63.4 F
Scotts Valley
October 22, 2025

The Mountain Gardener: The story of wreaths

This is the story of a holiday tradition and how it all began. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent.

New faces

Peyton Emma-Sue Starkes, daughter of Jessica Cloresia Starkes of Felton, was born at 9:51 p.m. Nov. 28, 2012, at Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz. Peyton weighed 7 pounds, 12 ounces.

Visiting family during the holidays can be less stressful

Just in case visiting family during the holidays feels more like going to the dentist than “Joy to the World,” let me tell you how I handled this reality in my own life.

New faces

Aiden James Floodman Young was born to Shayna Catlin Floodman and Joseph John James Young of Boulder Creek at 11:34 p.m. Nov. 21, 2012. He weighed 6 pounds, 9 ounces at birth at Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz.

The Mountain Gardener: A colorful plant in drab winter months

Any plant that blooms during the shortest and darkest days of the year is a sure bet to get my attention. Even when the weather is cold and rainy, Christmas heather will brave the elements and keep on blooming.

Datebook

- 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.

Sports shorts

Traveling softball team tryouts

Datebook

- 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.

It’s the law: A prelude to trespass

During my middle school years, the orchard around the corner was bulldozed and a shopping center erupted. Being that my friends and I were kids, it was our sacred duty to know everything one could possibly know about that jobsite.

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