Opinion

Back in early March, I was invited to be one of the featured speakers of a local “farmer to you” direct sales marking group called Country Crossroads. The topic of my presentation was called “Creating Branded Recipes.” I presented a list of steps, ideas and inspiration to help guide the members of the group towards creating their own recipes with their name as part of the title. One of the presentation bullet points led to the inspiration of this week's column.

Almost daily we read about a new Ponzi scheme or fraud that's perpetrated against a friend, relative or neighbor. The sad part is that most of these schemes are carried out against our seniors and it is happening at an alarming rate. Sadly these victims are people who are the most trusting, and who don't have the time to recuperate from these losses. They have saved diligently and lived prudently, but end up losing allot of their retirement savings which was intended to support their golden years.

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Schools seem to be ending earlier this year, and it won't be long until parents hear that dreaded lament: “There's nothing to do. I'm bored!” Of course, this is an exaggeration, but the following list of activities may add some welcome variety to any student's summer.

You will probably never see four more hard working actors that play the dozens of roles in this San Jose Rep's offering. This is an edgy, dark, sometimes humorous production. Director Kirsten Brandt (also the Rep's associate artistic director), shows the patience of a stern understanding mother, she moves her characters at times with the force of a hurricane into a gentle breeze of a summer day. She had to have a definite deep attachment for this work to not only direct it but also adapt it from Christopher Marlow's original play for the Rep's stage. This was no easy task.

Here’s some old fashioned American ingenuity for you, and it comes right in the nick of time. In fact, this news just might save your Memorial Day picnic.