Letter to the Editor | September Is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and It’s Time to Talk About It
To the Editor:
Suicide is one of the most challenging societal issues of our time, claiming more lives than war, murder and natural disasters combined. Per the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), suicide rates increased approximately 36% between 2000 and 2021. Suicide was...
Worthy to Print Column | We Are All We Have
When I was a very young man, I rode around with my dad as he went from field to field down in Santa Maria. It was just about my favorite thing to do. My dad was the foreman of a company that grew flowers...
Window on the World Column | Mermaids at the Local Pool
It was well over a year ago that I found myself completely disgusted with myself. After a period of holiday debauchery, I could not believe the paunch in front of me. It was mine; all mine. Fortunately, my bathroom mirror only showed as far...
Guest Column | Monterey County Free Libraries’ 5 Things to Celebrate in February 2026
Happy February! In February, we have Valentine’s Day, President’s Day and so many things to celebrate.
1. February is one of our favorite months because it is also Library Lover’s Month! Do you love your library? There are many ways to show your library love....
Window on the World Column | Honoring a Local Author
You know how it is when you are older and yet you’re still wanting to do everything? That would be me. I have the urge to consistently go and do all the time, but sometimes my body — or, increasingly, my knee and hip...
Worthy to Print Column | Nothing in Life Comes Easy
I usually awake on a Monday morning and see what is going on in my life. This morning I got bad news on my phone. One of my best friends’ mom died last night. She chose, if that’s possible, to die on the anniversary...
Window on the World Column | The Full Moon
When you start the week at the early morning water aerobics class at the Soledad pool, you go out the gate like a champ, rising to greatness like the very light itself coming up. There is nearly nothing as life enhancing as watching the...
Worthy to Print Column | Make the Trip
What a month! There are so many things that have to be done during this month. Of course, if you live in Gonzales, you know this is the month that the whole town turns out to honor the men and women who gave their...
Window on the World Column | The Annual English Tea Party Is Back
It has been a very long time since our last tea party — 2019, if I’m not mistaken. Prior to Covid, the annual tea parties were very popular. Then Covid came along and sucked all the fun, drove our traditions into the ground. Somehow...
