Columnists

The ripple effects of high gasoline prices have been clear for decades, ever since the Arab oil boycott of the mid-1970s temporarily forced a form of gas rationing on California.

Since 1865, Gilroy's St. Mary Roman Catholic Church has had an important role in the life of the South Valley through its parochial school and numerous other ministries. With the retirement in December of longtime pastor and community icon Father Dan Derry, a new pastor was appointed to lead the huge parish (with 4,000 registered members and eight Masses each weekend). Due to his background and talents, The Rev. Robert Brocato seems well-suited for this challenging position.

It occurred to me the other day that we are officially into

Our local grape vines have been thriving throughout the warm summer, the leaves soaking up the sunshine and clusters of grapes hanging heavily from the vines. Our wine growers have been busy with canopy management - pulling selected leaves from the vines to give the best sunlight exposure and air movement to the fruit. Veraison (when grapes start to ripen and change from green to purple) has come early this year, attracting birds and other critters that are looking for a tasty meal. But even though the grapes are turning color, they aren't ripe enough yet - so nets are draped over the rows to protect them from being picked clean by hungry birds.

As the last space shuttle flight brings an end, or pause, to

No sooner did South County finally get out of the news as a hotbed of bigotry – after the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors approved a much-protested proposal for a Muslim worship center in San Martin moved that story out of the spotlight – than we landed right back in the same predicament, thanks to Blake Lebeck.

I have a small, humble, hesitant question for the world in which

In July, members and friends of the Hollister United Methodist Church (521 Monterey St., Hollister) welcomed the Rev. Martha Milk.

The library at Hollister’s Sunnyslope Elementary School was packed with second-graders that rainy afternoon recess period. In all the racket and ruckus, I found a quiet corner to peruse a book I’d discovered on the shelves. It featured a funny little orange fellow with an oversized walrus mustache – a creature dreamed up by author Theodore Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss. Upon finishing my first reading of “The Lorax,” a simple tale teaching the importance of good stewardship of our planet’s natural resources, my child’s mind had learned some  environmental truths: All life is valuable. All life is fragile. All life is connected in a great tapestry of creation.

Day three of the Frys.com Open is underway and the crowds are arriving to watch some good quality golf … and drink some beer.