News

In a business matter that’s highlighted a tussle between Planning Commissioners and County of Santa Cruz staff, the Commission has been handed a second chance to properly deny a cannabis cultivation operation proposal in Upper Zayante. Local residents are trying to stop it, arguing it...

Twelve Bonny Doon homes will open their gardens to show colorful flowers, hedges, vegetable patches, groundcovers, ponds, fruit trees and more in a beautiful display of springtime handiwork next weekend.

The Highlands Park Child Development Center got some upgrades on Thursday, as volunteers from the real estate company Keller Williams spent the day remodeling and expanding the Ben Lomond preschool's facilities.

Residents and staff of Oak Tree Villa donated $1,500 toward the families of deceased Santa Cruz Police Officers Loran “Butch” Baker and Elizabeth Butler on Wednesday, Aug. 21.

 If you are a visitor to Felton and want to know where to go, you might check out the Santa Cruz County’s web page to read about the local parks. It describes The Felton Covered Bridge Park as being “one of the few left in the state!” It says: you can “walk on the path, picnic or BBQ, play volleyball, use the playground, or one of the large, grassy areas.” It also promises that fishing with proper licenses is allowed and that restrooms are available.” You will also be told that the park is open from 8:00 a.m. to sunset and there are 32 parking spaces available.Maybe you plan to pick up supplies at the Safeway grocery store across the street from the park for a family BBQ. If so, you may have a hard time in locating the BBQ facilities once you arrive at the park.A 35 year resident of San Lorenzo Valley, Feltonian Ken Lewis is disappointed that he can no longer take his family to the Felton Covered Bridge Park to BBQ. Although he can still walk his dog there usually twice per day, he can no longer use the BBQ pits. They have been removed.Lewis believes that high level of vandalism and misuse of the park equipment is the reason why the BBQ pits were removed along with two of the park tables at either end of the park. Lewis said that he called Bruce McPherson’s office (5th District Supervisor) and talked to his assistant Robin Musitelli about the park issues.Lewis notes that there are many people who appear to be over indulging in alcohol and taking drugs who become belligerent when spoken to. He said he has seen the sheriff’s deputies approach them, but does not see the problem go away. “It is just disappointing for lack of enforcement. We need someone there all day writing citations,” he said.Lewis laments the irresponsible show of public drunkenness and the use of hard drugs. He recognizes that only about 20% of the homeless or near homeless from the Felton or San Lorenzo valley fit that description.

Thirty years — nearly to the day — since he was hired as a full-time police officer in 1983, Lt. John Hohmann will officially retire from the Scotts Valley Police Department on Monday, Dec. 2.

Alan Miller, materials engineer for Lockheed Martin, visited David Grant’s ROP Engineering Design class at San Lorenzo Valley High School last week.