Supervisors vote to establish Third-party Plan Check program in Santa Cruz County
Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors has voted to establish a Third-party Plan Check (TPC) program that will give permit seekers the option to get their plans reviewed primarily by a consultant they hire, rather than county staff.
The program, proposed by Supervisors Manu Koenig...
Roadside clearing begins on local roads in Felton, Ben Lomond
The County of Santa Cruz Department of Community Development and Infrastructure has announced that the 2023 Pavement Management Project is continuing.
Local roads listed below are scheduled for roadside clearing and dig-out from Monday, July 10, through Friday, July 21:
Felton: Cooper Street, Clearview Place, Blair...
Thousands Attend Parades in Boulder Creek and Scotts Valley
Even though no fireworks displays were held in Santa Cruz County this Independence Day (well, not legal ones at least), a pair of North County events successfully rallied patriots.
The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office estimated 4,000 people attended the Boulder Creek parade, which started...
Presentation of Nature Photography Exhibit Launches at Scotts Valley Library
Marc Shargel has taken his cameras underwater to capture images of sharks, jellies and kelp forests. On land, he has made vivid images of eclipses and landscapes of the American West.
As a scuba diver, he has been watching ecological shifts in the Central California...
Caregiver Support Group to Meet Remotely; Art Needed for Child Crisis Center (news briefs)
If a loved one has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, a caregiver support group can offer an opportunity to connect with others.
In this facilitated support group, participants will connect with each other as they experience mindfulness practices designed to open the heart...
McPherson: Input Needed on County’s Housing Element
Santa Cruz County recently received some unsettling, although not surprising, news that we are the most expensive rental housing market in the United States.
In rankings compiled by the National Low Income Housing Coalition, the Santa Cruz-Watsonville market topped even San Francisco, San Jose, Salinas...
LETTER: Make Federal Protection for Voting Rights a Priority
Last week marked the 10th anniversary of the gutting of the Voting Rights Act by SCOTUS. The Shelby County Decision opened the floodgates to voting discrimination that targets people of color, native Americans, people in poorer areas and many more.
For those of us who...
County, 911 Launch Improved Alert and Warning System
The County of Santa Cruz and Santa Cruz Regional 911 have announced the launch of CruzAware, an innovative and comprehensive community alert and warning system designed to keep residents informed and safe.
CruzAware represents a significant upgrade over the previous system, CodeRED, and introduces a...
Garden Drama with Large-Leafed Plants
Gardens have different personalities. Some gardens mimic nature with plants that attract birds and butterflies and other wildlife and look a bit wild. Some are neat and tidy with perennials lined up evenly along pathways and clipped hedges under the windows. Gardens are a...
United Way and Office of Ed Launch School Supply Collection Drive
On Wednesday, the United Way of Santa Cruz County said it had teamed up with the County Office of Education for a school supply collection drive.
The campaign, called “Stuff the Bus,” seeks to provide less fortunate children with the items they’ll need to succeed...
News Briefs | Published July 4, 2025
Tree removal leads to temporary closure on Big Basin Highway
Caltrans will temporarily close a section of southbound Highway 236 (Big Basin Highway) left on...
