Opinion

“Listen! The wind is rising and the air is wild with leaves. We have had our summer evenings, now for October eves!” —Humbert Wolf All great stories usually begin with “once upon a time” and so shall mine. Once upon a time, Charlie Brown believed the...

Reber and Wimp for Scotts Valley Council Nov. 3, 2026, will be a consequential election for Scotts Valley. Voters will elect two City Council members who will help determine the next city manager, the future of the Town Center, and how to address unfunded mandates. Danny...

Recently, the State of the City Address, hosted by the Scotts Valley Senior Life Association, was presented at The Landing Performing Arts Center. Presenters included myself, Scotts Valley Police Chief Jayson Rutherford, Scotts Valley Fire Chief Mark Correira, Scotts Valley Water District General Manager...

I continue to feel lucky to meet people, businesses and nonprofits in our Valley who bring vision, skills and most importantly, heart and soul. Recently, I overheard Ann Young talking about Damians Ladder. Well, you know me. I couldn’t resist butting in. “Damians Ladder? What...

Every Vote Counts I would like to urgently call upon my fellow citizens, indeed, I beseech you, to vote in the Nov. 3 election. Yeah, yeah, I realize the message is trite and many people don’t need to hear it. That’s fine, see you at...

You probably think of mums as boring. They’re everywhere at this time of year. Many consider them a bit of color on the front porch that you compost after they’ve finished flowering. But mums have a lot more to offer than that. Mums are in...

800 Births—What Happens When Your Hospital Is Full? If you plan to give birth in Santa Cruz, Salinas, Monterey or another Central Coast community, Watsonville Hospital belongs in your birth plan. Watsonville serves roughly 800 births annually. If labor and delivery closes, those births will still...

Well, the sun is going down earlier every day, and the leaves are definitely falling. But the students in your Scotts Valley schools are not slowing down — they are charging ahead. Ultimately, every student must own their personal success, but their growth would not...

Outside my front door are several Overdam Feather Reed Grasses that are spectacular when backlit by late afternoon sun. What’s not to love about a stunning variegated grass with white and green stripes? During the summer, pink flower plumes sway above the foliage. Now...

I represent about 150 hotel employees at Scotts Valley hotels as president of the Santa Cruz County Hotel and Lodging Association. They are outstanding ambassadors for our small town, many of whom have dedicated their careers to hospitality. Their livelihoods now face an uncertain future...