Columnists

It's time for Spirit West Coast, the popular Christian Music Festival that will be held at the Laguna Seca Recreation Area near Monterey Aug. 1-3. This is the 16th year for the event, which typically draws crowds of 20,000 visitors over the three days of its performances, making it “the most successful Christian music event in the (southern) West Coast region.” Besides music by top artists in the field of Christian music, the festival features Bible teachings by gifted speakers and other activities for all ages - supported by more than 900 volunteers who donate their time to provide security, concessions, ministry, traffic control, ushering and many other services required to meet the needs of such a large crowd.

When Charles Dickens wrote “Oliver Twist,” a heart wrenching/sentimental story about the poor and the mistreatment of children in the early 1800s, I imagine the last thing on his mind was a musical about his hero's journey from orphan to finding his upper class family.

Q: Our neighbor told me that his dog has been vaccinated to protect against the poisonous venom of rattlesnakes. Is there really a vaccine for this?

It occurred to me that while everyone I know is off enjoying summer holiday vacations – cruises, climbing “Fourteeners” in Colorado, jetting off to Europe – I’m living vicariously through others and should probably use this time to do something noteworthy, such as write a novel. Because I’ve realized that, behold! Right here in my very own home await countless mysterious adventures.

Tacos. Everyone has a favorite style of taco, perhaps two or three. Some enjoy a simple crunchy-shelled fast food style. Others enjoy something traditional with a few ingredients. A few enjoy tacos with a little fusion of another culture’s culinary influence. One of my favorites - of which there are many - is a specific taqueria or street-style taco. It is the featured recipe this week, and with a little adaptation from how it is commonly made, is quite easy to replicate at home.

Kelly R., from San Martin, had a great question for this week's column. She asks, “What do you mean by ‘custom’ decorating?”

There is no doubt that even our generally pleasant South Valley communities are impacted by the presence of juvenile gangs. Morgan Hill, Gilroy and Hollister all suffer from varying degrees of violence, intimidation and graffiti. Perhaps a strategy being used in a neighboring city could help alleviate this situation here.