Books Boulder Creek Columns History 

Remembering the White Cockade Scottish Pub: Recipes, Photos, and Recollections

One Hundred Thousand Welcomes! A Legendary Boulder Creek Watering Hole Remembered. By Julie Horner In days past, anyone traveling deep in the forest along Upper Highway 9 in Boulder Creek might spot The White Cockade Scottish Pub biding beside the roadway with its front door painted bright blue and emblazoned with a white X, the Saltire, representing the St. Andrews… Read More
Entertainment Live Music 

Live Music Santa Cruz: December 7-10

Full listing of live music, concerts, entertainment, and events in Santa Cruz and the Santa Cruz Mountains. By Julie Horner Thursday, December 7 The Jamissaries at Shanty Shack BrewingThursday, December 7 | 5:00 – 7:00138 Fern St., Santa Cruz Matt Hartle at Discretion BrewingFirst Thursdays | 5:30 – 7:302703 41st Ave Ste. A, Soquel Slow Coast Trio at VinoCruzThursdays |… Read More
Boulder Creek Fire Department Christmas Tree Lot Community Holidays 

Boulder Creek Fire’s Christmas Tree Lot

The Boulder Creek Volunteer Fire Department’s annual Christmas tree sale is in full swing! The lot is located behind the fire station at 13230 Central Ave, Boulder Creek. Turn in at Middleton and you’ll see the array of choices. A variety of fir trees are available in every size imaginable. Firefighters are on hand to help you with your selection, and they’ll… Read More
Ben Lomond Library Community 

Community Driven Revitalization: Breathing New Life into Ben Lomond Library

By Mary Andersen Friends of the Ben Lomond Library have kicked off revitalization efforts for the historic Ben Lomond Library building and library operations with a meet and greet and volunteer gatherings at the library located on Mill Street in downtown Ben Lomond.  The library building and surrounding property, maintained by the Santa Cruz County Parks Department, have been in… Read More
Business Food & Drink 

A Call to Gathering: BaleFire Brewing Opens in Live Oak

By Julie Horner Craft beer lovers will be stoked to notice that a new brewer has come to town in the Live Oak district of Santa Cruz. Former Boulder Creek locals and KBCZ 89.3 FM Community Radio alumni, Leslie and Matt Buchanan and business partners Stephanie and Nate Murphy have signed the lease in the East Cliff Village Shopping Center… Read More
History Local News 

Waterman Gap Lumber Mill Turns 100

By Julie Horner with Scott Tucker and Derek Whaley On Sunday, November 5, 2023, local tree professional Bruce Baker took a group of local history buffs, backcountry trail hands, and the generally curious to the ruins of the Santa Cruz Lumber Mill near Big Basin Redwoods State Park. The Santa Cruz Lumber Company was formed by Santa Cruz native George… Read More
pie ranch pescadero Columns Farms 

Gifts From the Land: A Visit to Pescadero’s Pie Ranch

By Josh Reilly During the peak of the pandemic, one of the few outings my wife and I allowed ourselves, during the warmer seasons, was a Saturday or Sunday drive over the mountains, via Bonny Doon, down to Hwy 1. After stopping at Swanton Berry Farm for the best strawberries in the area, one of those trips brought us to… Read More