H Orientalis Lenten Roses Ben Lomond Column: Josh Reilly Columns Gardening 

A March Garden

by Josh Reilly In February, a gardener’s anticipation borders on intolerable. Especially in those parts of the SLV subject to frost. A lot of what we see growing happily in Santa Cruz, right now, undamaged by frost, is under threat here. Alas, many winter-flowering plants are a lost cause here, with a few very worthwhile exceptions (see below). Flower buds… Read More
Classic VW bus after the CZU fire Column: MC Dwyer Columns Real Estate 

Real Estate: Home Is Where the Heart Is

SLV Homes By M.C. Dwyer Life events are often the motivating factor behind people’s decision to move, and emotions usually play a big role in the decision-making process. In addition to managing all the rational details of a home purchase or sale, it’s important that people be assured when they’re outside of their comfort zone – learning about new neighborhoods,… Read More
Columns Music 

Pure Passion: Musician and Educator Diane Bock

Local Music Teacher Holds Down the Beat By Michele Murphy Passion, that’s the word that comes to mind when talking with accomplished musician, innovative music teacher, and Scotts Valley resident Diane Bock.  Besides her voracious appetite for learning new material to play, Ms. Bock, as her students call her, is focused on fresh ways to teach the magical language of music… Read More
Alison Steele Recipes from a Mountain Garden Column Alison Steele Columns Food & Drink 

Alison Steele: Recipes from a Mountain Garden

New columnist alert! Alison Steele is on deck bringing us delicious home cooking inspired by her Boulder Creek organic garden. A Virginia transplant from 2003, Alison lives with her husband, two children, and cat in downtown Boulder Creek where she raises quail, chickens, fruit trees, vegetables and herbs. On the weekends she teaches reskilling workshops in her garden including knitting,… Read More
Felton california movie location the primal lure Columns History 

The Movies Come to Felton | Local History

Plenty of Real Scenery for “The Primal Lure” By Randall Brown December 1915. The movie scouts needed to find a location for a Canadian Northwest story. The scenario called for forests, mountain trails, open clearings, and a river. Their instructions were clear: “No phony scenery.” They chose Felton. Carpenters quickly set to work recreating “Fort Lu Cerne,” a frontier trading… Read More
Pint of joe coffee beer Columns Food & Drink 

A Pint of Joe: Best of All Worlds – Coffee in Beer

By Mike De Smidt and Greg Roe  One of the reasons we enjoy beer and the process of designing and brewing it are the endless possibilities. Fruit, spices, alternative grains (everything other than the traditional barley), you name it; there’s probably somebody somewhere who has experimented with putting it in a beer. One such experiment that has yielded some truly… Read More