With the passing of International Stuttering Awareness Day on October 22, it may be prudent to note that the Santa Cruz Public Library has acquired new materials that support those with the speech impediment.

Barely escaping the threat of Hurricane Patricia in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Mark Andrews had quite a story to tell his Ecological Science class. His goal is to teach his students about the natural world and how it works. That is science.

Just completing the three act comedy, “The Secret Affair of Mildred Wild,” the Mountain Community Theater will be gearing up for their next play. The “Last Noel” runs from November 20 to December 13 and will be directed by Robin Aronson.

 Everything in my garden does not always turn out the way I imagined. I make lots of mistakes. From putting in all the drip emitters backwards — yes, I actually did that to my ongoing banana slug relocation program. I should be able to face challenges in the garden and come out triumphant. Alas, that is not always the case.

In the 19th century, the old pagan holiday of All Hallows’ Eve was often a romantic occasion. “To lovers,” according to one article, “the feast is the most convenient of all on the calendar. The maiden, on Hallow Eve, is enabled by a temporary suspension of her Christian conscience and some diabolical enchantment, to behold the person of her future husband.”

The scene was festive; the sun was shining, and the waves were firing in perfect conditions for last weekend’s annual Women on Waves Surf Fest longboarding contest at CapitolaBeach. LocalSan LorenzoValley surfers, April Martin-Hansen and Susie Deutsch couldn’t stop smiling after dominating their preliminary and final heats in the Juniors and Grand Masters age divisions, respectively.