Community

Friday, Aug. 7

Whether it comes from vivid foliage, bright berries, interesting bark or flowers, it pays to add to your color palette every month of the year. That's why it's so valuable to see what's available in February, as well as in summer, spring and fall.

All over the news you see stories about how houses and whole areas have been saved by tough locals fighting for their neighbors. Not to be denied, animals received the same treatment during evacuations and still do today. Our local Santa Cruz County Horseman’s Association (SCCHA) members have done an amazing job on multiple levels.

Do you ever look at the collection of cut roses at the market and think “Which is my favorite color today?” Sometimes it’s the strawberry pink ones I’m drawn to, other times I like butterscotch or deep red. It’s the same dilemma in my garden. I try to use restraint and stick to just three colors but who can do that, really? In early spring I love the soft pink and pure white of bleeding hearts, camellias and early rhododendrons but maybe because I’m surrounded by so much green, I’m drawn in summer to the bright jewel colors of orange, yellow and red in my garden.

The San Lorenzo River crested at 24 feet just before Christmas and now flows with ease through the valley. The river flows have been high, but the water color is clear and the flow is healthy. And the big rains of December brought large steelhead from Central to Northern California.

Mountain Community Theater is proud to present a black comedy about white trash, Sordid Lives, by Del Shores, directed by Hannah Eckstein.    The production opens at Ben Lomond's historic Park Hall, 9400 Mill Street, on Friday, September 21, and continues on weekends through Sunday, October 14.  Friday and Saturday performances are at 8:00 p.m. Sunday matinees are at 2:00 p.m. (no Sunday matinee on September 23).  Thursday, September 27 at 8:00 pm is Community Night, with two tickets for $20.00.  For all other performances, General Admission tickets are $20.00, Students and seniors are $17.00. There will be a champagne reception after the show on opening night.  There will be a special talk back with the cast and director after the Sunday matinee on September 30.  The performance is rated PG-13, and contains adult language and subject matter that may not be suitable for young children.  Tickets will be available to the public at www.brownpapertickets.com.

Mo L’Esperance got her start into food service at a pizza place in Southern California. “I got hired as a cashier,” she recalled. “Within two weeks I was in the back cooking, because it was more fun.” And after stints “back-of-house” in San Francisco, along the...