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The San Lorenzo Valley Post is your essential guide to life in the Santa Cruz Mountains. We're dedicated to delivering the latest news, events, and stories that matter to our community. From local government to schools, from environmental issues to the arts, we're committed to providing comprehensive and unbiased coverage. We believe in the power of community journalism and strive to be a platform for diverse voices.

Winter Storm Santa Cruz Mountains Local News Weather 

County Urges Storm Preparedness as Heavy Rain Approaches

Santa Cruz County residents should prepare now for a significant storm system expected to bring several inches of rain over the next week. The storm may cause localized flooding, hazardous travel conditions, and power outages – particularly as holiday travel increases. “This storm has the potential to be impactful,” said David Reid, Director of the Santa Cruz County Office of… Read More
weather december 2025 Local News Weather 

Series of Atmospheric Rivers Expected to Bring Heavy Rain to California Through Late December

A succession of atmospheric river systems is forecast to impact California over the next 10 days, bringing heavy precipitation to the state, according to meteorologists at the National Weather Service and The Weather Channel. These systems are expected to deliver heavy rain and mountain snow to Oregon and Northern California from Wednesday into the weekend and next week. The Sierra… Read More
Alecia Haselton Music 

Sunshine Ghost: Singer-Songwriter Alecia Haselton Releases New Single

By Julie Horner Corralitos singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Alecia Haselton is back home and dipping into a well of emotions with her latest single, Sunshine Ghost. Available on your favorite streaming platforms, Alecia said, “Sunshine Ghost is an alt rock song co-written with my late boyfriend and bandmate Nathan Rael Candelaria in Nashville.” She and Rael had been working on the… Read More
Woodmill Band Music Valley People 

Grist for the Mill: WoodMill Band Blends the Best of the Valley

By Mary Andersen and Julie Horner There’s something about the Santa Cruz Mountains that brings musicians together. When local songwriter Dave Miller joins longtime friends and fellow mountain players, something magic happens. That spirit has taken shape in WoodMill, a new band blending country, rock, and Americana into a sound as natural as the redwoods surrounding them. “I’ve been performing… Read More
Santa cruz mountains state parks Fire Departments Local News 

California State Parks Continues Pile Burning in Santa Cruz Mountains

California State Parks is conducting pile-burning operations across several mountain parks in Santa Cruz County, with work continuing as weather and air-quality conditions allow through April 2026. Roughly 400 burn piles are planned across Big Basin Redwoods, Castle Rock, and Henry Cowell Redwoods State Parks, including the Fall Creek Unit. The burns support long-term forest health and wildfire resilience. At… Read More
Yuletide Solstice Blessings Astrology Columns 

Yuletide Solstice Blessings | December Horoscope

By Catie Cadge PhD Holiday greetings, Santa Cruz County stargazers! Yuletide solstice blessings to everyone. December begins with a Full Moon, 13°03’ Gemini, on the 4th at 3:14 pm Pacific time. A “supermoon,” La Luna is also “out of bounds” at extreme declination. An out-of-bounds Moon gives it an unconventional spin, a heightened emotional time when the Moon is beyond… Read More
Backyard burn pile Fire Departments Government Local News 

Mandatory Residential Burn Permits Coming to Unincorporated Santa Cruz County

Starting December 1, 2025, residents in the unincorporated areas of Santa Cruz County will need a CAL FIRE Residential Burn Permit to conduct any backyard debris burning. The new requirement, announced jointly by Santa Cruz County and the CAL FIRE San Mateo–Santa Cruz Unit (CAL FIRE CZU), standardizes burn regulations countywide and marks a significant shift from past practices. Residential… Read More
earthquake california november 26 2025 Earthquake Local News 

Morning Quake Near Gilroy Felt Across Bay Area and Central Coast

A 4.0-magnitude earthquake struck roughly 5 miles east of Gilroy, California at 6:16 a.m. PST on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, USGS reports. Initial readings put the quake at magnitude 4.3, later revised downward to 4.0. Within minutes of the main shock, two aftershocks occurred — a 2.7-magnitude tremor followed approximately two minutes later by a second aftershock, reported at 3.6… Read More
Shaded Fuel Break Miller Property County Park Fire Recovery Local News Parks 

Miller Property County Park Shaded Fuel Break Project

The Miller Property County Park Shaded Fuel Break Project is a collaborative effort between Santa Cruz County Parks and CAL FIRE to reduce wildfire risk, strengthen community resilience, and improve forest health along Kings Creek Road in Boulder Creek. A shaded fuel break is a strategically treated strip of forest designed to slow the spread and intensity of wildfire —… Read More