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Easter is the most important day of the year for Christians, and it arrives relatively late this year: April 20. However, it is preceded by the preparatory season of Lent, which begins on March 5 for most Christians (and March 3 for those following the traditional Eastern Orthodox calendar).

I realize that while it is not always a simple task to get things in order - or keep things in order - having your affairs in order is a thoughtful and meaningful endeavor. As we are in full swing of tax season and have many important documents already out, I thought some attention to time management might be helpful.

I bought a new car and it hates me. Worse, it's smarter than me. This is not a good thing.

Who else is a fan of the Olympics? I know I am, and whenever they roll around - winter or summer - I often find myself glued to the television, not just cheering for the United States, but every now and then pulling for underdog athletes or medal-less countries.

Between June 30, 2011 and June 30, 2012, the major stock indexes increased an average of 6.8 percent. Unfortunately, market value of the CalPERS mix represented by plans in San Benito County and the City of Hollister actually lost 0.6 percent. The combined local dollar loss was a modest $850,000 on the previous value of $163 million. However, CalPERS had targeted an average rate of return of 7.5 percent, so the shortfall was significant. And our investment would have made approximately $12 million with that return.

When the fire broke out at his office building at 2 a.m. on Nov. 14, 2012, Dr. Martin Bress knew everything was lost.

Our kitchens have long been the center of our homes. Many of us have happy memories of the wonderful aromas when mom was baking. And, since so much of our time is spent in our kitchens, it's natural to want your décor to be comforting and satisfying - just like a great meal! Now that the holidays are over, you may be thinking of giving your kitchen a facelift, or even remodeling. Maybe it's time to put down the carving knives and pick up your sketch pad, now that all the “hungry masses” have left and your home is once again your castle.

With the 2014 Winter Olympics costing a projected $50 billion-plus, one wonders how large a chunk was spent on security. Russia’s Sochi - not famous for its tranquil existence - has attracted the attention of terrorists threatening to wreak havoc on the Games.

San Jose First United Methodist Church (24 N. Fifth St.) held an exciting event last month. Members, government officials and visitors attended a worship service marking the “grand opening” of the congregation's new building, which is located directly across from San Jose City Hall.

It’s a good thing to have some savings. When you put the money in a low-risk account, you can be pretty sure it will be readily available when you need it. Nonetheless, “saving” is not “investing” - and knowing the difference could pay off for you far into the future.