Opinion

My entire life has revolved around our ocean’s bounty, whether it be in the fierce beauty of storms I’ve witnessed living next to its waters in Ventura or during my early years living in Aberdeen, Wash. My winter memories are of fog lying low along...

I don’t know if I like the pink ones or the white ones best. A flowering dogwood in any shade is stunning. My friend Colly, the food columnist for the Press Banner, has several dogwoods in her garden, including a Cherokee Brave with dark...

Cal Fire is observing Wildfire Preparedness Week from May 4-10, 2025. This week is an opportunity to build awareness around the measures that individuals, communities and local agencies can take to prepare for wildfire. As a water agency, our staff here at Scotts Valley Water...

In the movie “Avatar,” a powerful phrase echoes—“I see you.” It’s more than a greeting; it’s a recognition of the soul. And as the saying goes, “The eyes are the window to the soul.” But what if they are also windows to our health? That’s...

Most of us would love to have a garden containing all California native plants growing happily in an ecosystem where everybody wins—birds, bees, insects, wildlife and us, of course. Our garden would contain flowers, shrubs, grasses, ground covers and trees all providing food, water,...

I’ve visited this garden in Bonny Doon many times, including when my friend Kate was part of the Valley Churches Garden Tour back in 2018, and it’s still as spectacular as ever. So on a perfect June day recently, several of my landscape designer...

Residents call for new restaurants Thank you to Terry Monohan for writing a long overdue letter (“Restaurants Missing in Scotts Valley,” May 23) addressing the need for one or two more restaurants in Scotts Valley. Some of you may remember Hooked on Fish at Camp Evers...

“Gold is the money of kings, silver is the money of gentlemen, barter is the money of peasants—but debt is the money of slaves.” —Ron Paul Speculation or Responsible Investing? Responsible investors don’t buy commodities for short-term gains or gamble against professionals on squiggles of price...

We often think of stress as something we “just deal with.” But the truth is, it impacts our relationships, health and our ability to show up fully in everyday life. One of the most important things we can do is learn how to recognize stress...

“…for investment periods of 20, 25, and 30 years, the compound annual returns from equity REITs have exceeded those of the S&P 500 Index … investing in REITs helps lower risk and increase returns on a portfolio of stocks and bonds.” —Stephanie Krewson-Kelly, Educated...