San Lorenzo Valley Museum launches ‘FaceTime’ portrait exhibition
San Lorenzo Valley Museum opened its new portrait exhibit, “FaceTime,” on June 20 at the Grace Episcopal Gallery in Boulder Creek. Running through Nov. 30, the exhibit showcases artwork and photographs of local residents spanning a century, from the 1870s to the 1970s.
Highlights include a portrait of Alice Hesse, a Boulder Creek High School graduate of 1921 and UC Berkeley alumna, who served in the Women’s Army Corps during World War II. Her poetry books, part of the Museum’s collection, will also be on display. For the first time, a painted portrait of William Waddell, an early California lumberman and namesake of Waddell Beach, will be exhibited.
The exhibit features a variety of portraits, including works by Barbara Winner, Fredda C. Carr, and John Holm, along with bubble glass portraits, daguerreotypes and family albums. Visitors can also explore unidentified portraits from the Museum’s collection, with the chance to help identify the subjects.
A reception and guided talk are scheduled for Saturday, July 19, from 2-4pm at the Grace Episcopal Gallery, located at 12547 Highway 9, in Boulder Creek. For more information, visit slvmuseum.org or call 831-338-8382.
State budget includes key investments for healthcare and library services
Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed California’s 2025-26 state budget, which includes critical investments in healthcare access and public education infrastructure.
Among the funding victories for the Central Coast are two major items championed by Sen. John Laird (D–Santa Cruz) and Assemblymember Gail Pellerin (D–Santa Cruz): the reappropriation of funds for the Santa Cruz Public Library system and support for the PRIME Central Coast initiative, a major step toward the long-term goal of a future medical school at UC Santa Cruz.
“In a year when difficult decisions had to be made to close the state’s budget deficit, I’m proud we were able to preserve and prioritize funding that will have a lasting impact on education and healthcare access,” Laird said. “As the federal government pushes towards its goal of rolling back essential programs and undermining our democratic institutions, California will continue to reflect our values and our commitment to building stronger, healthier, and more informed communities. I’m especially proud of what this means for the Central Coast: expanded medical training for our rural communities and improved library infrastructure that will benefit future generations.”
The final budget includes: $4.5 million in reappropriated funds from the State Library’s Building Forward grant program to support infrastructure improvements at Santa Cruz Public Libraries; and $1.5 million for the implementation of the PRIME Central Coast program, a collaboration between UC Davis and UC Santa Cruz that will train medical students to serve in rural and underserved communities along the Central Coast.
Santa Cruz County Fair hires new CEO
The 14th District Agricultural Association/Santa Cruz County Fair Board of Directors has announced the hiring of Dori Rose Inda as its new CEO/fair manager.
Inda brings over two decades of leadership experience in nonprofit and community-based organizations. Most recently, she served as the CEO of Salud Para La Gente, a Federally Qualified Health Center serving Santa Cruz and Monterey counties.
Prior to that, Inda was the founder and executive director of the Watsonville Law Center, which expanded access to legal services for underserved residents in the Pajaro Valley. She has also worked as a social worker supporting homeless individuals and foster families, and she played a critical role in the effort to save Watsonville Community Hospital from closure.
“Dori’s commitment to our community and her track record of strong, effective leadership made her the clear choice to lead the Fair into its next chapter,” said Rachel Wells, president of the Board of Directors.
Inda has lived in Watsonville since 1993. She holds a B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley and a J.D. from Santa Clara University School of Law.
“I’m honored to serve an institution that means so much to our region,” Inda said. “The Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds is more than just the site of our beloved annual fair—it’s a vital community gathering place, a space for celebration, and a trusted resource in times of emergency. I look forward to working with the Board, staff and broader community to ensure it continues to serve and reflect the needs of Santa Cruz County for generations to come.”
Inda will assume her duties as CEO later this summer. Her appointment comes as the Fair prepares for its upcoming 2025 season under the theme “Hay Bales, Piggy Tails, and Ewe!” For more information, visit santacruzcountyfair.com.
Santa Cruz recycling center tours available this summer
City of Santa Cruz is offering free tours of its Resource Recovery Facility, located at 605 Dimeo Lane, every Friday this summer through Aug. 22, at 10am and 1pm. These 90-minute tours provide the rare opportunity to go behind the scenes to view the City’s recycling operations and learn the importance of prioritizing waste reduction.
Tour attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of what happens to the 30 to 50 tons of material that Santa Cruz residents place into their blue recycle bins every day. They will also learn the importance of “recycling right,” avoiding “wish-cycling” and how the new food scraps processing program reduces methane emissions from the landfill.
Registration is required to attend. Tours are limited to 20 people and children must be at least 8 years old and accompanied by an adult. Carpooling is encouraged, as parking is limited.
Reserve tour spots at cityofsantacruz.com/tours. For questions, contact Waste Reduction Manager Leslie O’Malley at lo******@*********ca.gov.
