It's bare root season again. There's something magical about a small leafless tree with bare roots that will produce mouth-watering fruit when it grows up. Even ornamental shade trees, flowering shrubs like lilacs, and vines like wisteria, start out looking like twigs.

The Scotts Valley High School varsity wrestling team defeated undermanned San Lorenzo Valley 66-7 in both teams first Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League duel meet of the season.

With the winter’s sun dropping below the mountains, the temperature has been dropping into the twenties most nights. Chili weather calls for eating a bowlful of chili con carne, cornbread and a glass of Heineken beer by the fireplace at day’s end.

The Scotts Valley High girls varsity soccer team defeated the visiting San Lorenzo Valley High 3-1 on Tuesday, Jan. 7 and the boys followed suit with a 3-0 win the following day.

Last fall my sister lost her favorite tree in a windstorm. She lives on Fox Island in the southern part of Puget Sound. I remember hearing about the extraordinary Pacific storm on the national news shattering records in the Northwest. Gusts up to 76 miles per hour closed bridges while falling trees hurt two people and thousands lost power. Her Silk Tree didn't stand a chance.

The Polo Barn, located on the Polo Ranch near Carbonero Creek in north Scotts Valley, was constructed in 1930 for Marion Hollins, a prominent sportswomen, women’s rights pioneer and entrepreneur.