At-home Covid-19 tests change pandemic response
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—At least 4,000 Santa Cruz County residents have been infected with Covid-19 during the current winter surge sparked by the highly transmissible Omicron variant of the novel coronavirus.
That figure posted to the County Health Services Agency’s online dashboard, however, is likely vastly...
Convicted Rapist Seeking Housing in Bonny Doon Back in Court
A man who was convicted of rape and looking to move into Bonny Doon had another hearing in Santa Cruz County Superior Court Monday.
Judge Syda Cogliati approved Michael Cheek’s placement at a home on Wild Iris Lane in November, but the District Attorney’s Office...
Animal welfare, police reform among new state laws
CALIFORNIA—Every year, state lawmakers send hundreds of bills to the governor in hopes they will be signed into law.
Many do not make the cut, and fall victim to the state’s lengthy legislative process. But last year 770 bills became law, and many became effective...
Animal shelters deal with influx of rabbits, ‘pocket pets’
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Animal shelters across California are currently seeing an influx of rabbits and other “pocket pets” being surrendered and put up for adoption.
Erika Smart, program and development manager at Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter (SCCAS), says that the increase in rabbits, guinea pigs,...
Transportation Commission votes for virtual meetings, for now
SANTA CRUZ—The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) on Monday unanimously approved a plan to continue with virtual meetings for the coming year, as the Omicron variant of Covid-19 spreads and governing agencies across the state make similar moves.
Agencies that are continuing to...
County health officials: avoid the ER unless seriously ill
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Santa Cruz County public health officials are asking that anyone with asymptomatic or mild coronavirus cases—or other non-serious illnesses—stay home and avoid unnecessary trips to already burdened hospital emergency departments.
The county also renewed its call for everyone eligible to get vaccinated or...
Business Owners to Get Info on Scotts Valley’s Grant Program
When former mayor Derek Timm announced that Scotts Valley would be giving out cash to needy local businesses during his State of the City address at the beginning of October, it was welcome news for business owners who have faced seemingly endless trials during...
SLVUSD Will Explore Full-Day Kindergarten
After parents advocated for full-day kindergarten at consecutive school board meetings, the San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District said it was willing to explore the idea.
Dylan Fetzer, a Ben Lomond resident who has a boy entering transitional kindergarten (TK) next year, says it’s something...
‘Firefighter’s Firefighter’ Awarded Top Honor at Zayante Fire
He did tours on the Dixie Fire to the north and the Estrada Fire in Watsonville and trained new recruits from around Santa Cruz County. For his efforts, Capt. John Amadeo has been named Firefighter of the Year at Zayante Fire Protection District, for...
Ben Lomond Health Clinic Opens Next Month
Santa Cruz Community Health (SCCH) has announced the opening of a new health clinic in Ben Lomond. The two-bed clinic, slated to open on Jan. 24, will provide a bevy of health care services on a sliding scale, including Covid testing and vaccines.
While this...
Scotts Valley crime rates rise in some categories, but remain low...
In a sleepy town like Scotts Valley, it’s par for the course that year-to-year crime percentages swing wildly.
If no robberies happen one year, and...
