Opinion

I found a gem. There it was in plain sight, a new trail but far enough out of the way that I only recently stumbled upon it.

Past New Year’s morning hikes have drawn about 30 hikers. Imagine my surprise and delight when the Mendoza Ranch at Harvey Bear Ranch parking lot filled to the brim and all of you stepped out to walk the Mummy Mountain Trail.

We can all breathe a sigh of relief now that NRA CEO and Executive Vice President Wayne Lapierre spoke out about the tragic shootings in Newtown, Conn. on Dec. 14.

Jesus of Nazareth was a Jew, as were his parents and all his disciples. The earliest version of The New Testament says that when gentiles (non-Jewish people) were allowed to join the church without following Jewish rituals and laws, it was a watershed moment for the new faith.

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.”

It can be done. All across America, families are meeting a mighty financial challenge - the challenge of paying college costs with retirement potentially on the horizon. How do they do it? They go about it consistently; they also get creative.

It was 8:30 a.m. on Black Friday, and many residents of Kauai were still waiting in lines for the tempting sales being held at the island's few large retailers: Macys, Walmart and Kmart. However, more than 100 visitors were lined up with me to visit one of the local spiritual treasures – an anomaly among the usual visitor destinations of rugged coastlines, sunny beaches and resort hotels.

It’s that time of the year, when the rain comes and affects the playing conditions on the golf course. The three keys to playing golf in wet conditions are simply to stay dry, use more club and knowing the rules of golf for casual water.

Designs, style, materials and colors have evolved through the years. I remember mustard yellow appliances, Formica counters, narrow hallways and the dark wood casings of homes built in the ’50s and ’60s. Most of us felt modern as we painted the wood trim white, brought in red and orange shag carpets, added acoustic ceilings and rain lamps into our space. The ’70s ushered in earthtones complimented with grass paper on our walls.