Opinion

The following are three of the winning poems from the 2011 Verses in the Valley contest put on by the Scotts Valley Arts Commission. The winners were honored at a recent Scotts Valley City Council meeting, and the first-place poem from each division will be published in the Press-Banner over the next several editions.

One ingredient is always left out of any statement regarding the history of the Veterans Memorial Building in Santa Cruz, and the recent op-ed on these pages is no exception (“Prioritize veterans in Santa Cruz County,” Terry McKinney, June 3). I refer to the peace groups incongruously in residence within the war memorial over the years.

University back from the brink

Having just passed Memorial Day, I want to thank the community for remembering Veterans. I think it is fitting that we contemplate the high price of freedom and have a sense of awe and respect for the service members that gave their lives for our freedoms and for the veterans who have served our country. I would hope that our respect and admiration goes beyond ceremonies, to help and encourage veterans as they return to Santa Cruz County (a county that is not always veteran friendly).

Politicians and pundits often tell us that if we raise taxes, we will kill business growth and plunge into a new depression. Is that so? If you look for proof that this works, you will discover that only one study was ever conducted, and it was inconclusive.

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San Lorenzo Valley Water District customers pay a basic charge bimonthly, plus an amount based on metered water use. The price per unit of water depends on the amount consumed, so customers using more water pay more for each additional unit. SLVWD prices its water in five tiers, from $2.36 to $4.35 per 748-gallon unit, and plans a 15 percent increase in both basic and consumption rates starting June 1.