Uncategorized

It is not uncommon to hear people say something like: “I don’t need to go to church. I can worship God in nature on a sandy seashore or even a golf course.” Well, a group of Bay Area Christians have formed an organization that combines worship of God and appreciation of nature.

Cruciferous is a designation that comprises the Brassica members of the cabbage family, including cavolo nero, mustard and turnip greens, along with cauliflower and collards, plus radishes, horseradish and arugula. The name derives from the flower common to these plants, the four petals of which spread to form a cross. Hence, “crucifer”-ous.

The library at Hollister’s Sunnyslope Elementary School was packed with second-graders that rainy afternoon recess period. In all the racket and ruckus, I found a quiet corner to peruse a book I’d discovered on the shelves. It featured a funny little orange fellow with an oversized walrus mustache – a creature dreamed up by author Theodore Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss. Upon finishing my first reading of “The Lorax,” a simple tale teaching the importance of good stewardship of our planet’s natural resources, my child’s mind had learned some  environmental truths: All life is valuable. All life is fragile. All life is connected in a great tapestry of creation.

Local gas prices generally remain 15 to 20 cents below the state average of $4.33, though the volatile market has consumers and commuters skittish over unpredictable fluctuations in the cost of filling up their tank.

I had to choose between meetings last Tuesday night; San Benito County was meeting about its $5.3 million budget deficit while Hollister was meeting about its $3.5 million shortfall. I didn’t check to see if California was tackling its $9.2 billion deficiency or the federal government its $1.3 trillion problem. I’ll leave the state and federal issues for another time just to note that those are only the deficits they are willing to acknowledge publicly.

As Rustic Turtle Embroidery owner Gordon Machado pointed out, it is fair to say many local residents aren't even aware of the underpass walkway on Fourth Street connecting county government offices on one side with the old Fremont School property on the other.

What at one point looked like a deep pool of free-agent wide receivers began to dry up faster than a 2012 California reservoir Monday.