We live in anxious times. Media reports bring us news of a poor economy, joblessness, people losing homes, international problems, high crime rates and more.

One of the courses in etiquette I provide is called “Being a Gentleman 101.” We discuss the art of being a gentleman, skills needed to achieve this status, and the benefits socially, personally and professionally to a man.

Every year, the stirrings of early spring excite me. There's even a name for it — spring fever. There are lots of early-season plants that can go in right now, or you can spend some time planning for later additions to your garden. Both are great ways to kick-start this gardening season.

Lately, there’s been a troubling chain email describing unrealistically high fees and charges attached to traffic tickets. It says something like: Your $20 ticket becomes $700 once the state adds it all up, and the California Highway Patrol is out to get us all, thus solving the state’s budget deficit.

San Lorenzo Valley Rotary Club

Little Anna was 5 years old when her mother left her with a family in a small, rocky village in the hills of Konavle, Yugoslavia. Anna remembered having a doll sent to her by her mother from somewhere in America. She never heard from her mother again.

Spring has sprung, and along with it the arrival of new spring programs at Boulder Creek Recreation. The spring program guide is online at www.bcrpd.org and includes weekend art class, preschool programs, break dancing, youth basketball, crafts, capoeira, line dance, Jazzercise, qigong, Zumba, yoga, scrapbooking and much more. For information, contact District Manager Hallie Greene at [email protected].

- Submit Datebook items to [email protected], 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.

- Elayna Michelle Marchewka was born at 12:42 p.m. Jan. 23, 2012, to Rayanna Betty (Raynal) and Dominic Marchewka of Felton. She weighed 9 pounds at Sutter Maternity and Surgery Center in Santa Cruz.