I miss the Christmas tree and decorations that bring color to the house over the holidays. After they're packed away for another year and the tree recycled it looks a bit bare around here. The houseplants get their favorite places back now near the windows. This an important month for them when the garden is asleep. I want them to look great but Mother Nature delivers darker skies and less daylight hours. Even though they are still green they are taking a break and don't grow much over the dark days of winter. Don't become a clueless houseplant killer. Remember houseplants clean the air. We need them.

The New Year brings us to new Licenses, and mailing back the old “report cards”

Last year Scotts Valley 12-year-old Hollie Amaro performed a Robin Hood. Named after the famed archer of lore, an arrow Hollie shot during competition in Sacramento split an opponent's arrow that had previously struck the bullseye.

The 2013 all-Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League teams were announced this month headlined by a strong group of Scotts Valley and San Lorenzo Valley High School athletes. The following is broken down by sport.