Chamber Board of Directors Sets Goals for New Year
Exciting Plans for a Thriving Community in 2025
On January 12, 2025, the Scotts Valley Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors held an inspiring strategic planning session, setting the stage for an impactful year ahead. With the input of our Board members, we outlined key initiatives to support local businesses, engage our community, and enhance our service to Scotts Valley.
This year, we’re focused on four core goals: strengthening the Chamber’s financial viability, increasing membership value, enhancing Board engagement, and making a positive community impact. We’ll be tracking progress closely, adapting as needed, and ensuring that our work continues to benefit businesses and residents alike.
2025
A major focus will be highlighting our community impact — tracking volunteerism, event participation, and how our efforts benefit local businesses. We’re also excited to launch professional development workshops and explore new event ideas focusing on health and wellness.
We’ll continue to host signature events, including the Scotts Valley
Art, Wine & Beer Festival and the Scotts Valley Community Awards Gala. The Gala, set for May 9, will honor those who make a difference in our community. Nominations are open now for categories like Business of the Year, Woman of the Year, and Youth of the Year — visit our website to submit your nominations.
A special thank you to our
Chamber Ambassadors, whose tireless work behind the scenes makes everything we do possible.
We’re excited for what’s to come and grateful for your support as we work together to make Scotts Valley an even better place to live and work.
— Joanne Guzman, President, Scotts Valley Chamber of Commerce
2024 Scotts Valley Community Awards Nomination Deadline February 7
TCalendar of Upcoming Community Events
Saturday February 8
6:30 p.m.-Close — Golden Sight Productions Presents: The Sinatra Show
Chaminade Resort & Spa
6:30 pm: No Host Cocktail
Reception • 7 pm: Dinner • 8 pm: Show Begins
1 Chaminade Lane, Santa Cruz
Saturday February 22
5:30-11:30 p.m. — 2025 Fallen Officer Ball Boardwalk’s Cocoanut Grove
400 Beach Street, Santa Cruz
Thursday February 27
5:30-7:00 p.m. — Grand Opening & Red Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Haven Play Lounge 1800 Green Hills Rd.
Friday May 9
5:00-10 p.m. — Scotts Valley Community Awards Gala Roaring Camp Railroads
he Scotts Valley Chamber of Commerce seeks your assistance in recognizing the people and businesses that make our community such a special place. Please send us your 2024 nominations for outstanding businesses and individuals for the following categories:
• Alvin Scarborough Memorial MAN OF THE YEAR
• Annette Marcum Memorial WOMAN OF THE YEAR
• YOUTH OF THE YEAR
• EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR
• BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
• ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR
• Claire Hodgin Memorial BEAUTIFICATION PROJECT OF SCOTTS VALLEY
Criteria for Nomination
• Each nominee must have made a valuable contribution to Scotts Valley.
• It may be in the previous year or over a period of time which you specify.
• A business of the year nominee must be a current Scotts Valley Chamber of Commerce member.
• An individual may live or work outside the city limits, but their contribution must be within Scotts Valley.
• Youth of the year nominee must be of High School age
Nominating is quick and easy! Go to ScottsValleyChamber.com and help us honor the leaders of our community.
Photo Credit: Arwen Reber Photography
Board of Directors (from left): Victor Alejandro (VP), Jeanette Larkin, Keira Mulder (Secretary), Kim Pursley, Danny Reber (Executive Director), Branddi Palmer, Cheryl Rebottaro, Joanne Guzman (President), and Susan O’Connor Fraser. Not in photo: Jeanne Shada, Nick Kurns (Treasurer) and Phil Neuman (Past President)
Joanne Guzman
Scotts Valley Chamber News
Haven Play Lounge Ribbon Cutting
February 27 • 5:30–7 p.m.
Join us on February 27 from 5:30–7 p.m. for Haven Play Lounge’s official ribbon cutting. There will be refreshments and a raffle. This event is free and open to the entire community.
Why is Haven Play Lounge here?
They are here to support you — hardworking parents, caregivers, grandparents, and everyone in between.
Their space is inspired by the essence of community, recognizing that togetherness is fundamental to our human experience.
At Haven Play Lounge you can relax, connect with friends and provide your children a safe environment to explore their imagination and build new friendships. Their thoughtfully designed playground promotes imaginative play by offering experiences such as a jungle safari hunt or a royal adventure in a castle.
As a business deeply rooted in community love, they eagerly anticipate bringing everyone together in their welcoming space.
Haven Play Lounge offers a comprehensive range of amenities, including a soft play area for tiny tots just beginning to explore their environment, exciting
44 Years of Managing & Selling Homes throughout Santa Cruz County — 1981 – 2025
CURRENT LISTINGS
$3700/mo 2-story 3BR/1.5BA Condo on the 1200 block of Capitola Road in Live Oak. Freshly painted interior. Vaulted ceiling. Laundry hookups inside home. Small patio with a storage cabinet. No pets. Off-street parking. Water & trash service included. Well-maintained complex.
$3600/mo 2BR/1BA Single-Level Home on Maple Avenue. Large flat sunny lot near downtown Ben Lomond. Laundry hookups in single-car garage.
$3400/mo 2BR/1BA Upstairs Apartment on El Camino in Scotts Valley. Large sunny yard. Shared laundry. Shared garage. No Pets.
$2650/mo 2BR/2BA Two-Story Home on West Drive in Lompico. 750sq.ft. bonus room. Freshly painted interior. New Flooring throughout. No pets.
$1750/mo Studio Apartment on the 9600 block of Highway 9 in downtown Ben Lomond. Close to shopping, Near bus lines. No pets. No laundry. Off-street parking.
City Council Votes to Become an Autism Certified City
On January 15, the Scotts Valley City Council discussed their support for moving the community toward becoming an Autism Certified City. With 1 in 6 people having a sensory disorder and 1 in 36 children in the US diagnosed with autism, City leaders want to make sure residents and visitors alike who are impacted by these conditions feel welcome and included here.
To that end, this year’s Community Grant program will include small grants to support local businesses and organization interested in training their staff and obtaining Autism Certification from the International Board of Credentialling and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES). Learn more at ibcces. org.
climbing structures, a variety of enrichment activities, playground monitors, as well as an assortment of games and activities for adults AND a café that serves a delightful selection of beverages, meals and snacks. They look forward to meeting each and every one of you.
The City is calling for businesses and organizations in the healthcare, education, travel and entertainment, and public safety and community services sectors to participate in this citywide effort to become an Autism Certified City. Workforce development training for any employer is also available. Interested businesses should reach out to City Manager, Mali LaGoe at mlagoe@scottsvalley. gov or visit the City’s website. The grant application period is open.
In addition, the Scotts Valley Police Department personnel have completed POST training for autism awareness and additional City staff will undergo IBCCES training to help improve customer service and programming for people with sensory disorders.
The Scotts Valley Chamber of Commerce is proud to support this commitment by the City as we know most families are impacted in some way by this challenge and look forward to supporting our business community in becoming more autism aware.
CONSTRUCTION FOR THE NEW GRACE WAY WELL HAS BEGUN
Scotts Valley Cultural & Performing Arts Center Renamed ‘The Landing’
In October of 2022, a wonderful theater venue opened in Scotts Valley next to the Scotts Valley Public Library. It had taken the labor of scores of volunteers and the funds of over 200 local donors more than 10 years, to bring it into existence.
Over the past two years, the Scotts Valley Community Theater Guild, the non-profit that created and manages the site, has hosted numerous theater, music, dance, and comedy shows, a film festival, as well as several professional organizations.
Our locals have benefitted from State of the City
Fintastic Fish Ribbon Cutting
reports, Fire Protection seminars, and other presentations that require seating, sound and visuals for up to 280 people.
Soon it will host the Third Annual Alfred Hitchcock Festival, this year from March 14 – 16.
When it opened, the site was called The Scotts Valley Cultural and Performing Arts Center, but that name was often morphed to various iterations.
Determined to rectify that, the Board was convinced it needed a new name, one that would be unique and unmistakable in the minds of clients and audiences.
The theater has been renamed The Landing because this beautiful venue has landed in our neighborhood, on the site of the old Sky Park airport, to provide a space for art and culture, and for audiences to meet in mutual admiration.
To celebrate its new name The Landing hosts an Open House for the public on Saturday, Feb. 1, from 5-7 p.m. If you are unable to attend and would like to tour the facility, call the theater manager, Richard Dwyer, at 831-334-4522.
For additional information please visit www.thelandingsv.org or www.svctheaterguild.org.
Congratulations to Devin Runneals and her Team at Fintastic Fish on their Official Chamber Ribbon Cutting!
Alfred Hitchcock Festival: March 14-16
Businesses in the Scotts Valley area have an excellent opportunity to collaborate with the third annual Alfred Hitchcock Festival happening from Friday, March 14th through Sunday, March 16th.
The Festival was created as a fundraiser for the Scotts Valley Performing Arts Center, newly christened “The Landing”. Another reason the Alfred Hitchcock Festival was created is to bring customers from other areas to Scotts Valley to stay at our hotels, eat in our restaurants, shop in
This year’s highlights include a panel discussion with Alfred Hitchcock’s granddaughter, Tere Carrubba, films and TV Shows introduced by Hitchcock experts and a piano player with a silent movie on Saturday night.
our stores, taste our wines, etc., generally boosting the local economy.
This year’s highlights include a panel discussion with Alfred Hitchcock’s granddaughter, Tere Carrubba, films and TV Shows introduced by Hitchcock experts and a piano player with a silent movie on Saturday night. This will include a dessert reception Gala with complementary wine tasting.
Would you like to offer a discount to Festival attendees? Get visibility with ads on our website or in our
printed program? Offer coupons or raffle prizes? This is your opportunity to join in celebrating a local resident, highlight your offerings, and promote your business.
General information about Alfred Hitchcock or the Alfred Hitchcock Festival is at HitchcockFestival.com.
If you would like to coordinate your promotional ideas with the Festival Committee and be featured in the program, contact Paul@Burrowes.com.
Another way to benefit and promote the Festival would be to buy a block of tickets to distribute to important customers and employees. Discuss those ideas with Trish at tmelehan@aol.com.
For additional information or to discuss your ideas relating to the Alfred Hitchcock Festival, contact victor.ale
jandro.usa@gmail.com
A Message from the Rotary Club of Scotts Valley
Dear Scotts Valley residents and friends, this is a message from our small but mighty club with different facets and a question:
What service club do You belong to? In these days we know the world becomes a better place when we do our part; when we generate ripples of kindness and generosity around ourselves, our community, and internationally.
Our Rotary Club offers opportunities for both Fellowship and Service, via:
• Our signature project — the Students Awards and Scholarships Program recognizing outstanding student achievement and community service at both the High School and the Middle Schools.
• Sponsoring student leadership development programs, such as the Rotary Youth Leadership Academy (RYLA), Youth/ Interact Club President training camp, Youth International Exchange, the Speech Contest, and Fall Leadership Conference.
• Community service projects, such as serving hot coco at the Valley Christmas project, staffing the Kids Zone at the Scotts Valley Art, Wine, & Beer Festival, and at Roaring Camp-Thomas the Engine, and offering support to the City Recreation Department. • ROTACARE (free local Health Care for the underserved).
• International projects*** and contributions to eradication of Polio, and a mobile clinic in Ukraine.
Our Speakers Program is just phenomenal!
The Speakers Mathew Wetstein , PHD President/Superintendent of the Cabrillo Community College, Jack Dilles , Former Council Member, David Reid , County Office of Response, Recovery & Resilience, Joice Mercado “Save the Planet on Your Spare Time”, Christopher Platt , Director of the Santa Cruz Libraries ... and many more
•••
Especially important, our Club is now meeting in-person on the first Mondays of
the month at 12 Noon, at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel, 5030 Scotts Valley Drive.
You are welcome to attend and check us out! For contact, please text Co-President Patrizia Materassi at (831)334-2383.
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Alfred Hitchcock