In a first-time-ever collaborative project, five Santa Cruz County Rotary Clubs joined forces to refurbish parts of the Homeless Services Center (HSC) on Coral Street on Sat. April 7. Nearly 50 volunteers sanded and painted support pillars, benches, and picnic tables. They also installed new flooring and baseboards in the HSC dining hall.

Josephine Turcot had been escorted to her coronation as Water Carnival Queen by a suite of handmaidens.  On her journey to Palo Alto to enroll in Stanford, the following September, her retinue consisted of only one lady—her Aunt Catherine.  Upon her return to Santa Cruz, Mrs. Logan plunged into a new project--helping to host the Grand Council of the Catholic Ladies’ Aid Society.

For Scotts Valley Police Officer John Hohmann the chance to race police cars on a speedway to raise money for Special Olympics was an idea long in the making.

Earth Day celebrates the natural beauty of our planet and reminds us of what we can do to keep it healthy. Always on April 22nd, Earth Day is a day of education about environmental issues and is now a global celebration. In anticipation of this day I recently spent the morning in nature at the UCSC Arboretum where the birds and the bees were enjoying the nectar flowers. Whether you plant a tree, clean up litter, garden, hike in the woods or marvel at emerging wildflower, be in contact with the soil and breathe fresh air outside on this day.

   Biting into this banoffee (ban- o- fee) pie is actually ‘falling in love’ all over again; this time it is with a banana concoction poured over a layer of caramel sauce in a graham cracker crust and topped with billowy whipped cream.  Soo delicious, that when biting into this pie for the first time, you moan with words such as yum, ahhh, oh my, or this is the most delicious pie I have ever eaten.  I promise you, from the guest who really doesn’t care for bananas to the ones who love bananas, they will ALL love this pie.

Robert Stoll joined Santa Cruz Bonsai Kai in 1989 two months after it started. He and I have something in common. We both have won a bonsai specimen that remains one of our favorites. His will be featured at the club’s upcoming bonsai exhibit while mine lives a quietly on my patio.

Santa Cruz County has long been the gold standard in innovative programs that have become models for the others. Our Probation Department and the Sheriff’s Office have been recognized time and again.

Spring might have officially started mid-March but judging from the wonky weather it was hard to tell. We did experience a “Miracle March” complete with a pretty good dose of needed rainfall along with some very cold weather. You never know what to expect in March around here.

The other day I stopped by historic Gamble Gardens in Palo Alto. I had some free time before my eye appointment and Sherman, my dog, wanted to stretch his legs. You can mark time with the events in the botanical world and this garden is packed with good examples. School kids were tending the vegetable starts and beneficial-friendly flower beds. Volunteers were looking after the formal rose garden and tulip beds. Visitors like me and Sherman just wanted to take in all the early spring beauty.