Opinion

I love this time of year, when the “storm window” opens, the water possibilities increase ten-fold and the population of our desiccated West Coast becomes transfixed by weather and all her whims. “We are on the storm watch,” the forecaster whispers in spooky tones....

Last evening I walked out to my mailbox to check and see if I had any mail. I didn’t, but something better was given to me. My neighbor was playing some music while he played with his children. It was really cool listening to...

I remember when the wall speaker above Mr. Spears desk made that squawking, scratchy noise it made just before a voice came over and said “Mr. Spears, please send Steve Wilson to the office.” Great, now what? The “office” was of course the office of...

Greetings on the last day of 2025. And what a year it has been. As I look back on this year, I think about what those of us in our senior years, that being anyone 70 years old and up, have seen happen in...

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...

I was thinking about John Dillinger the other day while watching a 1934 William Powell-Myrna Loy film by the name of “Manhattan Melodrama.” It also starred Clark Gable, but for some of us cinephiles the Powell-Loy combination is one of the best pairings in...

In offering kudos to my hometown, I use the energetic parlance of the day: “a shout-out to the city of Greenfield and a new look for an old building!” After what many felt was a bit too long, the two-story building that occupies the...

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...

This year marks the 175th anniversary of California’s admission into the United States, a milestone that invites all of us to reflect on the origins, values and aspirations of our Golden State. But it also offers a chance to celebrate the critical role that...

California’s Central Coast and the broader statewide economy stand at the brink of a technological transformation driven by unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), commonly known as drones, and advanced air mobility (AAM) technologies, such as electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. These innovations, once...