Opinion

Every year when the Pantone Color of the Year is announced, I write a column about all the great plants that echo that color. Not this year, though. The 2025 Pantone Color of the Year is Mocha Mousse, and while this probably looks great...

Reaching for a box of golden raisins for my persimmon puddings in Ben Lomond market the other day, I smiled, remembering the little box of raisins that was pressed into my hand, oh so many years ago, but forever in my memory. My Hubby Norm...

“In the world of finance, the best accounting is like poetry—precise, impactful and timeless.” —Daniel Adams Every New Year, calculate your present resources, income, expenditures and cash flow. Eight accounting classes helped me do financial “dream planning” well while proudly wearing CFP therapist, economist and...

Community raises concerns over new housing development We can all agree Santa Cruz County needs affordable housing, but recent moves by lawmakers in Sacramento have created a loophole for one local developer to abuse our planning process and circumvent all restrictions on density, fast-tracking a...

I’ve been on this planet for quite a few years now, so why is it always hard for me to get my head around the fact that the calendar has turned over to another year and the days are getting longer. A new gardening...

During the past 12 years, as your Fifth District Supervisor covering Scotts Valley and the San Lorenzo Valley, it has been my honor to represent you in county government. This District and all of Santa Cruz County look much different now than when I took...

As the calendar year comes to a close, many of us instinctively turn to goal-setting and resolutions for the year ahead. But before you rush into planning, take a moment to look back. Reflecting on your year isn’t just about nostalgia—it’s a powerful mental...

’Twas the night before Christmas and all through the garden, The creatures were stirring, the deer got a pardon.  The hummingbird feeders were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that the Anna's soon would be there.  The flowering cherries were nestled all snug in their beds, While...

The one Christmas that stands out in my “memory bank” is the one that I forgot to put my bowl of cranberry sauce that I had labored over on the Christmas dinner table. I remember opening the refrigerator door to put in leftover turkey,...

The most generous country on earth hasn’t sacrificed Christmas, and the Association of Religious Data archives reports that roughly 32% of Santa Cruz County residents remain Christian. Americans donated about 2.3% of GDP in 2007, a world record. In 2000, religious Americans gave almost...