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 have been published in the Press-Banner over the previous two editions.

EDITOR,

With the citizens commission redrawing California’s districts, I had hoped that, finally, the San Lorenzo Valley would be reunited with the rest of Santa Cruz when they drew the lines for the state’s congressional districts. Sad to say, the commission has apparently not thought this a priority, since the new boundaries fracture the valley into nonsense bits and pieces.

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.

University back from the brink

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.

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).

EDITOR,

EDITOR,