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The American Red Cross has a critical shortage of type O blood and urges eligible donors to give now to help patients facing trauma and other life-threatening situations.

Multiple Santa Cruz County law enforcement agencies responded Friday afternoon to the discovery of a butane honey oil (BHO) lab at 120 Sea Terrace Way in Aptos. Homeowners of the large vacation rental home were checking on the residence and noticed doors kicked in and a strong chemical smell coming from somewhere inside, Sgt. Brian Cleveland of the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office said.

A little more than three decades after opening in Rancho Del Mar Shopping Center, Aptos Coffee Roasting Company will be closing. Owner Bronson Baker made the announcement Thursday on Facebook. According to Baker, Terramar Retail Center LLC, which owns the property, declined to renew the business’ lease. It now has until Aug. 31 to vacate the building.

Community Bridges, which provides dozens of services for children, adults and seniors throughout Santa Cruz County, is moving to Watsonville. The 41-year-old organization runs family resource centers, nutrition programs and programs for seniors such as Elderday and Meals on Wheels. But it does so from its Aptos headquarters. Meanwhile, La Manzana Community Resources is centered in Watsonville, offering parenting education, health insurance enrollment assistance and literacy programs. Also at that location is the Women, Infants, and Children program (WIC), which offers services for pregnant and nursing women and infants.

A Watsonville man is facing felony vehicular manslaughter charges after a woman he allegedly struck with his vehicle on June 5 died from her injuries.

This year, however, could prove to be one of the organization's most difficult in its three-decade history. The loss of Toys R Us, which shut down all of its stores in the nation in June, could result in 1,500 fewer toys this year, according to Valadez.

A group of homeless advocates plan to sue the City of Santa Cruz after a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit stemming from the May 3 closure of the Ross Camp.

CAPITOLA — St. John’s Helpful Shop in Capitola Village is preparing to move out and find a new home after 65 years. A literal cornerstone of the village, St. John’s Helpful Shop first opened at its location on the corner of Monterey and Capitola avenues in 1953. Women from the Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist, then located in the Depot Hill area of Capitola, opened the store to raise money for a new church carpet. Gradually, the church grew, and the shop became a way for St. John’s to expand its community outreach. Church and community members alike volunteer their time at the shop, with all proceeds given as grants to local nonprofits. The building that houses the Helpful Shop recently changed hands, said shop volunteer Daniel Oliver. This has prompted them to move out and possibly find a new location. “We’re currently making a decision of where and when we can reopen,” Oliver said. “We’d like to get the word out and ask help from the community.” In 2018, St. John’s Helpful Shop helped support 26 different organizations across the region — including Pajaro Valley Loaves and Fishes, Homeless Services Center, Native Animal Rescue, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Santa Cruz County and more. “That’s really the whole point,” Oliver said. “The outreach. We’d really like to keep that going.” Aug. 25 was the Helpful Shop’s final day open at its Capitola Village location. The Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist is now located at 125 Canterbury Drive in Aptos, and Helpful Shop volunteers say they hope to find a location not too far from the church itself — but are open to other ideas. To contact St. John’s Helpful Shop, visit st-john-aptos.org.

Aptos High School students awarded $2,500 scholarship by the Corralitos Woman's Club. Both will attend UC Berkeley.

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY — This weekend will mark the third and final phase of the annual Open Studios Art Tour, a free self-guided tour of area art studios.  While the public was invited to view artists’ work in North Santa Cruz County Oct. 5 and...