Local News

The end of the month seemed to approach faster than usual for Shirli McLaughlin. The 76-year-old Felton resident, a longtime Ben Lomond shopkeeper, was told her current rental was being sold. “It’s an important word, ‘home’—don’t you think?” she asked rhetorically, May 27. “That, and...

It costs big bucks to ensure one of life’s essential components is fit for human consumption. And on May 25, local officials and media got to taste the $3.5 million upgrade results to the Scotts Valley Water District’s Orchard Run Water Treatment Plant, leaving...

Editor’s Note: The reporter’s son is Andrew Wise. On Thursday, May 26, Central Fire, Santa Cruz City Fire and Watsonville Fire departments welcome nine recruits to their rosters following Santa Cruz City Fire Department’s Regional Academy graduation—six graduates, including Felton’s Andy Wise, are joining the...

“Future Agenda Items” is usually one of the least contentious portions of a Council meeting. It’s a time to propose new ideas and look ahead to what elected officials might tackle next. But on May 18, when Coun. Derek Timm proposed looking at raising the...

Scotts Valley is trying to ban the sale of flavored tobacco products and, if successful, would be the last municipality in the county to do so. The city has been looking at taking action since 2020 to keep youth from smoking, but the push...

Hallie Greene knows what it takes to bring a community together. From her work as the district manager of the Boulder Creek Recreation and Park District to helping create the Santa Cruz Long Term Recovery Group (SCLTRG), Greene is looked upon as a leader...

Union organizer Joe Thompson is fresh off the May 11 news that his push to unionize the first Starbucks stores in California—something that seemed unlikely just a few years ago—was successful. The 19-year-old, running for Assembly District 28, says the drive for workers’ rights in...

Thousands of people across the Greater Bay Area experienced electrical outages today, with more than 10,800 customers in Santa Clara County and more than 7,000 customers in Santa Cruz County losing power, according to the utility. The Santa Cruz County disruptions were mostly weather-related, including...

The stars were out in Felton on May 6 as the Scotts Valley Chamber of Commerce held its Community Awards Gala at Roaring Camp’s Brett Harte Hall. Overall, Chamber Executive Director Danny Reber said he couldn’t be more excited about the event, which featured 230...

When 71-year-old Boulder Creek resident Kathleen Kelley heard her favorite eatery in Scotts Valley, Chubby’s Diner, was closing down, she was livid. She tried contacting the City and the corporate office of Target (which is moving in nearby) but didn’t get immediate answers. “They snuck...