While finding the current fiscal year budget tracking close to expectations, the Scotts Valley City Council discussed at length how to avoid a “financial cliff” projected in the years to come.  At the regular city council meeting on March 7, council members considered a mid-year review of the FY 2017/18 budget, and discussed how the City will handle a projected budget deficit of more than $2 million by FY 2024/25.

The much anticipated Town Center Project is starting to take shape.

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.