Santa Cruz County Neighborhoods Digest

“This pump track would be the only resource of its kind in the San Lorenzo Valley,” said Rebecca Hurley, deputy director of the Santa Cruz County Parks Department.

The housing development, named “Casa Azul” after its blue paint scheme, includes two upstairs one-bedroom apartments to go with five studio units.

Community members, local officials and city of Santa Cruz staff gathered at Santa Cruz City Hall to roll out an electric bike share program that will extend to other parts of the county.

Seabright residents gathered en masse to check out the grand reopening of the Branciforte Branch Library, which had been closed for about three years. The library's childrens room in the new building was named in honor of Allison Endert, an active member of the Seabright community, who was struck by a car and killed in 2020.

Who pays for storm damage from fallen trees? As Northern California dries out, a new set of questions are facing residents.

Santa Cruz Superior Court Judge Timothy Volkmann finalized his ruling in favor of securing Rio Del Mar private owners’ rights to a beachside walkway, despite protest from Santa Cruz County.

Santa Cruz Neighbors announced that 2022 citywide block parties will be held Sept. 18 or Sept. 19. The annual event encourages gathering and visiting with neighbors. Applications are due by Sept. 7.

Capitola Beach Festival returns to Capitola Village on Sept. 24 and 25. This year the Festival has added a scavenger hunt and other games. Float builders are needed for the Saturday evening Lighted Nautical Parade on Soquel Creek.

Four Santa Cruz County library branches have refreshed and reopened, and four more will throw open their doors by the end of the year. Lookout Santa Cruz checks in on the $67 million investment county voters made in 2016.

The Aptos Branch Library has been standing for more than 40 years. That’s about to change as the demolition phase of its reconsruction is set to begin. Completion of the new library is expected in the summer of 2023.

Valley Churches United is kicking off its 32nd annual spring Bucks for Hunger fundraising drive with a mailing that residents of the San Lorenzo Valley, Scotts Valley and Bonny Doon have received recently.

As the holiday season approaches, Valley Churches United in Ben Lomond is preparing for its annual holiday boutique. This year, however, it’s an outdoor event: the Sidewalk Holiday Gift Shop.

In February 2020, more than 2,000 people celebrated the grand opening of the new Felton Library—but the closing cam just a few weeks later, due to COVID. The new building sat empty for over a year.

It’s taken about $80,000 of concrete work and hours of volunteer sweat equity, but finally the Scotts Valley Community Theater Guild is nearing completion of a performing arts center at the site of the old roller rink.

Interim Zayante Fire Chief Dan Walters says in an interview that he’s hoping to remain at the helm of the department. With an average of 40 calls for service per month, Walters is ready to talk about improvements.

The Found Art Collective celebrated its grand opening on Sept. 16, and the Scotts Valley community turned out to welcome this new addition to the city’s cultural scene.

When it looked like historic Henflings Tavern in Ben Lomond would shutter back in 2018, resident bartender Erin Miller and husband Josh saw an opportunity. And they’ve managed to keep the the iconic live music venue up and running.

Most tomato lovers find Love Apple Farms by word-of-mouth. Owner Cynthia Sandberg and son Zachary Geske founded Love Apple Farms in 2000. Their retail greenhouse is located at Ivy’s Porch in Scotts Valley.

The upcoming Bonny Doon Art, Wine + Brew Festival is a quaint community event that helps support Bonny Doon’s elementary school art and science programs.

Santa Cruz County promised a “streamlined process” when San Lorenzo Valley residents began returning to their fire-devastated communities. But as Jayme Ackemann writes, on the CZU fire’s anniversary, some survivors are still waiting.

Blueberry pie, enchiladas, and a violin-guitar duo entertained the crowd in Boulder Creek at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for a community space where fire victims can borrow tools such as rototillers, rakes, chainsaws and log splitters.

In February, the City Council voted 5-2 to move a bust of U.S. President George Washington statue from Watsonville Plaza to the Main Branch of the Watsonville Public Library—a decision that was implemented this week.

The San Lorenzo Valley encompasses several communities with their own fire departments and sheriff outposts. But Jayme Ackemann, a member of the San Lorenzo Valley Water District Board of Directors, thinks there should be a local council to create the governmental representation she says the people of SLV both want and deserve.

A new Habitat for Humanity ReStore is set to open in Watsonville. The national group is aiming at a mid-August opening for the second-hand retail store, located at 555 Main St. “It feels great to be able to open up in such a high-profile location,” said director Nick Kite. “Our former place was off the beaten path in a warehouse setting.”

On May 23, a driver careened into the storefront of Felton Feed & Pet Supply. But though the damage hasn't yet been repaired, manager Chantal Vaughan is welcoming customers at the back door.

After 100 years as a neighborhood hub, members of the Felton Community Hall board of directors are looking for the community to help keep the hall open.

Nearly 300 customers in the Santa Cruz Mountains are facing the loss of their internet service. The residents’ internet service provider, Cruzio, says it is loath to charge for service because AT&T ’s DSL lines are in such poor shape.

“Today is nine months to the day that my home burned to the ground,” writes Antonia Bradford for the San Lorenzo Valley Post. “I will never forget the moment that I found out she was gone. I have never experienced grief like that.”

Though it’s gone through multiple owners, renovations, fires, and the pandemic, the Brookdale Lodge resort complex endures.

Watsonville Parks and Community Service Department Director Nick Calubaquib says the city is planning a “static” parade and a return of its Music in the Plaza summer concert series on Fourth of July weekend.