There’s no lack of ideas for the future of Scotts Valley.

“Don’t bury the lede,” as my editors of deadlines past might say:I’m leaving the Press Banner, as of Sept. 29.On Oct. 1, I begin a new assignment, as managing editor of New SV Media, whose three weekly newspapers and two magazines serve 140,000 people in Morgan Hill, Gilroy, and Hollister, owned by Metro Newspapers in San Jose.It has been an honor to be the editor of your community newspaper.I will miss all of you – strangers, neighbors, friends, families, sources, and newsmakers of all ages. I owe a big Thank You to each of you for reading what our small team puts together each week.Thanks for taking the time to read – and sometimes proofread – your newspaper cover to cover every week. Many of you have taken the time to call, send letters and emails, post comments at www.pressbanner.com and on Facebook, take and send in photographs, vote in Faves and Raves, and contribute press releases, stories, ideas, and criticism.Your engagement in your communities and with our continuing 67-year publishing adventure provides all the inspiration and ideas a local editor could hope for.If you hear of anyone complaining about apathy or indifference, conformity or indolence, invite them to the Santa Cruz Mountains. That’s the rich environment in which I have been fortunate enough to serve. Your newspaper continues to thrive here because of you.There is a great quote that I have used at least once that captures this spirit, from the introduction to the Ralph Brown Act (which standards for transparency for California public agencies):“The people insist on remaining informed, so that they may retain control over the instruments they have created.”       Hopefully, I am leaving the citizens of these twin valleys a little better informed and empowered.My goal when I arrived here in April 2016 was to deliver a newspaper that each week created a “Wow” or a “Gee, I didn’t know that” response among our readers, that provided news and information provided by no one else, and that shed a bright light on local issues, agencies and institutions. Through drought, floods, mudslides, fires, wrecks, scandals, heroics and pyrotechnics, it has been quite a ride.The fact is, there simply is no information source other than the Press Banner that serves all of your communities, and exclusively narrows its focus to the 35,000 people in the San Lorenzo River watershed (stopping at the Santa Cruz city limits).That is a big responsibility. At the Press Banner, your dedicated staff takes that responsibility very seriously, and it is a great motivator.Sometime folks have questioned my motives, even accusing me of purveying “fake news.” One reader actually told our publisher she was convinced I was “on the payroll of Big Water,” whatever that might be.Sometimes the act of “keeping it simple” and “telling it like it is” can be exhausting, (It’s nearly 10 p.m. as I write this) but it’s nearly always rewarding.I have been fortunate to have worked with a group of very talented people who know when to laugh, listen, and learn – from each other and from you.So please keep reading, keep writing, keep creating, keep redefining your communities and neighborhoods, so the person who follows me in this chair has plenty of stories to share.God bless.

6 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 21, Highlands Park Senior Center, 8500 Highway 9, Ben Lomond.

The Scotts Valley Water District announced this week that one of its wells caved in 900 feet underground, forcing the district to dig a new well.

Dr. Amy Solomon announced that she is closing her family medical practice in Ben Lomond, after serving families in the San Lorenzo Valley for 21 years, and will be moving from the area.

Wine and cheese in Ben Lomond Sept.16 at St. Andrew’sWine and cheese tasting, with music, will be featured in the Parish Hall of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church on Saturday, Sept. 16.The “St. Andrew’s Summer Festival,” from 2 to 5 p.m. to run from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the church, located at 101 Riverside Drive, Ben Lomond – the Little Redwood Church at the corner of Riverside and Glen Arbor.Music will be provided by noted Celtic musicians Margaret Davis and Kristoph Klover.  Admission, which includes wine, one wine glass and refreshments, is $30.  For $20, you can get non-alcoholic drinks and a glass, and a chance to listen to the music.A silent auction featuring new and collectible items will also be featured. New Name for local Democratic ClubThe Crosson North County Democratic Club has changed its name to the Democratic Club of North Santa Cruz County.The name change, according to a club statement, will make the club more searchable on the internet for members of the public seeking information about local Democratic organizations.The club will continue to honor the memory of John and Deloris Crosson, long-time San Lorenzo Valley residents and Democratic activists, by renaming its Democratic Ideals Award after them.On Thursday, Sept. 21, the club will sponsor an event to honor the Assemblymember Mark Stone at Bruno’s BBQ from 5 to 7 p.m. For more information or to RSVP, contact (831) 234-5885. Sliding scale is $30 to $50.The North County Democrats meet the first Tuesday of the month at Bruno’s BBQ. Dinner and social networking begins at 5:30 p.m. and the business meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. SLV featured in local documentaryLocal documentary film maker Bob Gliner has produced a documentary for public television about career technical education.“Job Centered Learning,” a one-hour documentary about Career Technical Education, includes a segment on the Aquaculture program at San Lorenzo Valley High School.Set your DVR systems:  It will be broadcast locally on Friday, Sept. 16 at 10 a.m. throughout the Monterey Bay area on Comcast channels 10 and 710, KQED + and on Sunday, Sept. 17 at 9 p.m. in the San Francisco Bay Area on KSCM Comcast 17 and 717. The documentary also will be archived on www.kqed.org.The documentary has been airing on public television stations throughout the U.S. since its release at the beginning of August.    For more information about the documentary or to watch a trailer, visit www.docmakeronline.com.The award-winning filmmaker’s other films include “Barefoot College,” “Growing Up Green,” “Democracy Left Behind,” and “Communities as Classrooms.” Yoga Festival Sat. at Ananda Scotts ValleyA free fall yoga festival will be held in Scotts Valley on Saturday, Sept. 16, from noon to 5 p.m.Ananda Yoga Scotts Valley will be offering free yoga and meditation classes every 30 minutes at the event with the trained Ananda teaching staff.Ananda Yoga, at 221-A Mt. Hermon Rd, Scotts Valley, incorporates asanas to build strength, balance and flexibility, pranayama techniques to access deep states of relaxation and affirmations to enhance mental and spiritual benefits of each pose.Visitors can enter the drawing for free yoga classes. Light refreshments will be served.CERT earthquake drill this weekendThe Santa Cruz County CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) teams in the Santa Cruz Mountains are having a unique practice drill on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 16 and 17.This event is the partnership of several disaster related agencies and teams that are working together to hold a weekend training event at the CAL FIRE training center on Empire Grade in Bonny Doon beginning at 9 a.m.CERT teams from Ben Lomond, Boulder Creek, Felton, Skyline/La Honda, Sacramento and the San Lorenzo Valley Amateur Radio Emergency Services group will be participating in the drills, which have been scripted to simulate the aftermath of an earthquake, according to CERT coordinator Kevin Foster.Volunteers will also participate as actors/victims in the drills.CERT members have gone through some pre trainings; The Red Cross has partnered with the teams and provided training on how a Red Cross Shelter is set up, the Santa Cruz County Emergency Operation Center simulated a disaster and Incident Command protocol was practiced; and Search and Rescue also provided a training session. Performing Arts Center prepares for Pumpkin PatchThe Scotts Valley Performing Arts Center plans a work weekend on Sept. 16 and 17 to begin preparations for a month-long pumpkin sale fundraiser that is to begin Sept. 29.The October Pumpkin Patch will also include a carving contest and some spooky entertainment.The volunteer work days will be at the theater site, 251 Kings Village Rd., from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.Community Service forms will be available for students.