Columns Archives

A Mid-Century “Atomic” Vault in the Santa Cruz Mountains

December 26, 2024January 7, 2025 slvpost.comatomic vault, Santa Cruz Mountains, Zayante, zayante tunnel0 comment

By Ronnie Trubek In 1953, the Zayante Southern Pacific Railroad tunnel was purchased by the Western States Atomic Vault Corporation, touted for use as a storage place for vital documents and other priceless valuables in case of nuclear attacks. The Southern Pacific train route that ran through the tunnel had been abandoned since November 1940. But, the Zayante tunnel remained… Read More

Columns Food & Drink Recipes

Cranberry Orange Scones

December 25, 2024January 3, 2025 slvpost.comrecipes

By Robin Horne You say teatime, I say scones. Tea with scones is the perfect pick-me-up combination: slightly sweet, lightly fruity, and caffeinated. Both festive and easy to make, scones can be created in endless varieties. You can freeze them either before or after baking, and they taste perfect after a short time in the oven. For a recent tea… Read More

Column: Josh Reilly Columns Gardening

December in the Santa Cruz Mountains Garden

December 7, 2024December 12, 2024 slvpost.com

By Josh Reilly Maybe the best thing about December in SLV gardens is the slow pace. There is almost nothing urgent to do. Four months ago, I spent time in the garden every day, watering, weeding, and worrying about one thing or another (usually gophers). In December, however, the memory of that non-stop whirl of activity has faded. The only… Read More

Column: MC Dwyer Columns Real Estate

Housing Market Update November 2024

November 9, 2024November 21, 2024 slvpost.com

By M.C. Dwyer The housing market tends to slow in November as people begin to plan for winter holidays, and home touring activity is affected by the weather. This year, home buyers and sellers are also contending with war in the Middle East, political uncertainty in the US, and higher mortgage rates. As California retains the #1 position with the… Read More

Astrology Columns

The Heart of Scorpio Season

November 3, 2024November 14, 2024 Catie Cadge, PhD

By Catie Cadge PhD Greetings, Santa Cruz stargazers! November 1st opens with a New Moon, 9°35’ Scorpio, 5:47 am Pacific time. A watery, intuitive lunar time, Sun and Moon trine (120°) Saturn in Pisces at 12°52’. If we cast the chart using Santa Cruz as the location, the New Moon falls in the 1st house, Saturn in the 5th. The… Read More

Column: MC Dwyer Columns Real Estate

Real Estate: Housing Market Update

October 4, 2024October 11, 2024 M.C. Dwyer

By M.C. Dwyer Unable to sleep the other night, I wandered outside to enjoy the crickets. A mesmerizing mist drifted through the redwoods and across the sky, intermittently floating across the moon. A bright circle with hints of rainbows shimmered around the moon, and I remembered that, as a child, I’d heard farmers predict a change in weather after a… Read More

Astrology Columns

Cosmic Healing, Grace & Ease | October Astrology

October 3, 2024October 6, 2024 Julie Horner

By Catie Cadge PhD October greetings, Santa Cruz stargazers! This autumn, the Libra seasonal theme is finding right balance in relationships, creatively working together in ways that support both parties and the right for each one to take up space. Life takes negotiating and developing a good rapport for all involved. Hmmm…and we are working our way closer to the… Read More

Columns History Local History

Gold Fever: Untold stories of the Califonia and Santa Cruz Gold Rushes

September 16, 2024October 4, 2024 Lisa Robinson

by Lisa Robison In 1853, Dr. John Boardman Trask, California’s state mineralogist, embarked on his second geological survey of the state, this time with a focus on the coastal counties and parts of the Sierra Nevada “embracing their resources in agriculture and mining.” He surveyed Santa Cruz County sometime between June 23 and October that year. He noted that four… Read More

Columns History Local History

The Grandmother Tree

September 15, 2024October 4, 2024 Lisa Robinson

By Lisa Robinson In 1902, the Santa Cruz Sentinel re-published a rather confusing story from the San Jose Mercury. A San Jose butcher, Charles A. Thompson, hung a side of meat in his shop and to it attached a sign saying “Bear.” To Charles Wampach, who was credited with “knowing as much about grizzlies and their kind as any man… Read More

Columns Columns: Tom Andersen Food & Drink

From Ancient Origins to Your Kitchen: The Fascinating History of Kefir and a Simple Recipe to Make Your Own

September 8, 2024September 20, 2024 Thomas Andersenfermenter, Food, recipes

By Tom Andersen Kefir is an ancient fermented tangy dairy drink. Evidence of kefir cultures have been found that were 4000 years old. It is said to have been a gift from the prophet Mohammad himself; can’t go wrong with that. There is an area at the bottom of Russia above the country of Georgia called the Caucasus where Turkey… Read More