I’ve been on the job as the new executive director at Valley Churches United since August of last year. When offered the chance to write a column for the Press-Banner, I jumped at it, as it’s a way to let the community inside this great place. I figured I’d start at the beginning; How is it I ended up here in the first place? When I heard of Annette Marcum’s illness and then passing (we never met), I felt in my gut the organization must carry on.

On June 1, California Department of Fish and Wildlife sent a press release in regards to elevated levels of domoic acid in Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties.

Atrial fibrillation is an irregular often rapid heart rate, causing the heart’s two upper chambers to quiver instead of beating regularly. Fortunately, the lower two chambers still work normally and are able to pump the blood out of the heart, although not as efficiently.

Owen Blake Biagiotti, a 6-pound boy, was born to Melissa Elizabeth Boynton and Blake Robert Biagiotti of Ben Lomond at Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz. He was born at 8:57 a.m. on May 23, 2015.

- Submit Datebook items to [email protected] or drop off press releases or photos at 5215 Scotts Valley Drive, Ste. F, Scotts Valley 95066. Deadline is 5 p.m. Tuesday. Entries are subject to editing, and publication is not guaranteed.

Suellene Petersen will join the Press-Banner on Monday as the new general manager and editor.