🌱 Patch AM: How Santa Cruz’s sheriff just gained a say in state corrections

Good morning Santa Cruz! We're back in your inbox this morning to keep you in the loop with what's happening in and around town. Grab a cup of coffee and read on. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• How Santa Cruz’s sheriff just gained a say in state corrections
• Why Evergreen Cemetery’s new wreath tradition moved Santa Cruz residents

Also on today's calendar: Brunch with Santa and 7 more events.

Today's riddle: Jimmy, did you crash on your bike again? You’ve lost a tooth! 🤔 (Answer below!)

From our Partner
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Weather forecast:

• Sunday: Low clouds, then some sun, with a high of 60 and low of 42 degrees.
• Monday: Mostly sunny, temps: high: 65, low: 49.
• Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high of 68 and low of 55 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Governor Newsom announces appointments 12.12.2025 (ca.gov) — Santa Cruz County Sheriff-Coroner Christopher Clark has been appointed to California’s Board of State and Community Corrections, giving Santa Cruz a direct voice in statewide criminal justice policy. The governor’s announcement also includes several other statewide appointments, but Clark’s unpaid, Senate-confirmed role could influence how local corrections, rehabilitation programs, and funding priorities evolve in coming years.
   

• Santa Cruz community honors veterans for Wreaths Across America Day (santacruzsentinel.com) — Evergreen Cemetery in Santa Cruz hosted its first official Wreaths Across America ceremony, where about 40 residents laid wreaths on the graves of 65 veterans. Organized by the local Daughters of the American Revolution and MAH partners, the event blended cemetery history, personal family stories, and reflections on military service, with a companion ceremony earlier that morning in Felton.
   

📸 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

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

Sunday December 14

• Brunch with Santa
  Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, 400 Beach St, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060
  9:00 am
• Posture & Movement Recode Workshop
  Breath+Oneness Yoga , 708 Capitola Ave , Capitola
  10:30 am
• 1960s Music Sing-along
  California Coffee , 9105 Soquel Dr , Aptos
  11:00 am
• Dreidel Painting
  Lúpulo , 233 Cathcart St , Santa Cruz
  11:30 am
• The Timeless Songs of Carole King performed by Lori Rivera
  Kuumbwa Jazz Center , 320-2 Cedar St , Santa Cruz
  3:00 pm

Tuesday December 16

• Trivia Night at Boulder Creek Pizza & Pub
  Boulder Creek Pizza & Pub , 13200-b Central Ave , Boulder Creek
  6:30 pm
• Breathing Into Wholeness: Awakening the Inner Light
  Breath+Oneness Yoga , 708 Capitola Ave , Capitola
  7:00 pm

Wednesday December 17

• Preschool Storytime @ the Garfield Park Branch Library
  Garfield Park Branch Library Garfield Park
  10:30 am
• Somatic Expression: Tools For Regulating Your Nervous System
  Breath+Oneness Yoga , 708 Capitola Ave , Capitola
  12:00 pm

Thursday December 18

• Sound Bath: Journey to the Center of the Heart
  Breath+Oneness Yoga , 708 Capitola Ave , Capitola
  7:00 pm

📣 Santa Cruz Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Sunday December 14

• Succulent Bubble Terrarium Class
  Bruno's Bar and Grill , 230 Mt Hermon Rd , Scotts Valley
  12:00 pm
• "Tails on Tap" - Paint your Pet Night w/ Suzy Rad — Steel Bonnet Brewing Company
  Steel Bonnet Brewing Company , 20 Victor Square Ext B , Scotts Valley
  1:00 pm
• The Stress & Pain Reset — Holiday Edition
  Rise Collective , 816 Bay Ave D , Capitola
  1:30 pm
• Day 2: Painting the Figure From Life (In-Person)
  2853 Park Ave , Soquel
  6:00 pm

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:

• El Capulin Nursery — (831) 840-9195
  El Capulin Nursery

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Santa Cruz Online —Michael A. Lewis Read on Patch

• This dog has been waiting and waiting to be adopted.
  He’s in foster care from the SPCA but it would be great if he could have a home by Christmas. . . (Nextdoor Central Seabright)
• Hi Neighbors,
  Please call Conor at 831-359-2841 to pick up your missing dogs! They were found on Bethany Curve this morning. They were skunked! They have been… (Nextdoor Garfield Park Circles)

• Costco Wholesale Corporation posted a job opening for Bakery Wrapper / Clean Up in Santa Cruz. Apply here.
• Santa Cruz City Schools posted a job opening for Basketball Coach Varsity- Girls - Soquel High School 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)

Scotts Valley

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 didn’t lose a tooth, Mom. It’s right here in my pocket.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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