Opinion

I remember my grandparents very clearly. They were our safe harbor when things in the house were a little stormy. My grandma was quiet and sweet, mostly seen with knitting needles in her hands and a soft smile. She made the best chocolate cakes...

In a world where stressors abound and demands seem never-ending, taking care of oneself is not just a luxury but a necessity. May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and although we should prioritize every aspect of our health year-round, this is a month to...

Dear Salinas Valley Fair Livestock Auction Buyers; Let me take a few lines to tell you about a young man named Kevin and his pig named Malcolm. I have lived next door to Kevin’s family for about a decade now and have always found them...

I believe that if you didn’t have a good time these past couple of weekends, you must have been hiding. Our weekend started off having a great time and seeing friends that have been out of our usual destination. Let’s start out with a...

It is an uncommon occurrence in my own life to find myself in a situation where I become distinctly and acutely aware that I am—in that moment—a minority. This once occurred when I attended a young adult LGBTQ organization in Long Beach, where black...

If any of you readers have paid attention over the past few years, you know I do not include a lot of family stuff; we all have family stories, so my use of space in a newspaper as a journal about my family seems...

Last week I wrote a little to explain why Special Forces are such revered soldiers. It is because they have studied small unit warfare for at least three months back at Fort Bragg, the home of Special Forces. This is where they earn the...

The first time we met she was the secretary of the organization but seemed to be pretty much in charge of everything. She was curious about which rock I had just crawled out from under and where my people were from. Her enthusiasm for...

As a former California State Assemblymember and Monterey County Supervisor, I am deeply concerned about the pressing issue of rising prescription drug prices and healthcare accessibility. Our state’s progress depends on the advancement and well-being of all its communities, especially those at risk. With...

I am grateful for Mee Memorial Healthcare System, I really am. In the past decade I have had more contact with the folks there than I wanted to, but as one ages one must face the realities of natural physical deterioration or, as in...