Local News

“California wildfire seasons, unfortunately, are turning into wildfire years,” said U.S. Rep Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley) in a recent press release.  Panetta, along with two senators and 20 other members of Congress from California, called for the creation of a year-round wildland fire workforce in...

Leann Anderson was still four months away from her 18th birthday when she proudly accepted her high school diploma. The Bonny Doon girl had struggled to overcome dyslexia. But in the end, she’d triumphed.  “You f****** did it! Congratulations!” came the supportive, if profane, message—allegedly...

FELTON—Dave Poetzinger, who has spent the past 28 years as a coach at San Lorenzo Valley High School, has put on the headset for the final time. The Cougars’ lead man coached his final game on April 17 against Harbor High. His student-athletes gave him...

From the red sign with twin suns beaming their gratitude toward hand-painted white letters spelling “THANKS FIREFIGHTERS” by a fire-survivors camp in Davenport, to the wildland battle scene depicted on the side of a beer distributor doing the rounds in Felton, wildfire danger remains...

For all the historical icons in the San Lorenzo Valley (hello, Roaring Camp, Henry Cowell and Covered Bridge Park), there are some that seemingly fly under the radar.  San Lorenzo Valley Museum is one of them, says Director of Operations Nicole Berridge.  “The museum is one...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Though the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will be delayed for an undetermined amount of time, the pause of the single-dose inoculation is not expected to significantly slow the county’s vaccination efforts. That’s according to Santa Cruz County health officials, who...

Danny Reber has a lot on his plate. As the Executive Director of the Scotts Valley Chamber of Commerce, Reber oversees a variety of annual events and fundraisers for the Chamber, and is an omnipresent force in the community. He now has his next task...

The scorched earth left behind by the CZU Lightning Complex fires won’t stay barren for long. That’s according to Amy Patten, who manages the Rare Plant Treasure Hunt project at the California Native Plant Society (CNPS). “There is a lot of magic happening beneath the surface,”...

Scotts Valley residents could see an increase in wastewater rates as the city looks to fund improvements to its collection and treatment system. The last time the Scotts Valley City Council voted to increase wastewater rates, which currently sit at $46.49 a month for single-family...

California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday announced that the state is “setting our eyes on fully reopening by June 15—with commonsense measures like masking.” Newsom made the announcement via Twitter, and reiterated the state’s plan to eventually forgo the current four-tiered, color-coded reopening system during...