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Scotts Valley
January 11, 2025

Ukrainian family, reunited, spends first Christmas together in Scotts Valley

Last Christmas, the Ziniak family left their home in Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine, and headed on a fun trip across the Carpathian Mountains. When the Russian invasion of their country began in February, Vasyl stayed behind while his wife fled to Poland—and then to the San Lorenzo...

Shopping Spree Benefits Local Families

In the spirit of the holidays, Scotts Valley Target and San Lorenzo Valley (SLV) Rotarians partnered for their Annual Christmas Shop to benefit 15 local families.  With the support of the San Lorenzo Valley School District, PTAs (Parent Teacher Associations) from San Lorenzo Valley High...

SLVUSD faces decline in funding

San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District used to teach just under 2,300 students a year, but that’s dropped to around 2,100. And, unlike in such districts as Los Gatos-Saratoga, where residents pitch in directly through property taxes, SLVUSD gets government education funding based on how...

As Energy Bills Soar, Companies Suggest Ways to Save

Just as Bay Area gasoline prices have finally dipped below the $4 a gallon line at select stations, after rising above $7 a gallon at some pumps this summer, home-heating costs are rising. However, as the icy breath of winter nips at the necks of...

Scotts Valley Approves Retirement-Fund Strategy

With high hopes of taming growing retirement costs, Scotts Valley City Council adopted a new pension-funding policy, during its regularly scheduled meeting Dec. 7. After months of review, elected officials agreed to select a so-called Section 115 Trust, which is designed to generate returns without...

The Grey Christmas Blouse

The blouse was grey, and the most beautiful blouse that this little 8-year-old girl had ever seen in her short lifetime. The blouse had ruffles on its sleeves and a ruffled ascot at its neckline; I couldn’t take my eyes off the blouse that...

Tracing Our Holiday Traditions

We all have traditions that we look forward to every year during the holidays. For some it’s the annual trip to the Christmas tree farm. For others it’s planning a holiday get-together with friends and family. While decorating my tree this year I thought...

North County students helping lead United Way projects

Ucsc research with youth
Students from Scotts Valley and San Lorenzo Valley are making important contributions to United Way research and leadership projects, says the director of community impact for the organization, which was just awarded more than $800,000 to curb youth drug use. Three or four North County...

Stewardship Aims to Get ‘Teens on Trails’

stewardship work
If you’ve visited the new trails at San Vicente Redwoods or witnessed the rebuilding of Big Basin’s accessibility, you have the good people with Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Stewardship (SCMTS) to thank.  Founded in 1997, and initially known as the “Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz,”...

Useful info for you about toxic holiday plants

holiday plant
I have a cat named Archer. He’s a little too vocal sometimes but thankfully, he doesn’t chew on plants. If he did or if small children were about during the holidays I’d be sure to put some of my holiday plants out of their...

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Roadwork

Final paving, striping on Highway 9 continues this week

A major maintenance paving project continues on Highway 9 between El Solyo Heights Drive in Felton and California Drive in Ben Lomond. Travelers on Highway...