The one-day beautification effort will create a drought-tolerant, eco-conscious landscape in partnership with K&D Landscaping, designed by Shanti Wertz of Evolve Exteriors and Nicola Hughes of Cabrillo Horticulture with support from students in the horticulture department. The native plant landscape design celebrates California’s native plants and Indigenous culture while providing a new outdoor lab area for students. Plants will be labeled to encourage community learning and cultural appreciation.
Chimera Mohammadi
Santa Cruz County seeks community input on natural disaster preparation
Santa Cruz County is seeking community opinions as it updates its Hazard Mitigation Plan to reduce losses from natural disasters, with preparedness events in English and Spanish set for the coming month.
Fire, police unite to honor fallen Santa Cruz Regional 911 dispatcher
Santa Cruz Regional 911 dispatcher Billie Savell was honored by a formal procession on Saturday after a multiyear battle with stage 4 cancer.
250 pile burns set to take place around Santa Cruz, San Mateo counties
Pile burns are scheduled through April at a number of state parks in Santa Cruz and San Mateo counties, including the Forest of Nisene Marks, Henry Cowell and Big Basin.
Skeletal remains discovered in Aromas area identified as missing NY teen
The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s office has identified partial skeletal remains that were discovered in a riverbed off Highway 129, east of Rogge Lane, near Aromas, 30 years ago. After remaining a mystery for decades, the remains have finally been identified as belonging to 13-year-old Laura O’Malley from Queens, New York.
Save the Redwoods League welcomes Steve Mietz as new CEO
California nonprofit group Save the Redwoods League has named Steve Mietz as its next president and CEO. Mietz, who most recently served as the superintendent of Redwood National and State Parks, replaces Sam Hodder.
Highway 9 road closures continue for vegetation work
The entire length of Highway 9 will be affected by road closures this week for a vegetation control project. While the project, which runs through Friday, spans the entirety of the highway, crews will be focused on an area north of Boulder Creek from Juanita Woods Road to just north of the Waterman Gap, Caltrans said.
Janet Johns named 2025 Santa Cruz County Artist of the Year
Janet Johns, who co-founded folklórico dance company Esperanza del Valle in 1978 and has been a fixture in Santa Cruz County arts & culture, has been named the county’s 2025 artist of the year.
Civil grand jury offers residents a path into community service
Santa Cruz County’s civil grand jury is currently seeking collaborative, open-minded applicants who are passionate about contributing to their community. Applications are open now for the 2025-26 grand jury, which will convene on July 1.
Battery storage takes center stage at Santa Cruz climate presentation
Central Coast Community Energy will share information on battery energy storage systems and their relationship to renewable energy during a community meeting in Santa Cruz on March 26.

