The Mountain Gardener | Gardening Tips for Sandy Soil
Many years ago I started writing a book about gardening in the Santa Cruz Mountains. One of many interesting subjects I researched was the different soils we have here in the mountains. I don’t need to tell you if you garden in dense clay,...
Guest Viewpoint | Easter Sunday Breakdown
Easter Sunday was supposed to be spent with my visiting elderly parents. They had set out on a road trip from Arkansas to see friends along the way, spend time with other family in Clovis, Calif., and then make their way here for the...
Letters to the Editor, Aug. 19
Target to Displace Small Businesses
As residents of Felton we, like many others, had looked forward to the opening of a new Target to fill the shopping void left by the Scotts Valley Kmart. However, as the new development is being built up with a...
Letters to the Editor | Published Feb. 7, 2025
Forest Lakes Firewise includes more neighbors
When I moved to the San Lorenzo Valley in 2018, I fell in love with living in the forest. But then the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex wildfire opened a whole new view of living in the woods. As lucky...
Planning key for library survival
“May you live in interesting times” — a Chinese curse or a Western invention? While its origin is disputed, its meaning is quite applicable to our current state of affairs. Nowhere is this truer than for the Santa Cruz Public Libraries.
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...
Some words from your Mayor Jim Reed
Residents of Scotts Valley know that there’s no finer place to raise a family and enjoy small town a sense of community that’s rarely found anywhere these days, all amidst soaring redwoods, next to stunning beaches and 45 minutes from the most dynamic economy in the world. The first job for any civic leader is to maintain this incredible quality of life that we enjoy, which I think can be done while making needed progress in several areas:
TherapyWorks | Goals vs. Resolutions: Which Is Right For You?
As a new year approaches, many people find themselves inspired by the idea of a fresh start, and contemplate the changes they want to make in their lives. Along with that enthusiasm comes the question—should I set goals or make resolutions?
While the terms are...
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...