Library system proposes budget with no closures
The Santa Cruz County Public Library system has proposed a 2010-11 budget that involves no branch closures. Instead, it opts to cut back on its supplies budget, reduce staffing by three full-time employees and change several part-time employees’ schedules. The system also changed its janitorial contract to save cash.
Total cuts amount to between $506,000 and $520,000 this year. The board also recommends reducing the Scotts Valley Library’s hours by two hours each week.
The next Library Joint Powers Board meeting will begin at 7 p.m. June 7 at the Central Branch, 224 Church St., in Santa Cruz. The board invites comments on the budget before that meeting.
For information: www.santacruzpl.org.
Scotts Valley seeks July 4 volunteers
The City of Scotts Valley Advocates are looking for volunteers to help with the July 4 Fireworks Spectacular at Skypark and the preceding parade.
Volunteers will staff a variety of shifts from the early afternoon to the evening hours. Volunteers get free admission to the show and dinner.
Money raised at the show helps support the parks system in the city.
For information: 438-3251.
Fire-safe council offers Bonny Doon workshop
To get fire season off to a safe start, the Bonny Doon Fire Safe Council will hold a fire-safe workshop at 10 a.m. May 15 at the Bonny Doon Station, 945 Martin Road.
Cal Fire’s Angela Bernheisel will speak about principles of defensible space, including ladder fuels and mosaic firescaping; Joe Issel will review the Resource Conservation District’s chipping program; Cal Fire’s Rob Sherman will present on County Fire’s property inspections; and biologist Val Haley will talk about working in sensitive habitats.
There will also be a walking tour and discussion of the Martin Road shaded fuel break, environmentally sensitive defensible space at a property on Quail Drive, and roadside fire-safe activities of the Vineyard Road Association. Attendees should call ahead to reserve a place.
For information: bd*********@**hu.net or Joe Christy, 423-7151.
Sewer fees on the rise
Folks in Boulder Creek, Woods Cove, Rolling Woods should expect to see higher sewer bills in coming months.
Boulder Creek condominiums, single-family homes and commercial properties will see a mild increase in sewer service charges after Santa Cruz County supervisors approved the new rates at a May 4 meeting.
The cost for sewer service for condos increased by $32 per year to $1,556; service for homes increased by $39 per year; and commercial buildings will pay $17 more.
The 2 percent increase, according to county staff, is for maintenance, operations and permits and an upgrade to the sewage plant constructed in 1972.
The sewer fee for Woods Cove on Graham Hill Road will increase by $7 and the fee for Rolling Woods by about $3 per year, also to cover increased maintenance and operations costs.
Museum guide released to public
A comprehensive brochure of the museums and attractions in Santa Cruz County was released last month.
The colorful guide gives a brief description of many local attractions and can be found at the Best Western and Hilton hotels in Scotts Valley, at the Quality Inn in Ben Lomond, at the Brookdale Inn and Spa and at the San Lorenzo Valley Museum and Merrybrook Lodge in Boulder Creek.
The brochure was self-funded by the participants and partly organized by Lynda Phillips, the director of the SLV Museum.
Free Girl Scout cookies for blood donors
Girl Scouts of Northern California has donated 8,700 boxes of the group’s famous cookies to the American Red Cross to be used as a gift to blood donors.
Donors in the Bay Area will receive a free box of cookies after donating at local blood donation centers. People age 17 and older can donate blood.
To register: www.redcrossblood.org.
Supes seek artificial turf committee members
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors established the Santa Cruz County Artificial Turf Committee on April 20. Now, it’s looking for members.
The committee is charged with investigating health and safety concerns, turf as a water-saving measure and the economics of cost savings related to reduced maintenance.
Applications are available at www.co.santa-cruz.ca.us or by calling 454-2200.
Open auditions for SVPAA
Scotts Valley Performing Arts Association has announced open audition dates for its fall musical, “Into the Woods.” Director Andrew Ceglio and musical director Drew Lewis will cast the show with adults and children age 8 and older.
Auditions will be from 6 to 10 p.m. May 21 and from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. May 22 at Bethany University Community Theater, 800 Bethany Drive, in Scotts Valley.
Actors should be prepared to perform a monologue no longer than one minute and sing 16 to 32 bars of a song accompanied by sheet music only — no a capella or music CDs.
For information: in**********@***aa.org or 408-309-2428.
