Over the past decade, 127 teachers left Santa Cruz City Schools because they couldn’t afford to live in the county, and 95% of job offers were declined for the same reason, according to the district. To alleviate the cost-of-living burden on local teachers and improve retention rates, Santa Cruz City Schools broke ground on the district’s first educator housing community last March. The project, at 313 Swift Street, will house at least 100 district teachers and classified staff at 60-70% of market rates. “We simply plan on providing the biggest discount we can afford while still paying off the property in 30 years,” said District Communications Officer Sam Rolens. The…
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Little Faces, Big Reasons to Care
Editor's note for October 2026 by Brad Kava, covering community heroes, teachers' salaries, local contests, and the value of live music for children.
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Short Workouts Win: The Interval Edge
Discover the efficiency of HIIT workouts. Learn how to improve your fitness, metabolism, and health with these short, effective home exercises.
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Is Your Child Confiding in an AI Chatbot?
Discover how AI chatbots are impacting children and learn actionable tips for parents to navigate this new digital landscape safely and responsibly.
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AI Music and the Illusion of Perfection
Is AI-generated music the pinnacle of art or just a soulless illusion? An exploration of technical perfection versus human authenticity.
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43 Years of Care, One Bundle at a Time
Joyce Pearce, who has spent over four decades assembling care bundles for newborns at Watsonville Community Hospital, celebrated her 90th birthday.
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What to Do When People Don’t Like You
Learning how to navigate the reality of being disliked is an essential life skill for building resilience and forming meaningful new connections.
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Caring for Your Partnership and Your Child
Learn how to nurture your partnership while raising a child with extra needs. Discover the importance of co-regulation, repair, and finding time for each other.
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Raising Secure Kids Takes More Than Good Behavior
Learn how Positive Discipline helps parents move beyond behaviorist rewards and punishments to foster deep, long-lasting secure attachment in children.
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Where the Poppies Bloom
A beautiful story about how a new mural of California poppies at Discovery Preschool celebrates community, resilience, and growth after years of challenges.
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Sorting Out the Future of Recycling
Understanding Senate Bill 54 and what it means for your daily waste sorting and the future of regional sustainability. Sorting Out the Future of Recycling: An deep dive into California’s new anti-single-use packaging legislation and how it aims to transform recycling practices in Santa Cruz County for a more sustainable future. Recycling, Senate Bill 54, Santa Cruz, waste management, circular economy, GreenWaste, environment, plastic reduction, sustainability. Environment. A clean, professional shot of a modern recycling center, featuring organized sorting bins and conveyor belts bathed in bright, natural light, symbolizing clarity and environmental stewardship. 75, 48, 440, 954. Sorting Out the Future of Recycling. Environment. Recycling can be complicated. But a…
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A UCSC Class Studies the Modern and Ancient Works of Homer
UCSC Professor Martin Devecka uses Homer's Odyssey to help modern students navigate an increasingly complex world through lessons of metis and xenia.
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Dientes Community Dental Care Expands Pediatric Services in Santa Cruz County
Dientes Community Dental Care is expanding access to pediatric dental care with the addition of two pediatric specialty dentists, Dr. Jody Chiang and Dr. Danny Do. With their arrival Dientes is now accepting new patients ages 0–18, giving more Santa Cruz County children the opportunity to establish a dental home. Dr. Chiang and Dr. Do bring years of specialized training and experience, including dental care for infants, children with special needs, and young patients with complex medical conditions. Their expertise goes beyond treating teeth. Pediatric specialists understand how to help children feel comfortable, build trust with families, and establish healthy habits that can last a lifetime. For Dr. Chiang, joining…
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October Tails: Second Chances and Safety
October is National Adopt-A-Shelter Dog Month and Animal Safety and Protection Month. Learn how you can help shelter dogs and promote animal safety in your community.
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Afraid of the Dark?
Discover two chilling yet tender children's books, 'The Skull' and 'The Dark', which transform childhood fears into beautifully illustrated stories of courage.
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Do You Know How Lucky We Are to Live in Santa Cruz?
I just returned home after spending five weeks in New Jersey, and I came back with a whole new appreciation for Santa Cruz. I loved every minute with my family. I taught my grandson how to ride his new two-wheeled balance bike, introduced him to miniature golf, and got to meet my new granddaughter. But I also discovered something I had never really thought about before: much of the country lives indoors because of the weather. During my visit, temperatures hovered above 95 degrees with high humidity. Unlike Santa Cruz, it didn’t cool off much at night. If we wanted to ride bikes or go to a park, we had…
