Opinion

Do you have proper emergency preparation in place? The recent wildfires should be a reminder to everyone to have emergency plans ready. The idea is to be prepared, whether the threat is a wildfire, earthquake, flood, long-term power outage or some other widespread problem. A...

Before I get too far into my scribbling today, I would like to say “thank you” to all my readers and friends. It was so kind of you to send me addresses of stores that carried the Big Hunk candy bars. I especially want...

This is notice to Ronna and Jaime: Hit me with your best shots; convince me with actions not words. In fact, now that I look at that sentence, I will change “notice” to “challenge” because the present politically reported situation calls for it. With...

Believe it or not, it’s time once again to talk about influenza. The typical flu season in the United States begins after Labor Day, and can extend into the early spring of the following year. Our best defense has always been, and continues to...

Before I get into the bits and pieces of today’s column, let me offer a mea culpa regarding some misinformation in last week’s column. I stated that KCHS Class of 1972 has their 50th class reunion scheduled for the same date as the Classes...

My friend from Salinas works for Monterey County and is a proverbial animal nut like me. She contacted me one day and told me that her husband had been working out on Metz Road and the residents there had told him about a stray...

Providing quality healthcare in the modern world requires effective teamwork — a strategy that can immediately and positively affect both patient safety and outcome. Due to the increasingly complex specialization of care, it’s rare to find a lone medical professional able to solely deliver...

To the Editor: February is Black History Month, and the following are three African-Americans who had the character and courage to push ahead and made our country a better place for our families. Bass Reeves (1838-1910) was born a slave. When he turned 26, he became...

When I began writing this week’s column I had it in my mind, and in my notes, to cover high school stage productions, local law armory and a couple other short pieces. But, as the old saying goes, “stuff happens” (paraphrased for publication) and...

Throughout the pandemic, collaboration became a key element in the daily fight against the virus. It allowed Monterey County health care organizations, government agencies and nonprofits to work together to better administer not only care, but the dissemination of vital information to help educate...