Your Health: E-cigarettes can be highly addictive and harmful, too
There’s been much in the news recently about e-cigarettes. The Santa Cruz City Council has just voted to update the city’s tobacco related ordinances which would ban the use of e-cigarettes where smoking is currently restricted and requiring the product to be sold only by vendors with tobacco retail licenses. Thus, Santa Cruz joins some 50 California state cities and counties in creating such restrictions.
The Mountain Gardener: Avoid sneezing and itching in your own garden
Mea culpa. It was brought to my attention by a reader who suffers from pollen allergies that blooming acacias are not the cause of allergic reactions at this time of year. Acacias are largely pollinated by insects and have heavy pollen that doesn't tend to become airborne. It's the non-showy, quiet ones you have to watch out for. Warm temperatures earlier in the year are already creating havoc for those who have to deal with seasonal allergies.
The Mountain Gardener: A mountain farm proves full of wonders
My friend Janie shares with me some of the vegetables she gets in her weekly community-supported agriculture box. I like leafy greens, while she devours the peppers, lettuces, potatoes, beans — whatever is in season and harvested fresh and delicious that week.
Mayors wager on gridiron showdown
Scotts Valley Mayor Dene Bustichi and Santa Cruz Mayor Ryan Coonerty have placed a friendly $100 wager on Friday night’s football game between Scotts Valley and Santa Cruz high schools
Let’s go fishing: Commercial crab season starts strong
The commercial Dungeness crab season in Central California opened Nov. 14 and started off great, until the weather took a turn and kept boats in port. The market is hungry for crabs, and consumers are paying top dollar to start the season.
Commentary: Mayor asks for Measure U vote
I have had the pleasure these past few weeks to talk to lots of people, some door-to-door, about our temporary ½-cent sales tax, Measure U. The response has been very positive. Some heartily endorse the measure, agreeing that to keep current services intact that additional revenue is needed for our city. But not everyone favors this tax and they have their reasons and they are happy to share them with me. The “I pay enough taxes already,” is the most frequent reason given for resisting any new tax. I think they are surprised when I agree with them.
Let’s Go Fishin’: Low water stress
As much as I wish creating rain is under my control, I have to remind myself it is out of my hands. The wonderful weather comes with pleasure until my mind switches from the beach to the river, then I begin to realize a slow underlining feeling of worry and fear. I think this concern is carried by many of us who have concerns that are greater than ourselves and the daily pleasure of nice weather. So many factors relay on regular rain and snow fall totals. It is hard to not wish for rain.
News Briefs | Published Sept. 12, 2025
Fun run, emergency preparedness fair set for Saturday
On Saturday, Sept. 13, the City of Santa Cruz will be hosting Race the Wave, a 3K...