News Briefs: Swine flu emergency ends

Santa Cruz County has declared that a local emergency relating to the spread of the H1N1 influenza virus is over.
County supervisors approved the termination of a local state of emergency resulting from the 2009 outbreak of the virus. The state of emergency had been in place since May 12.
During the state of emergency, 42 Santa Cruz County residents were hospitalized with confirmed cases of the virus, and three died. More than 108,000 doses of the H1N1 flu vaccine were delivered to the county, with Santa Cruz County Health Services administering more than 33,000 doses — about the same number of seasonal flu vaccines it typically administers each year, officials said. Health care providers administered thousands more.
Estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report about 59 million cases of the H1N1 virus nationwide.
Grant available for teachers
A $200 grant is available through the online forum We Are Teachers and the online course provider K to the 8th Power. Teachers must submit an idea for a project on the topic “Teaching Technology and How to Prepare Students for the 21st Century.”
Ten entries will be chosen to win $200 and a Flip Video camera or iPod nano with video to record the implementation of the project.
K to the 8th Power, which provides online courses to schools nationwide, will judge the entries. The deadline for grant submissions is April 27.
For information: www.weareteachers.com/web/21st_century.
Residents invited to water ‘snapshot’ day
The Coastal Watershed Council and The Monterey Bay Sanctuary Citizen Watershed Monitoring Network will host a community water-quality monitoring day Saturday, May 1.
Anyone interested in helping assemble a one-day “snapshot” of local watersheds can attend. With the help of volunteers, the groups will monitor water quality along the California Central Coast within four participating counties.
Volunteers can get training in physical, chemical and biological water monitoring techniques from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 24, at Natural Bridges State Park. Participants will meet near the Interpretive Center, and first-timers are encouraged to attend.
For information: Debie Chirco-Macdonald, 464-9200 or vo*******@*******ws.org; or www.coastal-watershed.org.
SV municipal fees to increase in June
The Scotts Valley City Council has approved small increases to various fees, including costs to play on city fields and higher permit charges for developers.
Council members voted in favor of the hikes with an aim to raise costs gradually to cover city expenses, rather than larger, less frequent increases.
Fees were not raised last year because of the recession, but city staff recommended making the increases this year.
Some notable changes include a change to the adult soccer team fee, up from $400 to $430 per team; and a roughly 10 percent increase in city-sponsored child care costs for children who attend part-time. All other permits and fees will increase 1.8 percent by mid-June.
The new recreation fees will take effect June 20.
For information: City of Scotts Valley, 438-5600
SV approves cap on campaign donations
The Scotts Valley City Council unanimously approved $100 contribution limits from individuals and businesses to council candidates. Loans from candidates to their own campaigns are not limited.
The item went before the council after a majority of city leaders suggested amending the campaign finance regulations, and it was passed with little discussion.