Layering plants for wildlife
I confess, I’m a lazy gardener. In July, my idea of working in the garden consists of removing seed pods from the fuchsias and trimming a few parsley and basil sprigs for dinner. I didn’t have to spend time spraying for harmful insects and...
Plain Talk About Food | All of Us
“All of us at some time or other, need help. Whether we are giving or receiving help, each one of us has something valuable to bring to this world. That’s one of the things that connects us as neighbors in our own ways, each...
TherapyWorks | Benefits of Reflecting on Your Year & How to Do It
As the calendar year comes to a close, many of us instinctively turn to goal-setting and resolutions for the year ahead. But before you rush into planning, take a moment to look back. Reflecting on your year isn’t just about nostalgia—it’s a powerful mental...
The Mountain Gardener | Rx for Sad Houseplants
It’s been a tough couple weeks for my houseplants. Power outages from recent storms made me move my African violet, which was just starting to bloom over to a window for more light. Others are staged on tabletops. I know my houseplants clean the...
TherapyWorks | How to Prevent Summer Burnout
Summer is supposed to feel lighter. Longer days, warmer weather and maybe even a break in routine. But for many people, summer brings a different kind of pressure—one that can lead to a sneaky form of burnout.
At TherapyWorks, we see it all the time....
Measure A For the Health of Our Schools
Resilience, gratitude, and patience.
So much has happened since my last column in June, I don’t even know where to begin. This time last year, we were dealing with PSPS power outages that we thought were very disruptive and challenging. Little did we know… A...
Finance | Hemming, Hawing and Hedging Options
“Concision in style, Precision in thought, Decision in life.” —Victor Hugo
We are a nation of consumers and investors, hemming, hawing and hedging with Trump, who flaunts law and principles. Unsure of securities? Avoid panicky flight to historically low-paying interest investments; seek principle. But balance...
Guest Column | Why Have We Forgotten Our First Generation?
As a young child. I lived in Washington State in the ’30s in a boarding house owned by my aged uncle and aunt, where eight boarders lived, all men, and many whose ages ranged from 60 to 70 years of age. One or two...
Finance | Getting Drunk on Debt
From San Jose, Sally and her clownish boyfriend braved the twisties through San Lorenzo mountains with excess speed, then alighted at a Ben Lomond bar. Sally was drunk again, partying down at Henfling’s in less than a skirt with makeup to hide age. Flinging...
Rx for sad houseplants
Tucked on window sills and tabletops, my houseplants clean the air and provide indoor beauty while the landscape outdoors is mostly resting. They are easy to keep healthy if I follow a few tips during the dark days of winter. it’s their time to...
News Briefs | Published Sept. 12, 2025
Fun run, emergency preparedness fair set for Saturday
On Saturday, Sept. 13, the City of Santa Cruz will be hosting Race the Wave, a 3K...