Columnists

Lent is the great Christian period of preparation for Easter. Observed in many different ways, the tradition at St. Mary Catholic School in Gilroy is to involve students in a service project, a chance to reach beyond themselves to help someone else.

Aspen conjures up visions of a glitzy playground where the well-heeled hang out and enjoy the high life. That is an absolutely true vision.

Tired of tapping? Weary of wearing out your thumbs? Try speaking to your smartphone instead.

We’ve talked about some of the seasonal hazards of spring and summer. Add to that list one more item that rarely gets any mention. We’re talkin’ fishing ... or at least preparing for that fishing trip. Your tackle box has a lot of goodies that will attract your dog or cat. So keep it closed and latched. Those hooks and lures can do a lot of damage if your pet gets one in his or her mouth.

Have you ever saved a great bottle of wine thinking it would get better with age and then opened it a few years later - only to discover that it was past its prime? That’s because the vast majority of wine is meant to be consumed now or within one to two year’s time at the most. The wines that tend to age well are the more expensive Cabernet Sauvignons and other highly tannic, red wines. Through time, the tannins (which have a bitter flavor) will soften with the wine becoming smoother, richer and more balanced. Whenever in doubt, ask the winemaker or shop manager for advice on if and how long to age the wine.

Few stereotypes have perpetuated longer than that of gal-pal shoppers who love going to the mall. Now kick that stereotype up a notch. Yep, I’m talking New Car Shopping.

“Kids don’t stay with you if you do it right. It’s the one job where, the better you are, the more surely you won’t be needed in the long run.” –

When is being risk-averse too risky for the sake of your retirement?

It is that time of year when the sounds of “Pomp and Circumstance” fill our educational institutions’ fields and halls. Proud families will be gathered to cheer and rejoice in their child’s passage to adulthood. For those who have had a successful school experience, the hard work and long study hours has paid off.

Santa Clara County is one of the nation’s most prosperous areas. Highly paid Silicon Valley workers have supported an economy featuring luxury cars, expensive homes and high-quality social amenities. Our South Valley area, however, is not so fortunate. Gilroy trails the rest of the county, having high rates of poverty, unemployment and schools struggling to meet the needs of their students.