Sustainable living: Local family takes to farming
San Lorenzo Valley’s local food production is on the verge of a significant boost, thanks to new farmer Ben Beck, his large family’s dedication to sustainable living and a few well-timed opportunities.
Let’s go fishin’: Salmon season ends in Monterey Bay
The salmon season started out slow and ended with a bang for Monterey Bay anglers.
The Mountain Gardener: Autumn garden an opportunity for showy colors, edibles
Fall is in the air — sort of. The sun is setting earlier each day, but our days are still beautiful. The autumnal equinox today, Sept. 23, marks the beginning of fall, when day and night are of about equal length. Gardeners living in Minnesota and Maine are thinking about "battening down the hatches" for winter. Us, we're just starting our fall planting season.
Gardener: A meadow in the making
Have you thought about creating a meadow but don't know where to start? Need some inspiration to get going? Take a hike through the breathtaking meadows in Lassen Volcanic National Park like I did recently, and you'll get all the ideas you need to create the meadow of your dreams in your own backyard.
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.
Comedy Corner: Man on pause
Menopause. That’s what it’s called when women go through the change of life. When men go through it, I call it, “Man On Pause.” That is Latin for “A man putting on the brakes in his life and looking around himself, only to discover he is suddenly old.”
Nature Friendly: Help students learn about the sandhills
Want to help kids find a sea cow in the sand?
Teen Time: Peer pressure packs a punch
Have you ever felt like you are being pressured into doing something bad, and you know it’s wrong? This is called peer pressure. Peer pressure is scary, and I want to tell you how to handle it and be prepared.
Wine Lover: The rise of Rhone wines
Rhone wines are a unique bunch. They can be bottled as single varietal wines or as a blend. They seem to do well all over the world (especially Syrah) with few exceptions, and they have made huge gains in popularity in California during the past couple of decades.
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...