The Mountain Gardener: Like a ‘candy bar’ for your plants
I have to chuckle when I see someone admiring a basket of blooming fuchsias.
Samy Khalil, an all-American
Samy Khalil is Egypt’s gift to the San Lorenzo Valley. How he arrived here is a story that could be made into a movie.
Wine Lover: Many reasons to drink more Riesling
Riesling is a misunderstood grape. It’s had its heyday and popularity in the past and is somewhat out of style today. Many restaurants do not even carry a Riesling on their wine list. Only a very small percentage of California wineries produce Riesling.
Commentary: California’s new districts make no sense in county
With the citizens commission redrawing California’s districts, I had hoped that, finally, the San Lorenzo Valley would be reunited with the rest of Santa Cruz when they drew the lines for the state’s congressional districts. Sad to say, the commission has apparently not thought this a priority, since the new boundaries fracture the valley into nonsense bits and pieces.
Poetry in motion
The following are three of the winning poems from the 2011 Verses in the Valley contest put on by the Scotts Valley Arts Commission. The winners were honored at a recent Scotts Valley City Council meeting, and the first-place poem from each division will be published in the Press-Banner over the next several editions.
Let’s Go Fishin’: Mussel quarantine along the coast
The old saying used to go, “Months with an R in them are safe for shellfish.” This saying may still hold true most years, as fall and winter months host less chance for red tides than summer months. The good news is that there are many other ocean fish that are safe to eat and in season.
Scotts Valley police receive $25K traffic safety grant
Scotts Valley Police Department has received a $25,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety to support programs promoting bicycle and pedestrian safety.
The...













