Story: Water district continues call for voluntary 20 percent water reduction

by Marty Cheek | Jul 8, 2017 | Environment

$25.2 million spent to help residents, businesses switch to water efficiency Published in the July 12 – July 25, 2017 issue of Gilroy Life By Staff Report After five years of drought came to an end with an extremely wet winter, it can be tempting to return to...

Guest column by John Varela: Fighting flooding begins in summer with local stream maintenance

by Marty Cheek | Jun 9, 2017 | Contributors and Opinion, Environment

Published in the June 14 – June 27, 2017 issue of Gilroy Life By John Varela Every summer since 2001, the Santa Clara Valley Water District has undertaken a five-month-long effort to maintain and improve stream conditions so they can safely carry water during...

Your Garden . . . with Kate Russell: Learn to identify 10 different types of tomato pests in the South Valley

by Marty Cheek | Jun 9, 2017 | Contributors and Opinion, Environment

Published in the June 14 – June 27, 2017 issue of Gilroy Life By Kate Russell Many Gilroy gardeners get started because of tomatoes. Sweet, luscious, sun-warmed tomatoes, fresh from the vine, make store-bought varieties tasteless by comparison. To grow those...

Editorial: Drought may be over, but conservation is a way of life now

by Marty Cheek | May 27, 2017 | Contributors and Opinion, Environment

Published in the May 31 – June 13, 2017 issue of Gilroy Life Thank you, Mother Nature, for all the rain we received this winter and spring. California had one of the wettest seasons in decades. The Sierra snowpack is 164 percent of historical average. And...

Take a Hike … with Mike Monroe: View redwoods and plenty of wildflowers hiking Mt. Madonna park

by Marty Cheek | May 13, 2017 | Contributors and Opinion, Environment

Published in the May 17 – May 30, 2017 issue of Gilroy Life By Mike Monroe My annual migration to the redwoods kicked off May 1 as the thermostat in the valley approached 90 degrees. I never tire of visiting the crown jewel of the Santa Clara County Park system...

50,000 took part in March for Science to save America’s future

by Marty Cheek | May 13, 2017 | Environment

Thousands gather in SF to peacefully protest neglect of science-based decisions Published in the May 17 – May 30, 2017 issue of Gilroy Life By Jeb Goldman Nancy Frizzell joined an estimated 50,000 people crowding into Justin Herman Plaza April 22 – Earth Day. At...