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Scotts Valley
September 15, 2025

The Mountain Gardener: Water-saving tips for Water Awareness Month

We know that water is a precious and vital resource. Even our bodies are about 60 percent water, and the brain is 70 percent. Less than 1 percent of the water on the Earth, however, is suitable for human consumption. With the population increasing and the water supply staying the same, water conservation indoors and out is important. A well-planned landscape makes water conservation outside the home even easier. Since May is Water Awareness Month, here are some tips to consider.

New Faces

• Alejandro Anthony Shakespeare-Leon was born at 12:02 p.m. Sept. 18, 2009, to Shannon Marie and Alejandro Araujo Leon of Scotts Valley. He weighed 7 pounds, 13 ounces at Dominican Hospital.

Evacuation, Anxiety, Fear and Amazement

Tuesday night my partner received an alert on her phone that Boulder Creek was getting evacuated, the fire was spreading and from that point on is when everything took a turn for the worst. Coming from the Bay Area of San Jose and moving to Felton has all been very new territory and uncommon experiences from what I’m used to. Being evacuated from my home has been an experience I never thought I’d have to encounter. Emotions have been high, feelings of uncertainty, fear, and possible loss of my home have been running through me in waves this past week.

The Mountain Gardener: Grow for table and garden, even in the shade

I have a shady garden, so each flower on a shrub, tree, perennial or annual is a precious commodity.

Wine Lover: Blending versus single-varietal depends on place

There are many competing paradigms in the world of vino, and one of the most intriguing is whether winemakers should blend their wines together or bottle their wines individually by varietal.

An old solution to housing shortage

Home-building has not kept up with job growth, causing a shortage of affordable housing. Possible solutions being pushed in the California state senate could pack cities like Scotts Valley with dense housing.

Talk About Money: Seagate loss will hurt local business

Whose wallets will be lightened next year when Seagate moves its headquarters — and 400-plus jobs — out of Scotts Valley? Not Seagate employees’. They’ll still have jobs, because the move does not include layoffs.

Datebook

- 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.

Nature Friendly: Nature Academy honors Arbor Day

Sometimes you cannot see the forest for the trees, but I think most of the time you cannot see the trees for the forest. California’s Arbor Day Week gives us an opportunity to pause and celebrate our trees.

Untarnished etiquette: Courtesy toward the disabled

Most of us are not fully aware of challenges facing people with disabilities. Generally, we make efforts to learn how we can be helpful to people with special needs if they are a friend or relative. With this article, I hope to illuminate courtesies we all should extend to those living with these special challenges. 

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News Briefs

News Briefs | Published Sept. 12, 2025

Fun run, emergency preparedness fair set for Saturday On Saturday, Sept. 13, the City of Santa Cruz will be hosting Race the Wave, a 3K...