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EDITOR,

Scotts Valley voted last month to spend $35 million on its public schools with a goal of maintaining the district’s excellent record of sending 97 percent of its students to college.

I want to bring to your attention a TV program to be aired soon, which provides a look at California’s amazing response to the recent H1N1 swine flu epidemic. Station KRBC will be broadcasting this program Tuesday, Aug. 16, and again Aug. 25, a Thursday.

“The earth 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.”

Cheers to County Supervisor Dene Bustichi in his commentary last week about school funding. But why a parcel tax? It’s time to turn off the tax spigot and force government at all levels to live within its means — that is to say, within our means. Is it really unreasonable to have to choose between attracting and keeping good teachers and funding new facilities? Families and small businesses make choices like that every day.

The Scotts Valley Arts Commission has announced the winners of its annual poetry contest, Verses in the Valley.

One of the perks of writing this gardening column for the Press-Banner is being invited to visit beautiful gardens. I recently had the honor of touring the garden of fellow columnist Colly Gruczelak, writer of “Plain Talk About Food,” at her home in Ben Lomond.