Village meeting planned for Ben Lomond this Saturday
The Ben Lomond Village Alliance (BLVA) is inviting residents to attend a “Let’s Revitalize Ben Lomond Village” meeting on Saturday, Jan. 25, from 10-11:30am at Park Hall Community Center, 9400 Mill St., in Ben Lomond.
This informational event will provide updates on recent successes, current projects and new initiatives while encouraging community members to get involved and have an impact on the future of the town.
Formed as a nonprofit in August, the BLVA has been active in fostering community engagement through events like the Ben Lomond Tree Lighting Party, Ronnie Trubek’s “Tales of Ben Lomond” history presentation series, a native planting day, and the refurbishment of the “Welcome to Ben Lomond” sign.
The upcoming meeting aims to build on this momentum, showcasing plans for new events, public space enhancements, and community-driven projects.
“We’ve seen such enthusiasm and support from the community in just a few months,” said Blake Holiday, executive director of the BLVA. “This meeting is an opportunity to bring everyone together, share what we’ve accomplished, and discuss the exciting possibilities ahead. Ben Lomond is a beloved and special place, and we’re eager to bring more folks onboard to accomplish some of these efforts. It truly takes a village.”
The BLVA hopes to attract residents from all backgrounds, whether long-time locals or new residents.
“As an all-volunteer organization, community input and involvement is vital for the success of our projects,” Holiday said. “We want to make sure that everyone’s voices are heard as we work together to revitalize the Village.”
After the main presentation, attendees will have time to meet with committee chairs to explore ways to get involved with BLVA initiatives. The meeting is open to all, and no prior involvement with the Alliance is necessary to attend. Light refreshments will be provided.
For more information about the event and the Ben Lomond Village Alliance, visit benlomondvillage.org.
Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley water agencies partner on pipeline project
The City of Santa Cruz Water Department and Scotts Valley Water District are collaborating on the first-ever intertie pipeline to connect the two water agencies.
The project will dramatically increase system resilience, improve emergency preparedness and ensure the availability of reliable, safe drinking water for customers of both agencies.
The intertie will link the potable water systems of the City of Santa Cruz and Scotts Valley Water District through the construction of a new 2-mile pipeline and pump station. The route of the pipeline will include La Madrona Drive, Sims Road and Firehouse Lane.
The pipeline is the final link in a regional effort to connect public water systems from Boulder Creek to La Selva Beach.
Construction is expected to begin in late January 2025 and last approximately 12 months. The project will cause traffic impacts in the area.
Funded by a $6.5 million state Department of Water Resources Grant, this project is part of Climate Resilient Santa Cruz, an ongoing initiative of the City of Santa Cruz that aims to respond to anticipated future impacts from climate change.
A community meeting about the project will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 4, from 4:30-5:30pm in the Santa Margarita Room at the Scotts Valley Water District, located at 2 Civic Center Drive in Scotts Valley. For more information, visit cityofsantacruz.com/scottsvalleyintertie.
$14.3M announced for EV charging stations in Santa Cruz
U.S. Reps. Zoe Lofgren and Jimmy Panetta announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) will distribute $14,346,751 to the City of Santa Cruz to install electric vehicle (EV) charging stations.
“As the threat of climate change becomes more severe, it is important to make investments that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect the environment. Thanks to this federal funding, the City of Santa Cruz will be able to increase access to EV charging infrastructure for residents and visitors alike,” said Lofgren and Panetta. “Even when there is partisan talk questioning the climate crisis, we vow to continue following sound science and supporting the allocation of federal resources for sustainable projects that boost our local economies.”
The project, known as the Monterey Bay Region Equitable EV Charging Project, aims to install EV charging ports at 44 local sites. The ports will be installed in cities across California’s 18th and 19th Congressional Districts, including San Lucas, King City, Greenfield, Monterey, Sand City, Castroville, Hollister, San Juan Bautista, Watsonville, Santa Cruz, Aptos, Scotts Valley and Boulder Creek.
This funding comes from the FHWA’s Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program (CFI Program), which supports the deployment and installation of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in urban and rural communities. The FHWA funding was provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
