Meeting
Wednesday June 7 2023   6:00 PM

Event sponsor logo
City of Capitola
Capitola City Council Regular Meeting
Thursday June 8 2023   7:00 PM

Event sponsor logo
County of Santa Cruz
Commission on Disabilities Meeting
Thursday June 8 2023   12:30 PM

Event sponsor logo
County of Santa Cruz
Sanitation District Board of Directors
Thursday June 8 2023   4:45 PM

Event sponsor logo
County of Santa Cruz
Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Commission
Thursday June 8 2023   5:30 PM

Event sponsor logo
City of Santa Cruz
Parks and Recreation Commission
Monday June 12 2023   4:00 PM

Event sponsor logo
City of Capitola
Art and Cultural Commission Meeting
Tuesday June 13 2023   6:30 PM

Event sponsor logo
City of Santa Cruz
City Council
Tuesday June 13 2023   3:30 PM

Event sponsor logo
County of Santa Cruz
County Board of Supervisors Meeting
Tuesday June 13 2023   9:00 AM

Event sponsor logo
County of Santa Cruz
County Board of Supervisors Meeting
Tuesday June 13 2023   1:30 PM

Event sponsor logo
City of Watsonville
City Council Meeting
Tuesday June 13 2023   4:30 PM