A couple of months ago I met with local 4-H club members as they started to plan for their upcoming spring project. This year 4-H members from Felton, Scotts Valley and Quail Creek in the Zayante area are putting their minds and enthusiasm to good use to further educate themselves and the community about the importance of beneficial insects to our world. They will share their efforts at the upcoming Felton Library Friends Garden Tour on May 19th. Proceeds from the tour will benefit the new Felton Branch Library and Nature Discovery Park project slated to break ground this summer.
This past week, Scotts Valley Unified School District board approved the hiring of Tracey Neilsen to the new principal of Vine Hill Elementary School. Her position will be effective as of July 1.
In anticipation of upcoming budget hearings, last week members of the Scotts Valley City Council discussed capital improvement priorities for next fiscal year, as well as the next five years, as detailed in the “Five-year Capital Improvement Plan” submitted by Interim Public Works Director Steve Hammack.
Despite Santa Cruz County’s reputation as one of the least affordable places to live in the state, if not the country, real alarm has been expressed at recent Scotts Valley City Council meetings about the housing boom the city is facing in the not too distant future. Public comment at city council meetings has included emotional criticism and strong recommendations of caution- that the small town character of Scotts Valley is directly threatened by actual and proposed housing developments.
After hearing oral arguments in March, the Court of Appeal ruled a taxpayer does have standing to challenge a governmental entity, in this case a water district that has a conflict of interest.
There is a new option for parents in Scotts Valley or San Lorenzo Valley who are looking for after school programing for their children. The Boys and Girls Clubs of Santa Cruz County (BGCSCC) is just about ready to open the new Joe and Linda Aliberti Clubhouse on Scotts Valley Drive.
“We’ve chosen our dance partner…. and we’re entering into a courtship that marks the beginning of a long journey together,” was how Scotts Valley Mayor Jim Reed characterized the choice of Palisades Builders, Inc. for the massive Town Center Project at a standing room only meeting of the City Council on March 21.
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...