At last week’s board meeting, the San Lorenzo Valley School Unified District voted unanimously to deny a petition to form a new independent charter middle school.

This week, students at Scotts Valley High School participated in National Student Walkout Day on March 14, to honor the 17 students who died in the Parkland school shooting and to promote school safety.

Less than two years after residents overwhelmingly adopted a $35 a year parcel tax to increase safety for the Boulder Creek Fire Protection District, a new engine is on the way.

The legal of issue of whether and under what circumstances a taxpayer or citizen can bring a lawsuit against a government agency was argued in court this week.

With its majestic Redwood trees and rolling hills, the Santa Cruz Mountains are ideally perfect for building a “Hobbit” home. And that is exactly why Anna Pissanetzky and her husband Pablo decided to begin the endeavor of building one on their property in Scotts Valley.

The recreation room of the Boulder Creek Country Club was filled to capacity this last Wednesday with local residents eager to hear lessons learned from the Bear Fire. Local government showed up in full force for the Boulder Creek event.  CalFire Division Chief Rich Sampson, Boulder Creek Fire Chief Kevin McClish, and Chief Sheriff’s Deputy Craig Wilson made the presentation.  Supervisor Bruce McPherson and County Planner Matt Johnson also joined in.  Joe Christy, President of Fire Safety Santa Cruz County, moderated the panel and posed questions that attendees handed in anonymously on large index cards.

As the historic Brookdale Lodge gets ready to reopen later this year, a new art installation by local famed muralist John Cerney is taking shape.

The announcement of a new principal for Scotts Valley High School was met with praise and excitement during a Scotts Valley Unified School District board meeting Tuesday evening. The Trustees approved the hiring of Michael Hanson to be the next Principal for SVHS.  Mike has worked at SVHS since 2006 where he was hired as a science teacher. 

There’s something tempting for developers in the proposed Town Center development but, thus far, various ideas for the 58-acre parcel in downtown Scotts Valley have turned up short.