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Aaron Lowe has been tapped as the new fire chief of the Aptos/La Selva Fire Protection District, the board of directors recently announced. Lowe was selected from a field of 31 applicants after a five-month nationwide recruitment process, according to fire district officials. His base salary is $190,000, according to a contract approved by the board of directors on April 12. “I’m truly excited about coming to the Aptos/La Selva area,” said Lowe, who begins his new post on April 23. “When this opportunity came up, I was thrilled. It’s quite an amazing opportunity that I did not want to pass up.”

CAPITOLA — Organizers of the Capitola Begonia Festival, which concluded in 2017 after 65 years, have formed a new event. At the conclusion of the final festival, the Capitola Begonia Festival Board of Directors developed a plan to honor past festivals and launch a new festival. The board formed the Capitola Beach Festival Committee.

WATSONVILLE—The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees on Wednesday approved plans for a new athletic field at E.A. Hall Middle School, a $1.9 million project approved by the community in August. The project will be the last of the school’s funds from Measure...

Three new K-9s were sworn into duty March 12 at the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office. Before a crowd of about 70 people, the three dogs were led by their handlers into the Sheriff’s Office Community Room to be sworn in and to receive their new badges. “We’ve used this room to swear in 10 deputies and we didn’t get this kind of turn out,” Sheriff Jim Hart said. “It’s taken a lot to get this program built up. I know that our staff and myself are looking forward to the help these dogs can provide.”

Rudy Escalante is shown in 2012 as the new Capitola Police Chief. Escalante was recently named the CEO of Janus of Santa Cruz. File photo by Tarmo Hannula

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.

Santa Cruz County Historic Resources Commission unanimously approved restoration plans for the exterior of the historic Hihn Apple Barn on May 12. 

With March 16 marking the one-year anniversary of a federal disaster declaration for January 2017 storms, the County of Santa Cruz announced the completion of more than $20 million in debris removal and road repairs, including several priority projects.

Photo by LIFE photographer Tarmo Hannula These men enjoy a visit to Rio del Mar State Beach Thursday during a king tide. Meteorologist Scott Rowe of the National Weather Service Monterey said there is also a chance of some coastal flooding with a chance of rain Thursday evening and into next week. Rowe said beach visitors should be cautious as they get near the shore.

Congressman gives update to Aptos community Congressman Jimmy Panetta speaks with Pajaro Valley Unified School District board president Leslie DeRose on Aug. 14 during a luncheon presented by the Aptos Chamber of Commerce at the Best Western Seacliff Inn. Panetta, who was the guest speaker, described what he has been working on in Congress over the past year. He said many people across the country are "overwhelmed" and "confused" at the actions of the White House and Congress, stressing the importance of Republicans and Democrats working together to solve issues. "It feels like we have been governing on flurry," Panetta said. "It's time we govern on focus. You have to work with the other side to get things done." About 90 people were in attendance.