Guest Column | Walking Together: Damians Ladder, Moose Lodge 545 and Valley Churches Unite to Support Seniors in Need
It has proven itself true—that one alone is on a walk, but two together are going somewhere—and our nonprofit, Damians Ladder, has shown this to be a perfect example of “partnering,” going somewhere together.
As a small child, my aunt and uncle would take me...
The Mountain Gardener | Phenology and Climate Change
What’s that wet stuff coming from the sky? Hopefully by the time you’re reading this we will have gotten some much-needed rainfall. I wanted to research the latest scientific papers on how climate change is impacting our gardens.
Plants have adapted over millennia to their...
Finance | Cryptocurrency: The Emperor’s Fine Clothing
“The ultimate irony of crypto… is that crypto is succeeding by doing exactly the opposite of what it was originally intended for… Crypto will make governments and big corporations more, and not less, powerful.” —Mehta, Neel; Agashe, Aditya; Detroja, Parth. Blockchain Bubble or Revolution?
Bitcoin...
TherapyWorks | The Power of Habits: Transforming Your Life and Mental Health
As a mental health expert, one of the most profound truths I’ve observed is that small, consistent habits can create a ripple effect that transforms lives. Habits shape our days, and in turn, our days shape our lives. When cultivated intentionally, healthy habits can...
The Mountain Gardener | Get Excited About Bare Root Edibles
A visit to any of our local nurseries at this time of year is like a visit to the candy store for a gardener. There are so many exciting edibles available now and this is the time to get yours. How lucky am I...
Mayor’s Message | Weathering the Storms: Scotts Valley Looks Ahead to a Bright 2025
As we step into 2025, we must acknowledge the unprecedented events that recently tested our community's resilience. Our long-held scientific belief that tornadoes do not happen in the Santa Cruz Mountains was dispelled. A week later, we saw historic storms destroy a county landmark...
Plain Talk About Food | Finally, Dungeness Crab! A Culinary Cautionary Tale
“Be careful what you wish for, it might be more than you can handle.”
That thought immediately came to mind, that late afternoon while staring down the hallway of my apartment building many years ago.
Women and children were at each end of that hallway, some...
The Mountain Gardener | For the Love of Roses
January is almost over with nary a raindrop. Our days have been lovely and many of my plants have started growing earlier than usual. Guess I can’t put off pruning my Compassion rose any longer. I see some outstanding new rose varieties available for...
Finance | Date the Rate but Marry the House
Bummer Bob gripes over dinner, where most financial decisions get solved: “We just can’t afford a gorgeous river house in Brookdale now. Thirty-year mortgages are over 7%, and payments over three grand on $500,000 30-year loans daunt us buyers.”
Pretty Penny, serving salmon, answers: “But...
Letters to the Editor | Published Jan. 17, 2025
High density threatens Hidden Glen’s quality of life
Just wanted to quickly tell our story and voice our strong opposition to the proposed Haven Development, Santa Cruz County Application Number: 241369.
We moved to the Hidden Glen neighborhood five years ago, after looking for the perfect...
Rising golf star hosts junior charity tournament this weekend at Pasatiempo
In 2023, then-13-year-old Lucius Niesen from Scotts Valley was on fire on the links. Having taken first place in the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour’s...