Until about eight years ago, not a single bunch of kale, collards or Swiss chard made its way into my grocery cart. Those giant coarse leaves intimidated me. I had no idea how to cook them, and I wasn’t even sure if I would like them.

- Submit Datebook items to pbeditor@pressbanner.com or drop off press releases or photos at 5215 Scotts Valley Drive, Ste. F, Scotts Valley 95066. Deadline is 5 p.m. Tuesday. Entries are subject to editing, and publication is not guaranteed.

Warm blue water pushed into the Monterey Canyon recently with a force we have not seen in many years. The skies were shrouded by a veiled marine layer, hiding the warm water from satellite imagery. Fishermen did not know exactly how warm the water was or how close to shore it had pushed its way in. With the warm water came the highly esteemed game fish albacore tuna.

When we purchase cellphones, they come with a set of detailed instructions that direct us to all the benefits best suited for specific needs. What they do not come with are instructions in proper phone etiquette.

- Logan Rialto Brown was born at 7:54 a.m. July 27, 2012, to Tarah Marie (Snow) and Chad Jared Brown of Boulder Creek. He weighed 7 pounds, 5 ounces when he arrived at Sutter Maternity & Surgery Center of Santa Cruz.

I have recently seen an increase in what is called hand, foot and mouth disease, and an increased number of cases have been reported to the county health department. Some countries outside of the U.S. have seen an even greater number of infected people.

- Submit Datebook items to pbeditor@pressbanner.com or drop off press releases or photos at 5215 Scotts Valley Drive, Ste. F, Scotts Valley 95066. Deadline is 5 p.m. Tuesday.

Megan Colleen Alves of Felton was married to John Daniel Bridges of Boulder Creek on June 16, 2012.

James Beard wrote, “I don’t like gourmet cooking or this cooking or that cooking. I like good cooking.”