Opinion

I have for many years been a reader of biographies, a habit I got into way back in the early 1960s after my parents purchased a set of encyclopedia, which included a series of biographies of famous Americans, one a month for a year....

In 1986 I worked for California’s Employment Development Department, where I processed amnesty seekers under President Ronald Reagan’s landmark immigration reform law called Immigration and Control Act (IRCA). The Watsonville office reviewed documents proving that applicants had worked in the local farming economy for...

I’m not great with anniversaries, birthdays and the like. When I say I’m not great, what that means is that I have an incredible memory for what can be difficult days in the annual calendar. Days like my sister’s birthday. “Forever 48,” I wrote...

Let me tell you about a local organization. They number upwards of 70 members who sponsor or involve themselves in everything from maintenance of forest trails to acting as parking monitors for Laguna Seca races to assisting Santa Claus and his helpers in making...

There are those who believe that these fires started off with a little help from some miscreant or two. What are your thoughts? I won’t say whether I believe that is what happened, I hope not. But I also do hope that those responsible...

Rural communities are the heart and soul of our nation, enriching the economy, agriculture, culture and traditions. Yet, despite their significant contributions, these regions often face unique challenges, particularly limited access to healthcare. In South County, we are fortunate to have a Critical Access Hospital...

Have you ever been to Macy’s? I mean THE Macy’s, the flagship store on 34th Street on the island of Manhattan. A couple of decades ago, I had the opportunity to wander about New York City’s boroughs, all but Staten Island, and of course...

Are you still saying “Happy New Year?” I suppose that you are tired of saying that to your friends or neighbors. I always say it for the first few days of the New Year. I don’t know why, just something to say while the ticking...

There are many things that drive me crazy about this country; but the lack of opportunity is not one of them. I have always known that I can do whatever I want to do here, when I set my mind to it. Years ago, I...

It is a fact that as the human body ages, noticeable changes take place on those parts that are visible, as accumulated years show on our bones and skin and teeth and hair. We who are over and above three score years are fully...