Promoting civility at Scotts Valley parade
Like many others who attended the Scotts Valley Fourth of July Parade in 2024, I felt very grateful to live near this community and enjoy the parade.
Most of our family’s day-to-day business—from grocery and hardware store shopping, to eye and dental appointments—take place in this community. We are frequent visitors to Skypark, both for events and the many kids’ soccer practices and games that we attend.
We have met with both the fire department and elected city officials to provide both input and seek support. We respect the great value we have placed on our law enforcement community and the job they do compared to many of our sister communities in Santa Cruz County.
We look forward to the parade each and every year and the effort Scotts Valley elected officials and volunteers place on such small things as a “flyover” helping to celebrate the Fourth of July and the United States of America.
One negative point from 2024: Why would residents and admirers of the parade “boo loudly” when a solitary brave lady, carrying a modest Republican banner passed by? That didn’t happen when the large, loud and proud “other team” walked down the parade site.
The people of Scotts Valley are better than that, and I hope this action is not repeated in the 2025 parade.
George Purnell
Santa Cruz
Suggestions for Felton’s empty buildings
Soon the 20% liquidators discount closing signs will be going up at our local Felton Rite Aid store. This building was the first Safeway in town. Felton already has the CVS store nearby, so let’s get some ideas and feedback on what the SLV locals need and want.
It may be time for the “Felton Bowl” to make a comeback. It was across the street now where Abbot’s is located. Maybe an indoor ice rink or skate disco entertainment center with arcade games or a first-class nightclub with dinner shows could go into this large building about to be up for rent or sale?
The Valley area needs some family-fun entertainment places, not just another big box store coming into Felton. Another now empty building in Felton is the long closed A&W Root Beer stand across from Rite Aid, more recently the “I Wok” Chinese restaurant.
Now that Felton no longer has a “Foster’s,” this place could be turned back into a drive-in burger joint but with a novelty—have girls on skates bring out the hot dogs and shakes to your car on roller skates!
Lets get some feedback here and suggestions.
T. Mendoza
Felton
Supporting accessibility through subtitled screenings
I have a suggestion for our local theaters that I feel would be a game changer for our struggling cinemas.
Why not offer movies on select days with subtitles, which would greatly benefit the senior community as well as anyone else with hearing impairment. As a retiree myself, I am unable to see many movies due to hearing loss and inability to understand the dialect.
While I realize most theaters now have closed caption devices for people in need of assistance, these devices are not that helpful and a poor remedy for those in need of subtitles on the big screen. I fail to understand why theaters cannot at least have a few movies with full subtitles on at least one of their big screens a couple of days per week.
I believe seniors and retired people are a substantial and contributing part of our community and would greatly benefit from my suggestion. It could be a win-win solution.
Joy Bertrand
Scotts Valley
