News Briefs

County awarded grant to aid low-income homeowners
Santa Cruz County received a $1 million grant from the state’s CalHOME program to grant loans as part of the Housing Rehabilitation Program for Low Income Homeowners offered by the county.
Loans of as much as $60,000 are available at a 3 percent interest rate, with payments deferred until the homeowner sells or transfers ownership of the home.
The grants will be awarded beginning in the spring to qualifying homeowners who wish to repair the “shell” of the home. That includes roof work, leaks, electrical and foundation work.
It is the first CalHOME grant the county has won.
For information: Patrick Heisinger, 454-2322.
Gift trees for Valley Churches replace holiday light cruise
As a replacement to the Scotts Valley Holiday Light Cruise, which ran from 1993 to 2009 as a fundraiser for Valley Churches United Missions, four decorated Christmas tress with gifts valued at more than $1,000 will be raffled off at local banks.
Raffle tickets are $5 each or five for $20 and can be bought at Bay Federal Credit Union, 255 Mount Hermon Road; Wells Fargo, 203 Mount Hermon Road; Bank of America, 4525 Mount Hermon Road; and Santa Cruz County Bank, 4604 Scotts Valley Drive.
The drawing will be Monday, Dec. 20.
For information: Patty Malone, 438-2244; or Jackie Heald, 252-8304.
University seeks nominations for bridge-builder
The University of California, Santa Cruz is looking for nominations for the Tony Hill Award, an annual award given to a person who acts a bridge-builder in the community.
Hill, a prominent community activist, died in 2007.
A nominee should be a mentor, an inspirational leader, a mediator and a consensus builder in the community.
Nominations will be accepted through Dec. 31.
For information: UCSC special events office, 459-5003; or www.ucsc.edu/mlk/hill
Sheriff offers vacation check program
Residents in unincorporated Santa Cruz County, including the San Lorenzo Valley and parts of Scotts Valley, can sign up for the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office’s automated vacation checks via the Internet.
Residents can notify the sheriff’s office when they are on vacation, and sheriff’s volunteers and deputies will make efforts to drive by or check the house while it’s emtpy.
The vacation information is kept confidential.
“The Sheriff’s Office wants the public to feel secure while they are away from home, especially during the holidays,” Sheriff Phil Wowak said.
To request a vacation check: www.scsheriff.com.