Micah Joseph Mohamed was born at 3:18 p.m. Sept. 5, 2009, to Aaron and Julia Mohamed of Bonny Doon. He weighed

Lily Joy Kitch was born at 3:48 p.m. Aug. 27, 2009, to Maureen May and Jeffery Kitch of Scotts Valley. She weighed 8 pounds, 3 ounces at Santa Cruz Dominican Hospital.

After two months living in a cabin above Scotts Valley, I’ve met dozens of friendly locals, including deer, rabbits, hawks, raccoons and, just the other day, a bobcat that raced down the driveway in front of my car.

Editor’s note: This is Part 2 of a two-part series on historical gardening.

September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. The subject of ovarian cancer was brought home to me this year when my 37-year-old niece was diagnosed with it.

If you weren’t already hip to it, this is indeed late notice. But whatever your plan for the weekend is, if it doesn’t include a trip to the Santa Cruz County Fair — change it!

You may have noticed the new data recently released from the National Center for Health Statistics that shows U.S. life expectancy is at an all-time high — nearly 78 years.

The sun does not rise as high over my redwoods. Deciduous trees — the cottonwoods, the sycamores — are changing into their fall wardrobe of gold and glitter along the San Lorenzo River. The big-leaf maple is dressing for its show-stopping finale. Even the demonic poison oak is turning crimson.