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Spring is an opportune time for students in the performing arts to share their talents, and both Scotts Valley and San Lorenzo Valley high schools got in on the act as they traveled afar to strut their stuff in national competitions. *** Members of the Scotts...

From her sprawling ranch-style home not far from Lockewood Lane in Scotts Valley, novelist Christine Z. Mason beckons readers who enjoy intricate plotting, fascinating characters and an exciting story.

Each time I hear Craig Morrow ringing his Salvation Army Red Kettle Bell in front of the Safeway market in Felton, I am reminded that Christmastime has arrived.

I got off the ferry at Friday Harbor on San Juan Island with my sister back in 2014. It was the day before 9/11 and we were visiting a family friend who used to live across the street from us. The next morning, we walked to the downtown area and found ourselves immersed in a memorial parade commemorating the 3rd anniversary of that terrible day - 9/11/2001.  We certainly didn’t expect to see a full-on memorial parade complete with marching band, bagpiper, banners, American flags and finally taps being played mournfully by a lone bugler. We had tears in our eyes. A couple weeks ago I came across the digital photos and videos I captured of that moving day. I don’t have them now as the original CD was burned in the fire. I will always have that day’s experience captured in my mind, though. Later that day my sister and I visited Pelindaba Lavender Farm. Seemed fitting to walk among soothing lavender fields. Spread over 25 acres with lake and Olympic Mountain views it is lovely. The fragrance from the oil of the lavender plant is believed to help promote calmness and wellness, reduce stress and anxiety - a good thing on a sad day.  For years when my sister was still here, we visited many islands in Puget sound touring destination nurseries and public gardens. Roche Harbor is a picturesque sheltered harbor on the northwest side of San Juan Island and this was our next stop on 9/11. This harbor is world all its own. Exploring the historic Hotel de Haro we walked among the blooming perennial beds. It was drizzling by then making the colors of the flowers pop even brighter. So many beautiful perennials - roses, anemone, heliotrope, tibouchina intertwined with coleus and lime sweet potato vine. Lovely. Even the Roche Harbor Lime and Cement Co. which dates back to the 1880’s and is now a tourist destination is landscaped beautifully. All in all, that day on September 11, 2004 will always be etched in my memory. It was a day to remember.    

Halloween is just around the corner and besides deciding what you or the kids are going to be this year, it’s time to bring in any plants that you plan to overwinter in the house. Whether they're the houseplants that you put out on...

San Lorenzo Valley High seniors and sweethearts Jessica Stoelting and Jack Dagan were crowned 2024 Homecoming Queen and King after last Saturday’s Homecoming football game, which was preceded by a parade Friday in downtown Felton. Cougars quarterback Dagan and his team crushed Santa Cruz, 41-0,...

Every drop of rain that hits bare soil is destructive. More than 3,000 years ago the Chinese knew how to protect their soil from erosion and increase fertility by planting cover crops. Early Nile Valley inhabitants 3,500 years ago also practiced this method of agriculture as did first century Romans. Lupines were planted in poor soil when no animal manure was to be had. I learned this and also how to protect and improve my soil from Orin Martin, manager of the Alan Chadwick Garden at a cover crop workshop recently on the University of California, Santa Cruz campus.