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Updated draft BESS ordinance available for public review The County of Santa Cruz has released an updated draft ordinance regulating the siting and development of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) for public review, which will be considered by the Board of Supervisors at the Jan....

This January, Park Hall will once again echo with stories of grit, ambition and larger-than-life characters who helped shape Ben Lomond and the greater San Lorenzo Valley. On Thursday, Jan. 15, Park Hall and the Ben Lomond Village Alliance (BLVA) invite the community to gather...

Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History (MAH) has announced the inaugural MAH 5 Minute Film Fest, with the screening taking place on Thursday Jan. 15, at the MAH from 6-7:30pm. More than 50 qualified films were submitted, and the jurors selected the top 15...

Scotts Valley Police Department has received a $100,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, to support its ongoing enforcement and education programs to help reduce the number of serious injuries and deaths on our roads. “We...

Since 2023, Damians Ladder—a nonprofit that provides low- to no-cost small home repairs for seniors and people with disabilities in Santa Cruz County—has served hundreds of clients from Boulder Creek to Watsonville. In November 2025, the organization closed its 500th case by installing new handrails...

Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau named ‘County of the Year’ Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau received the “County of the Year” award at the California Farm Bureau 2025 Annual Meeting in December. The award was given to Santa Cruz for its outstanding leadership in membership acquisition,...

For Scotts Valley City Council all to be in sync, it took a quick hand-off of a mystery item by Kirsten Maure to her husband, Greg Wimp, the body’s newest member, as the Dec. 17 meeting began. It was a bag containing a Christmas sweater,...

Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency announced that its Public Health Division has been awarded three competitive state grants totaling $639,631 from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS). The funding will support programs aimed at preventing impaired driving and improving the safety of bicyclists,...

Scotts Valley Police Department arrested one person for driving under the influence of intoxicants and two subjects were issued citations for driving while their license was suspended at a DUI checkpoint on Dec. 18. The DUI checkpoint was held at Mt. Hermon Rd between Glen...

During an event to celebrate the season, an unexpected moment of gratitude took center stage at the annual Scotts Valley Christmas Tree Lighting on the evening of Dec. 6. Scotts Valley Police Officer Nick Lipari and his K-9 partner Sam were called forward—not knowing they...