Newsbriefs
Affordable housingcommunity forumAffordable Housing Now! will host a community forum on Saturday, August 29th, from 2 to 4 p.m. at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, 5271 Scotts Valley Drive in Scotts Valley. The forum will include presentations on affordable housing plan updates for Santa Cruz County and the cities of Santa Cruz and Scotts Valley. Fifth District CountySupervisor Bruce McPherson, Scotts Valley City Council Member Stephany Aguilar, and city and county senior planning staff will participate in the event. Assembly Member Mark Stone will be on hand to discuss affordable housing legislation moving forwardin Sacramento.The forum will also include presentations on local innovative housing solutions including a senior housing project to be located on St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church property, Habitat for Humanity’s Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) pilot project, and a Section 8 ADU.Community members will learn about opportunities to get involved and help find creative solutions to the current affordable housing crisis. This is the second community forum organized by AHN! dedicated to implementing actionable policies to create more affordable housing options for people who live and work in Santa Cruz County.Co-sponsors of the community forum include Habitat for Humanity; CommunitiesOrganized for Relational Power in Action (COPA); People’s Democratic Club, and the Crosson North County Democratic Club.For more information, call 465-8272 or go to Facebook.com- Affordable-Housing-Task-Force. Graniterock’s ballgame contestGraniterock is giving away three sets of five San Francisco Giants game tickets each day, for five days, to highlight the launch of their new website. That’s 75 tickets in all to AT&T Park that they want you and your crew to be a part of!Just check out the great new Graniterock website, take a look at the revamped RockBlog and enter to win. Sign up to win your Giants tickets. And they hope you’ll take a moment to explore the many benefits of our new digital home and come back often to see the latest in Great Products, Great Projects and Great Lives atwww.graniterock.com.No purchase necessary, but entrants must be at least 18 years old. Winners will be announced on Graniterock.com and Facebook.com/Graniterock. Contest runs August 31 - September 4. For more information, contact: Janae Thomas [email protected]. Mountain Community Resources programStarting September 22 and 23 Mountain Community Resources is offering a Teen Program on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at San Lorenzo Valley Middle School.The program offers a supervised place for students to hang out after school and receive help with homework, if needed. There will be an outing or a fun activity planned for the last Wednesday of the month.At SLVMS’ Back to School Night on September 17 at 5:30 p.m., Courtney Sondreal will be representing MCR’s Teen Program and answering questions. Please feel free to reach out with any questions about the Teen Program or Mountain Community Resources. Call 335-6607. Road Work on Alba RoadJohn Presleigh, Director of Public Works, County of Santa Cruz, has announced that Alba Road, 1.4 miles west of Highway 9, will be subject to traffic delays with potential lane closures between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday, August 24, through Friday, August 28, weather permitting.These delays and lane closures are necessary for guardrail installation. The Department of Public Works would like the motoring public to avoid this area, if possible, or be prepared for delays of up to twenty minutes.For up-to-date information onCounty maintained roads inSanta Cruz County, please visit:http://www.sccroadclosure. Board of Supervisors calls local road fundingThe Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved a resolution calling on Gov. Jerry Brown and the California Legislature to identify and passa sufficient and stable source of funding to maintain the state’s network of roads and highways, including funding for local roads. Nearly two-thirds of Santa Cruz County’s local roads are rated as “at risk,” “poor,” or “failed,” according to the 2014 California Statewide Local Streets and Roads Needs Assessment.The county’s average pavement condition index of 55 is far below the statewide average of 66, and without further action, a quarter of county roads will fall into “failed” condition within ten years. While Gov. Brown showed leadership in calling an extraordinary session to locate “permanent and stable funding to adequately and responsibly maintain and repair the state’s transportation and infrastructure,” he unfortunately made no mention of funding sources for local roads.While the county has worked hard to replace aging bridges and repair damage from the March 2011 storms, it is struggling with cuts to gas tax funding and a lack of new grant money from state and federal sources. More funding is needed to make streets safer for pedestrians, bicyclists and vehicles alike.With debate on transportation funding expected to begin in the state Senate this week, the county is ready to get to work repairing neighborhood streets. It has a five-year work plan for local road projects which would be considerably aided by new funding proposals that could mean millions annually for local projects. “Based on the current condition of our roadways, we would put the money to use as soon as possible,” Santa Cruz County Public Works Director John Presleigh said. Dancer Isadora Duncan - Still a Role ModelLois Flood, authority on Isadora Duncan, will perform a series of authentic dances passed down from those who knew Duncan and were taught by her. Flood will also share her fascinating insights into Duncan’s life of fame and tragedy. She will be joined by Connie Kreemer, noted Santa Cruz dancer, teacher, and former UCSC lecturer, at 7:00 p.m., Saturday, August 29th, at Park Hall in Ben Lomond.One of the most remarkable and influential dancers of all time, Isadora Duncan, provided a new model for women, education, and dance in the United States, Europe and Russia during the late1800’s and early 1900’s. She was an advocate and example for women seeking freedom and independence during a time when society placed severe limits on women’s behavior and rights.All are invited to this free performance, brought to the community by the Women’s Issues Committee of The Valley Women’s Club (www.vwcweb.org).Local arts and crafts will also be featured and refreshments will be served. Park Hall is at 9400 Mill St., just off Hwy 9; street parking.For information, please call Roz Alley at338-9748.
Randall Dennis Birch
Randall Dennis BirchMarch 3, 1962 – August 7, 2015Randy Birch passed too soon from a world that needed him. He was born in Salinas, CA, but lived most of his life in Felton and Santa Cruz. Twenty minutes after he was born, the hospital staff pronounced him hyperactive and that’s how he lived his life, as if he had too much to do and not enough time.He was the first non-athlete to be voted Homecoming King at San Lorenzo Valley High School. He navigated a rainy football field in a white tuxedo without collecting a spot of mud.He was a founding member of San Lorenzo Valley’s Mountain Community theatre. He captivated audiences with his portrayals of Professor Harold Hill in The Music Man, Nathan Detroit in Guy & Dolls, and many others. Even with bit parts, he could steal the show. He coaxed his shyest friends — and even his mother — to join him on stage. He was known for his great singing, but even more for his infectious laugh. Actors loved to have him in the front row.He worked 70 and 80 hour weeks, first as manager at Color Tile, and later, as a Quality Assurance Manager at several computer technology companies, armed only with a high school diploma, amazing intelligence, and irresistible charm. In addition, he was a regular in a community TV program, The Chick Show, which ran for 8 years.His real family recently learned Randy was an honorary member of many other families, all of whom miss him terribly. He delivered warm soup when someone was sick, a listening ear when someone was troubled, and the unfailing patience to fix anyone’s computer.He is dearly missed by his parents, James and Rosemary Birch of Felton, CA, and his three siblings, Kathleen —Dan — Sherman in St. Joseph, MI, Luanne (Paul) Oleas in Cupertino, and William Birch in Cottage Grove, OR. He was adored by his two nieces, Katie Sherman and Natalie Oleas.If you were lucky enough to know him, his family requests your attendance at “Remembering Randy: A Musical Tribute” which will be held from 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm on Saturday, August 29, 2015 at Park Hall, 9400 Mill Street, Ben Lomond. Bring a song to share, a picture, or a memory.
Obituary
Theta Francis Armstrong Theta Francis Armstrong passed away on Sunday August 16, 2015, in Santa Cruz, CA. She was born in Cimarron, New Mexico on April 15, 1929. She was a resident of Scotts Valley for 32 years. Graveside services will be at the Oakwood Memorial Park at 3301 Paul Sweet Road in Santa Cruz on Friday August 21, 2015 at 11:00 am. If you would like to offer condolences to Theta’s family, share your memories and light a candle in her honor please visit www.scmemorial.com
Dispatch Log (August 21, 2015)
Scotts Valley Police Department August 12 3:08 p.m.: A texting related traffic stop resulting in the arrest of a suspect for possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia near Kings Village Shopping Center in Scotts Valley. 5:04 p.m.: A report of assault with a deadly weapon was taken after a road-rage hit and run incident involving a car and a motorcycle on La Madrona Drive in Scotts Valley. 8:17 p.m.: A purse was stolen from a locked vehicle after the window was smashed outside of a café on Scotts Valley Drive. August 13 8:37 p.m.: A traffic stop for reckless driving on Granite Creek Road near Highway 17 resulted in the suspect being cited for a misdemeanor. August 14 2:07 a.m.: A suspect was arrested after a deputy conducted a search of their vehicle pursuant to the terms of their probation and found controlled substances on Coast Range Drive in Scotts Valley. Later the suspect was found to be concealing methamphetamines on his person at the County Jail. Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office August 12 9:49 a.m.: A suspect was arrested on West Zayante Drive in Felton after failing to comply with his sex offender registrant terms. 10:50 p.m.: A suspect was arrested for public intoxication on the 6100 block of Highway 9 in Felton. August 13 7:52 p.m.: A fight occurred at Covered Bridge Park. A male was arrested for public intoxication and a female was arrested for local warrants. The male was transported to the Sobering Center and the female was transported and booked into County Jail. August 14 11:08 a.m.: A male subject was in possession of a meth pipe and in violation of his probation terms in Felton. 11:37 a.m.: A juvenile was detained on Glen Arbor Road in Ben Lomond after deputies determined them to be a danger to themselves or others. 3:01 p.m.: Suspect was arrested for public intoxication and a probation violation on the 13100 block of Central Avenue in Boulder Creek. 4:24 p.m.: Two males detained for public intoxication at the Felton Covered Bridge Park. 7:46 p.m.: A suspect on a searchable probation for paraphernalia was arrested after a motorcycle stop on the 11000 block of Highway 9 in Boulder Creek. 11:16 p.m.: A vehicle was burglarized while a victim was hiking in Henry Cowell State Park. August 15 8:37 p.m.: An intoxicated subject was detained in Felton after deputies determined her to be unable to care for herself. 11:02 p.m.: Two subjects were arrested for assault on Clear Creek Road in Brookdale after an altercation resulted in $500 in damage and injuries to both parties. August 16 8:48 a.m.: Suspect was arrested on Conference Drive in Felton after deputies found them to have two outstanding warrants while on probation for burglary. The suspect was also in possession another’s financial and insurance information, burglary tools, a controlled substance, and drug paraphernalia. 6:04 p.m.: A female was detained for public intoxication on Mills Street in Ben Lomond. August 18 4:10 p.m.: A wallet was stolen out of a parked car on Hihn Street in Felton.
47th Annual ‘Race Thru the Redwoods’
Sunday, August 16 marked the 47th running of Felton’s own ‘Race Thru the Redwoods.’ The race starts in the day-use picnic area of Henry Cowell Redwood State Park and is actually two races: the 10k and the kids’ mile.This year’s 10k had 403 pre-registered runners, plus 40 to 50 people who signed up on race day. The mile had about 100 kids signed up, many of whom had parents running as well.“This is sponsored by the Felton Business Association so many of the people on the board of directors are involved.” says Felton Feed’s own Judy Brown, “This is one of the ways that we raise money to contribute to the community.”This year was Brown’s fourth year volunteering at the race; some of the proceeds from which go back to sports teams at the local high schools including San Lorenzo Valley High School’s track team and Scotts Valley’s High School’s Volleyball team.Although not as well known as the ‘Wharf to Wharf, which draws more than 16,000 runners annually, the ‘Race Thru the Redwoods’ has drawn some international talent.“In the past we’ve had runners from as far away as New York, Mexico and South America, “said Brown. “However they were not just in the area to race.”Sue Sutton has run the race twice before with a best time of 54:23, “I live here in Boulder Creek and I hike here [at Henry Cowell] all the time; it’s beautiful and cool,” says Sutton, “Everywhere in Boulder Creek there’s a hill, so this is nothing.”The community as a whole is very involved in supporting the race. Santa Cruz County ARES ham Radio volunteers, like Mikail Barron, could be found all over the trail on race day. “It’s a pure safety thing; we can communicate better with them here,” says member of the ‘Race Thru the Redwoods’ team Valoree Mills.“This [race] is made possible by our major sponsors: Granite Contruction, the Sereno Group, Union Bank and Liberty Bank,” said Mills. Many of the raffle prizes were also donated by local businesses, like the grand prize of the kid’s raffle: a specialized bike was donated by Scotts Valley Cycle Sport.Scott Rasmann, who has run the race twice, says, “I really like trail runs; trail races are great and there are a couple of challenging hills, plus I support the local high schools which is very important.”Rob Collins, coach of SLVHS’s track and cross country teams could be found at the starting line of the kid’s mile, helping the kids to line up successfully for the 8:10 start time.“Me and my wife are the ones who started the kids’ race,” says Collins, who was inspired by the lack of opportunity for kids to compete in the Santa Cruz Mountains, “One of the biggest enjoyments for me was — [when] my son wanted to run his first race.”The old record, from when the [10k] race began in the New Leaf Market Parking lot, was around 33:20, according to Collins. “The winning time is in the 34 to 36 minute range each year,” now.This year’s winner of the 10k, Jacob Smith, finished with a time of 39:13, but many of the runners finished after about an hour.Up-and-coming runner Ava Mehlenblocher, 6, says she planned to run the kids’ mile, “As fast as the flash.”The winner of the kids’ mile, Cory Nounnan finished with a time of 6:33 with Kai Groleau coming in a close second with the same time. However, both races gave awards by age-group with groups from 6 and under all the way up to 12 for the kids’ mile, and runners from ages 10 to 71 in the 10k.Many runners fueled up for the race with breakfast in the park catered by the Cowboy Bar & Grill in Felton, and the runners’ perks didn’t end there. All pre-registered runners got t-shirts, and all of the kids got ribbons. There were also ‘Race Thru the Redwoods’ water bottles available, and even a face painting table set up in the picnic area.Many of the children running the kids’ mile were so young that parents had to run with them, and some were even carried over the finish line. However, every runner was greeted by a cheering crowd, regardless of their time.
When a fundraising event is more than just another ‘nice time out’
On August 9, at Bret Harte Hall in Roaring Camp, Valley Churches United Missions became the gracious beneficiary of a wonderful fund raising event. More than 25 restaurants, 10 wineries, and 4 breweries served up delicious tastes and sips straight from their respective kitchens to our donors. Nearly everyone that I spoke with was complimentary and all who were there had a good time. We sincerely thank the vendors who shared their goodies and we appreciate the hundreds of donors who sold out our event.When I arrived last fall to become the Executive Director of VCUM, the calendar was essentially set and all that I needed to do was support the existing plan and learn how to execute against our various program deliverables. I did that. When 2015 began, I was focused on how to find a ‘success’ that we could point to as a turning point in our evolution as an organization. After all, the new guy would eventually have to produce something that was, well, new. Sunday was new and I was delighted. To be sure, the fund raising is important, but just as important to me right now, is how we showed up in the community, and how we worked together as a team. I’m proud that we exceeded our fund raising goal and I’m even more proud about how we worked together as a team.“Tasting under the Redwoods” required some new volunteers, with some new expertise and a whole new set of personal contacts. When I arrived at Valley Churches I observed that we had a dedicated cadre of volunteers, and many were also board members. What we didn’t have was a large number of people who were volunteers. While I saw remarkable commitment to our organization, I also observed a fairly small circle of people. I believed then and now more than ever, that our organizational strength comes from our volunteers. If you’d like to become involved with Valley Churches, we have an “All Volunteer Meeting” at Park Hall on September 24. Show up there and we’ll try and find something good for you to do.For a non-profit organization like ours to thrive, we need the trust and support from our local business community. I view that as something to be earned and cultivated by spending the donated money wisely and keeping fundraising expenses to a minimum. “Tasting under the Redwoods” wouldn’t have happened without the direct support from the restaurants, wineries and breweries. You may not know that our business sponsors, Liberty Bank, Union Bank, and The Keller Williams Team, enabled us to fund the basic event costs. Our media sponsor, KSCO, was instrumental in turning out the sellout crowd. Yes, requesting that a restaurant prepare 350 bites of something delicious to donate for charity is a big ‘ask.’ The support that we received blew us away. However, it turns out that many in our community have a personal story or anecdote that triggers a good vibe when thinking of Valley Churches. My predecessor, Annette Marcum, and the hundreds of volunteers that have come before Sunday, built that goodwill. I recognize that is a tremendous asset for us to build upon, and it is a serious responsibility to keep that support alive and healthy.There was also a wee bit of organizational trepidation to overcome last Sunday. This was a new event for us. We had no experience to fall back on when we ran across the unforeseen hurdles and all the little hassles that inevitably surface when you doing something for the first time. Indeed, we’re a stronger organization today than we were just the week prior to “Tasting under the Redwoods,” because we proved to ourselves that we are capable of doing something new and in fact we can be “bigger” if we want to be. I have high hopes for evolving our services portfolio at Valley Churches. Thinking bigger, acting bigger, and bigger fundraising are all different things. We all feel a bit better now that we’ve actually delivered this event and satisfied our sponsors and donors. Whatever new thing that comes next, it won’t quite be as daunting because of that success. For that, I’m grateful.So, to what not-for-profit purposes will the money be used to fund? At Valley Churches our calendar-year’s fourth quarter is the busiest time of the year. Historically, that’s been true for both giving and receiving. Our Thanksgiving project provides literally hundreds of Thanksgiving meals, and our annual “Valley Christmas Project” is a really a collection of giving programs for families, seniors, and others. The truth is that the money raised from “Tasting under the Redwoods” won’t go to any one program, rather it will be used to offset expenses for food purchases, which we do for much of the year; build our storm preparedness capacity; and it will fund the other giving programs. Apart from food distribution, we have rent expense, transportation assistance, medical catastrophe expenses and other catastrophic services support. Having completed this event in the third quarter will provide us with the financial momentum for going into the fourth quarter and it will likely enable a few of our volunteers to work less hours this coming Holiday season. Again, for that I am grateful.
Prostate Cancer Awareness
Santa Cruz County Prostate Cancer Support Group’s website says that after lung cancer, prostate cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men.There are a lot of fund-raising efforts and information available for breast cancer; however, it is rare to see anything about prostate cancer awareness. Is it because women are more inclined to talk about their health issues and seek support but men tend towards macho silence?Thankfully, now in the 21st century, things are changing. Men are starting to open up and talk about their health issues. The Santa Cruz County Prostate Cancer Support Group’s website, with informational help from the American Cancer Society, is a source of vital information. Their newsletters are archived. The last issue talks abut the role of food in increasing/decreasing prostate cancer risks. There is also a list of useful online resources.The group meets on the last Tuesday of each month 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Dominican Hospital’s Bennett and Suzy Katz Cancer Resource Center in the Education Center, Room D. Dominican Hospital, located at 1555 Soquel Drive, Santa Cruz, is now called “Dignity Health.”From Dignity Health’s website: “Our certified oncology nurses (RNs) provide guidance in sorting through questions about cancer, assistance in coordinating care, and referrals to support services, individuals with cancer and their families may set up an appointment to meet with a KCRC (Katz Cancer Resource Center) oncology nurse to discuss and personalize a program for support education and guidance.”The SC County Prostate Cancer Support Group is presenting their 7th Annual Songfest for Prostate Cancer Awareness on Saturday, September 5, 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Kuumba Jazz Center, 320-2 Cedar Street, Santa Cruz. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. This is a free concert. Donations will be accepted. Please see their ad in this paper.
Scotts Valley Art, Wine and Beer Festival a Big Hit at Skypark
It was hot! Temperatures ranged between the high 90's and low 100's, but that did not keep visitors home. Family groups were engaging with their children while the kids enjoyed the petting zoos and many other attractions. Some of the kids had their faces painted. Even leashed dogs were seen following or leading their families around the Festival grounds.
Bear stories of the Santa Cruz Mountains,
On August 14 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 pm, the San Lorenzo Valley Museum hosted a networking mixer with the San Lorenzo Valley Chamber of Commerce. The museum’s current exhibit, “Bear with us – Bear stories of the Santa Cruz Mountains,” was well presented with humor and excitement.The exhibit showcases grizzly bears in our region from the 1700s to the early 1900s, by which time the once-flourishing population became extinct. If you stop by the museum, you will learn about bear encounters with the human settlers in the area, the food hierarchy between wildlife and native peoples, and exactly how the bear population declined. There are hands-on activities and other interactive elements to the exhibit that will be of interest to attendees of all ages. The SLV Museum, 12547 Highway 9 in Boulder CreekCall or email if you need more information, or are interested in hosting your own networking event in the coming months. 338-8382 Email: [email protected]
Come Join Scotts Valley 4-H!
Attention: Kids from 5 to 18! Come to a meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday, August 24, at the Community Covenant Church, 2700 El Rancho Drive, in Scotts Valley and join us for a spaghetti feed at 6:30 p.m. Members will be able to sign up for projects, upcoming events, and club activities.Upcoming events include many community service projects including a local beach cleanup and volunteering at the Scotts Valley Christmas Lighting Ceremony. There are great events such as the roller-skating club fun event and climbing at Pacific Edge in Santa Cruz. Additionally, fall projects such as archery, quilting, dirt track biking, wreath-making, leadership projects, ukulele, and a poultry showmanship workshop are available. Even more projects such as guitar, rabbit care, cooking, arts and crafts, Legos, beginning raising dairy goats, computer technology, chain mail and cooking are also available.With more than six million participants, 4-H is the nation’s largest youth development organization. The 4-H Youth Development Program offers many ways to improve public speaking, leadership, and citizenship skills. Members learn to achieve goals and feel proud about their accomplishments. Come and meet great new friends and learn important life skills! 4-H is a positive youth development organization that empowers young people to reach their full potential.Please go to our club website: www.scottsvalley4h.org; or email [email protected] by Irene Ervin, age 11, who is thrilled to be the Club Reporter. She plans toparticipate in archery, rabbit project, cooking and guitar projects.
News Briefs | Published Oct. 31, 2025
Community Bridges WIC remains open during government shutdown
Community Bridges Women, Infants & Children (WIC) Program remains fully funded and operational ensuring continued support for...
