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Scotts Valley
March 9, 2026

It’s the Law: Want to buy a beach?

About a year ago I wrote a column about Martin’s Beach near Half Moon Bay, an idyllic crescent shaped beach that many consider the most beautiful in San Mateo County. A billionaire named Vinod Khosla bought all the land fronting the beach and gated off the only road that leads to Martin’s Beach. Since the beach has 75 foot cliffs on both the north and south ends, the only realistic access is via that one road. A few foolish people have suggested that people can come in by way of the ocean. They have obviously never had the entertaining experience of landing or launching a boat through the breakers. Seaworthy individuals do it, but grandma may object to this form of exercise.

The Mountain Gardener: Keep your indoor plants alive during cold winter

I miss the Christmas tree and decorations that bring color to the house over the holidays. After they're packed away for another year and the tree recycled it looks a bit bare around here. The houseplants get their favorite places back now near the windows. This an important month for them when the garden is asleep. I want them to look great but Mother Nature delivers darker skies and less daylight hours. Even though they are still green they are taking a break and don't grow much over the dark days of winter. Don't become a clueless houseplant killer. Remember houseplants clean the air. We need them.

New Faces

- Liam Christopher Politowas born at 3:55 a.m. Dec. 11, 2013 to Courtney Desiree (Steen) and Anthony Robert Polito of Santa Cruz. He weighed 7 pounds, 15 ounces at Sutter Maternity and Surgery Center in Santa Cruz.

Let’s Go Fishin’: Out with the old in with the new

The New Year brings us to new Licenses, and mailing back the old “report cards”

Eight ways to see yourself and the world differently for the New Year

I would like to suggest that some changes can be fun to do. Generally speaking, when we think about habit change, we think “negative” habits, am I right?

Valley People

Attorney re-appointed as probate referee

The Mountain Gardener: Having a garden journal pays dividends

I plan to turn over a new leaf next year. I'm talking about gardening. The rest of my New Year's resolutions are too numerous to list here! I wish I could tell you that I'll never put in another plant that might freeze during the winter. I wish I could tell you that I'll really start that compost pile this year and duke it out with the raccoons. I wish I could tell you I'll make more garden journal entries and not rely on sketchy memories. But the reality is gardening shouldn't be so much about regrets. It's about the delight we get from coaxing plants from the earth. A garden reflects our lives; there’s always room for growth as well as reflection.

Club Roundup

Scotts Valley Kiwanis

Your Health: Highlights from 2013

As we prepare to begin a new year, I’d like to share with you some highlights from my columns this past year.

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Vegetation control project to impact Highway 17 north of Scotts Valley...

Caltrans crews will conduct a vegetation control project north of Scotts Valley next week, which will result in the daytime closure of one lane...