Opinion

I teach the lesson of humility;Overstretched snaps the bow,The usefulness of futility;The advantage of laying low. —Laozi Laozi once left eternal wisdom with a border guard as he wandered off into forests unknown. This paraplegic author outlined his hiking injuries in the Press Banner article,...

The call came last week reminding me of a much awaited annual holiday event. The Kelly’s wreath making party in Felton is something I look forward to each year to kick off the season.  The holiday season just wouldn’t be complete without a day spent...

In today’s news and on social media, you've probably heard the phrase, “The Genie is out of the Bottle,” referring to Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a “new” technology. But let’s take a step back in time. AI research dates back to the 1950s and...

The holiday season is a time of joy, celebration and togetherness. However, it can also be a period of stress and overwhelm, especially when it comes to managing expectations and obligations. Setting boundaries is crucial to maintaining a healthy balance and ensuring a positive...

I lived with my aunt and uncle during my early years, who, to this day, I am not sure they believed in the existence of the Almighty. However, every Saturday night I had a bath, whether I thought I needed it or not, and every...

To kick off this year’s holiday season, I plan to add some color to cheer up my houseplant selection. Sometimes I give friends and neighbors a holiday plant, but I need to keep in mind if they have small children or pets as some...

Health and wellness have become more important than ever before. The wellness industry has grown fast after the pandemic. Increased health consciousness has fueled the wellness industry, it’s becoming a stronger and fitter industry. There is a large growth and emphasis on wellness and the...

Once upon a time when our area was under waterthere were no parks or trails or trees or gardens.I'm thankful that our mountains rose from an ancient oceanso we could enjoy this beautiful place we call home.  I'm thankful for the Big-Leaf maplesthat shower me...

I had been tweaking an apple cake recipe for several years and just couldn’t seem to get “it” quite right, until my last effort, and bingo, I finally succeeded when I added sweetened shredded coconut to its batter. Closing my eyes, I took my first...

Warm days, short days, cold days and hopefully rainy days—all in the fall of the year here in the Santa Cruz Mountains. It’s part of what makes our area so special to us. We are inspired by Mother Nature and our mountains. We feel...