Opinion

Do you ever feel stressed? You are not alone. Whether it’s the pressures of work, relationships, financial worries or the constant bombardment of information from technology, stress seems to be ever-present in our lives. However, while some level of stress is normal and even beneficial...

After a lovely, mild spring, summer weather arrived with a vengeance. My poor plants were thinking they lived in England and then were rudely awakened and reminded that they actually live inland and away from the influence of the cool coast. My watering schedule...

Some Santa Cruz Mountain residents have taxes so simple they fit on form 1040 alone—wages and pensions—and they don’t need an alphabet to complicate their taxes. The IRS divides income into three “baskets”—ordinary, capital gains and passive—and discourages offsetting losses from one basket from...

Exactly a year ago I couldn’t drink a glass or bottle of water with one hand; I was a two-handed drinker. I was unable to use my toothbrush without using both hands. I couldn’t carry a plate across the room without it bouncing up...

The sun’s out, the weather is getting warmer, so let’s step outside more. Natural sunlight can provide you with vitamin D, an essential vitamin for healthy bones and a strong immune system. Outdoor training tends to help boost your motivation and can offer a nice...

“171,000 people experience homelessness daily. California is home to… 30% of the nation’s homeless population, and half the nation’s unsheltered population.” —Kushel, Moore, et al., “Toward a New Understanding” (2023) We all play musical chairs in Santa Cruz County because 80,000 new residents since 1980...