Opinion

I recently mentioned to my boss Ryan that Funny Papers Again seemed be leaning more to light stuff rather than some of the heavier stuff, and by stuff I mean every topic that may interest readers here in our little Valley, so I thought...

To the Editor: With the passing of another Fourth of July “holiday,” other pet owners, veterans and myself can breathe another sigh of relief. Well, except that the Fourth of July “holiday” now seems to last a good month, as the selfish and irresponsible among...

Farming is often thought of as a way of life and not just a job. Many California farm families have been living this life for generations — and they want to continue the legacy, growing crops, raising livestock and supporting the communities and people...

Today seems like it might be a little different than most Sundays; there is an Artichoke Festival. This year it is in Monterey instead of Castroville. I was going to accompany my bride and her friends and go with them, but I needed to...

Before I begin this column this week, I want to emphasize that my musings are my opinions. Some are of a personal experience and some are based in opinion. Please understand it isn’t always easy. Just imagine catching a sensitive part of your body...

He became quite the character of sorts, a fixture on the rather rough and tumble Nestles Road in Soledad, surrounded by rough ground and abandoned buildings. If you happened to pass by during the latter part of an afternoon, you might see him sitting...

The Covid-19 pandemic has dominated the headlines for 18 months — and rightly so. But there is another respiratory virus that still demands our full attention. I’m referring to the all-too-common influenza, a viral infection that can be deadly, especially in high-risk groups. The flu...

It started off as a nice offer from the husband. “He can come and stay with us for a while!” We were talking about our friend’s 21-year-old son. They live in the U.K. I never thought it would happen, really didn’t. “What a nice...

My father could always be counted on for the difficult questions. “Do you make any money at it?” he enquired of my book writing habit. “I try not to lose money!” was my response. And, to be honest, I never do that kind of...

Getting an oddball pet can be a great motivator, especially when it provides food for you as well as bug control and an endless supply of fertilizer for the garden. I never thought I’d be one to raise a flock of fowl ever again in...