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Scotts Valley
July 4, 2025

News briefs

Highway 9 resurfacing to start Sunday night

Obit: Bob Cocilova June 9 1943 to May 6, 2014

Bob Cocilova, 70, died May 6 at his home after a long battle with kidney cancer.

BAM Homes Hopes to Ease Rebuilding Woes

BAM Homes
Residents whose homes were burned to the ground during the CZU Lightning Complex fires in August of 2020 have hope on the horizon: Bay Area Manufactured Homes (BAM Homes) is working in conjunction with state and local authorities to provide affordable, safe and comfortable...

Operation Turkey’s Goose May Be Cooked

The passage of most laws is a reactionary measure to reduce or eliminate harm due to lax safety standards. Bicycle helmet laws were passed to reduce traumatic brain injuries from bicycle accidents. Seat belt laws are meant to decrease injuries and increase survivability in a car crash. Thanks to Richard Reid, we all have to remove our shoes at the airport to ensure safety when flying. And in September, 2018, Governor Jerry Brown signed AB-2178 in response to illnesses spread by unsafe food preparation and distribution by charities. Operation Turkey, which aims to feed the hungry and homeless on Thanksgiving Day, was founded by Richard Bagdonas (this reporter’s brother) in Austin, Texas in 2000. Since then, the nonprofit has spread to eight states, including right here in Santa Cruz County. 19-year old Andy Wise (this reporter’s son) has taken it upon himself to support the nonprofit’s mission, and is embarking upon his second season as captain of the only Operation Turkey chapter in California. So it was with great shock and surprise that Wise was contacted by Felton Bible Church last week, and told that the whole show was a no-go. “Apparently, AB-2178 limits the ways you can prepare and distribute food,” says Wise. “The new law says that groups like Operation Turkey would be limited to serving food prepared in a commercial kitchen or could only share whole, uncut produce and prepackaged, “nonhazardous foods” in its original packaging. Well, that’s not what we do,” said Wise. “We hold a Turkey Tailgate the day before Thanksgiving, and we barbecue and smoke our turkeys in personal equipment. The next day, we create an assembly line with those turkeys, and all the sides, and we load up boxes of food to deliver to people in the community. This entire event is now in jeopardy of not happening because we need to operate out of a commercial kitchen. Thanksgiving is a big day for most restaurants—who is going to give up their kitchen the day before so we can cook 130 turkeys?” Wise understands the position of Felton Bible Church—“They don’t want to break the law anymore than we do”—but the late notice on an operation of this magnitude is more than worrisome for this Cabrillo College student, EMT and volunteer firefighter with Boulder Creek’s Fire Department. Wise has reached out to employees at the Office of Environmental Health, including Director Dr. Marilyn Underwood. While the office seems to be sympathetic to his plight, their only recommendation is to find a commercial kitchen to operate out of. And the clock is ticking. Valley residents, Operation Turkey needs your help. In order to feed 2,500 hungry county residents on Thanksgiving, the nonprofit needs to find a commercial kitchen that will grant its use on Wednesday, November 27th and Thursday, November 28th. Funds have been raised. Volunteers have signed up to help. Homebound residents have registered to receive a meal from the organization. And 19-year old Wise is hoping that a generous benefactor comes through to offer Operation Turkey a saving grace. If you have any connections, or are willing to help facilitate the use of a commercial kitchen, please send an email to [email protected].

NEWSBRIEFS

 Agape Dance Academy becomes a non-profitScotts Valley, CA. Agape Dance Academy is announces that they have received approval as a non-profit as recognized by the IRS. This is exciting news as Agape Dance fundraising resources will help fund good works in the community, create stunning performances including beautiful costumes, guest artists, technical support and more. Our dedicated dancers get to enjoy a professional dance experience locally while bringing beautiful art to our community.Recent graduate, Zac Egner, has been invited to stay full time at Rock School this year on a full tuition scholarship!For more information, contact Melanie Useldigner at 359-0850 [email protected] Health Officer reminds parents to vaccinate their kidsCalifornia Department of Public Health Director and State Health Officer Dr. Karen Smith reminds parents to make sure that their children are up-to-date on required vaccinations before the school year begins.“Parents should put vaccinations on their back-to-school checklists,” Dr. Smith said. “Vaccinations are the best way to ensure that students are protected and to stop the spread of measles and other serious diseases.”Children are required to have received certain vaccinations in order to attend school or child care in California. Dr. Smith urges parents to make an appointment now with their health care provider to help protect themselves and their families.Cost should not be a barrier for childhood vaccinations. If health insurance does not cover the recommended vaccinations, children may qualify for free vaccines under the national Vaccines for Children Program. Talk to your doctor or local health department for more information.On June 30, 2015, Governor Brown signed into law Senate Bill 277, which does not change procedures for the fall of 2015. Under this new law only medical exemptions to required immunization will be allowed for students entering school after January 1, 2016.To learn more about the law and the immunizations required for child care and schools, visit shotsforschool.orgNotice of Meeting to Adopt Final Budget for Fiscal Year 2015/2016 by the Felton Fire Protection DistrictNotice is hereby given that on Monday, the 14th of September, 2015, 7 p.m. at 131 Kirby Street, Felton, and the Board of Directors of the Felton Fire Protection District will meet for the purpose of adopting the Final Budget for Fiscal Year 2015/2016 of said District.Notice is further given that the preliminary budget of said District has been adopted and is available between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. at 131 Kirby Street, Felton, for review by interested persons.Notice is further given that at the time and place above designated for the meeting to adopt the Final Budget for Fiscal Year 2015/2016, any person may appear and be heard regarding the Final Budget for Fiscal Year 2015/2016.BOARD OF DIRECTORSFelton Fire Protection District335-4422 Comcast offers new levels of service in the Santa Cruz MountainsNew programming and Internet offerings will be available to residential homes and businesses which are Comcast customers in the following areas: Aptos, Ben Lomond, Boulder Creek, Bonny Doon, Brookdale, Davenport, Felton, La Selva Beach, Lompico, southern Los Gatos, Mount Herman, Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley, Seascape, and Soquel. Residential customers in these areas can simply re-start their modems to immediately start enjoying the faster speeds."Santa Cruz is one our most exciting and diverse communities and we're thrilled to make a substantial investment there that demonstrates our ongoing commitment to bring customers more choices for their media and technology needs," said Elaine Barden, Regional Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Comcast California.  "We continue to innovate and increase Internet speeds as customer demands evolve, and we will continue to offer a wide range of communications options and TV networks to fit the diversity of our customers."In that spirit of continuous innovation, Comcast is increasing the speeds of two of its Xfinity Internet tiers at no additional cost to customers in the Santa Cruz area. The Performance tier speeds will jump from 16 Megabits per Second (Mbps) download speed and 2 Mbps upload speed (16/2), to 75 Mbps download and 5 Mbps upload (75/5).  The Blast tier speeds will also significantly increase, leaping from 25/4 to 150/10.Comcast also announced that it is launching four new tiers of Internet service for commercial business customers.  In addition to the previously offered Starter (16/3) and Deluxe 50 (50/10) tiers, Comcast Business will now offer Deluxe 25/10, Deluxe 75/15, Deluxe 100/20, and Deluxe 150/20 speed packages to small and medium businesses in the area."By tripling the speeds and the number of Internet tier options for local Santa Cruz businesses, we're providing an even more robust suite of services that allows organizations of all sizes to match their communications needs," said Ted Girdner, regional vice president of Comcast Business. "Our continued commitment to bring businesses more choices for high-capacity network connectivity helps them lay the foundation for economic development and business growth."

Valley People

Two students from Scotts Valley High School and one from San Lorenzo Valley High School have been named National Merit Scholarship finalists by the National Merit Scholarship Corp.

Stone named to coastal commission

Mark Stone, Santa Cruz County Fifth District supervisor and Scotts Valley resident, was appointed to the California Coastal Commission this week.

Robert Rex Leoffler: Jan. 14, 1940 — July 2, 2012

Boulder Creek resident Robert Rex Leoffler, 72, died July 2 from complications from renal disease, diabetes and heart disease.

Scotts Valley gets refresh as new staffers come on board

While Scotts Valley’s civic calendar has been relatively light so far this year, behind the scenes there’s been plenty of activity. Hot on the heels of hiring 19 people to work for the municipality in 2022, as the community began to recover from the darkest...

Nonprofit launches teen art program

There’s a brown portable classroom that sits on the San Lorenzo Valley High School campus between the elementary school parking lot and the gym.

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News Briefs

News Briefs | Published July 4, 2025

Tree removal leads to temporary closure on Big Basin Highway Caltrans will temporarily close a section of southbound Highway 236 (Big Basin Highway) left on...