Santa Cruz Native Tapped For Soccer Team + Symphony

Rise and shine, Santa Cruz! Here's everything you need to know to get this Thursday started off right.

First, today's weather:

Rain and a thunderstorm; breezy. High: 58 Low: 49.

Here are the top stories today in Santa Cruz:

1. Celebrate the new year with Santa Cruz Symphony's "Rites of Passage" (Lookout Santa Cruz)
2. Monterey Bay FC signs Santa Cruz native as first-ever player for team's inaugural season (KION)
3. Latest: Check Hospital Capacity In Santa Cruz Area (Santa Cruz Patch)
4. Santa Cruz Housing Market: Sale Prices By ZIP Code (Santa Cruz Patch)
5. Rain In Santa Cruz: Where To Get Sandbags This Winter (Santa Cruz Patch)
6. On the shortest day and longest night, memorial honors Santa Cruz's unhoused dead (Lookout Santa Cruz)
7. California Honeydrops Headline Back-to-Back Nights in Felton (Good Times Weekly)
8. Santa Cruz Area Adoptable Pets: Cats, Dogs & More (Santa Cruz Patch)

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From my notebook:

• Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office: "MISSING CHILD‼️ We need your help! Please keep a look out for 13 year old Roobens Schilling. Roobens left his home in the downtown Soquel area yesterday and has not been seen since. Roobens was last seen wearing red and white pajamas. If..." (Facebook)
• Santa Cruz Public Libraries: "It's time to cozy up with a good book! Check out Still Life by Louise Penny. We have this book in print, audio CD, large type, eBook, and eAudiobook! #santacruzpl #winterreads" (Facebook)
• Nextdoor Neighbor, River Street: "I'm getting quotes for new windows in my condo from Sandman and Lighthouse. - Any comments? Experiences? Any other company from which I should get an estimate?" (Nextdoor)
• Nextdoor Neighbor, Blacks Beach: "Curly hair stylist - Not too long ago someone was looking for a curly expert hair stylist. I can’t find my list. I need a cut! Help? cut dry." (Nextdoor)

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Events:

• Save 15 Percent On FTD’s Christmas Collection (December 25)
• FORESIGHT - New Year's Eve Dance Party (December 31)
• Indie Pop Star Michelle Lambert Celebrates New Year’s Eve in Monterey! (December 31)
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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Thursday. I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow morning with another update!

— Courtney Teague