Local organizations rally for awareness of human trafficking
APTOS—Ten years ago, former President Barack Obama made a Presidential Proclamation deeming January National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, intending to raise awareness and equip people with the tools to recognize and combat the problem.
It was only 10 years prior to that, that...
Santa Cruz County restricts beaches, loosens order to reopen several industries
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Santa Cruz County Health Officer Gail Newel on Thursday indefinitely extended the shelter-in-place order issued on March 31. She also closed the county’s beaches between the hours of 11am and 5pm.
Both moves are meant to further reduce the spread of COVID-19 by...
County’s budget cuts to Sheriff’s Office eased
SANTA CRUZ— The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved an $874 million budget for the coming year that includes cuts and position reductions to every department in the county.
According to County Budget Manager Christina Mowrey, the reductions include furloughs of 5-10%,...
County’s young people invited to spend ‘Noon in the Park’
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Families across Santa Cruz County are invited to participate in Noon in the Park, a free, virtual program featuring community leaders singing, reading books and creating art.
Each day is different.
Kate Pavao and Aaron Lazenby, who run the Live Like Coco Foundation, will...
Capitola Olive Garden aims for Dec. 17 opening
Final touches are underway at the Olive Garden Italian Kitchen restaurant, the first such location for the chain business in Santa Cruz County. General Manager Lisa Chiorello said the company, with more than 800 restaurants, is aiming to open Dec. 17.
Lito’s Lounge in Corralitos to amp up evening hours
The owners of the three-year-old Lito’s Lounge, housed in the historic Five Mile House in Corralitos, have always envisioned a place where people could gather, socialize and listen to live music into the evening hours.
That vision got closer to reality recently when the business...
PVUSD delays decision on school opening plan
WATSONVILLE—The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees on Wednesday unanimously voted to delay a decision on how to resume classes in August, to give district officials time to investigate all of their options.
Still undetermined is which risk level the district will use...
Massive bike ride brings community together
Around 400 bicyclists filled Capitola and Santa Cruz on Aug. 19 as part of a nationwide cycling event to bring bicyclists together to show off their skills and simply bring the community together.
Reward offered, video released in kidnapping case
PLEASURE POINT—The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s office on Wednesday released a video of the suspects who allegedly kidnapped a man from his Pleasure Point home last month and then killed him.
Tushar Atre, 50, was kidnapped from his upscale oceanfront home on Oct. 1 around...
United Way gets new leader
ew United Way of Santa Cruz County Executive Director Keisha Frost was a fifth-grader when the local United Way brought in Boy and Girl Scout programs to her community.
The organization’s efforts proved to be a pivotal moment in her life.
“I had a safe space and caring adults every day of school,” she said.
When United Way helped establish a track-and-field program at Frost’s school, she found her passion. She was named the third-fastest hurdler in the state of California in high school, a career that peaked when she went to the 1996 Olympic Games.
