Santa Cruz residents share their most memorable outdoor moments of 2025, from ocean swims and redwood forests to backpacking trips, travel abroad, and civic gatherings.
This week’s Free Will Astrology offers poetic guidance for every zodiac sign, exploring themes of renewal, collaboration, resilience, and love as 2025 draws to a close.
Editor Brad Kava reflects on Tokyo’s Golden Gai bar culture, local rum expertise on the Santa Cruz Wharf, and how small businesses can become centers of learning and connection.
Readers write in on a Community Kwanzaa celebration at the MAH, e-bike safety and etiquette, and the impact of poetry programs in schools and county jails.
Holiday celebrations often come with raised glasses and lowered limits. A look at why seasonal drinking escalates—and how moderation can protect both mood and heart.
