OK, let’s get the “Oh, it’s just August” jokes out of the way. Do you think I chose this month to be named after me? That was done eons ago. I was named after a famous Roman, you know. Still, I’m here and I’m hot, so deal...
Read MoreBY PASTOR SUSAN YOUNGContributing Writer I remember the date: July 25, 2012. We had been financially supporting Alpha Pregnancy Help Center in Merced and hosting baby showers for their baby closet. The director at the time,...
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Is the heat in the 209 getting to you? Then head to the beach and cool off. We’re not talking...
Read MoreDespite what one might read on a blabosphere post, mugwort has nothing to do with a scaly skin blemish that shows up on a jailhouse booking photo. California mugwort (Artemesia douglasiana) is a fast-growing shrub often found in...
Read MoreBY REV. BOB GILBERGThe Olive Branch Community Church of Firebaugh Is it not amazing the marvels of man? In this, I am speaking about the male species. Men have an amazing sense of direction. We never need to ask how to get from...
Read MoreFor many people, summer brings more than sunshine and barbecues — it also brings family reunions, holidays and long-awaited get-togethers. While these events can be joyful, they can also be emotionally exhausting, especially if...
Read MoreToday I’m recommending a book written by a Spivack. That’s not a misspelling. It’s the way Miranda Spivack, the author of “Backroom Deals in Our Backyards,” spells her last name, although it’s pronounced the same as mine....
Read MoreYes, some rare fractures in people less than 50 are non-displaced and can be walked on with mild pain. One type is a stress fracture of the hip. These can heal by using crutches, but many need three screws through a small...
Read MoreJuly is the month to celebrate national eating trends. Start now and enjoy summer eating traditions during warm days ahead. The 1950s were a great era for many Americans. With the popular war over, veterans were employed in new...
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It’s a common flower seen alongside the road or trail, or in the middle of a grassland especially...
Read MoreIf there were a month or two that I could act like a bear and go hibernating, it would probably be in July and August. Now I know that most people seem to love these sizzling months of beaches and activities, but they make me...
Read MoreIt’s been a while since we’ve heard from readers of column, so today we’ll read some of their responses to this columnist’s musings. Today’s responses come from individuals who read my columns online. The most frequent and...
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