Columns

The official beginning of summer welcomes warmer weather, longer days and many opportunities to be active. Being outdoors makes us feel good and, as we have learned during these past few Covid-filled years, it benefits both our mental and physical health. For years, I have...

Here’s the truth: Saying no is hard. Saying “no” can feel like an impossible task for many people. Whether it’s turning down a request for a favor, declining an invitation or setting a boundary, the act of saying no often brings with it a whole...

When Scotts Valley City Manager Mali LaGoe suggested hosting a community meeting to address the ongoing wildfire threat and the accompanying insurance crisis, there was a hesitation on whether or not people would attend. Well, that question was answered last Tuesday night when hundreds poured...

How’s your stretching game? Think of how your body feels waking up each morning. Now, try bending down. Are you able to pick things up with ease? If you move around each day with a stiff body, that can all change with a few...

I read the bulb catalogs the same as you do. They show oh so many bulbs that do well in the shade. As we know all too well, there are many degrees of shade in our gardens here in the Santa Cruz Mountains and...

The word “comfort” became synonymous along with food in the last 10 years or so; “Comfort Food” it’s called. Martha Stewart wrote a cookbook entitled “Favorite Comfort Foods,” foods that make you feel good for breakfast, dinner and midnight snacks.   Of course, these foods are...

Santa Cruz County recently received some unsettling, although not surprising, news that we are the most expensive rental housing market in the United States. In rankings compiled by the National Low Income Housing Coalition, the Santa Cruz-Watsonville market topped even San Francisco, San Jose, Salinas...

The holiday season is a wonderful time for family gatherings and festive parties. The presence of alcoholic beverages is especially more prominent as we enjoy our eggnogs and toast in the New Year. Those who drink responsibly can appreciate the special holiday cheer while...

If you want to save on taxes, do what the government wants you to do. Indeed, save for retirement so you don’t burden your family or neighbors as you limit your livelihood in old age, and encourage employees to save. Once standard, today government employees...

Nationwide, suicide is the third leading cause of death in teens, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Locally, teen suicide has hit all too close to home in recent weeks and years. While the subject of suicide is hard to think...