Nationwide, the year 2010 might be remembered because of the passage of a presidential health care bill that, over the next several years, will cover millions of Americans now without health insurance. Or perhaps it will be most memorable for the debate that led to passage of a health bill that made neither of the major political parties happy. More locally, it might be California’s decision not to legalize recreational marijuana that will capture enduring attention.
In the Santa Cruz Mountains, 2010 was a busy year, with openings, closings, renovations, retirements, wins and losses at every side.
JANUARY
In the San Lorenzo Valley, planning began for a remodel of Ben Lomond Park, with meetings to find out how residents would like to spend potential grant money from the state. Later in the year, the park was awarded more than $400,000, and construction is well under way.
Planning continued for the new Scotts Valley Library at the former Scotts Valley Sports Center, and the City Council bought a key parcel for the city’s future Town Center: the site of Suburban Propane along Mount Hermon Road.
At the same time, with the state budget in a multibillion-dollar hole, California’s state parks system launched a campaign to raise support for a vehicle license tax that eventually failed in November.
Formerly known as Netcom, Santa Cruz County’s emergency dispatch center changed its name to Santa Cruz Regional 911 to help public perception.
Planning for a recreational hall in Boulder Creek began but was met with heavy opposition from neighbors. The project has stalled without a funding source.
San Lorenzo Valley High basketball player Sierra Clark tallied 30 points, 22 rebounds and eight blocks in a Cougar win over Mercy High.
FEBRUARY
The Scotts Valley High girls soccer team completed a streak of 10 straight shutouts with a 0-0 tie against Aptos High. The team went on to win the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League Championship before falling in the Central Coast Section finals to rival Santa Cruz High.
Kathy Previsich was named Santa Cruz County’s planning director, replacing Tom Burns, who retired in December 2009.
Discussion began about a parcel tax to prop up Scotts Valley’s schools. By the end of the year, amid continuing debate, no decision has been made whether to put the tax on the ballot.
Scotts Valley was approached about medical marijuana storefronts by entrepreneur Scott Gates. The council decided this month not to allow the stores in the city.
The Bethany University Theater underwent a major upgrade, including new seats brought in from Las Vegas.
Mount Hermon 73-year-old Khartoon Brown ran her 25th Big Sur Marathon.
Late in the month, a Felton woman, Deanna Dudley, was killed by her boyfriend in an argument.
Logan Kellogg and Cody Rodebaugh won CCS wrestling championships.
MARCH
Valley Churches United Missions announced its annual budget had topped $1 million for the first time while rainfall totals eased concerns of a drought year.
Lompico County Water District fired its general manager after more than 20 years on the job, without naming a cause.
Rodebaugh, SLV’s star senior wrestler, took second in the state at 145 pounds.
Ben Lomond Fire Chief John Charcho called it quits. He was replaced by Stacie Brownlee later in the year, while in Zayante, Chief Jeff Maxwell took the top job at Central Fire District in Santa Cruz and was later replaced by John Stipes.
Rock-throwing vandalism throughout the San Lorenzo Valley and Scotts Valley caused more than $100,000 in damage.
SLV schools qualified for an extra $1 million each year through a special state funding source.
APRIL
Roundup Pet Center in Scotts Valley closed its doors but left behind dead animals in the vacated space.
Ben Lomond’s Britney Overbeck continued her quest to help with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, returning to New Orleans for the ninth time.
The American Cancer Society began fundraising for Scotts Valley and San Lorenzo Valley’s first Relay for Life, while the Santa Cruz Mountains Gourmet Dinner Club celebrated its first year.
A dead man found on the Boulder Creek Elementary School campus was deemed an accidental death. It was determined that he had slipped and hit his head.
Bethany University Athletic Director Drew Snelgrove stepped down, replaced by Sheldon Parkinson. Snelgrove is now the Scotts Valley High boys basketball coach.
Two Scotts Valley school principals, Gregg Gunkel of Scotts Valley High and Kathy Frandle of Brook Knoll Elementary, retired.
MAY
Guns — an AK-47, a shotgun and others — were stolen from a Scotts Valley home by Scotts Valley High seniors. The weapons have not been found.
Construction of a Jack in the Box restaurant on Scotts Valley Drive began.
Stanbery Development, a developer of Scotts Valley’s proposed Town Center, pulled out and was replaced by the local Pratt Co.
VirnetX, a Scotts Valley computer company, settled a suit against Microsoft for $200 million.
The Tour of California, featuring cyclist Lance Armstrong, climbed from Highway 1 through Bonny Doon for a second consecutive year. Santa Cruz County will not host a leg in 2011, due to finances.
The first Scotts Valley Grand Prix bike race took place in town.
Valerie Bariteau at Scotts Valley High and Phillip Menchaca at Brook Knoll Elementary were hired as the schools’ principals.
SV Little Leaguer Sawyer Stemm threw a perfect game May 15.
JUNE
The San Lorenzo Valley schools broke ground on a new library, funded by Measure O, while the Bonny Doon Elementary School Art and Wine festival raised $40,000 for that school.
The Redwood Mountain Faire returned on one of the hottest days of the year, drawing several thousand people to Roaring Camp Railroads.
In a blow to the city, Seagate announced it will move its headquarters out of Scotts Valley to the Silicon Valley.
JULY
The area’s first Relay for Life took place at Scotts Valley High.
Joshua Smart, a Scotts Valley resident, protested the use of Pacific Gas and Electric Co.’s smart meters in the area.
Lompico County Water District began talks with the San Lorenzo Valley Water District about a possible merger between the two.
A summer closure of Highway 9 in Felton caused a noticeable drop in tourism in the area.
In Boulder Creek, an overhaul of Garrahan Park began.
AUGUST
The Subway restaurant in Scotts Valley was robbed at gunpoint. The man took a sandwich and cash.
The Scotts Valley 10-and-11-year-old baseball All-Stars finished second of 330 teams in Northern California.
Thai Village and Winchester Auto moved into the King’s Village Shopping Center in Scotts Valley, and construction of a new Scotts Valley Library began.
Sam Blakeslee topped Santa Cruz’s John Laird to represent the state’s 15th Senate District.
Kevin Chavez, 24, of Los Altos, won his second straight 10-kilometer Race Thru The Redwoods in Felton.
San Agustin Catholic Church celebrated 40 years in Scotts Valley, while Meals on Wheels came to the city’s senior center.
SEPTEMBER
Felton’s Jake Gondolfo competed on Fox’s Master Chef reality TV show and became a local celebrity.
A judge decided that Michael McClish will be tried in the homicide of Johanna “Asha” Veil, who was killed with her unborn child in Ben Lomond in 2006.
Anna Eshoo, D-Palo Alto, visited Ben Lomond to celebrate 75 years of Social Security in America.
Scotts Valley City Councilwoman Stephany Aguilar launched a campaign to renew the Measure C sales tax measure.
The Community Day fundraiser, organized by two local parents, raised money for schools in Scotts Valley, and Jack-in-the-Box opened in town.
Cinelux Theaters announced its plans to remodel Scotts Valley Cinema beginning in 2011.
OCTOBER
Highway 9 in Felton returned to service after its summer closure, reopening a route to Santa Cruz.
Bonny Doon Fire and Rescue Inc. lost an appeal to create a fire protection district in Bonny Doon.
Baymonte Christian School hosted its first Tech Trek 5-kilometer run.
Scotts Valley High student Erick Murai learned he had leukemia and began to battle the disease with the support of the community.
Bob Suhr, a well-known government watchdog, died at 91.
A road-rage encounter on Highway 17 ended with a man pulling a machete from his car in Scotts Valley and slashing at another man.
Scotts Valley High girls tennis clinched their second consecutive SCCAL title with an 11-1 record.
SLV High defeated Scotts Valley in the muddiest football game of the year at Scotts Valley High.
NOVEMBER
Boulder Creek’s William Suter cashed a $450,000 lotto ticket at the Mountain Store. Jerry Brown captured the governor’s race, marijuana legalization was turned down and other local government offices were filled.
Scotts Valley High custodial manager Daniel Garcia died after suffering injuries in a motorcycle accident.
SLV’s Cody Johnson and SV’s Vanessa Fraser won the SCCAL individual cross country championships, and SLV football won the league championship with a 6-0 record.
“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” opened with two packed midnight showings at Cinelux Scotts Valley.
Telework Satellite Center opened a branch in Scotts Valley after its Felton success.
DECEMBER
“Miracle on 34th Street” returned to Mountain Community Theater.
A prisoner, Maurice Ainsworth, escaped from a female deputy’s grasp at Dominican Hospital and led the office to change its procedures for the transport of inmates.
A Felton woman lost in Fall Creek survived six days before being found by a Felton man and his son.
Ross Parmenter retired from coaching SLV’s baseball team and handed the reins to Shane Sutcliffe after 11 years.
The Scotts Valley City Council OK’d plans for the Scotts Valley Twilight Criterion, a professional bike race, following the success of the Scotts Valley Grand Prix in May.
San Lorenzo Valley freshman Anna Maxwell ran in the National Footlocker Invitation, placing 28th in the nation.
The state announced it will review Scotts Valley Unified’s special-education procedures in January.
A ukulele shop opened its doors in downtown Felton.
