Happy Monday! A reminder that below this week's featured offerings you will find a local news digest designed to help you easily keep up with important stuff that's happening in your backyard. And: A seasonal recipe to bring some delicious to your week.
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By Eric Johnson
Published Apr 29, 2024
On Photography and Politics
Art and Community
This week, we focus on a Californian who found a creative way to contribute to his community. Robert Buelteman is a fine art photographer who devoted much of his career to protecting the wild lands around his home on the San Francisco Peninsula. By beautifully documenting redwood forests, oak studded hillsides and a watershed that were under massive pressure of development, he helped two environmental organizations preserve more than 140,000 acres of land from Santa Cruz to San Francisco.
This all occurred during the decades when the place once known as the "Valley of Heart's Delight" exploded to become became Silicon Valley. And, in his later career, Buelteman invented a new form of imaging technology that was celebrated in nationwide publications, including Wired magazine. His inspring, brief recounting is a very "California" story.
The Making of ‘The Unseen Peninsula’
A celebrated photographer reflects on the life that led to his first book, which captures a secret paradise in the heart of the San Francisco Peninsula.
Robert Buelteman Captures the Secret Beauty of Plants
Before he started making images without a camera, Robert Buelteman was a celebrated nature photographer who worked primarily in black-and-white film.
Recipe of the Week
Our friends at Sacramento Digs Gardening publish a recipe from their gardens every Sunday, which we feature here so you can start your week with some yum.
See more recipes in their Taste Spring! cookbook.
Rhub-berry cake does a flip for spring
NEW Upside-down cake features stripes of rhubarb, dots of blueberries
Get to Know a Group
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Actors’ Theatre |
Founded in 1985, Actors’ Theatre has a long history of being a vital part of the greater Santa Cruz area’s theater community.
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From Our Media Allies |
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Two Live Oak Apartment Proposals Could Be Approved Without Public Input |
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Two new housing developments in Santa Cruz County are set to exceed local height limits and could be approved without public input, county officials said this week. |
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Pesticide Use Near Schools Detailed in Santa Cruz County |
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New data show which schools in south Santa Cruz County were exposed most often to pesticide use in recent years. |
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A Call to Local Artists |
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The City of Watsonville has sent out a call to local artists to help create a mural for the new nature center coming to Ramsay Park. |
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Marcela Tavantzis Appointed to PVHCD Seat |
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The Pajaro Valley Health Care District (PVHCD) on Wednesday appointed former Watsonville City Manager Marcela Tavantzis to fill the seat left vacant when John Friel resigned on March 19. |
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Homeless Shelter Project in Watsonville to Break Ground in June |
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Construction will begin in June on a 34-unit community of small temporary dwellings based at Westview Presbyterian Church in Watsonville, after the Monterey County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved agreements to build and manage the facility. |
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Summer Vibes Return to Skypark With Food Truck Fridays and Taco Tuesdays |
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You know that summer is almost here when the convoy of food trucks comes back to Skypark. Starting Friday, April 26, Food Trucks a Go Go presents Food Truck Fridays, the area’s largest food truck festival with new owners Josh … |
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Hiking in a Storm in the Byrne-Milliron Forest |
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“Take a Hike With Richard Stockton” appears weekly on the Good Times website. |
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How Tall Will We Go? |
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When the Town Clock was dedicated in 1976, it represented Santa Cruzans’ hopes for the future and recalled memories of turn-of-the-century Pacific Avenue when trolleys lumbered by and the clock sat atop the Odd Fellows Building. |
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Up From Underground: The IUMA Story |
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As the end of the first quarter of the 21st century nears, creating and consuming music is easier and cheaper than ever. |
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New Leadership Revs Up Food Truck Fridays in Scotts Valley |
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Honk if you’re hungry. |
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Scotts Valley Native Dom Parrish Earns Trip to Summer Olympics |
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Dominique “Dom” Parrish’s legacy continues to grow after the former Scotts Valley High wrestling star qualified for the upcoming 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. |
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May Is Affordable Housing Month! |
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Housing challenges across Santa Cruz county are increasing and Housing Santa Cruz County aims to meet this challenge by educating and empowering local residents through special events across the Month of May. |
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Recent Local News |
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• Santa Cruz Mountain Road Repairs Will Take Years
Repairs to roads damaged in recent storms, including the slow-moving slide on Mountain Charlie Road, depend on state and federal funding and could take years to complete.
(04/28/2024) → Santa Cruz Sentinel• Rail Trail Vote to be Reconsidered
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors will reconsider their vote against approving segments 10 and 11 of the Coastal Rail Trail in their April 30 meeting.
(04/26/2024) → Santa Cruz Sentinel• Big Basin State Park to Expand
The Sempervirens Fund has purchased two adjacent parcels to be transferred to park ownershipfor use as a new entrance and to replace other facilities destroyed in the CZU Fire.
(04/26/2024) → Lookout Local• Santa Cruz ‘Circle Church’ Demolished
Demolition of the church at the center of the Santa Cruz circles was completed on April 23, making way for construction of a ring of house to be built on the 1.6-acre parcel.
(04/25/2024) → Santa Cruz Sentinel• Schools Consider Workforce Housing
Santa Cruz City Schools is exploring the development and building below-market rate housing for teachers and other staff priced out of the county rental market.
(04/24/2024) → Lookout Local• Santa Cruz Purchases Site for Downtown Library Project
The City of Santa Cruz acquired the Toadal Fitness parcel downtown for $2.5 million as part of the mixed-use library project.
(04/24/2024) → Lookout Local• Tiny House Village Construction Set for Summer
A 34-unit tiny home village for people displaced when Pajaro was flooded will begin construction in Watsonville on a church-owned parcel in Watsonville.
(04/24/2024) → Santa Cruz Sentinel• Historical Museum Celebrates City Anniversary
An exhibit at the Capitola Historical Museum celebrates the founding of Camp Capitola 150 years ago.
(04/23/2024) → Santa Cruz Sentinel|
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Recent Statewide News |
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• California's Population Increased Last Year for First Time Since 2020
During the much-ballyhooed “California exodus” amid the pandemic, remote workers moved to other states where they could live for a fraction of the cost compared to cities like Los Angeles or San Francisco.
(04/29/2024) → Los Angeles Times• Chuckwalla National Monument Would Protect Swath of California Desert and Preserve a Sacred Land
Indigenous Californians want President Biden to establish a national monument in a stretch of desert that is both an ecological wonder and a window into their cultures.
(04/27/2024) → Los Angeles Times• Who Killed CA Utility Bill Legislation?
A bill to rein in a proposed monthly fee on California electric bills would let California’s largest for-profit utility companies charge customers $24 per month — with fees as low as $6 for lower-income customers — as a kind of membership fee for the power grid.
(04/26/2024) → CalMatters• Rural Counties Far From Universities Struggle to Recruit Teachers
Nine counties located more than an hour away from universities with teacher preparation programs face particular difficulties.
(04/25/2024) → EdSource• California Wants Better Animal Shelter Conditions, Stray Population Curbed
Several bills making their way through the California Legislature seek to address overcrowded animal shelters and streamline how animals receive care.
(04/24/2024) → Los Angeles Times• Bill Would Allow Arizona Abortion Providers to Practice in California Temporarily
Newsom-backed bill would allow Arizona abortion providers to practice in California as the Republican-led state restricts access.
(04/24/2024) → Los Angeles Times|
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Government Announcements |
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United States (04/27/2024) H-E-B Issues Voluntary Recall for 3-Ounce Cups of Creamy Creations Ice Cream in Select Flavors |
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Committed to the safety and quality of its products, H-E-B is voluntarily issuing a recall for 12-count packages of 3-ounce cups of Creamy Creations ice cream in select flavors for potential metal. The affected products were distributed to all H-E-B stores in Texas and Mexico and Central Market, Joe
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United States (04/26/2024) 802 VT Frozen Recalls Frozen Meat Pizza Products Due to Misbranding and Undeclared Allergens |
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WASHINGTON, April 26, 2024 - 802 VT Frozen, a Newport, Vt. establishment, is recalling approximately 8,221 pounds of frozen meat pizza due to misbranding and undeclared allergens, the U.S. Department...
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United States (04/24/2024) Tama Corporation Recalls Product Because of Possible Health Risk |
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Tama Corporation of Doral FL is recalling 24-ounce containers of "Oueso de Mano PAISA" have contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, a bacterium that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy indivi
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United States (04/24/2024) ConSup North America Inc. Recalls Ready-To-Eat Sliced Prosciutto Product Produced Without Benefit of Inspection |
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WASHINGTON, April 24, 2024 - ConSup North America Inc., a Lincoln Park, N.J. firm, is recalling approximately 85,984 pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE) sliced prosciutto ham product produced in Germany without...
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United States (04/20/2024) FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Ground Beef Products Due to Possible E. Coli O157:H7 Contamination |
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WASHINGTON, April 20, 2024 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert for ground beef products that may be contaminated...
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United States (04/19/2024) Primal Kitchen Issues Voluntary Recall of Primal Kitchen Avocado Oil (750mL Glass) Due to Packaging Issue |
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Primal Kitchen is announcing a voluntary recall of approximately 2,060 cases of three code dates of Primal Kitchen Avocado Oil (750mL) because the glass may be prone to breakage, causing the product to spill.
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United States (04/19/2024) Infinite Herbs, LLC Expands Recall of Fresh Organic Basil to Include Melissa's Brand Organic Basil Received by Illinois and Missouri Retailer |
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Infinite Herbs LLC of Miami, Florida, is expanding its April 18th recall to include Melissa's brand fresh organic basil in 2.0 oz ( 96 packages, UPC 0 45255 14142 9) and 4.0 oz packages (24 packages, UPC 0 45255 14439 0) available for sale at Dierberg's stores in Illinois and Missouri between Febru
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United States (04/18/2024) Sammy's Milk Providing a Warning Against the Use of Goat Milk Toddler Formula as Infant Formula |
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Newport Beach, California - Sammy's Milk, a local company, has been asked by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to provide a warning against the use of its Goat Milk Toddler Formula as an infant formula because the FDA is concerned that the formula may not meet all FDA requirements for infant fo
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United States (04/18/2024) Infinite Herbs, LLC Voluntarily Recalls 2.5-Ounce Fresh Organic Basil Sold From February 1 Through April 6 Because of Possible Health Risk |
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Infinite Herbs LLC of Miami, Florida, is voluntarily recalling 2.5-ounce packages of Infinite Herbs fresh organic basil sold between February 1 and April 6, 2024, and bearing the UPC 8 18042 02147 7 (see photos below) because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella
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United States (04/12/2024) Roly Poly Bakery Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Egg Ingredient in Multigrain Bread |
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Roly Poly Bakery of New Britain, CT is recalling its 20 ounce loafs of Roly Poly multigrain bread because the product contains undeclared egg product. People who have allergies to eggs run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.
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