The Mountain Gardener | Easy Ways to Make Your Garden More Sustainable
Summers are getting hotter and hotter. Our winters are colder. Climate change is affecting our gardens, too. You might be on the right track of sustainability and stewardship of the environment but can you do more?
How can we live more in harmony with nature?...
TherapyWorks | Importance of Workplace Wellness
June is Professional Wellness Month. The goal of Professional Wellness month is to shine a light on the important role the workplace plays in creating a holistic environment for employees and how organizations can support the mental and physical wellbeing of their employees.
Why Is...
Plain Talk About Food | It’s Time for Artichokes
Nothing piques my interest more than the roadside vegetable stands on Highway 1 while driving from Watsonville through Moss Landing and eventually diving through Castroville, the home of the Artichoke Festival. However, Hubby Norm did not feel my enthusiasm.
Making this stop from this busy...
Mayor’s Message | Please Remember ‘Ya Gotta Believe’
Those words, “Ya gotta believe,” were brought to life by the New York Mets in 1973, when trailing badly in the baseball pennant race they passionately voiced that slogan. And it seemed to work, as they ultimately prevailed and won the National League pennant,...
Scotts Valley School Bell | Happy Holidays From Your Local Schools
I hope you all had a good Thanksgiving, and are enjoying this holiday season.
Last week, Superintendent Krause and your full board attended the CSBA Annual Education Conference in Sacramento, where we spent a few busy days learning alongside peers and connecting with board members...
Guest Viewpoint | A Water Agency’s Perspective on Fighting Wildfires
Cal Fire is observing Wildfire Preparedness Week from May 4-10, 2025. This week is an opportunity to build awareness around the measures that individuals, communities and local agencies can take to prepare for wildfire.
As a water agency, our staff here at Scotts Valley Water...
TherapyWorks | How to Bring Some Simplicity Back to Self-Care
When you hear the phrase “self-care,” what comes to mind? For many of us, it’s bubble baths, spa treatments or elaborate routines we see online. While those can be enjoyable, they often make self-care feel like something time-consuming, expensive or unrealistic to keep up...
The Mountain Gardener | Phenology and Climate Change
What’s that wet stuff coming from the sky? Hopefully by the time you’re reading this we will have gotten some much-needed rainfall. I wanted to research the latest scientific papers on how climate change is impacting our gardens.
Plants have adapted over millennia to their...
Plain Talk About Food | Precious Christmas Memories
I lived with my aunt and uncle during my early years, who, to this day, I am not sure they believed in the existence of the Almighty.
However, every Saturday night I had a bath, whether I thought I needed it or not, and every...
The Halloween Garden
Halloween is just around the corner and besides deciding what you or the kids are going to be this year, it’s time to bring in any plants that you plan to overwinter in the house. Whether they're the houseplants that you put out on...
News Briefs | Published Nov. 6, 2026
Scotts Valley water supply returns to normal
San Lorenzo Valley Water District has returned the Pasatiempo No. 5 well to service, allowing water quality in...






















