73.5 F
Scotts Valley
June 8, 2025

Mayor’s Message | ‘Tis the Season

Randy Johnson
Like a garden full of spring flowers, tax measures are sprouting up all throughout the county this cycle. And who can blame the cities and county, as the inflation pressures and the unfunded mandates imposed by the state of California are stark reminders that...

Letter to the Editor | Published Aug. 9, 2024

letters to the editor
Leadership and financial oversight failures plague SLV Water District Our San Lorenzo Valley Water District faces shortfalls of leadership and financial oversight, and it is the customers who end up on the losing end. Earlier this year at rate hearings among customer challenges, even district employees...

Plain Talk About Food | I Have a Piggy Bank

Food piggy bank
Years ago, a dear friend upgraded me to a Piggy Bank as she was tired of watching me put my nickels and dimes into a mason jar after my weekly grocery shopping. Only nickels and dimes went into that jar, a habit I’ve had...

The Mountain Gardener | The Magic of Grasses in the Garden

Garden
What was I thinking trying to talk a client out of adding grasses to her former lawn area? I gave her all the reasons she should focus on other low water use, low maintenance, deer resistant plants, but I can’t get the vision of...

Strictly Business | Greene’s Fine Jewelry: A Family’s Timeless Craft

Strictly Business
When I think about precious stones, rubies, diamonds and sapphires come to mind. They are known as the “Red, White and Blue” stones in the industry. Recently, I visited William Greene Fine Jewelry Design out of curiosity. Little did I know about their rich...

Finance | Life Insurance: Who Needs It?

Finance Felton Cemetery
“Our advice—that term life is a better deal for most families—hasn't changed.” —Consumer Reports Life insurance agents somehow think that life insurance is the ultimate solution to family financial planning. As a former Primerica Financial Services amateur, I cried “Buy Term and Invest the Difference!”...

Fitness | Benefits of Strong Knees

Fitness knees
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...

The Mountain Gardener | Ceanothus – The Most Valuable Plant

When the huge numbers of California Tortoiseshell butterflies showed up around here on June 10, I learned a lot about the different species of ceanothus and how dependent we are on this plant. Because most of us live near or in a Wildland Urban...

Plain Talk About Food | Small Mercies

“I am thankful for small mercies. Some people expect only the best. I found that I begin at the other extreme…expecting nothing and am always full of thanks for unexpected blessings.” —Tim Man Lee, Wildlife Photographer Since moving to my small “slice of Heaven” here...

TherapyWorks | The Power of Forgiveness and Its Impact on Mental Health

Practicing forgiveness can have powerful health benefits. Forgiveness is associated with lower levels of depression and anxiety, higher self-esteem, and greater life satisfaction. Understanding the power of forgiveness and its impact on mental well-being can help inspire you to forgive people in your life...

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Wildfire between Felton and Scotts Valley quelled

A wildfire that broke out between Felton and Scotts Valley midday Friday was quickly contained at 2.3 acres, as firefighters sought to quell flames...