Columns

On Jan. 14, Scotts Valley joined other local jurisdictions when City Manager Mali LaGoe issued a Proclamation declaring a local emergency, to be ratified by the City Council. This declaration was based on the presence of flooding, downed trees, power outages, retaining wall failures,...

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...

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...

Well, it’s come to this—my 900th column. Starting way back in October of 2005, my first column appeared 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 got started. My...

There’s a rumor afloat that all San Lorenzo Valley Water District Board Directors support a rate increase. As one of those Directors, and speaking only for myself, let me set the record straight.   I oppose the rate increase proposal for the following reasons: It unfairly punishes...

San Francisco’s Chinatown was my hubby and my destination to celebrate the Chinese New Year the first year we married. 1974 was the Year of the Tiger according to the Chinese Zodiac, and Norm and I, along with our blended family of four children set...

“Ye are the salt of the earth.” —Jesus of Nazareth At the age of 5 years old, I would eat my bowl of oatmeal or cream of wheat while looking at the little Morton’s “salt girl” who carried her umbrella and her blue container of...

By The Scotts Valley Advocates  The Scotts Valley Community Christmas Tree lit up on Nov. 27, continuing a tradition dating 30 years. The Scotts Valley Park Advocates felt strongly about the importance of supporting the installation of the tree lighting for the community given the...

“Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased  at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God!   I know not course others may take, but as for me,   give me liberty or give me death!” - Founding father Patrick Henry                    While riding in...

The day wasn’t turning out to be one of the “best” in my life…I had forgotten to marinate my skirt steak hours before, and the dinner I was preparing had a lack-luster appearance to it, and as my hubby Norm walked by, I cried...