Guest Column | Protecting the Heart of California’s Workforce: The Urgent Need for CSU Funding Solutions
California’s investment in education has created one of the most impressive higher education systems in the U.S. with the California State University, University of California and California Community Colleges. Together, California’s colleges and universities make up 12% of full-time equivalent enrollment in higher education...
Window on the World Column | Mapping It on From Billings West
Mapping it on from Billings was a bit of a wrench for our boy Aaron, since you can never see everyone you want to when you go home; though he did manage to connect with two grandmas, a grandpa and an uncle in the...
Funny Papers Again Column | Part One: A Story of Motorcycle Mayhem
Here is a little story about one little incident back in my days of riding motorized two-wheeled transports, also known as motorcycles. Like many of my stories, this one takes place in Greenfield back in the halcyon days of teenhood. (Hey, if there can...
Window on the World Column | Our Easter Basket
It was time for Easter vacation, and that hadn’t meant much for a while in this household, not having school age kids anymore. We had pledged to take our granddaughter for a few days, give her parents a break, allow her to run wild...
Window on the World Column | Mermaids at the Local Pool
It was well over a year ago that I found myself completely disgusted with myself. After a period of holiday debauchery, I could not believe the paunch in front of me. It was mine; all mine. Fortunately, my bathroom mirror only showed as far...
Window on the World Column | The Perfect Day
The perfect day was on order for the chosen celebration of life of our very own valley girl. Blissful sunlight through the oaks on River Road was on the menu, as was some delightful company. I arrived on top of some very ripe vines...
Window on the World Column | ‘Tis the Season of Gratitude
‘Tis the season of gratitude. I like that season. Close on its heels is the season of giving and sometimes that is also a good season; but Thanksgiving ranks right up there in my chosen holidays. Gratitude is such a simple but powerful sentiment...
Guest Column | The Gift of Service to Others Can Be the Most Meaningful and Valuable
As 2023 comes to a close and I reflect on what seems to have been a whirlwind of a year, it is clear that our community has much to be grateful for. We have faced many challenges together over the years. Yet, I continue...
Funny Papers Again Column | On the Road Again; Just Can’t Wait
I will remember this month, this May of 2024, as one of journalistic chaos and don’t you wanna know why? Let me tell you why; and in the telling offer up a plea of “guilty with prejudice” to the charge of Unwarranted Opinion.
If one...
Letter to the Editor | The Path to a Better Future
To the Editor:
I’d like to thank Estrella Cruz for her March 17 Letter to the Editor (“Biden’s Immigration Bill”). She explained provisions of the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021 that can potentially shift the focus of the immigration “debate” away from emotionally charged rhetoric...


















