On November 29, a break-in was discovered at the Santa Cruz Mission Historic State Park during which time several furniture and decorative items were taken. The public is being asked to call the California State Parks Public Safety Office at 831-335-3453 with any relevant information.
CANNABIS RULES Earlier this month, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved, in concept, an ordinance to license the commercial cultivation of medical cannabis. On Dec. 8, the Board added Chapter 7.128 (“Medical Cannabis Cultivation Licenses”) to the Santa Cruz County Code to provide rules to regulate the cultivation of medical cannabis for commercial sale in the unincorporated areas of the county. The ordinance establishes a medical cannabis cultivation licensing program and two license categories, the Cottage Garden License (up to 200 square feet) and Level One Cultivator License (up to 500 square feet). The ordinance is considered an interim measure, approved by the Cannabis Cultivation Choices Committee on Dec. 2 and enacted to ensure the County has qualifying local cultivation regulations in place before March 1, 2016, after which date the state would have sole licensing authority for medical cannabis cultivation applicants in the county if there were no local regulations established.
Santa Cruz County has appointed a new Agricultural Commissioner for 2016. Juan Hidalgo has served as the Deputy Agricultural Commission since 2012 and will succeed Mary Lou Nicoletti who is retiring at the end of the year. The Agricultural Commissioner assures compliance with state and federal regulations during the application of fumigants and pesticides and protects consumers by verifying the accuracy of weights and measures of commercial commodities. Hidalgo was unanimously selected by the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Dec. 8 to a four-year term.
INTERFAITH CHRISTMAS A unique Christmas Eve service reflects on the homeless roots of the holiday, bringing together representatives of the Christian, Jewish and Muslim communities whose different understandings of the figure of Jesus are united through the message sent through his humble birth in a manger. Organized by Sweaty Sheep Ministries, a nontraditional faith community rooted in recreation and the experiential nature of God that is affiliated with the Presbytery of San Jose and held at the Homeless Garden Project’s Natural Bridges Farm, the MIssio Dei faith community will be offering music, and Rabbis David and Micah Posner will be sharing a reflection from the Hebrew perspective. The service is for all ages, all faith traditions, and invites homeless neighbors to be in equal fellowship. Service starts at 4 p.m. on Dec. 24.
Pictured: Santa Cruz Mission Historic Park
