Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: How a new mental health jail could reshape justice in Santa Cruz

And on the Santa Cruz Patch calendar - Handmade Pottery Holiday Sale

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Friday December 12th Patch AM
Friday December 12th Patch AM (Patch graphic)

Morning Santa Cruz! We've got the scoop on the latest happenings in town. Read on to get looped in. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • How a new mental health jail could reshape justice in Santa Cruz
  • What Santa Cruz’s new water plan means for your taps and creeks
  • How the Wharf will turn into a snowy holiday playground Dec. 20

Also on today's calendar: Handmade Pottery Holiday Sale and 10 more events.

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

Today's riddle: I once read a book about anti-gravity. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

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

  • Friday: Plenty of sunshine, with a high of 68 and low of 45 degrees.
  • Saturday: Mostly sunny, temps: high: 64, low: 47.
  • Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high of 64 and low of 46 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Santa Cruz County Sheriff eyes new mental health jail facility (santacruzlocal.org) — Santa Cruz County Sheriff Justin Clark is pushing for a new or repurposed mental health-focused jail facility as the county’s incarcerated population ages and psychiatric needs rise. He also defends the department’s handling of past in-custody deaths, outlines a new fentanyl death review process that targets major dealers, and weighs in on license plate reader oversight affecting Santa Cruz-area agencies.
   

• Santa Cruz rethinks water use to conserve coho salmon, save steelhead (santacruzsentinel.com) — Santa Cruz is overhauling how it uses and stores water to protect endangered coho salmon and threatened steelhead while keeping taps flowing for residents. A new $36 million, 30‑year habitat conservation plan and updated water rights will boost creek flows, fund restoration projects like San Vicente Creek, and create a more resilient local water supply.
   

• Annual Winter on the Wharf to bring holiday magic to Santa Cruz (santacruzsentinel.com) — Santa Cruz families can head to the Municipal Wharf on Dec. 20 for a free Winter on the Wharf celebration with snow play, Disney characters, and photos with Santa. Organized by the city’s Parks and Recreation Department with local partners, the event also supports wharf businesses and includes donation drives for Second Harvest Food Bank and Toys for Tots.
   

📸 Around Santa Cruz

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🗓 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

  • Does anyone know what company is constantly all over Santa Cruz County driving all white trucks that have only a big CUA logo on the side and nothing else?
    Nothing when I Google for this company, absolutely nothing comes up. Not even a picture of their company trucks on the Internet. Yet, these trucks… (Nextdoor Westlake Neighbors)
  • question for my ladies going through menopause!
    My doctor just prescribed the estradiol transdermal patch and progesterone. I’m suffering from brain fog, can’t sleep, night sweats and mood swings… (Nextdoor Live Oak)
  • The Stepping Stones Group, LLC posted a job opening for School Counselor in Santa Cruz. Apply here.
  • Apple posted a job opening for Community Specialist, Channel Retail in Santa Cruz. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Santa Cruz here.

🗞 Nearby News

Felton

  • Community Bridges launches fund to support families facing detention or separation - Press Banner (pressbanner.com)
  • Sunshine Ghost: Singer-Songwriter Alecia Haselton Releases New Single (slvpost.com)
  • Dr. Bill Ciancio, 81, fired as SLV's boys basketball coach (fresnobee.com)

Soquel

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 couldn’t put it down.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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