“April is the cruelest month,” penned T.S. Eliot in 1922, but is it really? The famous line begins his famous poem, “The Waste Land.” Later in life, Eliot confessed that he wrote the poem during a period of great personal...
Read MoreI didn’t expect this, but Artemis II got me excited — eventually. When I heard about four American astronauts headed into space to circle the moon, my first response was nonchalance. After all, I’m old enough to have seen...
Read MoreAs the April sky glistens and the spring air entices, I ask you to look again. I advise you. When you do not see, look again. I could never have imagined that December day over a year ago, as...
Read MoreHello again, Westside gardeners! Is it fair to say that in today’s world, landscape gardeners have abandoned the passion of the trade for money? My observation shows a trend of both. Yes, we all need money to survive, but I am...
Read MoreRemember the old saying that children should be seen and not heard? For far too long in history, that pretty much was the attitude meant for women. There were times when women were actually thought of as property....
Read MoreThroughout human history, the wonders of spring have been cause for a celebration that we call Easter. Think about how a precious soft chick emerges from the hard, seemingly lifeless shell, and realize how eggs became associated...
Read MoreFriends are an important part of our lives. Good friends are especially valued. The Los Banos Branch of the Merced County Library is fortunate to have good friends — the Friends of the Los Banos Library. This nonprofit...
Read MoreIn America, every day, over 6,000 people hear the three words that most of us fear, “You have cancer.” Each year in America, over two million people die from this prolific disease. When people first hear this...
Read MoreThe loss of an hour of sleep each March triggers our interest in the importance of sleep in general. Many studies available on the internet warn about smartphones and the dangers they pose to a good night’s sleep. The National...
Read MoreToday’s column is written in appreciation of CNAs, LVNs and housekeeping personnel, especially those working in skilled nursing facilities. These are health care workers who are often overlooked and underappreciated. When we...
Read MoreAnyone who has spent time outdoors has heard the rapid-fire tapping of woodpeckers, especially in the spring as the birds excavate new nesting sites in local trees. The Downy (Dryobates pubescens) and Nuttall’s (Dryobates...
Read MoreAs you all know, I am a certified master arborist and am offering my consulting services to anyone here in the Westside. Currently, I work with other arborists as far south as Fresno and Monterey Counties. These are levels of...
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