Opinion

Having left our children at Billings Airport and no doubt shed a couple of tears, we shall be staying at the Laughing Horse Lodge, which just begs you to stay there no matter what. Actually, the very reason I do want very much to...

It was the longest gun battle in the history of the Secret Service. At the end of the 40-second firefight, 27 shots had been exchanged with an assassin and a police officer lay dead while a second assassin and two police officers and one...

Excuse me if I am a little maudlin this week. Lots of things happening and most of them are about where I am in life. Have you ever sat down to reflect on your position and what went right or wrong? I’m not a particularly...

Bucket lists are funny things. Most people forget to empty their buckets as they fill them, or they notice there are a few holes in the bucket, and everything is then a bit pointless. It has been my dream forever — since I was...

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...

I have often mentioned either here in words or in conversation that coming up with one thousand words every week, words that one hopes are more than just personal drivel, can be a bit daunting when subjects don’t readily come to mind. When I hit...

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...

Wishing we had more time, wishing for one more day, another hour with a person before they leave us and move to another sphere — this is not an unfamiliar concept to most. Loss is all part of love, no doubt about it. You...

It’s kind of strange to start a column like that, but I have been struck with a book I have been reading and I haven’t even finished the first chapter. It’s called “Hillbilly Elegy,” by J.D. Vance. This is the guy the Republicans have...

I have given myself over to the theory that the Feds have in the interest of brevity or clarity or something meddled in our affairs regarding the city’s street names. This theory is based upon both the musings of a knowledgeable citizen and a...