Opinion

It was almost exactly one o’clock in the afternoon on the first day of April when the window blinds in the studio began to move and that was the first indication that the Valley winds have once again arrived for their annual blow. It...

“It must first be said that with increased residential and agricultural use and improved water management, flood concern is not what it was a few decades back.” Regarding the above statement, if I can be forgiven for using baseball metaphors at the height of football...

I hate the Fourth of July, America's birthday, Independence Day and all that. There, I’ve said it. I even said it out loud, as I hummed, alternatively, “Star Spangled Banner” and “We are the Champions.” Then a wartime mortar comes flying over my head...

I’ve been digging rather deeply recently to try and find the good stuff in the world. I’m sure I’m not the only person to say that life is currently pretty tough. Coupled with my husband’s illness and our financial stress, the wide open spaces...

This week’s issue of the Valley newspapers hits the stands three days from Sept. 11, 2021: the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center, the Twin Towers, in lower Manhattan. Known colloquially as simply 9/11, it is a date etched...

I think, in the larger scheme of things, that December should be a longer month. There should be two free weeks somewhere in the middle, when there are no dates, everyone just gets to take time off life and work and do what they...

Local column by Joanne Banuelos

One time a long time ago I asked my mom for a quarter. She said she was sorry, but she didn’t have any money that day. I can’t remember why I needed a quarter, but I bet it was for candy. I always wanted...

The last time I saw him he was sitting in his favorite bar in Las Vegas with a large cold one beside him and a game of Keno in front. He was comfortable in his space. No matter that he still could hardly eat...

Have you ever met a hero? I haven’t met many, but I have had my heroes. The first one that I can think of was a little older than me, but he was for sure my hero. I can even remember the first time...