Finally, the truth came out. For the past decade the local Regional Transportation Commission has been working on a plan for train service between Watsonville and Davenport under the direction of local officials and voters. But all this time, we never had a valid estimate of what it would cost. The first projections when the county spent $14 million to buy the tracks was well under a billion...

As a lifelong educator and a stickler for grammar, I’ve always valued precise language. I believe clarity matters—especially when teaching, writing, or communicating across generations. So, I’ll admit that the use of they/them as a singular pronoun for non-binary individuals has left me a little grammatically disoriented. Let me be clear: I fully support people’s right to define who they are and...

We’ve all experienced friendship fallouts one way or another, whether as kids or adults. As I see my daughter forming friendships at preschool, I see how joyful and full of promised those early connections can be. And I also know as she grows, those relationships will become more complex. It is a daunting thought at times, knowing I won’t always be able to protect her from the heartaches that come...

The proposed 22-mile rail/trail from Watsonville to Natural Bridges will cost an estimated $4.3 billion to build and as much as $41 million a year to operate, according to a new study released by the Regional Transportation Commission—figures more than four times the estimated costs released in 2022 during the campaign in which voters approved the concept with 70 percent of the vote. The RTC...

The beautiful weather, gorgeous flowers in bloom, the camps, vacations and hopefully some R+R. Personally, This year is the first time I decided not to put my kid in any camps and zero planned vacations and use the summer to explore and be on the NON scheduled summer. So far, we are really enjoying it and as a working mom it forced me to take off some time that I too really needed. Living in a...

In Santa Cruz, a uniquely joyful and heartfelt theater troupe has taken root, transforming lives through performance and community: Miracles Santa Cruz. This ensemble of performers with special needs shares more than a stage—they share a passion for storytelling, song, and self-expression. Founded on the belief that everyone deserves the spotlight, Miracles Santa Cruz brings creativity and...

In mid-June, Santa Cruz-born musician, James Durbin, kicked off his “All Over the Place” summer tour. The tour takes place throughout Santa Cruz County, with shows in Santa Clara and Sacramento counties, as well. The title also sums up the 36-year-old musician’s life so far–as a singer and guitarist who has played in numerous bands–spanning multiple genres–and toured in many countries Durbin first...

Have you ever wondered if a place can dictate your style? Here are four individuals from all over who wound up in our little town, one way or another. Every one of these characters has fantastic flair. Whether it is in correlation to our town’s influence or not. Some of these individuals attributed their poise to the town and people in it, while others disagreed. Even though the town may not be a...

Nestled in the heart of Aptos, “Caroline’s Non Profit Thrift Shop” is more than a store, it is a space for hope, healing, and happiness. What started as a mother’s tribute to her daughter blossomed into a community that impacts lives in Santa Cruz County and beyond. The shop was inspired by Caroline, Christy Licker’s daughter who passed away at the young age of sixteen. Three and a half years...

My partner and I are both educators, and July offers us a wonderful respite, a chance to change the scenery and spend more time outdoors asking questions than answering them. Because we’re away for weeks at a time, we bring our dog. He travels moderately well. He’ll stretch out in the back seat and endure long stretches on the road without complaint. He maintains a reliable bathroom schedule. If...

California State Parks announced that the seasonal campground at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park (SP), which had been scheduled to reopen Aug. 1 following renovations, has been delayed until the 2026 camping season. Significant supply chain disruptions pushed back the completion of essential infrastructure upgrades, including accessibility features. “We will continue to work diligently with...

The buzz on prebiotic soda; should you be drinking it? Recently, I was browsing the aisles at Staff of Life when I overheard a mom ask her son, “Why are these Poppi drinks so popular?” The boy, maybe 12 years old, had no clue. But I did. I managed to resist my inner Italian buttinsky—but I was dying to chime in: “Because they’re a low-sugar, prebiotic (aka healthy!)...