Plain Talk About Food | Finally, Dungeness Crab! A Culinary Cautionary Tale
“Be careful what you wish for, it might be more than you can handle.”
That thought immediately came to mind, that late afternoon while staring down the hallway of my apartment building many years ago.
Women and children were at each end of that hallway, some...
The Mountain Gardener | Kids and Pets in the Garden
My friend, Grace, visited the other day. She’s almost 7 years old now and is really getting into plants, flowers and especially the birds that visit my little garden. She spent a lot of time quietly watching and listening to all the songbirds, hummingbirds...
TherapyWorks | The Importance of Mental Health for Men: Breaking the Silence
Mental health is an integral aspect of overall well-being, yet it often remains overshadowed by physical health. This disparity is particularly pronounced among men, who face unique societal pressures and stigmas that can hinder their ability to seek help.
The Silent Struggle
Traditionally, men have been...
Guest Column | Juvenile Hall Reformation
“We are always too busy for our children. We lavish gifts upon them; but the most precious gift, our personal association, which means so much to them, we give grudgingly.” —Mark Twain
I had the privilege of being sworn in as a member of the...
The Mountain Gardener | Holiday Wreaths Made Easy
Today’s the day I’ve been anticipating for months. It’s the day I go to the Felton Holiday Wreath Makers get together to create another masterpiece (hopefully). I plan to make several for friends and neighbors, although some of those prior recipients are coming with...
Finance | Socially Responsible Investing in Scotts Valley
“Look out!” grimaced Blue. “There’s the Trump supporter gulping Scotts Valley Coffee!”
“Where else?” responded Red. “And you must be the Ben Lomond neighbor who erected the 50-foot lime green ‘Bernie Sanders Soviet Honeymoon’ statue over my yard?”
“He jousts your greedy 50-foot gilded paper-mâché ‘Trump...
The Mountain Gardener | Growing Vegetables in Containers, Small Spaces or Shade
I have been gardening for a very long time. But even now I feel I know just a little bit about a whole lot of subjects. Every day I learn something new. Now that spring weather has finally arrived I’m anxious to start planting...
Finance | Cryptocurrency: The Emperor’s Fine Clothing
“The ultimate irony of crypto… is that crypto is succeeding by doing exactly the opposite of what it was originally intended for… Crypto will make governments and big corporations more, and not less, powerful.” —Mehta, Neel; Agashe, Aditya; Detroja, Parth. Blockchain Bubble or Revolution?
Bitcoin...
The Mountain Gardener | Buzzing in the Garden
You can hear them a long way before you see them. I’m talking about the hundreds of honey bees feasting on the highly nutritious pollen of the Crape Myrtle blossoms. I confess I don’t know a lot about keeping bees. I even had to...
The Mountain Gardener | Fun Garden Decor for Halloween This Season
If I were looking for cool Halloween decorations or inspiration for breathtaking combinations of plants that shout “Fall is here,” I couldn’t have gone to a better place than Scarborough Gardens, the Scotts Valley nursery extraordinaire. Every vignette of plants along with the Halloween...
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...






















