Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: How a decades-old Santa Cruz Christmas dinner is feeding more neighbors

And on the Santa Cruz Patch calendar - El capulin nursery

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Friday December 26th Patch AM
Friday December 26th Patch AM (Patch graphic)

Cheers Santa Cruz! We’re back, helping you stay up to date with what’s happening. Let's take on the day together! ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • How a decades-old Santa Cruz Christmas dinner is feeding more neighbors
  • Which Santa Cruz County volleyball stars made the all-league first team?
  • How UCSC scientists use fishing boats to forecast ocean trouble early

Also on today's calendar: El capulin nursery and 9 more events.

Find out what's happening in Santa Cruzfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: What did the clock say when it ran out of batteries? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in Santa Cruzfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Friday: A couple of showers, with a high of 58 and low of 44 degrees.
  • Saturday: Times of clouds and sun, temps: high: 59, low: 41.
  • Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high of 61 and low of 42 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Community shares a Christmas meal at the Santa Cruz County Veterans Memorial Building (santacruzsentinel.com) — Santa Cruz residents packed the Santa Cruz County Veterans Memorial Building on Christmas for a free community dinner that’s been serving locals for nearly 40 years. Veterans, volunteers, and even out-of-town families pitched in to provide hot meals and groceries, offering connection and relief to neighbors struggling with food and housing costs. Organizers stress that ongoing food distributions help people stabilize and get back on their feet.
   

2. Scotts Valley's Hayden Smith crushes it for top honor (fresnobee.com) — Santa Cruz County volleyball standouts are getting their due, with Scotts Valley’s Hayden Smith unanimously named Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League MVP and several Santa Cruz High players earning all-league recognition. The story highlights how local programs from Santa Cruz, Harbor, Aptos, Soquel, and Scotts Valley pushed deep into CCS and NorCal playoffs, showcasing the strength of the area’s girls volleyball scene.
   

3. New study finds movement of fishing fleets can reveal shifts in marine ecosystems (scientificinquirer.com) — UC Santa Cruz researchers are turning fishing fleets into high-tech sentinels, using satellite vessel-tracking data to spot marine heatwaves and shifting tuna populations far sooner than traditional methods. Their findings could help West Coast fisheries and coastal communities respond faster to climate-driven changes, potentially avoiding economic shocks like recent albacore downturns.
   

4. 25 Incredible Reader Images From 2025: California In Photos (patch.com) — A statewide 2025 photo roundup includes a striking twilight shot of Santa Cruz, highlighting the city alongside beaches, mountains, and wildlife from across California. While the feature isn’t Santa Cruz–specific, it showcases the local coastline’s beauty through a reader’s lens. It’s a reminder that our town stands out even in a gallery of the state’s most scenic places.
   

📸 Around Santa Cruz

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Santa Cruz

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★ Featured events ★

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📣 Santa Cruz Shout Outs!

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Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

 

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Santa Cruz PatchAM possible:

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • To all the people who worked through the night to get our power back - THANKS.
    To the waste haulers who work on holidays to move our trash - THANKS!!!!! (Nextdoor Garfield Park Circles)
  • Update : home safe and sound!
    Thank you all! Hey all! My friends dog jumped out of his car while around seabright or the mall area! Has anyone seen a small chihuahua?? Priscilla! (Nextdoor Central Seabright)
  • Whole Foods posted a job opening for Whole Body Team Member (Body Care, Makeup, Vitamins, Nutrition - Stocker, Inventory, Floor Service) - Part Time Seasonal in Santa Cruz. Apply here.
  • Costco Wholesale Corporation posted a job opening for Bakery Wrapper / Clean Up in Santa Cruz. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Santa Cruz here.

Ok Santa Cruz! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I guess I’m out of time.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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