Alan and Duangjai Sachsel had noticed the Thai cuisine void in the valley for years. Finally, the couple decided to fill it with the recently opened Thai Village Restaurant at King’s Village Shopping Center on Mount Hermon Road.

Safety first: The area’s inaugural National Night Out gathering took place Tuesday, Aug. 3, at the Cal Fire and Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Service Center on Highway 9 in Felton. Law enforcement and fire personnel greeted neighbors who stopped by to meet their local peace officers. Kids got to climb inside a police cruiser, and children could be identified with a Child ID kit for a parent to take home. National Night Out is aimed at strengthening communities and encouraging them to fight back against crime.

A facelift for a Boulder Creek park that has seen little use in recent years is officially under way.

Two newcomers to the Scotts Valley political scene have jumped into the race for two open seats on the school board.

Thomas the Tank Engine, the storybook locomotive from the imaginary island of Sodor, will visit Roaring Camp Railroads for two weekends starting Friday, July 30, to give train rides to fans of his long-running PBS series, “Thomas and Friends.”