Columns

The one Christmas that stands out in my “memory bank” is the one that I forgot to put my bowl of cranberry sauce that I had labored over on the Christmas dinner table. I remember opening the refrigerator door to put in leftover turkey,...

The most generous country on earth hasn’t sacrificed Christmas, and the Association of Religious Data archives reports that roughly 32% of Santa Cruz County residents remain Christian. Americans donated about 2.3% of GDP in 2007, a world record. In 2000, religious Americans gave almost...

San Lorenzo Valley Water District (SLVWD) ratepayers soundly defeated Measure U, the proposal to roll back much of the rate increase put in place earlier this year, and elected Alina Layng and Bryan Largay to the SLVWD Board. In so doing they have sent...

Every year as I get down the Christmas decorations I think about past holidays with friends and family. Who was that well-fed baby in my Dad’s 35mm films? And then there was Aunt Ruth’s aluminum Christmas tree with the rotating color wheel. I remember...

I was standing in the back of the Senior Center of Scotts Valley building, amongst the Oak trees, in the grass where 25 people had gathered, spaced out, already moving their bodies slowly, in a rhythmic manner, guided by Denise Allen. I had arrived late,...

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...

“Your own soul is nourished when you are kind; it is destroyed when you are cruel.” —King Solomon We tend our vegetable gardens by weeding, watering and feeding them with the best fertilizers we can buy. We lament when the pesky gophers pull our bush...

“Those who do not weep, do not see.” —Victor Hugo Stable marriages finance families; financial disputes disrupt. Approximately 43% of first marriages fail in America. As a widower and divorcee—now happily married—I know the extended pains of divorce can be just as disconcerting and perhaps...

The weekend after Thanksgiving I like to get my Christmas tree and put it outside in a bucket of water until I’m ready to bring it inside to decorate. One of my friends has the solution for the longest lasting tree with the most...

The holiday season is a time of joy, connection and celebration, but it can also bring stress, overwhelm and even loneliness. Practicing gratitude can help you navigate the emotional ups and downs of this time of year by fostering a sense of contentment and...