Chris Copeland insurance Fire Recovery Local News Valley People 

Fire Recovery: Chris Copeland Offers Insurance Education and Assistance

By Antonia Bradford When the CZU fire hit the San Lorenzo Valley, Scotts Valley resident and retired insurance adjuster Chris Copeland knew right away that families who lost their homes would have a second battle in front of them – figuring out their insurance policies and contending with insurance companies. What he didn’t expect was the mistreatment that so many… Read More
Firesafe fire safe santa cruz county Fire Recovery Letters Local News 

Letter: Please Fund FireSafe Council of Santa Cruz County to Help Reduce Rural Fire Risks

Dear County Board of Supervisors, I am writing to ask that you direct the County Administrative Officer to allocate substantial revenues in the 2021-2022 Santa Cruz County Budget to provide funding for the FireSafe Council of Santa Cruz County. Your Board established the Council in 2016 but has stopped funding it. Two-thirds of Santa Cruz County lies within the Wildland Urban… Read More
Wrights Station Bridge Footings Food & Drink History Local News Tourism 

The Ghost Train and Hidden Tunnels in the Santa Cruz Mountains

The story of the South Pacific Railroad is a tale of a colossal feat doomed to fail. The portion of the short-lived narrow-gauge railroad that connected Los Gatos to Felton had its share of disasters, from earthquakes to epic storms to fatal accidents. But in the end, not any specific one of these tragedies killed the railroad, it was the... Read More
San Lorenzo Valley Water District consolidation Columns Local News Water 

Long Term Engagement or Shotgun Wedding? SLV and Scotts Valley Water Districts Explore a Merger

By Jayme Ackemann Last month, as the San Lorenzo Valley was beginning to worry about debris flows and a lack of precipitation, the SLV and Scotts Valley water districts threw out a pretty significant trial balloon: A merger proposal. At the District’s February 4th board meeting, directors and staff hashed out a loose framework to study a merger. So loose,… Read More
Phase II cleanup Boulder Creek CZU Fire Fire Recovery Local News 

Phase II Debris Removal After the CZU Fire

By Mary Andersen The CZU Lightning Complex Fire in August 2020 burned over 86,000 acres and destroyed 1,490 buildings leaving several hundred families struggling to find housing while contending with their properties. Many fire survivors have spoken out online, recounting struggles with their insurance companies and Santa Cruz County’s planning department. While property owners have found the county’s permit processes… Read More
Mary Andersen Photography San Lorenzo River Local News Water 

Water District Consolidation Process

What the public can anticipate as officials begin discussions and take actions toward a potential San Lorenzo Valley/Scotts Valley water district consolidation By Mary Andersen The San Lorenzo Valley Water District (SLVWD) Board of Directors will meet today, Thursday, February 4, 2021. After opening the meeting at 5:30 pm, the board will enter a closed session period for one hour.… Read More
Big Basin Redwoods State Park Columnists Fire Recovery Local News 

Big Basin: Time to Heal

Ranger Scott Sipes Shares an Update About Big Basin State Park By Julie Horner Log trucks have been moving charred hazard trees out of Big Basin Redwoods State Park in massive convoys. According to Supervising Ranger Scott Sipes, hazard tree removal in the park has been carried out by CalTrans contractors working in collaboration with park foresters and environmental scientists… Read More