Opinion

How are your knees? Knees are one of the largest and most complex joints of the body, your knees are crucial to movement, which means protecting knee joints should be a priority. Knees bear your body weight, allowing the full range of motion of...

Gratitude for coverage and community support of Damians Ladder Last week’s Press Banner paper carried the story of the newly formed 501c3 nonprofit organization, Damians Ladder, and the ribbon-cutting ceremony by the Scotts Valley Chamber of Commerce. Your reporter, Drew Penner, wrote a marvelous column about...

Martinez represents hope and practical solutions I live in Boulder Creek and have taken the time to attend campaign gatherings for both Christopher Bradford and Monica Martinez this past year and have had a chance to get a feel for who they are and what...

I’d been waiting for the tour of Griggs Wholesale nursery in Watsonville for a while. This company bought Suncrest Nursery last year and has breathed new life into it. A favorite for years, Suncrest had a reputation for excellence and this new version is...

If every bicyclist and vehicle (and smart pedestrian) ran with lights on 24/7 on Highway 9, we could avoid many unfortunate collisions going from stark sunny blindness to deep dark tree shade. I have driven this road over 30 years and it is very scary...

1. Financial Planning is budgeting to allocate money that finances dreams. At age 20, Sam simply cooked the finest barbecue cuisine for Sequoia weddings and Roaring Camp cookoffs, savoring each bite, then experimenting. Our culinary hero dreamt of becoming a Michelin star chef who ran...

When I look back on four decades of public service, there is one issue that has remained a top priority for me and the people I have had the privilege to represent in county and state government: Protecting our local environment. As a member of...

Summer is winding down. It’s still warm during the day but the nights are cool and there’s less and less daylight hours. The soil is still warm so it’s the perfect time to start thinking about planting. Like the saying goes, “gardening is a...

Measure S imposes unfair burden on younger homeowners The proposed Measure S seeks to increase property taxes to fund the new fire station — I believe this is unfair because it taxes younger, more financially-stressed families in Scotts Valley. As proposed, the property tax increase would...

Just when I was in a hurry, I made the mistake of choosing the grocery cart with the “wonky” wheel. Sometime ago, CNN did a story about those grocery carts with their wonky wheels and the reason they are not immediately replaced—$200 a cart;...