SANTA CRUZ — Two more residents in Santa Cruz County have died from COVID-19. On social media, the county reported that the most recent deaths include a Latino man in his 70s, and a Latino woman in her mid-80s. The county further reported that coronavirus was a contributing factor in the man’s death, while coronavirus was listed for the woman as the primary cause of death. They were patients at Watsonville Post-Acute Center in Watsonville, a skilled nursing facility that has seen an outbreak in COVID-19 cases in residents and staff. These two deaths bring the county’s total COVID-19 related de ..read more

SANTA CRUZ — A city commission has forged a list of recommended policy changes designed to improve safety conditions for park and recreation employees. At the culmination of about seven months’ work by the panel’s subcommittee, the Parks and Recreation Commission unanimously voted Monday afternoon to forward a series of actionable steps spanning safety training and increased legal clarity to partnering with nonprofits and revising the Ranger Program to the Santa Cruz City Council. The employee safety review stemmed originally from an administrative decision in the Parks and Recreation Departme ..read more

SANTA CRUZ — Santa Cruz County Supervisors unanimously approved creating an Office of Recovery and Resilience to respond to not only the CZU August Lighting Complex fire, but also future disasters. Supervisor Ryan Coonerty explained that the creation of the ORR is born out of accepting a new reality, one with “more intense storms, droughts, fires.” “It’s really trying to look at what we can try to do to prepare for the future,” Coonerty said Tuesday during a supervisors meeting.” He said the Office of Recovery and Resilience is modeled after one in Sonoma County. Coonerty explained Sonoma Coun ..read more

California State Park Ranger Alex Tabone and Facilities Maintenance Supervisor Juan Villarino inspect fire damage in an ancient redwood tree at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. Tabone and Villarino were two of the State Park staff at Big Basin when the CZU August Lightning Complex fire ignited on Aug. 16. While both have extensive firefighting training and experience, they had never witnessed a fire as chaotic as this one, with hot embers falling miles from the fire. Big Basin staff safely evacuated more than 1,000 visitors from the park even as they learned of the loss of their own homes ove ..read more

SOQUEL Candidates, CPA discuss water rates Corrie Kates and Maria Marsilio, candidates for the Soquel Creek Water District, will host a meeting with CPA Marc Kirby from 7-8 p.m. Thursday on Zoom. They will discuss the methods that were used to set new rate increases, describe what they will do to address water rates if elected to the board, and answer questions. To access this meeting, visit KatesandMarsilio.com under “Events.” If you have a news event or announcement for Coast Lines, email newsroom@santacruzsentinel.com and place “Coast Lines” in the email subject line. Coast Lines items are ..read more

SANTA CRUZ UCSC professor featured on ‘Labside Chat’ A Conversation with a Scientist features a talk with John Carlos Garza, a supervisory research geneticist and adjunct professor of ocean sciences at UC Santa Cruz. The event is part of Labside Chats and is scheduled for 11 a.m. Thursday. The talk will focus on how genetics play a role in the understanding and recovery of salmon and rockfish populations. To watch the chat, visit seymourcenter.ucsc.edu. Attendees may also submit questions. If you have a news event or announcement for Coast Lines, email newsroom@santacruzsentinel.com and place ..read more

SANTA CRUZ Webinar addresses advanced directives Hospice of Santa Cruz County will host a free advance directive webinar from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday. This webinar will provide information on how completing an advance directive can be a  tool to help ensure you receive the medical care you want in the age of COVID-19 in our community. Advanced registration is required. To register, visit hospicesantacruz.org. You will be sent webinar viewing and dial-in information once you complete the registration. The webinar will feature Community Education Coordinator Vanessa Silverstein who will pr ..read more

SANTA CRUZ Town hall on fire recovery set Wednesday Santa Cruz County Supervisors Bruce McPherson and Ryan Coonerty will host a fire recovery town hall from 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesday featuring presentations from leaders of the California Office of Emergency Services, Federal Emergency Management Agency and the County Department of Public Works. Topics related to the CZU Lightning Complex fires will include the progress of Phase 1 hazardous material removal and debris flow preparation. There will be time for questions, which can be submitted during the meeting on the Zoom application or in advance ..read more

WATSONVILLE — California Highway Patrol and the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office are investigating an incident that involved a single vehicle collision and shooting. The driver of a 2014 Toyota Tacoma was traveling south on Highway 1 north of Riverside Drive on Monday morning when an altercation occurred with the passenger in the truck. During the altercation between the two men, according to CHP, the Toyota collided with the guardrail and the passenger was shot in the face with a handgun. The collision remains under investigation by CHP and the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s office is conducti ..read more

BOULDER CREEK — Specialized teams of workers are beginning to fan out across the county, carefully picking out the most toxic remnants left amidst the scorched remains of the CZU August Lightning Complex fire. Along the rural Spring Creek Road, accessible by a tree-lined winding lane and small single-car wooden bridges, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-contracted workers moved efficiently through “phase one” work on nine properties Monday. While many homes — primarily on the uphill side of the road — appeared undisturbed by the destructive blaze, little but dusty ash and melted metal was l ..read more