Opinion

With the world starting to reopen, we were hoping to have a bit of a newsie reunion. Several of us from the newspaper industry had remained friends over the years, enabled by the easiness of social media and genuine friendships that survived the test...

Some years back there was a fellow in Greenfield who owned an airplane, and as I had no qualms about flying in a small craft, there were many occasions to see the Valley and surrounding areas from aloft. Because I spent the first 19...

In 1948, the World Health Organization defined health as “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” WHO published further clarifications in 1986, citing health as “a resource for everyday life, not the objective...

In 1940, American author Ernest Hemingway wrote a book named “For Whom the Bell Tolls.” It wasn’t his best book, but it had a few passages that reminded me this past week that he certainly had a way with words. The title of the...

Have you ever asked yourself, “What do I want to be when I grow up?” For those of you who know me, you might say I’m still trying to figure that out. I come from humble means and always wanted to make my mom...

Readers will recall last week’s column left off with my first solo truck run to the other valley to gather grape rootings for transplant here on the Oasis Road development we now know as San Bernabe Vineyard. Before we head over the hills, though,...

Do you have proper emergency preparation in place? The recent wildfires should be a reminder to everyone to have emergency plans ready. The idea is to be prepared, whether the threat is a wildfire, earthquake, flood, long-term power outage or some other widespread problem. A...

I have been many things in my life, but without a doubt being a father was the hardest and yet the most rewarding. My daughter suffered my teaching as I had grown up in a home of men. I guess all children need discipline,...

The first time I caught sight of her she was in bad shape. I’m no expert on this particular species, but I know suffering when I see it. I offered her unkind owner good money for her to come and live with me. Line...

I went to a holiday party the other night. I’ll tell you more about that in another column. The reason I brought it up is because I awoke this morning after a dream that could have been caused by memories of past parties. I...