Columns

“We are going to achieve our objectives in a matter of weeks, not months.” —Secretary of State Marco Rubio History suggests that politicians, seeking victories, frequently underestimate the length or devastation of wars: see the South in the five-year Civil War, the Germans in six-year...

I don’t know if I like the pink ones or the white ones best. A flowering dogwood in any shade is stunning. My friend Colly, the food columnist for the Press Banner, has several dogwoods in her garden, including a Cherokee Brave with dark...

January’s storms hit Scotts Valley hard when at approximately 5 p.m. on Jan. 5, Scotts Valley Water District staff detected an abnormal system condition in one of their tanks. Crews were sent to investigate the potential cause in the Scotts Valley Drive and Granite...

Wisteria are one of those vines that you either long for or lament ever having planted. They are all fragrant with a delicious sweet scent that varies from faint to strong to almost overpowering. Bees and hummingbirds love them. Here are some tips to...

“The Unexamined Life is not worth Living.” —Socrates The Press Banner kindly published articles readily searched at pressbanner.com, which cumulatively give local readers comprehensive financial education. Stylistically divergent, sometimes fictional, they either constitute general planning advice (“What is Financial Planning,” “Your Home, Your Wealth and...

I go out into my little garden and look around daily to enjoy the early spring bloomers. But what’s this? Some of the hellebores are covered with aphids. When did they hatch? Another gardener told me recently that her rhododendrons are battling an early...

When we see people smile, we can often sense their health and happiness. Meet Rebecca Hazelton, founder, author, nutritionist and holistic health coach. Rebecca offers even more, so let me share her story. On ChoosingHealthNow.com, you’ll find her core qualifications. She is a Licensed Certified Nutritionist,...

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...