Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: What 100 new educator apartments on Swift Street mean for local schools
Coming up: Summer Sizzle West Cliff Outdoor Market on the Santa Cruz Patch calendar

Greetings Santa Cruz! We're your go-to source for what's happening in town. Read on to get plugged in! ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- What 100 new educator apartments on Swift Street mean for local schools
- Why Santa Cruz supervisors delayed their own salary decision until 2027
- How West Cliff paths and Bay Street driving will change soon
Also on today's calendar: Summer Sizzle West Cliff Outdoor Market and 4 more events.
Today's riddle: What is the difference between a jeweler and a jailer? 🤔 (Answer below!)
From our Partner
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- Thursday: Areas of low clouds, then sun, with a high of 81 and low of 59 degrees.
- Friday: Nice with sunny spells, temps: high: 76, low: 56.
- Saturday: Areas of low clouds, then sun, with a high of 76 and low of 54 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. Ground Broken for Santa Cruz City Schools' 100-Unit Educator Housing Project (consupt.com) — Construction is underway on Santa Cruz City Schools' first educator housing community at 313 Swift Street, bringing 100 below-market-rate units for local teachers and staff. Designed as a "housing-in-the-park" neighborhood with varied apartment sizes and upgraded existing buildings, the project aims to ease Santa Cruz County's educator housing crunch, with completion targeted for 2028.
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2. Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors table discussion on supervisors' salaries (santacruzsentinel.com) — Santa Cruz County supervisors have postponed any decision on changing their $151,000-plus salary structure until January 2027, leaving a key pay debate to the next board. The move comes just weeks after they placed a temporary countywide half-cent sales tax on the November ballot, prompting concerns about optics as they balance fiscal distress with fair compensation.
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3. Santa Cruz to see small changes on West Cliff coastline, Bay Street (santacruzsentinel.com subscription) — Santa Cruz is set to shift parts of the West Cliff multi-use path away from eroding bluffs and permanently close a wave-battered section near Lighthouse Field, with construction detours expected this fall. The City Council also approved a quick-build safety pilot at Bay Street and Escalona Drive, adding a median, speed feedback sign, and rumble strips to cut neighborhood collisions.
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4. Santa Cruz County board honors Dolly Parton before adjourning meeting (ksbw.com) — Santa Cruz County supervisors paused their Tuesday meeting to honor Dolly Parton, formally adjourning in her memory and reflecting on her impact. Supervisor Monica Martinez highlighted how Parton's Imagination Library has directly benefited young children in Santa Cruz County through the local First 5 program, urging residents to remember her mix of generosity, humility, and joy.
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5. Locals Kaikora Nauenberg, Cooper Shank win opening heats at Virginia Beach (santacruzsentinel.com) — Santa Cruz surfers are making waves far from home, with Kaikora "KK" Nauenberg winning her opening heat at the Virginia Beach Pro and climbing the North America rankings. Several other Santa Cruz and Capitola surfers advanced or were eliminated, and local standout John Mel is set for a key Round of 64 heat as the event continues through Sunday.
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📸 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!
★ Featured events ★
- Summer Sizzle West Cliff Outdoor Market →
Santa Cruz Lighthouse Parking Lot 301 W Cliff Dr, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060,
10:00 am
Saturday August 29
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- Giacomo Puccini's Opera: The Girl of the Golden West →
Colligan Theater at the Tannery Arts Center, 1010 River St, Santa Cruz
7:00 pm - Ocean Film Festival World Tour Santa Cruz →
Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz
7:00 pm - Giacomo Puccini's Opera: The Girl of the Golden West →
Colligan Theater at the Tannery Arts Center, 1010 River St, Santa Cruz
2:00 pm - Giacomo Puccini's Opera: The Girl of the Golden West →
Colligan Theater at the Tannery Arts Center, 1010 River St, Santa Cruz
7:00 pm - Giacomo Puccini's Opera: The Girl of the Golden West →
Colligan Theater at the Tannery Arts Center, 1010 River St, Santa Cruz
7:00 pm - Hive Live! Featuring Amber Coverdale Sumrall and Jen Siraganian →
Bookshop Santa Cruz, 1520 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz
7:00 pm
Friday September 4
Sunday September 6
Friday September 11
Sunday September 13
Tuesday September 15
📣 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
- LO: Back to School Night
Ocean Alternative Education Center Santa Cruz, CA 95062
5:00 pm - Fort Building Day
Tierra Pacifica Charter Santa Cruz, CA 95062
11:15 am - Spot Pizza & Baked Goods Fundraiser
Tierra Pacifica Charter Santa Cruz, CA 95062
12:15 pm - Felton Music Hall presents... W.I.T.C.H →
Felton Music Hall, 6275 Hwy 9, Felton
7:00 pm - Brainstory with W.I.T.C.H. →
Felton Music Hall, 6275 Hwy 9, Felton
8:00 pm - Sat Mornings "Come as You Are" Zen →
Ocean Gate Zen Center, email:info@oceangatezen.org, 920 41st Ave F, Santa Cruz
9:00 am
Thursday August 27
Friday August 28
Saturday August 29
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making Santa Cruz PatchAM possible:
- Illusive Comics & Games, LLC — (408) 985-7655
- El Capulin Nursery — (831) 840-9195
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
- I'm excited to share my latest piece, East Cliff, a 24x20 acrylic painting that captures one of my favorite local spots along East Cliff Drive.
There's something about the way the cliffs meet the turquoise ocean and the playful waves crash beyond that always leaves me feeling joyful. I tried… (Nextdoor Mid East Side) - Thanks to the thoughtful person that picked up my dropped polka dot shopping bag and looped in on my side mirror at SC Whole Foods today!
It's one of my favorite bags. I appreciate your kindness!! (Nextdoor Upper Laurel to Walnut)
- Lotus Management, Inc posted a job opening for Night Auditor - Courtyard by Marriott, Santa Cruz in Santa Cruz. Apply here.
- Costco Wholesale Corporation posted a job opening for Stocker 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: A jeweler sells watches and a jailer watches cells. (Thank you Jean D. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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