Aptos/La Selva fire district welcomes new chief
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.”
Cabrillo student receives Jeannie Witmer Memorial Scholarship
“Rachel is an outstanding individual," Agri-Culture President Steve Bontadelli said. "She is a well-rounded person who has participated in several organizations including 4-H. She will be a great addition to our agriculture community when she returns from college.”
Rachel Hodder was awarded Agri-Culture’s 2017 Jeannie Witmer Memorial Scholarship. Contributed photo
Knife wielder shuts down SC bridge
Santa Cruz Police shut down the Water Street Bridge in Santa Cruz Monday for about 90 minutes where a woman reportedly waved a knife at people early Tuesday. The incident was coupled with an unrelated major water main break and flooding.
Around 1 p.m. the...
A tradition of service | Cabrillo graduate joins 1,195 in commencement ceremony
Max Raasch finished his time at Cabrillo in December, and during the college’s commencement ceremony on May 25 received two associate’s degrees, one in economics and one in liberal arts.
He now plans to major in legal studies and politics, and minor in Russian, at UC Santa Cruz in the fall.
Three K-9s join Sheriff’s Office
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.”
Finding beauty within
Work is underway on putting a new face on two of the famed Six Sisters homes on the Esplanade in Capitola Village.
Operation Surf hits Capitola Beach
Martin Pollock was deployed to Afghanistan after he completed training in the British Army. He was severely injured just four months later in a blast that took both legs and his left arm.
After five years of rehabilitation, he was ready to get active, and he did so by trying various sports such as skiing and water skiing.
Pollock, 34, said he finally found what he was searching for with surfing.
Roasting racks up $50K for inclusive park
The dinner, held at Seascape Golf Club, was a benefit for LEO’s Haven, the first all-inclusive playground being built in Chanticleer Park by the Santa Cruz Playground Project.
Begonia Festival organizes new event
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.
The business of beautification
A beautification effort of the Village four years ago resulted in permitting processes and fees being put in place before shops could legally place signs or display wares outside their shop.























