Opinion

I’ve yet to come across a client who doesn’t want ornamental grasses in their garden. Well, everybody except my friend, Sue, who is allergic and was not a happy camper earlier in the summer. It’s hard to top the dramatic sight of an ornamental grass...

“Profit mechanisms…explain why so many Americans with ‘good insurance’ still find themselves fighting for care, drowning in paperwork, and facing financial ruin when serious illness strikes.” —Neal Shah, “Insured to Death” High Stakes Healthcare Choices “…as many as 66.5% of personal bankruptcies are tied to medical...

Hello Scotts Valley community! Your schools are back in full swing, and as your board president, I wanted to give you an update on what's been going on. The year kicked off bright and sunny, and all of our students, staff and teachers returned with...

I read recently that detection dogs in Lassen Park picked up the scent of the endangered red fox. They detected about 85 scat that are being tested genetically at UC Davis. This is good news for the rarest animal in all of North America....

“Adam did not want the apple for the apple’s sake; he wanted it because it was forbidden.” —Mark Twain My hometown, Aberdeen, Wash., in the wintertime was wet; wet, windy and oh so cold. I remember as a 6-year-old dressed in a yellow rain slicker,...

Questioning transparency in proposed mosquito fee I just read your article titled, “Felton Fire District Faces Concerns Over Parcel Tax Proposal,” and I must say, similar concerns arise when considering the Santa Cruz County Mosquito and Vector Control proposal to levy an additional fee onto...

When you hear the phrase “self-care,” what comes to mind? For many of us, it’s bubble baths, spa treatments or elaborate routines we see online. While those can be enjoyable, they often make self-care feel like something time-consuming, expensive or unrealistic to keep up...

We’ve been told this all our lives, but today’s lesson came from a reader in Scotts Valley who shared a harrowing experience she and her husband had when removing the tall, massive flower spike of their century plant (Agave americana). The birds must have...

What happens when you bring together dozens of women leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs under one roof? I’m here to tell you. I interviewed four such women who helped organize the Women in Business (WIB) Leadership Summit, coming Oct. 30 at Mission Springs Conference Center. They...

Felton Fire District’s Parcel Fee a Mystery This is a response to the Sept. 19 Press Banner article, “Felton Fire District Faces Concerns Over Parcel Tax Proposal.” I, like many others, have so many questions regarding the proposed parcel fee of $700. Really? Where did...