The newly rebuilt Trout Farm Inn is closing in on completion after a catastrophic fire broke out on June 5, 2016, and should be back open for business in late July or early August, according to one of the owners, Russell Gross.

Lawyers, accountants and insurance agents were on hand to pitch their services at a meeting for one of the largest and now legal industries in the county growing and selling marijuana. On May 9 at the Freight Building at Depot Park, the county’s premier cannabis industry trade association, Green Trade of Santa Cruz, hosted a meeting for their members to network with the business support professionals needed to be successful.

Scotts Valley High School is transforming into an eco-friendly, sustainable campus, with the assistance of the “Green Team.”

The Exchange Club of Scotts Valley, a community service organization dedicated to “making our community the best it can be,” holds an annual Blue and Gold Banquet honoring the Police Officer and Firefighter of the Year.  For 2017, Scotts Valley Fire Fighter of the Year is Megan Bridges and Scotts Valley Police Officer of the Year is Paul Meier, both of whom were recommended for the award by their peers.

This past week, Scotts Valley Unified School District board approved the hiring of Tracey Neilsen to the new principal of Vine Hill Elementary School. Her position will be effective as of July 1. 

Several local agencies are working towards creating a way for wildlife to cross Highway 17 without causing vehicle-animal collisions. Still in the early stages of implementing the project, California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) hosted a public information meeting in Scotts Valley last week.

Patience, persistence, luck and the hard work of many people over several years have brought the dream of a new branch library in Felton to fruition. But there’s more than just a new library - the project will include a Nature Discovery Park in the wooded areas and around Bull Creek next to the new library that will be an outdoor environmental education center designed mostly for children. All this is scheduled to break ground late this summer.    

The legacy left behind by Lynn Beebe, former guidance counselor at Scotts Valley Middle School, will be in the Scotts Valley students who continue on to pursue a college degree.

Radio station manager Tina Davey never imagined she would have the funds to build a new antenna, needed desperately in order to service the whole valley. But during KBCZ’s last pledge drive a few weeks ago several generous donations from the community and an anonymous donor who gave $8,000 helped reach the goal.

The vision of Monterey Bay communities buying their electricity from a local, publically-owned utility that sells only carbon-free energy from renewable sources will become a reality this July. Monterey Bay Community Power (MBCP) will begin selling 100 percent “green” energy to residential customers on July 1st, and the bill from this new utility company will be incorporated into the regular bill from PG&E.