Funny Papers Again Column | Oklahoma City to the Big Apple: How Many More Memorials Will We Need?
One late afternoon some years ago I stood among rows of uniformly sized brass markers placed with military precision in the grass at the Riverside National Cemetery. At my feet was my fatherās marker, and this was my annual pilgrimage to his final resting...
Worthy to Print Column | One Manās Junk Is Another Manās Treasure
I spent most of the day on Saturday cleaning out my garage, and I donāt know if I will finish before the weekend is over. Funny how I keep watching the detritus get taller and taller. I keep telling myself that I will be...
Window on the World Column | Struggling to Make Peace
āStruggling to make peace with the irreparableā¦ā
I read this line somewhere after the kind of week that will turn you into a zombie ā literally. The sort of week when you wish you could turn back time for a do-over. Then I re-read the...
Letter to the Editor | Black History
To the Editor:
February is Black History Month, and the following are three African-Americans who had the character and courage to push ahead and made our country a better place for our families.
Bass Reeves (1838-1910) was born a slave. When he turned 26, he became...
Window on the World Column | Honoring a Local Author
You know how it is when you are older and yet youāre still wanting to do everything? That would be me. I have the urge to consistently go and do all the time, but sometimes my body ā or, increasingly, my knee and hip...
Letter to the Editor | September Is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and Itās Time to Talk About It
To the Editor:
Suicide is one of the most challenging societal issues of our time, claiming more lives than war, murder and natural disasters combined. Per the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), suicide rates increased approximately 36% between 2000 and 2021. Suicide was...
Worthy to Print Column | Special Times
What a week in the Salinas Valley! First, I want to mention the service for Francis Rubbo held last week at Eden Valley in Soledad. I bring this up first as it was a very sweet and solemn ceremony. As Commander of the American...
Funny Papers Again Column | Do Franklinās Words Apply Today?
I cannot recall the first time I learned about The Great Depression of my parentās generation, but I do remember their stories of that time in American history. As early as elementary school we watched period newsreels depicting unemployed workers in soup kitchen lines,...
Guest Column | Letās Remain Vigilant, But Donāt Neglect Your Health
Even as Covid-19 vaccinations roll out across the country, the daily threat from this virus remains ā especially in rural areas such as South Monterey County.
We all need to remain vigilant, with a strict adherence to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)...



















