Midsummer heat can be brutal. Without shade from trees, the sun can turn a garden from an oasis into a spot not fit for man or beast. If you need to plant a tree that grows really fast and will provide shade quickly, consider one of the following. They’ll sprout 2 to 4 feet in a single year with good care.

Practice, practice: Desmond Balco has a lighter moment with others the Scotts Valley “Back to the Basics” Basketball Camp, conducted recently at the Scotts Valley High School gym. Lucjan Szewczyk/Press-Banner

The Scotts Valley Little League 8-9, 9-10 and 10-11 All-Star teams won their respective District 39 tournaments last week, meaning that for the second year in a row, four of the five all-star tournament crowns went to Scotts Valley.

Summer is here, and most types of fishing are in full swing.