As the last echoes of summer fade, school bells are ringing once again and students are streaming back into classrooms. Walking through town these past few weeks, it’s been fun to see the backpacks, the first-day smiles and that renewed sense of energy that comes when our community shifts into back-to-school mode. And while the students have been hard at work, your city has been busy, too.
Earlier this month, we hit a major milestone in the long-awaited Town Center project. At a press conference with Congressman Jimmy Panetta on Aug. 12, we celebrated securing critical federal support to help move the project from vision to reality. For years, residents have been telling us that Scotts Valley needs a true downtown—one place to gather, shop, dine and connect. This milestone brings us one big step closer to building that heart of the city.
Speaking of heart, it was on full display last weekend at the annual Scotts Valley Beer, Wine & Art Festival. Thousands came out to enjoy perfect summer weather, creative local art and some of the best brews and wines our region has to offer. This year’s festival included a dog show, talent show and live music from Shady Rest Band and The Joint Chiefs at Skypark.
Our celebration of community continues next month with the Fourth Annual Scotts Valley Multicultural Fair on Saturday, Sept. 6, from noon-4pm at Skypark. This free, family-friendly event is a lively showcase of the many cultures that make up the fabric of our city—featuring live music, colorful dance performances, delicious food from around the globe and a global fashion show highlighting traditional attire from near and far.
Stroll through cultural booths hosted by neighbors eager to share their heritage, explore the student art exhibit and enjoy the sense of connection that comes from experiencing the traditions, flavors and stories of our diverse community. Find more information at scottsvalleymulticulturalfair.com.
Meanwhile, another big change is about to roll into town—literally. Starting Aug. 18, the city will launch our largest pavement repair effort in more than a decade. We know our streets have been in need of some TLC, and we’re delivering. We are putting your tax dollars to work wisely with funding from Measure D and state gas tax revenues. Expect nearly $2 million in improvements to be made to 13 lane miles of our most heavily traveled streets.
This work is guided by our Pavement Management Plan, ensuring we tackle the highest-priority roads first. Expect to see everything from slurry seals to full dig-outs and overlays—work that will extend the life of our roads for years to come.
Our crews will do their best to schedule work outside of peak school and commute hours to minimize disruptions, but some delays are inevitable. Please keep an eye out for signage, plan extra time for your trips and—most importantly—slow down in construction zones to keep our workers safe. Road work is expected to conclude in October.
From classrooms to public works, festivals to federal partnerships, Scotts Valley is buzzing with momentum. The months ahead will be full of progress, celebration and connection—and I’m grateful to be in it alongside all of you.
Derek Timm is mayor of Scotts Valley. To reach Timm, email dt***@**********ey.gov or call 831-239-9203.
