Opinion

If I were looking for cool Halloween decorations or inspiration for breathtaking combinations of plants that shout “Fall is here,” I couldn’t have gone to a better place than Scarborough Gardens, the Scotts Valley nursery extraordinaire. Every vignette of plants along with the Halloween...

I love Asparagus, whether fresh or canned, or green, purple or white. And I just recently discovered that asparagus seems to resonate with people and their likes and dislikes, much the same way as do brussels sprouts. Asparagus falls into the “love it or...

Martinez’s fiscal record raises red flags In the race for Fifth District supervisor, many concerns have been brought up about Monica Martinez, including lawsuits over misappropriation of grant money and labor law violations, as well as concerns about how she conducted business with the county...

Help affordable housing crisis by voting yes on Prop 5 California has been grappling with an affordable housing crisis for years. Although the state has passed many laws to reduce barriers to create more housing, for people in need of an affordable place to live,...

As my parents suffered lingering deaths from cancer and Alzheimer’s, they appreciated long-term care insurance, and their purchase enlarged my inheritance. I am a 62-year-old paraplegic planner receiving home care while working diligently—and subsidized retirement living terrifies me enough to save. After all, 70%...

You probably think of mums as boring. They’re everywhere at this time of year. Many consider them a bit of color on the front porch that you compost after they’ve finished flowering. But mums have a lot more to offer than that. Mums are in...

Support fair water rates and Holloway for SLVWD board This year I’ve had the honor to work with Bruce Holloway on a Citizen’s Initiative, now Measure U on the November ballot, to repair San Lorenzo Valley Water District’s controversial, inequitable rate structure. Bruce is also...

Martinez represents hope and practical solutions I live in Boulder Creek and have taken the time to attend campaign gatherings for both Christopher Bradford and Monica Martinez this past year and have had a chance to get a feel for who they are and what...

In last week’s edition, I highlighted how supporting Measure Q on the Nov. 5 ballot represents a historic opportunity to steward our precious and increasingly fragile environment, which is a value shared throughout Scotts Valley and the San Lorenzo Valley. The water and wildlife...

Fall is a good time to design and plant a new garden. I love to read those articles in gardening magazines with titles like “How to Create a Complete Backyard in a Weekend” or “This Front Yard in Just One Year.” If you're like...