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Scotts Valley
December 15, 2025

The Mountain Gardener: Garden lessons from the snowy northwest corner of the United States

SEATTLE — It was a snowy afternoon in the Seattle area when I attempted to ferry across the Puget Sound to Whidbey Island. Whiteout conditions got the best of us, so we chickened out and decided instead to go to a local arboretum and the garden of one of my sister's friends.

Comedy Corner: Close encounters of the cat kind

I strongly dislike cats.

Wine Lover: Balance is key when cellaring wine

I have been asked many times since last week’s column which wines are good to cellar and how to tell if a wine will age well or when a wine is ready to drink. There have been many books written about these questions, but to be honest, oftentimes there isn’t an exact answer or even a “right” answer. However, there are some guidelines to follow that might help give you some success.

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.

Your Health: Reflections on loss

My friend Syd died the other day. Sydney “Pops” Osenga was 94 years old and a resident of Mount Hermon since 1963. I first met Syd about 15 years ago, when he was a patient of mine. I felt a kindred spirit with him, and we struck up a friendship that grew over the years.

Let’s go fishin’: Crabs, dabs, perch produce fishing action

Recent rains have put a pulse of water back into local rivers, and our reservoirs are filling up. The ocean continues to bode well for fishing enthusiasts. Sand dab have been on a ravenous bite, crabs are still coming in and perch have been on the bite, as well.

The Mountain Gardener: As garden stirs, it’s the time to plan

In February, the landscape stirs to life. Well, not in Minnesota or Tahoe — but around here, the plums, tulip magnolias, manzanita, forsythia, flowering currants and quince are in full bloom. Other deciduous trees and plants that still look bare are starting to grow roots deep underground.

Club Roundup

Scotts Valley Host Lions

Nature Friendly: Goodbye to a mountain heroine

The San Lorenzo River still undulates through Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, and the Nature Center still stands, but something is missing. Jeannie Kegebein, executive director of Mountain Parks Foundation for the past 18 years, has retired.

New Faces

Annah Terii Dowling was born at 2:55 p.m. Feb. 2, 2011, to Leila Jamillah Janbay and Timothy Dawling of Boulder Creek. She was delivered at Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz and weighed 5 pounds, 4 ounces.

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Pile burning

California State Parks conducts pile burning in Santa Cruz Mountains

California State Parks is burning piles in various mountain state parks in Santa Cruz County and plans to continue the work through next spring. An...