Opinion

Dutra always puts the people first I will begin my “opinion piece” with a quote: “There are basically two types of people. People who accomplish things, and people who claim they accomplish things. The first group is less crowded." —Mark Twain I will be voting for...

We celebrate National Health Center Week (NHCW) by honoring the amazing people who create lasting oral health for those most disadvantaged.  In Santa Cruz County, only one in three of our low-income neighbors with Medi-Cal can access the dentist. As the largest dental provider in...

Memo from Pastor Erickson This week’s Gospel lesson is about the Baptism of our Lord. In it, you may find the geographical references quite interesting. Mark tells us that John the baptizer appears in the wilderness along the Jordan River and that folk from the Judean...

Proposition 28 is an initiative on the Nov. 8 ballot that funds school-based arts and music education throughout the state. It's estimated to provide an annual $900 million across California PK-12 public schools without raising taxes. For kids, this means more joy, opportunities to...

Save our irreplaceable farmland Our farm, Lakeside Organic Gardens, now in our 26th year, creates hundreds of jobs and supports local businesses that rely on the strength of our local agriculture. Growing food provides employment at all skill levels, from the newest technologies to business...

Responding to levee assessment concerns In response to Sandra Haven’s letter about things people should consider prior to voting on the Pajaro Regional Flood Management Agency’s proposed assessment for levee maintenance, I’d like to add the following considerations: The proposed assessment is for current and ongoing...

The story is deep, the characters are rich, the action is shot beautifully and the visual effects are the best I’ve ever seen. If this is indeed the final film in the series, which started with “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” in 2011, I’m glad to say it