The Mountain Gardener: Don’t let ivy choke your trees
Well, it's that time of year again when all things seem possible.
Community News: On Saturday, Sept. 16, the St. Andrew’s Summer Festival and Ananda Yoga Festival!
Wine and cheese in Ben Lomond Sept.16 at St. Andrew’sWine and cheese tasting, with music, will be featured in the Parish Hall of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church on Saturday, Sept. 16.The “St. Andrew’s Summer Festival,” from 2 to 5 p.m. to run from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the church, located at 101 Riverside Drive, Ben Lomond – the Little Redwood Church at the corner of Riverside and Glen Arbor.Music will be provided by noted Celtic musicians Margaret Davis and Kristoph Klover. Admission, which includes wine, one wine glass and refreshments, is $30. For $20, you can get non-alcoholic drinks and a glass, and a chance to listen to the music.A silent auction featuring new and collectible items will also be featured. New Name for local Democratic ClubThe Crosson North County Democratic Club has changed its name to the Democratic Club of North Santa Cruz County.The name change, according to a club statement, will make the club more searchable on the internet for members of the public seeking information about local Democratic organizations.The club will continue to honor the memory of John and Deloris Crosson, long-time San Lorenzo Valley residents and Democratic activists, by renaming its Democratic Ideals Award after them.On Thursday, Sept. 21, the club will sponsor an event to honor the Assemblymember Mark Stone at Bruno’s BBQ from 5 to 7 p.m. For more information or to RSVP, contact (831) 234-5885. Sliding scale is $30 to $50.The North County Democrats meet the first Tuesday of the month at Bruno’s BBQ. Dinner and social networking begins at 5:30 p.m. and the business meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. SLV featured in local documentaryLocal documentary film maker Bob Gliner has produced a documentary for public television about career technical education.“Job Centered Learning,” a one-hour documentary about Career Technical Education, includes a segment on the Aquaculture program at San Lorenzo Valley High School.Set your DVR systems: It will be broadcast locally on Friday, Sept. 16 at 10 a.m. throughout the Monterey Bay area on Comcast channels 10 and 710, KQED + and on Sunday, Sept. 17 at 9 p.m. in the San Francisco Bay Area on KSCM Comcast 17 and 717. The documentary also will be archived on www.kqed.org.The documentary has been airing on public television stations throughout the U.S. since its release at the beginning of August. For more information about the documentary or to watch a trailer, visit www.docmakeronline.com.The award-winning filmmaker’s other films include “Barefoot College,” “Growing Up Green,” “Democracy Left Behind,” and “Communities as Classrooms.” Yoga Festival Sat. at Ananda Scotts ValleyA free fall yoga festival will be held in Scotts Valley on Saturday, Sept. 16, from noon to 5 p.m.Ananda Yoga Scotts Valley will be offering free yoga and meditation classes every 30 minutes at the event with the trained Ananda teaching staff.Ananda Yoga, at 221-A Mt. Hermon Rd, Scotts Valley, incorporates asanas to build strength, balance and flexibility, pranayama techniques to access deep states of relaxation and affirmations to enhance mental and spiritual benefits of each pose.Visitors can enter the drawing for free yoga classes. Light refreshments will be served.CERT earthquake drill this weekendThe Santa Cruz County CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) teams in the Santa Cruz Mountains are having a unique practice drill on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 16 and 17.This event is the partnership of several disaster related agencies and teams that are working together to hold a weekend training event at the CAL FIRE training center on Empire Grade in Bonny Doon beginning at 9 a.m.CERT teams from Ben Lomond, Boulder Creek, Felton, Skyline/La Honda, Sacramento and the San Lorenzo Valley Amateur Radio Emergency Services group will be participating in the drills, which have been scripted to simulate the aftermath of an earthquake, according to CERT coordinator Kevin Foster.Volunteers will also participate as actors/victims in the drills.CERT members have gone through some pre trainings; The Red Cross has partnered with the teams and provided training on how a Red Cross Shelter is set up, the Santa Cruz County Emergency Operation Center simulated a disaster and Incident Command protocol was practiced; and Search and Rescue also provided a training session. Performing Arts Center prepares for Pumpkin PatchThe Scotts Valley Performing Arts Center plans a work weekend on Sept. 16 and 17 to begin preparations for a month-long pumpkin sale fundraiser that is to begin Sept. 29.The October Pumpkin Patch will also include a carving contest and some spooky entertainment.The volunteer work days will be at the theater site, 251 Kings Village Rd., from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.Community Service forms will be available for students.
Students participate in nationwide event to promote school safety
This week, students at Scotts Valley High School participated in National Student Walkout Day on March 14, to honor the 17 students who died in the Parkland school shooting and to promote school safety.
Youth football season ends
The results are in, and the Scotts Valley Police Athletic League football teams are set to complete another successful season.
Race Through the Redwoods celebrates 50 years in Felton
Next month, several participants will run the trails through Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park marking the 50th anniversary of Felton’s oldest long-distance race.
Understanding Prescription Medication- Part I
When picking up your prescription medication, before you leave the pharmacy, take a close look at the label on each container. Make sure it has the following:
Viral Regulations Affect Local Real Estate and Mortgages
Our country contemplates late Spring with a hundred thousand of us turning to leaves of grass. In the San Lorenzo and Scotts Valleys, the lady in ACE pleads for patience with COVID waiting lines; Americans tolerate one-way signs in store aisles; Felton rental truck employees refuse good work; and the Boulder Creek hair stylist sues the state to reopen. Labor Day celebrations and protests in crowds show massive impatience—but haven’t led to mass outbreaks of disease. High unemployment payments, food stamps, and closed schools discourage the work most want even when workplaces and Chambers can open. Viral regulations to disperse crowds make business inefficient when operational: distancing and extra cleanup reduce store capacities. Short unexpected contagion, Americans must return to work before government follows business to bankruptcy. Republicans play cards for chance while Democrats play for caution; both reward special interests as they gamble elections on life and death.
Off Hours: Flyin’ and floatin’
Three-day weekends are welcomed throughout the year, but especially so in the summer. The Labor Day holiday is particularly sweet; it generally marks the imminent start of the school year — a final wild weekend before locals get their ’hood back from the tourists and parent get a break from having to occupy and entertain their kids 24-7.
Letter from Danny Reber, The Scotts Valley Chamber of Commerce President
With the County’s “Shelter in Place” Order for the COVID-19 pandemic the Chamber recognizes that the small business owners in our community are the ones being the most impacted. We will continue working remotely to serve your needs as best we can. If you need a Certificate of Origin stamped and signed or have any questions, please contact me directly at dreber@scottsvalleychamber.com
News Briefs | Published Nov. 6, 2026
Scotts Valley water supply returns to normal
San Lorenzo Valley Water District has returned the Pasatiempo No. 5 well to service, allowing water quality in...

















