This last winter’s great storm took its toll on my life as it once had been. My beloved Hubby Norman passed from this life during the height of this storm, leaving me bereft and full of doubts. “How could I have let this happen, how could I have let him leave me”? Those words kept repeating over and over in my mind.

This is the last weekend to catch the San Lorenzo Valley High Theater Program’s production of “Museum.”

The Quail Creek 4-H Club earned success at the Santa Cruz County Fair last month. The Livestock Team entered a steer, three pigs, three chickens, four market lambs and a flock of breeding sheep in the show animal competition. Their group three market lambs — raised by Steven Katawicz, Mia Hamilton, and Jay Wright — won first place. The club also won first place for the theme of its booth “Fly Me to the Fair” which featured paper mache hot air balloons.

Many of us garden in the shade year round. Others have sun in the summer but shade from fall through spring as the sun's arc becomes lower. Do you look at the fall bulbs for sale and think ‘Is there any hope that my garden might look like the pictures on the package come spring?” Here are some encouraging tips for you if this describes your garden.

Scotts Valley resident Patrice Maginnis was announced this week as the recipient of the Be the Difference Award from the Santa Cruz Volunteer Center.

Who knows what the weather will be like this winter but we do know that some of our rain events will come with a vengeance. It's not that unusual for our area to get 8 inches of rainfall during a storm and that can create havoc on an unprotected hillside. Fortunately, October is a good time to do something about it.