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My little neighborhood goes all out decorating for Halloween. It’s fun to see what the kids have created with some simple supplies. I only have a small display with a pumpkin, colorful winter squash and mums along with some DIY ghosts made from dinner napkins....

The weather has been perfect for us to have great fall color this year. Because it’s been warm during the day and chilly at night I’m looking forward to the show. Many trees and shrubs are already showing color because they are stressed from...

“I enjoy cooking with wine,  sometimes I even put it in the food I’m cooking.”  - Julia Child Give me a good old American-style beef pot roast, with all its dark wine-rich drippings and a crusty French roll, and I am in heaven. In just one week, my...

October is Depression Awareness Month. The more awareness there is around depression and mental illness, the less stigma there is associated with mental health. By increasing awareness and reducing the stigma, we hope more people will seek the help they need.  Fact—depression is a serious...

I was honored to participate in a long-standing Scotts Valley tradition recently, the Annual Scotts Valley Police Formal Inspection. This tradition began in 1978 and I’m thankful it has continued all these years later. The Annual Inspection is more than the fanfare of all Police...

“We should look for someone to eat and drink with before looking for something to eat and drink.” - Epicurus While reaching for the mundane bottle of vegetable oil in the market, my eye caught the label on the bottle of avocado oil. Now, I love avocados...

The phone rang, and my doctor’s assistant was on the other end. “Janet, our office is not equipped to help you; you must go to the ER (emergency room) today.” I was almost out the door heading to a 1:1 meeting over the hill before the...

This morning, while up to my elbows in potato yeast dough, a voice calling my name came through my opened screen door. It was my neighbor Heather Boynton. We have this understanding, Heather and I, that ‘mi casa es su casa,’ or, in English:...

This spring, Scotts Valley City Council held public workshops to discuss the City’s long-standing strategic goals. City Manager Mali LaGoe led the Council through a series of questions and discussion topics to update and prioritize staff’s focus to achieve the listed goals. Metrics were...

Alaska, where the Crows created the world And the Ravens brought the sunlight - Native quote I have been in Alaska and my hometown of Aberdeen, Washington for the past two weeks and my traveling shoes are beginning to show serious wear, not to mention wear on...