Ballots are due Thursday from property owners in Branciforte Fire Protection District, just north of the Santa Cruz city limits around Branciforte Drive and Granite Creek Road, for a tax that would raise an additional $1 million per year and provide enough money to double paid staff from three to six. The vote comes amid a push to consolidate Branciforte Fire into the neighboring Scotts Valley Fire Protection District.
Scotts Valley
Posted inFood & Drink
Eaters Digest: Berries at Prevedelli Farms
Lily Belli brings you her recommendations for what to eat in Santa Cruz County, along with a weekly guide to the most important food and drink events in the area. She’ll also point you to Lookout’s list of area food guides and the best in food news.
Posted inLatest News
Armed robbery suspects still at large after Santa Cruz Mountains car chase, crash
The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office says a search continues for three suspects after they crashed a stolen car and fled the scene on foot following the alleged robbery of a Scotts Valley Cycle Sport mobile repair van near Highway 9 and Highway 35.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Bruce McPherson will not seek reelection to Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors in 2024
Friday’s announcement that Bruce McPherson — whose Fifth District includes the San Lorenzo Valley, much of Scotts Valley and part of Santa Cruz — won’t pursue another term on the county board of supervisors cracks open the 2024 field in an already competitive race for county power in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Posted inHousing & Development
Civil grand jury dings Scotts Valley, Capitola over affordable housing — and exponential increases are still ahead
By 2031, under state mandates, Capitola will need to boost its affordable housing permitting by roughly 9,000% over what it permitted between 2015 and 2022; Scotts Valley will need to permit 803 new income-restricted units, a more than 4,000% increase. That comes after both jurisdictions struggled to meet state goals from 2015 through 2022, and both come in for criticism in a recent report by Santa Cruz County’s civil grand jury.
Posted inFood & Drink
Cocoa-nuts rejoice: Santa Cruz County chocolatiers have a match for every dad this Father’s Day
Got a dad in your life who’s a griller? A rocker? Sports fan? Practical joker? Father’s Day is nearly upon us, and Laura Sutherland has a guide to pairing Dad with offerings from local chocolate makers Marini’s, Tiny House, Donnelly, Mackenzies and Ashby Confections.
Posted inFood & Drink
From cod to squid salad, H&H Fresh Fish offers more than just salmon at Santa Cruz County farmers markets
H&H Fresh Fish started off as a way for Hans Haveman to sell his salmon catch. Now, it mostly gets its catch from other local fishers. H&H has expanded to more than a dozen different farmers markets from Aptos to Oakland, as well as a main location at the Santa Cruz Harbor.
Posted inFood & Drink
Summer school: A sampling of upcoming food, wine and gardening courses
Looking to grow your knowledge of food and agriculture? From fungi and lavender to cooking classes for adults and kids, Jessica M. Pasko checks out a few of Santa Cruz County’s offerings.
Posted inRecreation & Sports
On Scotts Valley High School’s signing day, student-athletes look forward to their next chapters
Five Scotts Valley High athletes participated in signing day Tuesday, announcing to peers where they will be continuing their sports and academic careers come fall. While change, stronger competition and new settings will mean some adjustments, the student-athletes say they are ready to take it on.
Posted inFood & Drink
Lily Belli on Food: Plant-forward Vietnamese cuisine, cocktail crash courses and fab vegan cheese
Hello eaters! Jessica M. Pasko here. While Lily is out on maternity leave, I’m pitching in on the latest local food news. A little about me — I’m a writer and a native of upstate New York, living in Santa Cruz for over a decade. Our rich food culture is just one of the many […]