Strictly Business | Heads Up, Friends—TEDx Santa Cruz is Coming to Town
As a beacon of innovation and enlightenment, TEDx Santa Cruz shines brightly on our community’s horizon, inviting us to explore the depths of human creativity and ingenuity countywide. This year’s theme, “Rising Together,” features 22 talented and insightful individuals sharing their perspectives.
TEDx Santa Cruz
Firstly,...
Community rallies to save beloved Felton Mercantile
Hundreds more people signed their names this week to a petition to save a woman-owned storefront in downtown Felton that showcases the wares of more than 50 local artists. After surviving through the most difficult pandemic days, and during a wildfire that destroyed hundreds...
Strictly Business | Unplug to Power Up: How Vacations Can Boost Business Success
In today’s fast-paced business world, it’s easy to get caught up in the daily pressure of life, with endless to-do lists, social media notifications and the constant pressure to excel. However, many business professionals overlook the incredible power of taking a vacation.
It may seem...
Santa Cruz Bread Boy, Humble Sea collab takes valley by storm
The hottest new haunt in the San Lorenzo Valley at the moment is not exactly new. The way the deer gazes out over the space illuminated by bulbs covered by hipster light fixtures, as customers wearing coats and toques sip milky-orange craft beers is...
Boulder Creek Business Association to host inaugural Community Planning Event
When it comes to piecing together events to enrich the community of Boulder Creek, few folks do it better than Karen Edwards. As the president of the Boulder Creek Business Association Board of Directors, Edwards has the drive, resilience and connections needed to gather...
Strictly Business | AI in Small Town America: Part III
In this final series, I speak with Jason Borgen, the Chief Technology Innovation Officer at the Santa Cruz Office of Education (SCCOE), and with two local businesses, BraLisa and The Gather Community.
In this concluding segment of our three-part series on AI in Small Town...
Shirli McLaughlin’s final chapter: Friends remember community-building Ben Lomond shopkeeper
When I first stepped foot inside the Third Hand Store in Ben Lomond, a Canadian tasked with covering the quirky and community-oriented Scotts Valley and San Lorenzo Valley region for a traditional print newspaper, I was hoping to find some threads to suit the...
Strictly Business | AI in Small Town America: Part II
In today’s news and on social media, you've probably heard the phrase, “The Genie is out of the Bottle,” referring to Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a “new” technology. But let’s take a step back in time. AI research dates back to the 1950s and...
Strictly Business | AI in Small-Town America: A 3-Part Series
In today’s fast-paced world, the term AI is buzzing everywhere. Curiosity about AI and its various tools has led me to explore how AI, ChatGPT and other AI technologies might benefit our Valley’s business owners and industries (myself included).
I would like to share some...
First Saison Cellar & Wine Bar to open in Scotts Valley this month
First-of-its-kind Saison Cellar & Wine Bar will launch to the public with a grand opening on Thursday, Oct. 26.
Local winemaker and Saison Hospitality Co-Founder and Beverage Director Mark Bright invites the Santa Cruz County community to celebrate his new Scotts Valley wine bar and...
New Scotts Valley Council members look forward to making their mark
After first-place finisher Donna Lind, the incumbent for Scotts Valley City Council, local voters selected Steve Clark—a retired law enforcer, known for volunteering around...