An unvaccinated man in his 40s with underlying health conditions died this week from Covid-19, Santa Cruz County spokesman Jason Hoppin announced.
The death was the county’s 211th Covid-related death.
The County Public Health Department encourages everyone who is eligible for a free Covid-19 vaccine to schedule one as soon as possible.
For information, visit santacruzhealth.org/coronavirusvaccine or santacruzhealth.org/coronavirusvacuna.
Flood protection agency meets for first time
The agency in charge of the $400 million flood protection project that will rebuild the Pajaro levees met for the first time last week.
The project aims to reduce the flood risk of the lower Pajaro River to the historically underserved residents living in Watsonville and Pajaro. The levees protecting the city of Watsonville and Pajaro currently provide an 8-year level of flood protection; federal regulations require levees provide a minimum of 100-year flood protection.
The project to reinforce and rebuild these levees, a project that has been in the works for decades, is spearheaded by the Pajaro Regional Flood Management Agency (PRFMA).
The agency is made up of members from the city of Watsonville, Santa Cruz and Monterey counties, the Santa Cruz County Flood Control and Water Conservation District, and the Monterey County Water Resources Agency. The five-member board is made up of one representative from each agency.
At its first meeting, the board was updated on efforts to secure 100 percent state and federal funding to support the levee project. Most of the money, around $358 million, was projected to come from the federal government, with the state picking up the remaining $42 million.
Digital NEST awarded grant
Digital NEST was awarded $9,500 from the Santa Cruz Rotary Club.
In rural, agricultural Watsonville and Salinas students have less access to the economic and technological opportunities other California cities are privy to—but Digital NEST is creating its own hub for technology and innovation, providing students the chance to hone career skills, particularly in high-tech capacities.
After touring Digital NEST in Watsonville and hearing about the organization’s mission, the Santa Cruz Sunrise Rotary Club donated $9,500 to the center on the spot. Sunrise Rotary Club raises money to support organizations doing admirable work for youth and the community across Santa Cruz County.
Save Our Shores gets new leader
Save Our Shores named Erica Donnelly-Greenan as its new executive director.
Donnelly-Greenan, a marine ecologist and nonprofit leader, has previously worked to protect marine mammals and seabirds while tracking California coastal health through her research.
At Save Our Shores, Donnelly-Greenan hopes to strengthen research collaborations with the marine science community in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties.
