Guest Review | Captivating Performances Shine in ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’ at The Western Stage
The Hunchback tolling the bells of the ancient cathedral of Notre Dame is an image of timeless appeal. Salinas citizens will want to catch the current local iteration of Victor Hugo’s tale, “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” on The Western Stage at Hartnell College.
This...
Window on the World Column | Who Did We Become — Boarding School Part II
“I choose to look back and remember laughter and friendship….” This was a quote sent over from a former pupil of our boarding school when I asked the “Old Scholar” group from the school’s Facebook page if anyone wanted to share some reminiscences from...
Window on the World Column | A Letter to My Sister — Part I
“You’re here.” I hear your whisper. It comes down on a wisp of wind from the mountains above your home. Where your shell now lies still, and your spirit is at peace. Once listless and always searching, you finally slowed your quest to live...
Funny Papers Again Column | A New, Bright Street and an Old, Dark Ballet
If I were to offer up a descriptive sentence regarding the city’s newly upgraded main thoroughfare, it would be peppered with adjectives leading to superlatives and culminating with comparatives; i.e. “Like the revitalization seen in Old Town in Salinas, the City of King is...
Window on the World Column | Opening Up the World
Two canceled flights and two Covid tests later, and it looked like the U.S. to U.K, flight might finally be happening. It would have to be via L.A. with a layover, but it beat the boat any day and I would take it. As...
Guest Column | Separating From Stuff Is Difficult, but Making a Difference Is Easy
February is the month of love, and certainly not the time to talk about breakups. But when it comes to separating from all the “stuff” in your life, the familiar refrain, “It’s not you, it’s me,” rings true.
Editing might be a little painful, but...
Funny Papers Again Column | A Look at Calendars Old and New
As the first column of a new year on the ol’ Gregorian Calendar, one could hold the expectation that the tradition of making resolutions, presumably of personal betterment, containing a goal or goals. The history of this tradition is fascinating, and if you are...
Window on the World Column: I Shall Not Pass This Way Again
“I shall not pass this way again. I expect to pass through this world but once; any good thing therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any fellow-creature, let me do it now; let me not defer or...
Guest Column | Monterey Symphony Returns to Salinas for ‘Love Letter to Hollywood’
Just 15 months following the end of World War II, a small yet passionate group of musicians and fans of classical music gathered for tea at the Carmel home of Grace Howden.
Less than a year later (April 28, 1947), the Monterey Symphony gave its...
Window on the World Column | In the Bleak Midwinter
About this time of year — February blending into March — I can get really sick and tired of winter. Folks back home might have a chortle at that; because, yeah, I know, we don’t really have “winter” per se in our neck of...
