Columns

As the seasons shift and the days get longer, many of us feel the pull to open the windows, clear out the clutter and reset our homes. But spring cleaning isn’t just about what’s in your closets—it’s an opportunity to create more space and...

How strong are your arms? Did you know arm strength declines naturally as you age. Many people don’t notice the change until everyday tasks are suddenly hard to do. The loss of arm strength is due to age-related muscle loss and begins at the...

As a child, living in the convent school in Tacoma, Wash., I always looked forward to Tussie-Mussie Day. Life was simple then, pleasure was found in handmade presents, no money allowances for store-bought gifts. As the month of April was coming to an end, Sister...

The theme for Earth Day 2026 (April 22) is “Our Power, Our Planet,” emphasizing the importance of collective action, renewable energy and standing together to protect the environment. Earth Day is a day of education about environmental issues. Celebrate it in your own backyard by...

There can be no better way to start this month’s column than with the news that we finally broke ground at Scotts Valley High on the new sports complex. We finally received approval from the Division of the State Architect (DSA) in Sacramento on...

“Millennials were the most planned and wanted generation in American history to date. While Gen X’ers turned the individualism of Boomers to the level of a blasé assumption, Millennials raised the bar: The individual self was not merely important; it was paramount. It was...

Last November, the Scotts Valley community made a powerful investment in its future by approving Measure O, an $85 million school facilities bond dedicated to upgrading and modernizing our campuses.  Since the bond measure passed, the District has been working behind the scenes to plan,...

Being the type who doesn’t take no for an answer, I’m going to try growing veggies on my shady deck again. I wasn’t very successful a couple years ago. I thought that three hours of hot midday sun would be enough for green beans...

Many, many years ago my landscape designer group was fortunate to get a private tour by the head gardener at Filoli Gardens. One of the takeaways from this informative afternoon was the plants that have survived there since the early 1900s without any care....

Recently there have been many questions about new development in Scotts Valley. As has been widely reported, the City has worked to meet the requirements of recent State Housing mandates. Many of the new projects have taken advantage of new state law that overrides...