Opinion

In 1986 I worked for California’s Employment Development Department, where I processed amnesty seekers under President Ronald Reagan’s landmark immigration reform law called Immigration and Control Act (IRCA). The Watsonville office reviewed documents proving that applicants had worked in the local farming economy for...

This is notice to Ronna and Jaime: Hit me with your best shots; convince me with actions not words. In fact, now that I look at that sentence, I will change “notice” to “challenge” because the present politically reported situation calls for it. With...

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...

To the Editor: Some of our public media and elected officials are bashing our Fourth of July celebrations; they are claiming our patriotism is racist. These poor souls seem to love denigrating America and yet, at the same time, also love the freedom that allows...

If you have read any of my scribbling over time, you know I’m a lifelong conservative. I don’t know exactly when I discovered this. Although I can’t remember much about politics until my platoon sergeant and I were sitting on the hood of a...

You will recall, dear readers, last week we left off with my reminisces of university days down in Southern California. I just read the piece in the Rustler, and while I can’t for the life of me figure how it would be interesting to...

It is our family custom, after the passing of a loved one, that we gather together and celebrate the life of that person. Whether it be in church or not, this ceremony of sorts provides closure, for want of a better word. The breaking...

I don’t get to say that very often; OK, maybe once a year. However, this year I get to say it more than most people. There’s a reason for that — this time of year I want to make sure there isn’t coal in...

Have you noticed that we have a bunch of folks that have too much time on their hands? It wouldn’t be so bad if they used this extra time to do something good, but they seem hell-bent to destroy neighborhoods. By the way, they...

Just 15 months following the end of World War II, a small yet passionate group of musicians and fans of classical music gathered for tea at the Carmel home of Grace Howden. Less than a year later (April 28, 1947), the Monterey Symphony gave its...