Business

Over the past year, the financial world has been playing the big guessing game of what will happen to interest rates as authorities seek to calm inflation without causing too much pain. School officials had been zoned-in for just such an exercise here in...

Jennifer Young is a force of nature. She has an infectious wit and undeniable intelligence. Her love of working with details and structure and her visionary organizational skills are why she succeeds at customizing retreats for small business owners. Several years ago, I met Jennifer...

After consecutive break-ins, Spanky’s Café in Ben Lomond is now missing an ATM. The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office confirmed deputies responded to a report of a burglary at an establishment along the 9500 block of Highway 9 on May 12. “An ATM was stolen from...

San Lorenzo Valley residents, rejoice! Our taste buds have been invited to dance with two new restaurants: Aroma in Ben Lomond and The Grove in Felton. Read on to learn more about each. Aroma presents local flare Chef Mario Ibarra is a well-known and beloved part...

Last month, I wrote about the fast fashion industry. Unfortunately, typos happen, but one typo can change the context of an entire story and its meaning. So, let’s correct this right now.  Fast Fashion is about “inexpensive” clothing produced rapidly by mass-market retailers, not “expensive.”...

I am perpetually on the lookout for fresh insights and novel viewpoints for local businesses whose products and services command our attention and investment.  I listen for businesses that triumph over trials and offer ways to further brand and develop my business and yours. The...

The Scotts Valley Chamber of Commerce last week took its supporters and benefactors on a Passport Around the World ride at its annual Community Awards Gala. The playful theme of international travel was woven throughout the event, held at Bret Harte Hall at Roaring Camp...

Santa Cruz County accommodation providers are anticipating a banner year. Yet with building costs soaring, in order to get shovels in the ground, the owner of a previously-approved Marriott project in Scotts Valley looked to the city council for a break on the fee...

A quiet revolution is underway in Santa Cruz Mountains’ lush valleys amidst the towering redwoods and winding creeks. It’s a tale of resilience, community and the enduring power of connections—the resurgence of networking in the San Lorenzo Valley (SLV). As we gathered together after the...

Not since the early-’90s has Scotts Valley been buoyed by so much potential for change, while facing so much risk to the surrounding environment due to expected development. The plans to remake downtown suggest sleek, new buildings reminiscent of upper-middle-class areas of Cupertino, or the...