Local News

Pacific Gas and Electric Company is moving into the next phase of wildfire clean-up efforts—clearing out thick tree trunks it chopped down previously. According to Santa Cruz County’s Office of Response, Recovery & Resilience, the electricity provider is taking action in the wake of a...

In the world of water districts, challenges abound. From fires and floods to earthquakes and droughts, there is a multitude of issues that can affect the safety and security of water sources for the population served.  San Lorenzo Valley Water District (SLVWD) is certainly no...

After Santa and Mrs. Claus appeared outside the Scotts Valley Community Center on a fire truck and “lit” the Christmas tree during the Holiday Tree Lighting Festival on Dec. 4, the 200-300 people in attendance weren’t prepared for what would come next. Suddenly, as if...

Cindy Sekkel’s been volunteering for two years with the Felton Library Friends, and even sponsored the new library’s fireplace with her husband. On Nov. 27, amidst the fray of shoppers flipping through titles at the group’s book sale, the 70-year-old Ben Lomond resident was pleased...

A judge’s decision to postpone the move-in of a man designated as a “sexually violent predator” is a denial of the man’s rights, according to his lawyer. Santa Cruz County Superior Court Judge Syda Cogliati extended a temporary stay of her decision to allow convicted...

Scotts Valley is moving to hire Nevada County Assistant Executive Officer Mali LaGoe as its new city manager, after the departure of Tina Friend, earlier this year. And LaGoe couldn’t be happier. “I’m so excited to join the community and join the team of staff at...

She was a hacker turned military operative, a surfer, a sailing instructor and a culinary artist who studied under Julia Child. Now locals are grieving the death of Judith “Mickey” Phelps, who died after battling lung cancer, saying she was one of the community’s most...

When a group of San Lorenzo Valley Elementary School students gave their parents the rundown of their day on Nov. 10, the stories seemed almost unbelievable: they said the new San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District Superintendent, Chris Schiermeyer, had entered their fourth-grade class,...

In a special meeting on Nov. 10, the San Lorenzo Valley Water District (SLVWD) Board of Directors authorized District Manager Rick Rogers to begin investigating the potential consolidation of Big Basin Water with SLVWD, but there are issues that surround an acquisition of the...

The mountain town of Ben Lomond has many cool attributes: a beautiful art center, community hall, biker bar, good restaurants and open spaces. Now, the town can add one more feather to its cap: a dedicated space for veterans to call home. Jaye’s Timberlane on...