Opinion

For those of us who are now in our seventh decade, and those of decades more, there are certain times in history that may influence us in often-profound ways. It stands to reason, then, that any news story which gobbled up precious air time...

In my newfound practice of giving people an experience instead of a gift, it was going to be our oldest son’s birthday and he was no longer going to be receiving socks and underwears from us, or even a normally coveted plaid shirt. I...

With the advent of 24-hour news coverage by numerous networks, we now have a multitude of current events coverage; coverage that invariably comes with opinion-fueled rhetoric offered up by everyone from professional pundits to amateur analysists and simpering sycophants to determined detractors. And with...

It is our family custom, after the passing of a loved one, that we gather together and celebrate the life of that person. Whether it be in church or not, this ceremony of sorts provides closure, for want of a better word. The breaking...

To the Editor: As we enter the fall season, I would like to remind our community of the importance of protecting yourself, your loved ones and your neighbors by getting a flu shot. At Mee Memorial Healthcare System, our mission has always been to keep our...

You knew it was going to happen. What’s that? You didn’t know. Well, let me tell you it’s true! Last week I got on my soapbox about taxes, and since it’s April, why not continue my rant.  Instead of working on helping “We the People,”...

The Covid-19 pandemic left an indelible mark on communities across the world, and Monterey County was no exception. In our county alone, 940 of our neighbors lost their lives to the virus. Behind each of those numbers was a person, a parent, a grandparent,...

I feel I would be remiss if I did not mention some of my recent experiences in Switzerland, but there also are some issues and events here in South Valley, so I’ll attempt to split the column accordingly. After some short observations and experiences...

As we gather during the holidays and bid farewell to another year under the shadow of the pandemic, I wanted to shine a light on all the good I see around me every day. As I close out my second year as Mee Memorial Healthcare...

It’s kind of strange to start a column like that, but I have been struck with a book I have been reading and I haven’t even finished the first chapter. It’s called “Hillbilly Elegy,” by J.D. Vance. This is the guy the Republicans have...