The Valley saw some startling armed robberies and rip-offs over the holidays, suggesting that adding more police with tanks and bazookas isn’t working. Maybe we need a better class of criminals. Police blotters currently reflect the sad state of local thuggery. Despite being a ritzy-snooty... Continue
Columnist
President Obama released the White House budget plan for 2015 this week, and even thought it is widely considered ‘Dead on Arrival’ in Washington-speak, he has set the predicate for the 2016 presidential election. It is encouraging that the progressive wing of the Democratic Party,... Continue
This is the transcript of Susan Gorin’s “State of the County” address delivered January 22. Each year, we gather at the State of the County to celebrate our successes, highlight our challenges, and provide a vision for where we are going. This year, our theme... Continue
Happy 2015! If you have already made those ever-challenging New Year’s resolutions, you may want to add a few more. Sometimes resolutions can be hard to keep. But when money is at stake, I bet the odds of compliance increase. Here are some New Year’s... Continue
What a confusing winter. Once again, spring is coming fast and judging from the wildflowers springing up around our hillsides and Valley floors, might already be here. For Native peoples spring indicated a time for a change in diet. As food prices soar, it may... Continue
Recent polls indicate that America's favorite sport is now football instead of baseball. It's not hard to see a connection between this trend and the changed nature of American life in the 21st century. Baseball, of course, is a 19th century game, developed during slower... Continue
Still full from fattening fun or dysfunctional family functions, I’m facing the New Year bursting with hairballs (like cat’s have.) There are Valentines in the stores, there’s regret and excitement in the air, people losing or finding partners, and questions about what’s next. And then,... Continue
Lately there has been a stir over at Maxwell Farms Regional Park. There are discussions in the works about upgrading the park to include dedicated biking trails, expanding tennis courts, a dedicated dog park and creating additional recreational facilities for the public to enjoy. Within... Continue
When a federal judge recently lifted the ban on the sale of foie gras in California, it sure kicked up a Fuss. To appreciate this Fuss, it’s necessary to understand some terminology: (a) Foie Gras: fattened duck liver, sold whole or as a paste, mousse... Continue
I remember a childhood cartoon in which the main character - it could have been Daffy Duck or Bugs Bunny - found himself in the middle of a struggle between a little devil and a little angel version of himself, each of which sat on... Continue