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Scotts Valley
November 17, 2025

The Wine Lover: Exploring the Santa Cruz Region: Corralitos District

This column is the second of several in which I’ll describe my wine districts of Santa Cruz County. Last time, I discussed the Soquel foothills. This week’s focus, the Corralitos district of Santa Cruz County, is the most easily defined in our region.

Let’s go fishin’: Freedom to fish

There are two free fishing days a year in California, days when you do not need a fishing license to fish.

New Faces

**Asher Emil Taff was born at 1:52 p.m. June 17, 2010, to Tyra Elaine (Sampson) and Lee Taff of Scotts Valley. He weighed 9 pounds, 15 ounces at Sutter Maternity and Surgery Center in Santa Cruz.

Mountain Gardener: Attract butterflies to your garden

Have you noticed how many butterflies are visiting your garden lately? I see California sisters, common buckeyes and western tiger swallowtails everywhere I look.

Wine Lover: Exploring the Santa Cruz Region: Soquel Foothills District

There are a variety of ways to lump wineries into districts. Proximity, terroir (growing conditions) and varietals are some of the factors, perhaps even the most important, that go into the districting process. Over the next several weeks, I will define how I think Santa Cruz County’s districts should be defined.

It’s the Law: Law discourages Good Samaritans

I was riding one evening with four buddies just out of high school when the car went “bump” in the night. We all yelled, “What was that?” Jake, the driver, screamed, “It was a body.”

Talk about Money: News flash: George Hamilton helps pay for new health care legislation

Back on March 23, President Obama signed the much-debated law that mandates universal health insurance coverage. Aspects of the new law continue to emerge, but what we know is that while the 10 percent tax on tanning salons might take a significant bite out of the ever-bronzed George Hamilton’s wallet (ditto for our friends at Scotts Valley’s Tanners Cove), it doesn’t exactly cover all the new costs of this bill. A slew of tax modifications and penalties will follow.

The Mountain Gardener: Cool your garden with a tropical makeover

Summer weather is finally here, and I find myself thinking of ways to stay cool. We know there is a cooling effect under the canopy of our forest trees. Extremes in air and soil temperatures are lessened. But any combination of perennials, shrubs and trees will help keep your garden cool, while also providing habitat for wildlife, decreasing energy use, absorbing carbon dioxide and supplying fresh oxygen.

Your Health: A little sun protection goes a long way

Summer is here, and many of us are exposed to an abundance of sunshine. I’d like to explain how we can best avoid the harmful effects of the sun.

Let’s go fishin’: Young salmon released in Santa Cruz

Sixty-five thousand salmon in Santa Cruz Harbor?

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News Briefs

News Briefs | Published Nov. 14, 2025

County hosts forums to shape future behavioral health services Santa Cruz County Behavioral Health Services is hosting community forums to help shape the County’s First...