Annual Road Maintenance Program begins in North County
County of Santa Cruz Department of Community Development and Infrastructure (CDI) launched the next round of patch-paving work for the Annual Road Maintenance Program in North County on June 23.
North County patch paving is scheduled for June 23-Aug. 22 and includes:
- Kings Creek Road – Sunbeam Ave to Logan Creek Road, June 23-27
- Bear Creek Road – Deerwood Drive to PM 11.3, June 30-July 11
- Mountain Charlie Road – Summit Road to Glenwood Drive, July 14-25
- Empire Grade Road – Near Quarry Bend Road to PM 13.3, July 28-Aug. 8
- Bonny Doon Road – PM 1.25 to Pine Flat Road, Aug. 11-18
- Smith Grade Road – Empire Grade Road to Bonny Doon Road, Aug. 19-22
Crews will work weekdays only from 8:30am-4pm, with traffic control measures in place to ensure safety and minimize disruptions.
This announcement follows paving in Mid County areas that began in April, as part of the County’s 27-week seasonal maintenance window. Each summer, road crews focus on nine weeks of dedicated patch paving in each region: Mid, South and North County. While paving teams target specific road segments, additional crews continue essential roadside work, such as mowing, ditch clearing and striping.
All work is part of the County’s Annual Road Maintenance Program and is funded by the Highway Users Tax Account (HUTA), commonly known as the Gas Tax.
Summer Sweets event comes to Scotts Valley Farmers’ Market
Scotts Valley Farmers’ Market will host Summer Sweets, a FoodShed Project event, on Saturday, June 28, from 9am-1pm, at the Joe and Linda Aliberti Boys and Girls Club, located at 5060 Scotts Valley Drive.
The event celebrates fresh, seasonal produce with a variety of ripe stone fruits, berries and early summer favorites like sweet corn, peppers and heirloom tomatoes.
The community festivities include face painting for kids and adults at the Boys and Girls Club art table, a library station with summer programs and book checkout, and a market hunt with a chance to win a basket of strawberries. Attendees can also blend their own smoothies using fresh market fruit and enjoy live music and breakfast offerings from local vendors like Companion Bakeshop and Hidden Fortress coffee.
Returning vendors include Casalegno Family Farm, offering heirloom tomatoes, beans, basil and heritage garlic from Italy. In addition, the Market Match program continues, providing dollar-for-dollar matches on EBT/CalFresh purchases of fresh produce.
Community meeting focuses on elections, voter engagement
County of Santa Cruz is hosting an in-person community meeting in Scotts Valley to gather public input on elections administration and voter participation.
Scheduled for Tuesday, July 1, from 4-5:30 pm at the Scotts Valley Library (251 Kings Village Road), the event offers a chance for residents to share their experiences and ideas on voting preferences, accessibility and ways to increase voter turnout.
As elections evolve under the Voter’s Choice Act (VCA), which provides more flexible voting options, such as expanded early voting and vote centers, the County Clerk/Elections Office seeks to better understand how voters choose to cast their ballots—whether near home, at traditional polling places or through other methods.
Community feedback will help ensure that voting services are inclusive, accessible and responsive to the community’s needs.
Attendees can enjoy light snacks, and bilingual staff will be available to assist. This meeting is part of the County’s ongoing efforts to improve voter engagement and ensure all voices are heard. For more information, residents can contact the Elections Office via email at in**@**************************ca.gov or call 831-454-2060.
Campsites available this summer at Rancho del Oso
Looking for a quiet coastal camping experience this summer? The walk-in campground at Rancho del Oso—the coastal side of Big Basin Redwoods State Park—offers a unique way to enjoy nature just north of Davenport on Highway 1.
This temporary campground, located at the rehabilitated Horse Camp, is open to non-equestrian campers while coastal equestrian trails remain closed. There are five reservable walk-in sites and one shared, non-reserved bike-in site available. To check availability and make a reservation, visit thatsmypark.org/parks-and-beaches/rancho-del-oso-unit.
Rancho del Oso is also home to the open Marsh Trail, where visitors can spot rabbits, dragonflies and songbirds among the creekside willows. Note, the nearby Skyline to Sea Trail remains closed due to CZU Fire damage. Across Highway 1, Waddell Beach is a top destination for windsurfing and kite surfing.
The campground will eventually return to equestrian use once trail restoration is complete, but in the meantime, it offers a rare opportunity to camp in this recovering part of Big Basin.
