Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: What will change with Monica Martinez leading the county board in 2026?

And check out Storytime and Stay & Play @ Downtown on the Santa Cruz Patch calendar

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Good morning Santa Cruz! Your connection to what's happening around town is here. Take a sip of coffee and read on. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • What will change with Monica Martinez leading the county board in 2026?
  • How the Murray Street Bridge reopening will change your commute soon
  • What’s replacing the demolished Hilltop Center at Water and Branciforte?

Also on today's calendar: Illuminated Sound: An Energy-Infused Sound Bath 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 baby computer say to the mommy computer? 🤔 (Answer below!)

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

Weather forecast:

  • Wednesday: Pleasant with plenty of sun, with a high of 70 and low of 47 degrees.
  • Thursday: Pleasant with plenty of sun, temps: high: 70, low: 49.
  • Friday: Sunny and pleasant, with a high of 71 and low of 50 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Monica Martinez Selected as 2026 Chair of Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors (slvpost.com) — District 5 Supervisor Monica Martinez has been selected as 2026 chair of the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors, becoming the first openly LGBTQ+ and Latina person in the role. Her leadership will shape priorities on wildfire preparedness, essential services, equity, and long-term recovery from the CZU Lightning Complex Fire for residents across the county, especially rural and mountain communities.
   

2. Santa Cruz to partially reopen Murray Street Bridge by end of January (ksbw.com) — Murray Street Bridge in Santa Cruz is set to partially reopen by the end of January, restoring one lane for vehicles and bikes plus two-way pedestrian access after a closure since March 2025. City officials are still finalizing the exact date and exploring temporary traffic-control options to ease congestion and support nearby businesses during ongoing construction.
   

3. Demolition of Hilltop Center in Santa Cruz completed (santacruzsentinel.com) — Demolition of the Hilltop Center at North Branciforte and Water in Santa Cruz is complete, clearing the way for the 831 Water Street housing project. Developers plan a four- and five-story, 100% below-market-rate complex with 140 homes, ground-floor retail, shared spaces, and on-site amenities that will significantly reshape this busy corner.
   

4. Santa Cruz County approves safety measures for battery storage facilities (ksbw.com) — Santa Cruz County supervisors have adopted new safety rules for large battery storage projects, adding buffer zones and fire plans in response to the Moss Landing fire. The move comes as a controversial facility near Watsonville advances, drawing both sharp criticism from nearby residents and support from others who say stricter local rules beat looser state oversight.
   

5. Bay Area researchers hope to unlock the secrets of coastal fog — and understand how it's affected by climate change and pollution (pressdemocrat.com) — UC Santa Cruz scientists are leading a major statewide study of coastal fog, including toxic methyl mercury found in samples from Santa Cruz and other shoreline sites. Over the next five years, they’ll deploy fog collectors and sensors along the coast to understand how fog, climate change, and pollution affect ecosystems and potentially human and animal health.
   

📸 Around Santa Cruz

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Santa Cruz

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📣 Santa Cruz Shout Outs!

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Missing cat!
    Luna went out the afternoon of 1-10–26 and hasn’t come home. He lives at 1030 N Branciforte Ave. He’s very friendly and a bit of a foodie, so if you… (Nextdoor Villa De Branciforte East)
  • Hello neighbors,
    Does anyone have a scooter walker for after feet surgery? One leg scooter?Glad to purchase… thank you (Nextdoor Pleasure Point)
  • Common Spirit posted a job opening for Housekeeper in Santa Cruz. Apply here.
  • Costco Wholesale Corporation posted a job opening for Payroll Clerk 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 want my data.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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