Local News Valley People 

Here There be Monsters: The Al Astrella Monster Movie Memorabilia Collection

By Julie Horner Albert Astrella started out as a kid who liked to draw pictures of cemeteries. “My mom didn’t know what to make of me,” he said. Astrella started collecting monster movie memorabilia as a pre-teen in the early 1960s. A faded snapshot kept safely in a folio of correspondence, handbills, and ticket stubs shows a 12-year-old Astrella posing… Read More
Local News Valley People Water 

The Long Road to Lompico – Lois Henry Retires From SLV Water District’s Board

By Jayme Ackemann My colleague and new friend Lois Henry is retiring from public service. Her term on the Water District Board began in 2018 but her story starts years before the road to Lompico was paved. Lois and Les Henry settled their family in San Lorenzo Valley’s Lompico Canyon community more than 50 years ago. They built their home… Read More
Laura Testa Reyes Local News Radio Valley People 

Radio Active: Resounding Women’s Voices

By Julie Horner Pure dedication. Nearly every Sunday since the winter of 1989, Boulder Creek’s Laura Testa-Reyes makes the trek over the hill to run the Wimmin’s Music Program on KKUP 91.5 FM in Cupertino. “Laura Testa,” as she is called on-air, is a passionate feminist radio programmer whose inspiration comes from music written and performed by women. She hosts… Read More
Chris Clayton Realtor Column: Antonia Bradford Local News Valley People 

Valley Neighbors: Chris Clayton Helps Fire Families

By Antonia Bradford Before the CZU fire the housing market in Santa Cruz County was already difficult with high demands and little inventory. After the fire it became nearly impossible. Fire victims, after losing everything, were thrust into a rental market that now was even tighter than before. Chris Clayton, a Realtor with Anderson Christie Real Estate in Felton, was… Read More
Chris Copeland insurance Column: Antonia Bradford Fire Recovery Local News Valley People 

Fire Recovery: Chris Copeland Offers Insurance Education and Assistance

By Antonia Bradford When the CZU fire hit the San Lorenzo Valley, Scotts Valley resident and retired insurance adjuster Chris Copeland knew right away that families who lost their homes would have a second battle in front of them – figuring out their insurance policies and contending with insurance companies. What he didn’t expect was the mistreatment that so many… Read More
Love 22 2020 Presidential candidate Election Valley People 

Love 22 – Former Lompico Resident’s Presidential Write-In Campaign

By Chris Vaughan Among the notable distinctions attending this month’s presidential election, former Santa Cruz mountains resident Love 22’s record-setting eleventh consecutive write-in candidacy likely falls low on the recognition meter, but is perhaps the least likely to be duplicated any time soon. “Pat Paulsen and Harold Stassen gave it a good run but they can’t run any more because… Read More