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Written by 

Mary Andersen is a journalist and Publisher of the San Lorenzo Valley Post, an independent publication dedicated to the people, politics, environment, and cultures of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Contact mary@slvpost.com

mushroom month Local News Outdoors 

Mushroom Foraging in Santa Cruz County: A Beginner’s Safety-first Guide

Mary Andersen
By Mary Andersen Mushroom foraging is one of those outdoors adventures that pairs well with drizzle, redwoods, and a hot thermos of tea. Now through February is the most productive time for mushroom hunting in our area. Santa Cruz County’s damp winters reward patient eyes – but tasty fungi come with real risks. If you’re new, start slow, learn locally,… Read More
new veterans village sign in Ben Lomond, California Ben Lomond Community Local News 

A New Sign for the Veterans Village | Ben Lomond

Mary Andersen
Ben Lomond resident and Navy veteran Rick Moran spearheaded the creation of a new permanent sign for Veterans Village, a housing complex for formerly homeless veterans located along Highway 9 in Ben Lomond. Moran served on a submarine during the Vietnam War and later became commander of the “Maverick” 5888 Veterans of Foreign Wars post, known for advocating peace during… Read More
MA San Lorenzo River Felton Environment Local News Water 

SLV Water District and Use of Pesticides on Watershed Lands

Mary Andersen
By Mary Andersen The San Lorenzo Valley Water District’s (SLVWD) Integrated Pest Management Policy (IPMP) was created in response to a 2019 ban on glyphosate for district properties. That ban followed community-driven environmental and health risk concerns raised in 2017 and during the 2018 SLVWD board elections. However, the policy’s language and implementation have allowed continued use of other pesticides, such as… Read More
spare parts joshua davis Books Community Local News 

A Community United by Reading: Friends of the Santa Cruz Public Libraries’ “Our Community Reads” Program

Mary Andersen
By Mary Andersen In Santa Cruz County, something special happens each year around one book: neighbors gather, ideas buzz, and connections form. That’s the essence of the program known as Our Community Reads, run by the Friends of the Santa Cruz Public Libraries (Friends). The premise is simple yet powerful: choose a single book for a community-wide read, then hold a series… Read More
Motos Jesus Beltran Boulder Creek Film Local News Valley People 

Motos: A Short Film in the Wake of Wildfire

Mary Andersen
Meet Boulder Creek Filmmaker Jesus Beltran By Mary Andersen In the rugged heart of the Santa Cruz Mountains, where redwoods still bear scars of the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex fire, Jesus Beltran’s short film Motos captures a story of family and brotherhood. Released in March 2025 and currently on the festival circuit, this 20-minute drama, filmed in Boulder Creek, has… Read More
Felton Fire Protection District Fire Departments Local News 

Felton Fire Protection District Proposes Parcel Tax to Bolster Emergency Services

Mary Andersen
By Mary Andersen The Felton Fire Protection District (FFPD) has drafted a resolution for a 2026 election for a new parcel tax aimed at supporting the sustainability of its fire protection and emergency medical services. The resolution, posted now for public feedback, requests that the Santa Cruz County Elections Department conduct an all-mail election for residents within the district’s boundaries.… Read More
Outdoors Parks Recreation 

Miller Property County Park

Mary Andersen and Julie Horner
Secluded Boulder Creek Property Opens to the Public By Mary Andersen and Julie Horner Here in the Santa Cruz Mountains, we’re blessed with a multitude of beautiful open spaces to explore – state and local parks, conservation areas, thousands of trails and plenty of riverside beaches. Now, a Boulder Creek property long earmarked for broader public access has officially joined… Read More
Valerie Mullen Felton Heart Rock Art Local News Valley People 

Courage, Dear Heart: One Felton Local’s Connection to a Beloved Landmark

Mary Andersen
By Mary Andersen On a sunny Wednesday afternoon in July, Felton resident Valerie Mullen could be found crouched beside Highway 9 south of town with a can of spray paint in hand, gently repainting one of the San Lorenzo Valley’s most quietly cherished landmarks: the Heart Rock. Tucked just south of downtown Felton, near the Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort… Read More