Funny Papers Again Column | A New, Bright Street and an Old, Dark Ballet
If I were to offer up a descriptive sentence regarding the cityās newly upgraded main thoroughfare, it would be peppered with adjectives leading to superlatives and culminating with comparatives; i.e. āLike the revitalization seen in Old Town in Salinas, the City of King is...
Guest Column | Seismic Shifts: How the 2030 Seismic Mandate is Impacting California Hospitals
In response to the 1994 Northridge earthquake, California enacted stringent seismic safety standards for hospitals under the Alfred E. Alquist Hospital Facilities Seismic Safety Act. While crucial for ensuring the safety and functionality of hospitals during and after seismic events, this mandate has presented...
Window on the World Column | No Need to Quarantine Here
It seemed as if it should be simple enough. Used to be that way. I wanted to go to my hometown of my home country and sprinkle the ashes of my oldest friendās mother on the sea wall, where we used to hang out...
Worthy to Print Column | Life Lessons
Itās kind of strange to start a column like that, but I have been struck with a book I have been reading and I havenāt even finished the first chapter. Itās called āHillbilly Elegy,ā by J.D. Vance. This is the guy the Republicans have...
Guest Column | Monterey County Free Librariesā 5 Things to Celebrate in February 2026
Happy February! In February, we have Valentineās Day, Presidentās Day and so many things to celebrate.
1. February is one of our favorite months because it is also Library Loverās Month! Do you love your library? There are many ways to show your library love....
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 Highs and the Low Tides of Life
There is something about the silence of an empty house that is so comforting it is almost not empty at all. When the voices have left the building, the last car door has slammed and the final cup of tea has been consumed, the...
Funny Papers Again Column | What Stories Lie Beneath the Stones?
I like cemeteries. That is not a ghoulish statement, or at least not meant to be. A cemetery is a walk through history, both recent and long ago, where the changing culture of a town, city or region is written on the headstones of...
Letter to the Editor: Fallen comrades deserve more respect
Editor's Note: We welcome Letters to the Editor of local and general interest to our readers. Letters should be typed and include the writerās first and last name, home address and phone number for verification. No anonymous letters will be printed. Letters may be edited...
Window on the World Column | Springtime Pouring and Sipping
Itās that time of year again. At the end of a long, wet winter, we Californians are exhausted by the grey, the mud, the mess. We are tired of short days and rain and storms. Our bodies are depleted of vitamin D and our...
Local News
Man suffers serious injuries in Soledad assault
SOLEDAD ā A man suffered significant facial injuries following an assault Thursday night in Soledad, according to the Soledad Police Department.
Police said officers responded...























