Columns

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...

Why is everyone talking about housing? Housing is too expensive and there are not enough homes. Many Scotts Valley workers cannot afford to live here, which increases traffic and makes it harder for businesses to hire and keep good staff.  Some residents would like Scotts...

Think like a plant. The weather might be cool one day, really hot the next day. And your plants are growing like mad in order to reproduce, which is their life’s work. All this takes water, which is the elixir of life for us...

You may have noticed that a new fence has gone up around the future home of Scotts Valley’s town center off Mt. Hermon Road. In November, 1,400 tons of contaminated soil were removed from the site, and with it, one of the reasons the...

“You don’t want to have so much money going toward your mortgage every month that you can’t enjoy life or take care of your other financial responsibilities.” —Dave Ramsey Why would this CFP originate mortgages? So-called “financial planners” may be segmented by licenses and inclinations...

2023 began with back-to-back extreme weather events that resulted in severe flooding, landslides and other impacts to our roads, neighborhoods and businesses in the mountainous Fifth District. Even as we continue addressing the damage, we are still grappling as a County with the aftermath...

During the past 12 years, as your Fifth District Supervisor covering Scotts Valley and the San Lorenzo Valley, it has been my honor to represent you in county government. This District and all of Santa Cruz County look much different now than when I took...

We all have traditions that we look forward to every year during the holidays. For some it’s the annual trip to the Christmas tree farm. For others it’s planning a holiday get-together with friends and family. While decorating my tree this year, I thought...

It all started back in 2005 when my first column was published in the newly combined San Lorenzo Valley Press and the Scotts Valley Banner, which was re-named the Press Banner. This is how it all began. My father wanted me to be a writer...

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...