Columnists

Have to love the creativity and energy from Renee Carillo, owner of Grinds, Vines and Automobiles coffee house downtown. Not only has she expanded – opening a chic music venue next door which I’ll refer to as “The Other Room” – but there’s a cool old car hoisted onto the loft area. It adds to a very vibrant vibe (2 points for alliteration) for what is quickly becoming a gathering place for local musicians and a place where the laptop crowd is going to enjoy hanging out. A unique creative comfortable coffee shop is an essential piece to the downtown success puzzle and Renee has put that piece into place – plus she likes to dance ...

We have the good fortune to live in a region where trails into the peace and serenity of open space are just moments from home. When I am asked for my favorite, it's tough to choose. There are just too many. But the Arrowhead Loop at South County's newest open space preserve is a top candidate.

“Valley of the Heart” is a heart wrenching story of actual happenings and how the almost forgotten Second World War affected the people of the time. It jars those of us that lived through that moment to remember a time we would rather forget. It also shows this generation what went on and cautions about it not letting the past happen again.

You will have to trust me when I say my dad and I do more things together than watch baseball, but I think some of my favorite memories are doing just that.