Opinion

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...

By my reckoning 140 years, give or take, of my family’s timeline was spent in prisons; the years accumulated by my parents, a brother and his wife, a niece and myself. And it seems the family occupation within the California Department of Corrections (CDC;...

I have a saying that is used just about every day: “Nobody can beat two people.” I know, it sort of sounds strange coming from a guy that hasn’t raised his hand against anyone in at least 25 years. I mention raising my hand...

To the Editor: With the passing of another Fourth of July “holiday,” other pet owners, veterans and myself can breathe another sigh of relief. Well, except that the Fourth of July “holiday” now seems to last a good month, as the selfish and irresponsible among...

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...

When the 2022 Monterey County Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) was released, behavioral health was identified as one of the region’s top priorities—underscoring a critical shortage of mental health providers and support systems across the County. In response, Mee Memorial Healthcare System (MMHS) launched a...

Well, this is a fine kerfuffle. I had already decided what and whom I would write about this week. I try to do that every week but occasionally I have to call or email and beg Ryan, our esteemed editor of all things printed,...

Today is day 192 of the year, 10 days past the midway point on the Gregorian calendar; there are 173 days remaining in the year 2024. These days mark the season of the Sun, summer is upon us in all its scorching beauty and...

Mapping it on from Billings was a bit of a wrench for our boy Aaron, since you can never see everyone you want to when you go home; though he did manage to connect with two grandmas, a grandpa and an uncle in the...

I’m excited to announce Sol Treasures is hosting a gallery of my photojournalism, and a meet the artist evening will happen this Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. The exhibit is titled, “Through the Lens, Adapting in Place,” and covers how the residents of...