Tag: columns
Plain Talk About Food | X’s and O’s
“Tis better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all.” —Alfre Lord Tennyson
Each day as “Eventide” approaches, I find myself...
The Mountain Gardener | Love is In the Air: Plant Reproduction
One of my favorite classes when I attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo was Plant Taxonomy. On the surface the subject sounds a little...
Guest Viewpoint | Fifth District Focus Enters Second Year
I ran to represent the Fifth District, and that means making sure our mountain communities are heard and that county decisions reflect the realities...
Scotts Valley School Bell | Schools Focus on Growth, Wellness and...
I hope you all have been enjoying the warm weather—it’s hard to believe it’s the middle of winter. There’s a lot to cover this...
Mayor’s Message | Storms, Sinkholes and Staying the Course
As we prepared for 2026, Mother Nature certainly got our attention! Walking on what seemed like a beautiful day for a walk, my phone...
The Mountain Gardener | February in the Garden
I’m waiting patiently for the buds on my pink flowering currant to start showing color. They’re still pretty small at this stage, but I’ve...
Finance | Itemizing Trump Tax Deductions for 2025
Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) passed Congress and now figures into your 2025 tax returns with blatant Schedule A tax deductions and...
The Mountain Gardener | All About the Roses
January is almost over with nary a raindrop since Jan. 5 as I write this, although there is some in the forecast. Our days...
Strictly Speaking | When Herbs Become Teachers
Step into the woods and something shifts. Your pace slows. Your senses wake up. What once looked like an ordinary path becomes a living...
Plain Talk About Food | The ‘Real’ Blackberry
I simply cannot pass a display of blackberries at any fruit stand without buying at least one “clamshell” of those luscious berries, which are...
News Briefs | Published Feb. 13, 2026
Omega Nu awards $16K in grants to local public schools
Omega Nu of Santa Cruz has awarded $16,000 in grants to public school teachers through...
