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Scotts Valley
August 9, 2025

TherapyWorks | Navigating Summer

Summer is here. The kids might be looking forward to lazy days, sleeping in and not having to worry about homework, projects or tests, but that’s not always the best strategy for a successful summer. It is known that all kids do better with a...

The Mountain Gardener | What’s Sheet Mulching

Mulch
Boy, was I impressed. Not long ago I was at a garden to consult with a new client on some upgrades they envisioned for their property. I love to meet new gardeners and give them “my two cents worth.” Well this homeowner had Googled...

Fitness | Let’s Talk Cardio and Core

How often are you getting in cardio and core training? Let’s start off talking about cardio. When we think of cardio, what comes to mind? Running, walking and swimming are generally the most common thought of, but there are so many more options when...

Plain Talk About Food | Then and Now

Food
Living just off Highway 9 in Ben Lomond, I am often caught up in lines of traffic going “nowhere” for minutes at a time. So much so, that I keep a notepad and pen in the console next to my seat, jotting down random...

Supporting kids through back-to-school transitions

back-to-school kids
The back-to-school season can be a time of excitement and anticipation, but can also bring anxiety and stress for children. As parents and caregivers, supporting kids through these transitions is crucial, especially when it comes to their mental health. Why are transitions hard for kids? Transitions...

The Mountain Gardener | Looking for Horticultural Heritage in the Santa Cruz Mountains

I was talking to someone recently who said she lived in Bonny Doon. When I told her I used to live on Robles Drive but lost the house in the CZU fire, she asked, “Did you live in the house with that huge Tasmanian...

TherapyWorks | New School Year Can Bring New Stressors

School is officially back in session. A new school year can also bring new stressors. New teachers, new classmates, new routines. Change can be hard. We all want our children to succeed in school, and there are some specific things parents can do to...

Guest Column | Are You One of the Few?

If you, like me, were born between 1930 and 1946 (worldwide), you are one of the rare surviving senior citizens of this special group. Your age range is between 77 and 93 years old and you are the last who can remember the impact...

Plain Talk About Food | Honor Thy Father…

As a small child and living with my elderly uncle and aunt, I gave little thought to my absent father until it was time to celebrate Father’s Day at our small school in Aberdeen, Wash. Crayons of various colors were given out and most of...

The Mountain Gardener | Bees in the Garden

Garden bees
You can hear them a long way before you see them. I’m talking about the hundreds of honey bees feasting on the nectar of the Flowering Plum blossoms. I confess I don’t know a lot about keeping bees. I even had to look up...

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Free field trip to local parks application window opens

Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks has announced that the application for Kids2Parks, a park-equity program that brings students to California State Parks from...