New Briefs

Community Television of Santa Cruz County now streams its three channels online. The channels, which carry community meetings, events and programming, can be seen at www.communitytv.org.
Community Television is broadcast on Comcast cable channels 25, 26 and 27.
“This is an exciting new effort to increase community access to local voices, county events and government activity,” said Mary Ann Thyken, CTV executive director.
Of local interest, the meetings of the Scotts Valley City Council, Scotts Valley Fire Protection District, Santa Cruz Regional Transportation Commission, Santa Cruz Metro Transit Board and Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors are all shown on CTV.
Highway 9 construction starts
One-way traffic control with flagging will slow traffic north of Boulder Creek this spring.
Caltrans began work to stabilize a section of the rural highway Wednesday, Feb. 10, in an effort to complete a retaining wall that will hold back erosion, Caltrans spokeswoman Susana Cruz said.
The work will take place before the separation of Highway 9 and Highway 236 about 7 miles north of downtown Boulder Creek.
Construction is scheduled from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. every weekday, depending on weather conditions. The work should be completed by the end of May, weather permitting.
Jim Freethy Excavating Inc. of Danville is the contractor on the $229,000 job.
For information: 423-0396.
Ben Lomond park grant
application comes together
An application to win a grant to revamp Ben Lomond Park is quickly coming together, park planners say.
“We’re refining the plan in time for a submittal by March 1,” Santa Cruz County Parks planner Cristina James said.
Planners have collected ideas from people in the area during three public meetings in Ben Lomond. Concepts include steps leading down to the San Lorenzo River, new picnic tables and barbecue pits, and improvements to the basketball court. Several proposals can be seen at www.scparks.com/projects-in-design-benlomond.html.
James said the meetings have been successful, with between 20 and 50 people in attendance each time.
“Ben Lomond is an amazingly tight-knit community and very passionate about that park,” James said.
Water grants available in San Lorenzo Valley
The San Lorenzo Valley Water District is accepting grant proposals for education, environmental restoration and enhancement projects within the San Lorenzo Valley watershed.
The district has $17,500 available for grants. Each individual grant can be as much as $2,500, with another $500 available for an optional public-outreach component.
Grant requirements and application guidelines are on the district Web site at www.slvwd.com or at the district office, 13060 Highway 9, in Boulder Creek.
Applications are due by 5 p.m. March 10.
For information:
Betsy Herbert, 430-4627 or

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Kindergarten registration opens in Boulder Creek
Boulder Creek Elementary School will register kindergartners for the 2010-11 school year starting next week.
Children who will be 5 years old by Dec. 2 can register now to start kindergarten in the fall. Registration packets will be available at the school office from Tuesday, Feb. 16, through the end of May. Families can also sign up for a kindergarten orientation and tour.
Proof of immunization and a birth certificate are required.
For information: Margaret Zavaroni, 338-6413.
Felton library calling poets
Felton Library Friends is accepting poems with the theme of “place” for the sixth annual San Lorenzo Valley Poetry Reading. Entries must be submitted by April 6 via e-mail to

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Entries should include the poet’s name, age and phone number. One poem is accepted per poet.
Poet Amber Coverdale Sumrall, a 2010 Gail Rich Award winner, will select poems in four age categories for a reading April 28 at Felton Community Hall, 6191 Highway 9.
For information: 335-9553 or feltonlibraryfriends.org.