Welcome the new director to St. Andrew’s Preschool
Saint Andrews Preschool in Ben Lomond is pleased to announce the appointment of Sherry Stone as their new director. Stone has over 15 years of experience as an educator. She graduated from Louisiana State University with a major in Primary Education and a minor in Visual Diverse Arts.“Each of us is an individual and we all learn differently,” says Stone. “My plan is that my staff and I will work individually with each child based on their learning style,” Stone said. Her objective is to implement creative academic learning with love of God and community as her foundation.Saint Andrews Preschool has been in operation for 32 years.Preschool enrollment is now open for the coming school year. Open house for Saint Andrews Preschool will be held on Wednesday, August 19 during the hours 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.. The preschool is located at 101 Riverside in Ben Lomond. Please call 336-5157 for more information.
From a fire in a trash can to music on the mountain
In 2006, the fire escaped from the trash can to destroy the library on the San Lorenzo Valley High School campus. Valley residents, led by George Wylie, a SLVUSD school board member, passed a bond measure in 2008. The proceeds were used to build a new library and make improvements to the then-existing Center of Performing Arts. Cost savings achieved in the library construction enabled the district to raze the old PAC and build a new and state-of-the-art PAC that seats 215 patrons. The new SLV PAC opened in February of this year.On September 13, at 4:00 p.m. the San Lorenzo Valley Foundation for Education will bring Music on the Mountain to the San Lorenzo Valley by inviting Espressivo, a 17 piece orchestra to perform at the new, state of the art PAC located on the SLVHS campus. Espressivo will be led in a program of works by Mozart, Ibert, Wagner and Hindemith by Michel Singher, who has conducted seventy operas in hundreds of performances in Europe and America, and has led many orchestras, including the Berlin Radio Symphony, Seattle Symphony and the Oberlin Orchestra in a performance at Lincoln Center. This concert will bring to the valley a first of its kind musical performance by world class musicians whose current and prior affiliations include orchestras from San Francisco to Belgium and Israel, and will feature Roy Malan, Espressivo’s concertmaster, recently retired concertmaster of the San Francisco Ballet — and current lecturer at UCSC; Arnold Gregorian, recently retired from the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra; Julie Green Gregorian, Baltimore Symphony; Stephen Harrison, Ives Quartet at Stanford University; Susan Volmer, Sacramento Philharmonic; and Linda Burman-Hall, Santa Cruz Baroque Festival. The San Lorenzo Valley Foundation for Education supports San Lorenzo Valley students in The Arts, Math, Science and Technology through community sponsored grants, scholarships and contributions. This concert is a benefit for SLVUSD schools, and will mark the kick-off of a series of semi-annual performances being planned for the new SLVH PAC. Come listen to Music on the Mountain on September 13.
A visit to the Felton Covered Bridge Park
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.
Obituary
Barbara Nancy (Martin) Guerrero Barbara Nancy (Martin) Guerrero made her way to heaven on June 9, 2015.Barbara was born July 23, 1941 in Syracuse, New York, where she grew up. In her early 20’s, her adventuresome sprit took her to San Francisco where she spent many years pursuing various occupations and eventually marrying. Barbara moved to Bakersfield in 1975 raising her five children.She was very creative. She enjoyed needlepoint and loved helping her kids redecorate their rooms in whatever colors they wanted. Barbara managed a clothing store; was co-owner of a diet food store; helped to manage El Chile Verde restaurant; and enjoyed many years working as a saleswoman at Best Rents. Barbara willingly relocated to help raise her grandchildren. She spent time living in Clovis and Fresno, taking care of her grandson. Eventually Barbara moved to Flagstaff, where she spent the balance of her years helping to raise her granddaughters. She also spent time in Santa Cruz with her baby granddaughter. She loved her animals and considered them to be her ‘children.’ Barbara had many friends in Flagstaff including people that lived in her apartment complex and her various doctors and therapists. Barbara’s family has received many condolences from these people. Barbara loved her children and grandchildren deeply and to her they were her greatest accomplishment. She was so proud of everything they did and was always their strongest supporter. She leaves behind two sons Emmett Guerrero and Tomas Guerrero, three daughters MaryAnn (Ron) Froehlich, Jennifer Guerrero and Christine (Karl) Rohrkemper and grandchildren, Jordan, Alec, Sage, Madison, Tanner and Stoli. Barbara is truly missed by those closest to her.
Football Hell Week
Hell Week language is scary. The drill descriptions are strong enough to put the fear of retribution into any young football player’s heart. Found on the coach’s advisory web site are these Hell Week ‘two-a-days’ drills:Discipline: Up downs, Suicides, Running (a lot, like 2 miles non stop), Death valley bear crawl (bear crawling with someone on your back)Hard hitting: Bull in the ring, Hitting tackling dummyBlocking: Pushing the sled, One-on-ones So the lingo is often scary. If you were in some other location where the coaches might have a ‘drill-sergeant’ like attitude and a ‘what-won't-kill-you-will-make-you-stronger’ mentality, those deadly terms were often prophetic.In 2003, heat-exhaustion deaths made the National Collegiate Athletic Association prohibit ‘two-a-days’ on consecutive days during the first five days of practice. NFL eliminated them all-together.In local high schools, the first few days are without helmets and padding, to ease dehydration.Both San Lorenzo Valley and Scotts Valley high schools started football practices on Monday, August 10. Led by head coaches, respectively, Dave Poetzinger and Louie Walters, both teams prepare for the first competition – Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League's 2015 ‘FOOTBALL JAMBOREE’, to be held on Friday, August 28 at 5:30 pm at the Cabrillo College.Scotts Valley has a really ambitious preseason schedule, highlighted by the September 18 game at the 49’s Levi Stadium vs. Watsonville HS.On a sad note, it seems the Falcons’ new sports complex won't have the stadium lights as planned, due to a threatened lawsuit by the neighboring residents. In the past, Santa Cruz High School faced a similar predicament when their lights were to be installed. They solved their problem by using lower poles and special lighting with modifiers that prevent excessive light-spillage outside of the stadium. Perhaps not all is yet lost for the Falcons.
IOOF Summer Softball League
Two championship games for the Independent Order of Odd Fellows San Lorenzo Valley Men's division Softball League were played last Wednesday at the Highlands Park in Ben Lomond.In division B, two underdogs – third at the regular season's end, the Sharks met the fourth place Mountain Mechanics, who held a seemingly comfortable lead through the championship game's first 6 1/2 innings, and went into the bottom of the seventh with a five points lead. But then the Sharks, known for the last inning rallies, loaded bases twice and, with fewconsecutive single runs, started chipping away at the Mountain Mechanics lead. With two out and some outstanding last ditch defense, though, the latter prevailed, 15 - 14, and claimed the championship.Chris Amos was a winning pitcher, Sharks' Robert Smith the losing one.In the division’s A game, Mud Dogs beat the Flingers 12 - 9.
News Briefs | Published Sept. 12, 2025
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