North County water districts explore consolidation
SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS—Today the San Lorenzo Valley Water District (SLVWD) and Scotts Valley Water District (SVWD) announced their respective boards of directors will consider possibly consolidating the agencies’ operations in the future.
Boards from both water districts will learn more about the consolidation process when...
Scotts Valley Economic Task Force gears up for next event
On Feb. 13, the Scotts Valley Economic Recovery Task Force will host its next event, #ScottsValleyLove from 10am to 6pm.
Much like the organization’s holiday open house, residents will pick up goodie bags and visit many businesses throughout town, earning treats and trinkets at each...
State lifts stay-at-home order
Some services, such as outdoor dining, can resume
Outdoor dining and other services can resume after Gov. Gavin Newsom on Jan. 25 ended the state’s regional stay-at-home order based on intensive care unit (ICU) capacity.
In its place, the state has returned to the Blueprint for...
Safe, not sorry
Panther Ridge resident Harmony Perna describes Jan. 19 evacuation
After a restless night, still recovering from surgery, and concerned with Covid-19, Harmony Perna was not in an ideal condition to evacuate her home on Panther Ridge Road in the morning of Jan. 19.
The Boulder Creek...
Evacuations ordered
County officials warn of debris flows and high winds
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Cal Fire CZU announced Monday morning that many evacuation warnings were updated to orders for swaths of the San Lorenzo Valley, including most of Boulder Creek and various areas of Ben Lomond and Felton...
Cabrillo College enrollment drops after fires, pandemic
When Covid-19 began to sweep the U.S.—and brought with it an economic recession—Cabrillo College officials expected a jump in enrollment that typically comes with a battered economy.
But the college is now seeing a significant drop in those numbers, which it pins on the double...
Local author publishes second book, Journey to Heal
UC Santa Cruz librarian and local author Wei Wei published her second book, Journey to Heal, this Jan. The work features 24 nature photos accompanied by poetry reflecting on her healing process after the loss of her father.
“It was very hard for me when...
High winds cause fires, power outages
SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS—Heavy overnight and early-morning winds have sparked multiple fires across Santa Cruz County, Cal Fire CZU reported Tuesday morning.
Firefighters reported several fires, including one off of Highway 9 in Boulder Creek, another near Empire Grade Road and Alba Road, a 20-acre fire...
Santa Cruz County’s vaccine distribution slowed by limited doses
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—At least 5,600 doses of vaccinations for the novel coronavirus have been distributed throughout Santa Cruz County, a number that county health officials at a Friday press conference said has been significantly impacted by plodding distribution from the state.
Overall, the county has...
Valley school districts weighing return to class
By Todd Guild, Katie Evans and Christina Wise
California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Dec. 30 released a plan under which schools could reopen as early as February.
The plan, which streamlines the process of applying for a waiver to bring students back for in-person instruction, is...
Vegetation control work on Highway 9 to begin Monday with daytime...
Caltrans will begin vegetation control work on the entire length of Highway 9 in Santa Cruz County in support of California’s Wildfire and Forest...