THERE CONTINUES TO BE MOLD PROBLEMS, AND NO SOLUTIONS, AT SCOTTS VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL. THE SCHOOL DISTRICT CLOSED SEVERAL BUILDINGS LAST SUMMER, AND STUDENTS ARE ANXIOUS TO LEAVE THEIR TEMPORARY CLASSROOMS. BUT SCHOOL OFFICIALS THIS WEEK ANNOUNCED STUDENTS WILL STAY PUT. THEY WILL PROBABLY REMAIN IN THE PORTABLE FACILITIES INTO AT LEAST PART OF THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR. THE DISTRICT FILED A $33 MILLION LAWSUIT IN 2000, AGAINST MORE THAN 35 SCHOOL BUILDING CONTRACTORS. UNTIL THE SUIT IS SETTLED, THE DISTRICT DOES NOT PLAN TO MAKE ANY MAJOR REPAIRS.

AWARDS RECOGNIZING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND ORGANIZATIONS WERE GIVEN OUT OVER THE WEEKEND. THE PAJARO VALLEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HELD IT?S 43RD ANNUAL AWARDS DINNER AND AUCTION SATURDAY NIGHT. KATIE MAHAN WAS RECOGNIZED AS THE ?WOMAN OF THE YEAR?, WHILE GARY D?ARRIGO WAS CHOSEN AS THE ?MAN OF THE YEAR?. THE ?ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR? WAS THE PAJARO VALLEY COMMUNITY HEALTH TRUSTS DIABETES CENTER; AND THE ?EVENT OF THE YEAR? WAS THE RODGER?S HOUSE CRAB FEED. THE AWARDS EVENT WAS HELD AT THE SANTA CRUZ COUNTY FAIR GROUNDS.

COMMISSIONERS (WITH MONTEREY COUNTY?S LOCAL AGENCY FORMATION COMMISSION) VOTED YESTERDAY TO REQUIRE AN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES STUDY, REGARDING THE POSSIBLE INCORPORATION OF THE CARMEL VALLEY. THE 6-TO-2 VOTE MEANS THAT A REVIEW OF THE POSSIBLE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS OF FORMING A CITY (IN THE MOSTLY RURAL VALLEY), WOULD HAVE TO BE PAID FOR BY PROPONENTS OF THE PLAN TO MAKE CARMEL VALLEY INTO A CITY. COMMISSIONER ANNA CABALLERO (WHO IS ALSO THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SALINAS) SAID THERE IS A LOT MORE TO ESTABLISHING A CITY, THAN JUST CHANGING ITS NAME. A CITY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING CERTAIN SERVICES, SUCH AS PUBLIC FACILITIES FOR MEETINGS AND CITY BUSINESSES, MEETING AFFORDABLE HOUSING QUOTAS, AND HOLDING ELECTIONS. THE INCORPORATION ISSUE IS EXPECTED TO COME BACK BEFORE THE COMMISSION AT ITS MARCH 28TH MEETING.

A LOCAL ASTROPHYSICIST HAS BEEN HONORED ONCE AGAIN FOR HIS RESEARCH. U.C.S.C.?S STAN WOOLSEY HAS BEEN GIVEN THE BRUNO ROSSI PRIZE, BY THE AMERICAN ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY. IT RECOGNIZED HIS WORK ON GAMMA RAY BURSTS. 3 MONTHS AGO, WOOLSEY RECEIVED THE HANS BETHE PRIZE, FOR HIS WORK ON SUPERNOVAS.