Community

While things begin to feel, perhaps, a little more claustrophobic at home, know that you can know participate with community members across the world in celebrating our essential workers!  The trend of evening clapping to thank workers began in Wuhan, China, and is quickly catching on throughout the globe from Paris, to New York City, Buenos Aires, Seville, Atlanta, and Amsterdam.  It’s even spread to our valleys!  If you have yet to join, I advise you to, like the spouse of Boulder Creek resident Nicki Petruzzella Kerns, set an alarm for 7:57 pm and amble outside after it goes off.  Ever since March 28th, our valleys have been filling with howls of appreciation at 8:00pm, for those continuing to work against the virus. 

Kids from Baymonte Christian School may have a new item for their wish list — a hula hoop. Physical education teacher Patrice Fernald introduced “hooping” as a fitness activity for the kids and it has taken off. Last week Fernald and the school hosted the Good Golly Miss Molly Hooping Honeys troupe from Santa Cruz to come and teach the students new tricks.

On November 13th, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Leslie Chavez and Sara Clevenger, two of authors of 100 Things to do in Santa Cruz Before You Die.  We met up at Coffee Cat, their favorite cafe in Scotts Valley.  Both Leslie and Sara were quite charming and excited to chat about their new book, which is part of a national series and available in Bookshop Santa Cruz and on Amazon. 

Saturday’s farmers market represented a new beginning for Scotts Valley. It was a coming-of-age event, a celebration of the community’s maturity, a joining with other towns that have long had farmers markets. It was a signal that Scotts Valley has arrived.

If you don’t have plans for Valentine’s Day yet, there’s a brand-new option to consider. Marco Rocha, the 40-year-old owner of the El Rey Leon food truck in Boulder Creek, is holding the grand opening of his new restaurant, Corazon de Leon, in the former...