Community

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the garden,

      Summer is coming to an end. The school year is returning and children are back to virtual learning. It is highly important children include regular exercise, especially after hours of virtual stationary learning behind a computer screen all day. Children need at least 60 mins of exercise a day. Increased physical activity helps children build healthy bodies, self-esteem and prevent chronic disease.

Let’s face it. I love to cook.

I love it when a nice reader takes the time to call me to suggest a topic they’d like to see me write about or remind them what needs to be done at a certain time of year. Take Helen, who lives in Spring Lakes in Scotts Valley, for instance. Helen told me she grows tomatoes in the summer and has 4 fruit trees including a satsuma plum, an espaliered apple and a tangerine. Helen battles peach leaf curl on her plum and coddling moth larvae inside her apples and would like to know exactly what to use and when to control these problems. So this column is for you, Helen.

Last week, the Press Banner introduced you to Payson McNett, a Cabrillo instructor who’s using technology and innovation to create masks for local healthcare workers as they combat the COVID-19 pandemic. This week, we get down and dirty with another team that’s helping to make life a little brighter (literally and figuratively) for local residents: the Felton Fire Protection District. Ian Jones, Engineer and Communications/IT Dude, took a few minutes out of his day to enlighten us on the district’s efforts to spread a little cheer during this time of shelter-in-place, and remind us that helpers are just a phone call away.

Renowned Scotts Valley car restorer Leland Dahill is finished with a 20-year-old project. But after putting in close to $10,000 in labor, he’s giving the result away.

The 2019 school year is in the books. At Scotts Valley High, 188 students graduated with 176 heading to college. At San Lorenzo Valley High, 136 graduated, and 118 are college-bound.