Columnists

Today marks the beginning of a 10-day period so sacred in

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.

Your wrists are hurting. You buy a wrist rest. Problem solved? Maybe not. Most people don't need to use wrist rests in front of their keyboards and almost no one needs one for the computer mouse. In fact, you may actually make your pain worse by using a wrist rest.

Not a day goes by that the airways, print media and casual

Our cat, Nellie, has lost some fur on his back. He looks real

We've been working on an interesting file the last few weeks that involved a buyer, our seller, three past beneficiaries, the title company, their legal department, the seller’s lawyer, two brokers, many support people and a few couriers. As you might imagine, with that many people involved, things haven't been very smooth.

It's May again: Warm and sunny, and a perfect time to visit Gilroy's Interim Center for the Arts to view the ongoing Gilroy Arts Alliance Young Artists Exhibit. Since opening in April, families and art lovers have visited the exhibit, smiling at the delightful work of local young artists and casting their votes. Fifty-five entries were submitted and visitors were asked to vote for their favorite entry in each age category.

When my husband and I met and married some 27 years ago, we brought our young daughters from previous marriages - his one, Sarah, and my two, Tara and Lindsey - and became a blended family. Mark and Sarah’s personalities are robust and structured while my girls and I are a little more fruity and complex. (Note: Mark especially agrees with the fruity description.) Our differences cause the usual squabbles but in the end, we are a great balance for each other. Our girls are all grown up now and it’s such fun when we all get together. Like a fine wine, our blended family has aged well.

I'm often-asked what inspired me to become a veterinarian. I chose this profession after hearing an enthusiastic vet talk about his typical day's work. It was exciting and anything but routine. But my love for animals and for helping people was first inspired by my parents, both very kind individuals. Dad was tough. He taught me important survival skills. And together, we developed a love for fixing things, including some old cars.

Today some urgent news: we are in a recession! Yes, I know this