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Buyers today are forced to make quick decisions, offer more than the list price and are often asked to waive or amend some of the normal contractual protections.

Each spring I write a column providing information about Vacation Bible Schools or Day Camps offered by local churches. Some readers have said it’s helpful and that they look forward to reading it in the newspaper. Of course, each program is as different as the congregation sponsoring it, but they have many aspects in common: volunteer workers, hours of planning time, a carefully crafted curriculum and a devotion to sharing God’s love with children from the community.

James M. Cain's original 1935 novella "Double Indemnity" (the 1944 movie starred Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray) spun a tale of intrigue, adultery and murder. He was a master of edgy, noir and suspenseful plots like "The Postman Always Rings Twice" (the 1934 movie starred Lana Turner and John Garfield and the book was banned in Boston) and "Mildred Pierce" (the 1945 movie starred Joan Crawford and Zachary Scott).

Irving Berlin's classic Broadway show

I know that many pitted fruits such as plums contain traces of

On a recent tour in Central America and the Caribbean, I was struck by each of the tour guide's pride in their country's high literacy rates and quality of their country's schools. Observing classes and viewing schools supported their claims. Each guide spoke of their nation's support of the educational system and reinforced the high standards, rigorous curriculum and importance of educating their country's youth. Students were learning five different languages in elementary school and spending all but six weeks in the classroom. Teachers were well compensated for their work and were highly regarded in the community.

Picture this: Backstage at the Boston Colonial Theatre (in

A few weeks ago, I was in the Gilroy Center For The Arts with a few local art supporters admiring the unique works of local artisans. “There are an amazing number of very fine artists in Gilroy,” said one supporter. “Yes, and just about every genre of art is represented locally,” said another. “It's like a well kept secret.”

As I sit down to write this column, the Gavilan College summer