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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.

Have you ever banged against something with the inner part of your elbow and felt that electric “zing” down into your little finger? If so, you've discovered your funny bone, also known as your ulnar nerve.

Will the economy and the bull market make further strides next year? On Wall Street and Main Street, 2013 turned out better than many analysts expected. Will the recovery gain additional momentum in 2014, and will stocks climb even higher?

Here in Silicon Valley, we know it's possible to change the world by starting a business in your garage. Companies like Apple, Google and Hewlett-Packard all famously started in theirs. And now, these companies - and many others like them - are leaders in the charge for the Internet of Things - where the most mundane things will be embedded with sensors and monitored by the Internet. The Internet of Things, under way for years, is quickly becoming a reality and is predicted to have the most profound effect on our world since the Industrial Revolution. Even our grapevines will be micro-chipped to determine perfect sugar content.

In December, San Juan Bautista-based organic food company Earthbound Farm was sold to WhiteWave Foods Co, based out of Denver, for $600 million. Earthbound, the largest private employer in San Benito County, launched in 1984 by Drew and Myra Goodman in Carmel Valley before the company was moved to San Juan Bautista in 1996. In early January, the company announced Kevin Yost, who previously worked at Saputo, Inc., a global food and beverage branding company, would take over for Charlie Sweat as president and CEO of the Earthbound division. Sweat had been CEO of Earthbound since 1999.

NIMBY (pronounced nim-bee), is a derogatory acronym meaning “Not In My Back Yard.” It is meant represent the thinking of those who oppose development because, primarily, of the impacts on their lives. Everyone has a little NIMBY in them. It’s easy to support something that does not affect you directly. However, things are different when it’s your environment, safety or pocketbook taking the hit. I assure you there is something that will trigger your personal NIMBY.