Opinion

The Carnegie Classification is a leading framework for recognizing the diversity of U.S. higher education institutions. Last fall, the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching updated the framework of classifications and now includes a new category — “Research Colleges and Universities” — which...

In offering kudos to my hometown, I use the energetic parlance of the day: “a shout-out to the city of Greenfield and a new look for an old building!” After what many felt was a bit too long, the two-story building that occupies the...

You know, it is tough to find good music. When was the last time you were serenaded by a professional artist? Yesterday, my beautiful bride surprised me with a serenade at the Golden State Theater over in Monterey. The star of the show was...

There is no doubt, when you look around the room of trainers and trainees that this is a perfectly symbiotic relationship of the incarcerated in society, with little hope and aspiration in life, training the unwanted pups, which were rescued from death row. On...

There is no doubt that the agriculture industry dominates the Monterey Bay region. Agriculture generates a substantial portion of direct economic output, and has a significant number of jobs directly related. It is the leading industry in Monterey and San Benito counties and within the top five...

Every February, the nation comes together to recognize American Heart Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about heart disease.  It’s essential to be aware that even though heart disease is a significant health issue across America, many heart-related illnesses are preventable. Risk factors for...

The inmate trainers at CTF explained to me that dogs in the TAILS program are immediately crate trained when they arrive in the facility to give them a cozy place to decompress and be safe away from the world. (Except for Sunday, which is...

I often tell people how difficult it can be to put 1,000 words together every week with the expectation those words will somehow make sense and in so doing entertain readers for a few minutes. I tell people this because it is easy to...

You have to admit, I haven’t glorified the actions of those that would like to see us at the bottom of the ocean. However, after the reports from Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., that are plastered all over the television channels, I’m not sure anything...

Driving into the Correctional Training Facility at Soledad and you are reminded of how a secure institution can be. Acres of barren land, no trees, double high-wire fences, guard towers. And that’s how it should be, we know that. But head over to the...