Columns

Students face challenges beyond the pressure to succeed academically. Parents hear about many of these issues as their children move through middle school, high school and beyond. These challenges include peer pressure, drugs, harassment, bullying, discrimination and low self-esteem. How can we help our young...

Benjamin Franklin, during the late 17th century, coined the phrase, “A watched pot never boils.” I am sure each of us has uttered that phrase at least once in our lifetime. I know I have, more than once this last month during our, let’s...

“Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” - Theodore Roosevelt I know exactly the time and date and where it was that I realized I was aging.   It was on my 50th birthday. I sitting at my dressing table when I discovered my first grey hair on...

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...

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...

This month, the voters of the Scotts Valley Fire District will be asked whether to invest $22.2 million into a new fire station and multipurpose administration/disaster support building to improve community safety. The District currently operates out of two fire stations: the 22-year-old Glenwood...

Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it solely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime. - Mark Twain While taking my ‘traveling...

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the garden,The creatures were stirring, the deer got a pardon. The hummingbird feeders were hung by the chimney with care,In hopes that the Anna's soon would be there.  The flowering cherries were nestled all snug in their beds,While...

Summer has arrived, finally. Seems like it took long enough to get here, but I’m enjoying the warmer weather. The sun is shining, the bees are buzzing and the scent of fragrant flowers fills the air. While hiking recently in Oregon, I encountered many Mock...

The other day I visited three local nurseries to see what’s new in their bare root edible selection. In addition to the classics, I found a ton of new varieties for containers and smaller home gardens.  Now is the time to add ornamentals and edibles...