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Max Mobley is a known quantity in the San Lorenzo Valley. Whether he’s writing magazine features, reviews or interviews on music; books on music technology and the band Rush (Rush FAQ: All That's Left to Know About Rock's Greatest Power Trio); playing guitar with local bands Swordfight and Rockblock Weekend, or supporting his wife Tina in her role as Station Manager at KBCZ...you get the idea. Max is a man of many talents and ambitions, so it’s no wonder that he has dropped a fourth book in his pursuit as an author. “Howard & Debbie” is a stinging and compelling piece of fictional horror that takes the reader on a journey through darkness and grit, through hopes shattered, revenge and bloodlust, and dreams realized. As a freshman fiction writer, Mobley has all the right moves.

The 2019 school year is in the books. At Scotts Valley High, 188 students graduated with 176 heading to college. At San Lorenzo Valley High, 136 graduated, and 118 are college-bound.

On Saturday, June 15th, the Catholic Community of San Agustín gathered to celebrate 50 years as parish serving the community of Scotts Valley and beyond. The celebration began with a special Anniversary Mass officiated by the new Bishop of the Diocese of Monterey, Bishop Danny Garcia, just recently appointed in November after the former Bishop's passing. Being from Texas, this was Bishop Danny's first visit to Scotts Valley and to San Agustín where he was enthusiastically greeted and welcomed. Also in attendance, Retired Bishop Sylvester Ryan, current Pastor Fr. John Griffin and previous pastor, Fr. Seamus O'Brien, who will be returning as pastor of San Agustin once again in September upon Fr. John's retirement.

The Church of San Agustin, nestled in the hills above Santa Cruz, is named after the original Mexican Land Grant, “San Agustin Ranchero,” which comprises all of the Scotts Valley area. The parish was established in 1969, three years after the small community of Scotts Valley incorporated into a city. A house on the property was remodeled to become the parish rectory. The first Mass was celebrated in a field next this house on June 8, 1969 by our first pastor, Father Michael MacDonald. Mass was also celebrated at the Scotts Valley School and then in an enlarged converted barn/garage on the property until ground breaking for the new multipurpose building began in September of 1969. The building was completed the following year in September of 1970. Our beautiful Spanish mission style cross was fashioned by the San Agustin Men’s Committee from a Santa Cruz Mountain redwood tree. Its dedication in April 1971 marked the first Easter in the new chapel. The Sante Fe train bell hanging over the church was given to the parish by the Weinmann family and installed in April of 1972 and later dedicated to the memory of our first pastor, Father Mac. 

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women, responsible for more deaths each year than from all other causes combined. Between the ages of 45 to 65, one in nine women develops some form of cardiovascular disease. After age 65 the ratio climbs to one in three women.

Scotts Valley’s Agape Dance Academy brought the story of “Cinderella” to life over the weekend of June 14-16 at Aptos High School’s Performing Arts Center. Replete with evil stepsisters Anastasia and Drizella (played by Emi Prograce and Olivia Hughes), Fairy Godmother (played by Hannah Ruvo), a cadre of mice and Prince Charming himself (danced beautifully by Zaiah Jones), the entire dance troupe delivered a gorgeous rendition of the age-old fairy tale. Set changes were quick and nearly unseen; the music was boisterous and ebbed and flowed with the characters’ story, and the costumes were dazzling explosions of tulle, satin and sparkles galore. Arden Emhoff, who played the title role, was a study in grace, power and control as she spun through the transforation from under-appreciated housemaiden to a princess in love.

As you walk around your garden enjoying the fragrance of the different flowers you may be thinking back to your mother’s garden and the clove-scented carnations she grew or the sweet peas that remind you of that neighbor who grew them next-door and loved to share. Our sense of smell is a powerful trigger to past memories.

As a third-generation helper of the homeless, there are a lot of stories to tell. My paternal grandfather was homeless during the Great Depression. He walked on foot from Arizona to New York City where he was arrested for vagrancy. Once married and settled down, he regularly brought home vagrants for dinner and let them spend a night or two in the basement. One time he read on the front page of the morning paper that the fellow he’d fed, housed, and shared breakfast with that very day had robbed a bank the day before and was on the run.

The recipe for a perfect play: Start with four cups of feminism. Add in three generations of ideals, two women in competition for the love of one man and a teaspoon of tepid testosterone. Throw in a dash of senior sass and millennial convictions, and you’ve got “Rapture, Blister, Burn,” now being performed by Peter Gelblum’s Mountain Community Theater in Ben Lomond’s Park Hall.