Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: How your quick roadside photo could reshape wildlife safety in Santa Cruz

Happening soon: John Rybak + Friends @ Discretion Brewing on the Santa Cruz Patch calendar

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Saturday September 12th Patch AM
Saturday September 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 your quick roadside photo could reshape wildlife safety in Santa Cruz
  • When you can use UC Santa Cruz's new EV chargers
  • How you can join the Sheriff's Advisory Team this year

Also on today's calendar: John Rybak + Friends @ Discretion Brewing and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: What did the tractor say to the plow? 🤔 (Answer below!)

From our Partner
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Weather forecast:

  • Saturday: Clouds giving way to sun, with a high of 77 and low of 53 degrees.
  • Sunday: Areas of low clouds, then sun, temps: high: 79, low: 54.
  • Monday: Partly sunny and beautiful, with a high of 77 and low of 55 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. County Wildlife Commission Launches Safe Passage Project (tpgonlinedaily.com) — Santa Cruz County residents are being asked to help map dangerous road crossings for wildlife through the new Safe Passage Santa Cruz project, using the free iNaturalist app. By reporting roadkill and wildlife-vehicle collisions through July 2027, locals will help identify hotspots, guide future safety improvements, and support county planning under California's new wildlife connectivity law.
   

2. UC Santa Cruz adds 12 EV charging ports to support fleet electrification (asumag.com) — UC Santa Cruz has added 12 new EV charging ports at its Central Heating Plant, reserved for campus fleet vehicles by day and open to the public evenings and weekends. The project, backed by state clean-transportation funds, is part of a broader push to electrify the university's fleet and expand charging at sites like Hagar Family Student Housing and the Scotts Valley Center.
   

3. Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Advisory Team builds community connections (pressbanner.com) — Santa Cruz County residents just wrapped up a year on the Sheriff's Advisory Team, gaining a close-up look at local jails, dispatch, forensics and patrol while offering feedback to Sheriff Chris Clark. The county is now recruiting the next group, giving interested locals a structured way to learn about community policing and share their perspectives directly with department leaders.
   

4. With developer chosen, Town Center plan in Scotts Valley advances (santacruzlocal.org) — A long-delayed Town Center project in nearby Scotts Valley is moving forward now that land issues with the City of Santa Cruz and the former Skypark Airport are resolved and a developer with Santa Cruz County ties is on board. The latest plan leans heavily on hundreds of new homes, many below market rate, and residents will have chances in 2027 to weigh in at planning and council meetings.
   

5. UC Santa Cruz 'History of Consciousness' program features multitude of Marxist courses, including class on 'Ecological Marxism' (campusreform.org) — UC Santa Cruz's History of Consciousness graduate program is spotlighted for offering numerous Marxism-focused and anti-capitalist courses, along with similar classes in other UCSC departments. The piece details course descriptions and faculty research interests tied to Marxist, anti-colonial, and racial-capitalism frameworks, framing the curriculum as heavily ideological rather than simply academic.
   

📸 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.

 

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Love this little Belted Kingfisher that hangs out at the Yacht Harbor, usually at the upper/north harbor.
    If you go looking for him, look at the top of masts, the white tops of the pier cones, or boat railings. (Nextdoor Grant Park)
  • Attention!
    When assembling your cat, be sure to read the full instructions before attempting to put her together. Tab A to slot A, NOT tab A to slot B. Claudia… (Nextdoor Villa De Branciforte East)
  • Great Clips, Inc. posted a job opening for Salon Manager in Capitola. Apply here.
  • Pajaro Valley Unified School District posted a job opening for JV Softball Coach-WHS in Watsonville. 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: Hold me close John Deere. (Thank you Jenny H. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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