Opinion

We’ve all been there—you know someone is going through a hard time, and you want to help, but you’re not sure what to do or say. You don’t want to make it worse. You don’t want to overstep. So sometimes, we do nothing. We...

Most of us would love to have a garden containing all California native plants growing happily in an ecosystem where everybody wins—birds, bees, insects, wildlife and us, of course. Our garden would contain flowers, shrubs, grasses, ground covers and trees all providing food, water,...

California homeowners still unable to obtain insurance in high-risk areas I receive automatic updates from the California Insurance Commissioner stating that insurance carriers are once again writing homeowners policies in California. However, each time I contact the companies mentioned, I am told they still will...

Warm weather is here and this tends to be the time folks want to get their body moving while feeling better in their skin. But, not everyone knows where to start. For most, the gym feels intimidating and not everyone has the pocket book to...

“One can show no greater respect than to weep for a stranger.” —Jose Saramago It was in May of 1988 when my sweet hubby Norm announced to me that he was ready to “get out of Dodge” so to speak. Working in our computer development...

“The soil is made of butterfly wings, dinosaur teeth, pumpkin seeds, lizard skins and fallen leaves. Put your hands in the soil and touch yesterday and all that will be left of tomorrow shall return so that new life can celebrate this day.” —Betty...

May is an exciting and busy time for your Scotts Valley schools. Middle and high school students are reviewing what they’ve learned this year to prove their new knowledge for final exams. Our younger grades are capping off their learning with plays, art and...

“We are going to achieve our objectives in a matter of weeks, not months.” —Secretary of State Marco Rubio History suggests that politicians, seeking victories, frequently underestimate the length or devastation of wars: see the South in the five-year Civil War, the Germans in six-year...

La Madrona Work Not New Fire Station In the last three years, Scotts Valley Fire Protection District had two bond measures struck down by the voters for funding of a new fire station to replace the 60-year-old one on Erba Lane. Recently, the district received anonymous...

I don’t know if I like the pink ones or the white ones best. A flowering dogwood in any shade is stunning. My friend Colly, the food columnist for the Press Banner, has several dogwoods in her garden, including a Cherokee Brave with dark...