Mark has been writing the financial news column for the Scotts Valley Press-Banner for 6+ years. He was born in San Francisco but his family moved shortly after to Campbell where he grew up. He moved to Capitola in 1990 and to ScottsValley in 1997. He has a long Santa CruzCounty history.

The Franchise Tax Board announced it is accepting 2015 state tax returns for a filing season that extends through April 18, three days beyond the traditional deadline because of a federal holiday.

Anthony (Tony) was a graduate of McGill Medical School, in Montreal, Canada. He practiced medicine in Felton for 35 years.

On January 7 Governor Jerry Brown proposed a $122.6 billion state budget. Spending was increased for education, health care, state infrastructure, debt pay down and increase the state’s rainy day fund to $8 billion. "Relative to budgets of the past, this budget is in good shape," Brown said of his 2016-17 spending plan. "We also ought to look at what's the capacity of the state, and what's the taxpayer willingness to spend more."

The Scotts Valley Police Department recovered a credit card "skimming" device from a gas pump at a local service station on Mt. Hermon Road. The device was located inside the pump by a technician doing routine maintenance.

On Tuesday, January 19, at 5:30 .p.m. to 6:30 p.m., County Supervisor John Leopold will be holding a neighborhood town hall for the ScottsValley, Granite Creek, and HappyValley neighborhoods in the First District east of Highway 17. The meeting will be an opportunity to discuss a broad range of issues within Santa CruzCounty including criminal justice, healthcare, transportation, and economic development.