Opinion

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...

I loathe the 24 hours of Dec. 21-22, 2021. And it has nothing to do with this year. I hate Dec. 21 every year and have since before I knew the whole planetary explanation of why I detest the day. (Reason is because the...

The Pops! are coming, the Pops! are coming! In fact, by the time you read this, they may already be in town. I’m talking about the Monterey County Pops! Symphony Orchestra (and those are not typos, the name includes the exclamation point after Pops;...

Throughout the pandemic, collaboration became a key element in the daily fight against the virus. It allowed Monterey County health care organizations, government agencies and nonprofits to work together to better administer not only care, but the dissemination of vital information to help educate...

Have you read any good books lately? I have given up rating films as someone always has a different opinion. However, books are another thing. I’m always looking for good books. “To Kill a Mocking Bird” or “The Yearling” are a couple of books...

They say you can’t go home again. It’s my experience that sometimes you can, though it is certainly not for everyone. I was recently fortunate enough to be able to spend a week not only in my hometown, but in my home cottage where...

Since Memorial Day is coming soon, I thought perhaps we might write a few words about why we have Memorial Day and who benefits from the holiday. It isn’t just the military that stands tall on this day. I know lots of folks that have...

It seemed to take blooming ages to get back to my life after my surgery. They say that the older you are, the slower you heal, and they are not kidding! Unfortunately for me, I had previously enquired before the surgery about the general...

What becomes of a broken heart? In the olden days, when romantic liaisons fell apart, ladies would return home quietly to lick their wounds in private, take care of elderly relatives, or forever wear black, in mourning for the life they had wanted and...

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...