Section
42 stories in 2026
Los Gatos Community Concert — San Francisco Brass Band
The Los Gatos Community Concert Association proudly presents the San Francisco Brass Band on Sunday, September 13, at the Los Gatos High School Theatre, 20 High School Court in downtown Los…
By Diane Vande Pol · September 2026 · Volume MMXXVI, Number 9
The Fed and Your Mortgage — A High-Stakes Reality Show
Following the Federal Reserve is like watching the season finale of a reality- television show. Will they cut rates? Won’t they? The suspense is real. The Federal Reserve doesn’t set…
By Keith Kanady · September 2026 · Volume MMXXVI, Number 9
Surfnet Wins Grant
Surfnet recently won a $24 million competitive grant from the California Public Utilities Commission to continue building more high-speed, fiber broadband connections in the Santa Cruz…
By Ken Nye · September 2026 · Volume MMXXVI, Number 9
Grafting: One Year Later
In May of last year, we beheaded a few blocks of our Pinot Noir. I wrote about it here, mostly because I was a bit distraught after sawing the vines off the rootstock. We left abrupt vine…
By Robin Porter · September 2026 · Volume MMXXVI, Number 9
Care at Building Blocks
Sending our child to Building Blocks Cooperative Preschool was like joining a village. Right from the start, the teachers’ genuine care and attention to every child stood out to us. Because…
By Joe Garnet · September 2026 · Volume MMXXVI, Number 9
Performance Living
For years, luxury in real estate was defined by square footage, marble countertops, and zip codes. Today, the definition of a high-end home has undergone a quiet but radical transformation…
By Keith Kanady · July 2026 · Volume MMXXVI, Number 7
Cleanup Day
The Skyland Firewise community completed a second day of cleanup along the southern end of Skyland Road in April. We thank the landowners, volunteers, work crews, and neighbors who offered…
By Cheryl Clifford · July 2026 · Volume MMXXVI, Number 7
Traffic Flow Safety Project
Visitors to the Mountain Community Complex may have noticed some exciting changes around Building Blocks Cooperative Preschool. The Loma Prieta Community Foundation’s Mountain REC Program…
By Jessie Thorsen · July 2026 · Volume MMXXVI, Number 7
John Scianna I’ve spent most of my adult life on a bike. I raced on the road competitively, worked as a bicycle messenger in San Francisco, and amassed thousands of miles commuting…
By Loma Prieta Exercyclers · July 2026 · Volume MMXXVI, Number 7
Barbara Perry Community Service — Award
In 1906, a group of intrepid mountain ladies banded together to form the Loma Prieta Club. Throughout the last 120 years, the club has helped our community with funding and volunteer help…
By Susan Zerweck · July 2026 · Volume MMXXVI, Number 7
In general, there is not a lot of trash underwater at the over 50 dive sites in Monterey and Carmel bays. One dive site is an exception: the Monterey Municipal Wharf. The good news is that…
By Bruce Sudweeks · July 2026 · Volume MMXXVI, Number 7
It has been an incredible year filled with learning, laughter, growth, and connection for our Lakeside community. The end of the school year was full of activity at Lakeside School. In late…
By Steve Burrell · July 2026 · Volume MMXXVI, Number 7
June Art Exhibition
I consider myself a portrait photographer. When I began photographing spring flowers, I approached them as I would any portrait subject—searching for authenticity, individuality, and…
By Nancy Jo Lopp · June 2026 · Volume MMXXVI, Number 6
Terroir
Terroir. You hear that term thrown around in the wine business, but what does it mean? The French translation is “a sense of place,” but what is that, and what does it have to do with wine?…
By Robin Porter · June 2026 · Volume MMXXVI, Number 6
When Your House — Is Smarter Than You
In today’s real estate market, it’s not enough for a home to have curb appeal or a killer kitchen island. Buyers look for features that make homes eco-friendly, energy-efficient, and—let’s…
By Keith Kanady · June 2026 · Volume MMXXVI, Number 6
Closing the Digital Divide — Creates a Better Community
Since Surfnet was founded, our focus has been to provide local, reliable internet to residents and businesses in the Santa Cruz Mountains. For years, Surfnet has bridged the technology gap…
By Ken Nye · May 2026 · Volume MMXXVI, Number 5
New Class
Do you want to learn more about being prepared for the next disaster? The next Emergency Response Team (CERT) class is coming to Loma Prieta Elementary School in May. The series of classes…
By Lila Jones · May 2026 · Volume MMXXVI, Number 5
Cultural Exchange
Our mountain community has always been known for its welcoming spirit and strong sense of connection. One way families can experience that spirit on a global level is through cultural…
By Angela Wuerz · May 2026 · Volume MMXXVI, Number 5
Fire Insurance Discounts
Wildfire risk is a fact of life in the Santa Cruz Mountains, but there is good news for homeowners. Many insurers, including the California FAIR Plan, offer discounts for home-hardening…
By Dave Millman · May 2026 · Volume MMXXVI, Number 5
Bottling Season
We are already planning for next year’s harvest in the vineyard, so it’s time to bottle the wine that’s been aging in barrels in our barrel room. Bottling equipment is very expensive, so…
By Robin Porter · May 2026 · Volume MMXXVI, Number 5
Our mountains are rich with unique landscapes, history, and people. One of those people is Folake (pronounced Foe-lah-kay) Phillips, an inspiring visionary sharing the rich culture of…
By Suzanne Suwanda · May 2026 · Volume MMXXVI, Number 5
Our Lakeside in Wonderland auction was a magical evening. We thank the volunteers who spent countless hours planning and organizing to bring every detail to life. To our staff, thank you…
By Steve Burrell · May 2026 · Volume MMXXVI, Number 5
Our Garden
members have worked together to create something truly magical in our renovated Building Blocks play yard. Today, our garden is more than a collection of beds and pathways. It is a place…
By Savvy Hillis · May 2026 · Volume MMXXVI, Number 5
Music Doesn’t Stop
When the band room at Loma Prieta and C.T. English fell silent, it wasn’t because students had lost interest. After decades of teaching and playing music, district music teacher Casey…
By Kathy McKinney · March 2026 · Volume MMXXVI, Number 3
ADUs for Senior Parents — The Modern Family Win-Win
Life has a way of coming full circle. One day, your parents are teaching you how to ride a bike. Years later, they’re asking you how to reset their Wi-Fi router. How can you keep them close…
By Keith Kanady · March 2026 · Volume MMXXVI, Number 3
Making a Difference With Horses
The school year may be in the home stretch, but there’s still time for students to earn community-service hours by volunteering for a local 501(C)(3) nonprofit. One opportunity that truly…
By Suzanne Suwanda · March 2026 · Volume MMXXVI, Number 3
Kindergarten Enrollment
Loma Prieta Elementary School is now enrolling incoming kindergarten students for the 2026-27 school year. Children who turn five years old on or before September 1, 2026, are eligible to…
By Principal Ramsay · March 2026 · Volume MMXXVI, Number 3
Clearing the Path to Safety
For residents of the Santa Cruz Mountains, the beauty of our natural landscape comes with a responsibility to be prepared. Wildfire is an ever-present threat, and creating defensible space…
By Marko Lisac · February 2026 · Volume MMXXVI, Number 2
Why Homeowners Are Stuck — (and Loving It)
Let’s talk about something that’s locking up the real-estate market tighter than a jar of pickles: interest rates! Specifically, the lock-in effect. It’s a big deal, and here’s why. Right…
By Keith Kanady · February 2026 · Volume MMXXVI, Number 2
Pet Dental Health
Did you know that over 70 percent of cats and dogs show signs of dental disease by age three? Pet dental health is one of the most overlooked aspects of pet care, yet it plays a major role…
By Fahimeh Zibaee · February 2026 · Volume MMXXVI, Number 2
Low-Cost and Subsidized — Spay and Neuter Services
Spaying and neutering pets can be expensive, but it’s one of the most effective ways to reduce pet overpopulation, ease the strain on animal shelters, and improve the health of companion…
By Kathy McKinney · February 2026 · Volume MMXXVI, Number 2
Indoor Skydiving
I’ve always wanted to try skydiving, but the idea of jumping out of an airplane thousands of feet in the air is a hard “no” for me. Indoor skydiving is much more my speed, so this month’s…
By Kathy McKinney · February 2026 · Volume MMXXVI, Number 2
“The redwoods, once seen, leave a mark or create a vision that stays with you always. No one has ever successfully painted or photographed a redwood tree. The feeling they produce is not…
By Happy New Year · January 2026 · Volume MMXXVI, Number 1
Sabbatical Minister
While I am away on sabbatical from January 5 through April 5, the congregation will have a sabbatical minister, Rev. Michael Patrick Ellard. Like me, Rev. Mike is a United Church of Christ…
By Reverend Melanie Weiner · January 2026 · Volume MMXXVI, Number 1
California’s high-fire-zone rezoning has evolved for years, but recent legislative changes have accelerated the impact on homeowners and landowners. With AB 3074 (2020) and SB 63 (2021)…
By Keith Kanady · January 2026 · Volume MMXXVI, Number 1
Fog: Thou Shall Not Pass
Mark and I took a class in terroir at the Wine Institute in Bordeaux, France. It was fascinating. It covered how elevation, exposure, climate, and soil affect wine. The class included…
By Robin Porter · January 2026 · Volume MMXXVI, Number 1
Redwood Amphitheater
Tucked beneath the redwoods on the north Loma Prieta campus, just beyond the gazebo at the newly-named Mountain Complex, lies one of our ’s hidden gems: the Redwood Amphitheater. For…
By Miriam Watson · January 2026 · Volume MMXXVI, Number 1
Complex: — A Community Resource
Many in our community have visited the north side of the Loma Prieta Joint Union School District campus, but few realize it now has an official name. This area, recently designated as the…
By Miriam Watson · January 2026 · Volume MMXXVI, Number 1
Building Blocks Preschool continues to make changes to support our children and strengthen our program. These shifts reflect a renewed commitment to community care. We are actively…
By Jessie Thorsen · January 2026 · Volume MMXXVI, Number 1
Lakeside in Wonderland — Auction
Mark your calendars for the Lakeside School Community Foundation’s “Lakeside in Wonderland” auction on Saturday, March 28. Follow the white rabbit to the party at the Lakeside Community…
By Kathy Williams · January 2026 · Volume MMXXVI, Number 1