News Briefs

Mountain lions found dead
A mountain lion was struck and killed by a vehicle on Highway 17 just south of Granite Creek Road early in the morning Tuesday, May 11. The driver who hit the puma called the California Highway Patrol at about 1:30 a.m. to report the accident but did not stop at the scene.
Separately, another dead mountain lion was found in Ben Lomond by a young woman May 12. Her mother reported that the cougar appeared to be not yet full-grown and was found submerged in a creek two blocks up from the Ben Lomond Fire Department, off Love Creek Road. She said the animal did not seem to have been shot.
Help needed for election
Santa Cruz County election officials are looking for qualified people to work the 133 voting precincts throughout the county for the June 8 primary election. To serve, each person must be a registered voter or a high school student older than 16 who is a U.S. citizen and maintains at least a 2.5 grade-point average.
Polling places open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Workers must report an hour early and stay several hours after closing to prepare election equipment for its return to the central counting location.
Poll workers are paid $75 for being a clerk and $100 for being an inspector, and each will receive another $20 for completing a training class if they subsequently work the polls.
For information: Tricia Webber, 454-2409 or tr***********@co.us.
Students to speak before Eshoo in Scotts Valley
Rep. Anna Eshoo, a Democrat who represents California’s 14th Congressional District, will hear recommendations for human rights policies next weekend from her student advisory boards in Scotts Valley.
The presentation is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Saturday, May 22, at the Scotts Valley City Council Chambers, 1 Civic Center Drive. The public is welcome to attend.
Commission seeks painters
Artists are invited to apply to create designs for four traffic utility boxes on Mount Hermon Road and Scotts Valley Drive.
Artists should choose one of the four locations and submit a color design plan for the box.
Application information is available at the Scotts Valley Recreation office, 361 Kings Village Road, or by calling 438-3251.
Selected artists will receive a $300 stipend. The deadline to apply is June 25.
Police academy canceled
The Scotts Valley Junior Police Academy has been canceled this summer because of unforeseen personnel shortages and reassignments. The department anticipates that the academy will be offered next year if people are available to run it.
Parents who have pre-registered their children will be notified and reimbursed.
Free car seat inspection
The Scotts Valley Fire Department will inspect children’s car seats by appointment from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 19. Seats will be checked for safety.
Car seat owners should call for an appointment.
For information: Megan Alves, 438-0211.
Open auditions planned for upcoming musical
Scotts Valley Performing Arts Association has announced open audition dates for its fall musical, “Into the Woods.” Director Andrew Ceglio and musical director Drew Lewis will cast the show with adults and children age 8 and older.
Auditions will be from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, May 21, and from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. May 22 at Bethany University Community Theater, 800 Bethany Drive, in Scotts Valley.
Actors should be prepared to perform a monologue no longer than one minute and sing between 16 and 32 bars of a song accompanied by sheet music only — no a capella or music CDs, please.
For information: in**********@sv***.org or 408-309-2428.