It’s Spring. New Year’s resolutions are a fading memory for some of us, but the budding trees bring out the instinct to start spring cleaning and putting things in order. It’s the time of year when we focus on the things we put off because they are difficult or unpleasant. Thinking about what would happen …

Rarely in the annals of American history does one encounter a man so well known, so admired, so respected and so loved by millions as John Philip Sousa, “The March King.” It is said that he was more thought of and more famous than even some presidents of the United States. Early Years Sousa was …

Beneath the glitz and glamour of Hollywood’s recent Oscars event lies the central point of it all—it is a recognition of creative excellence. And the point should never be missed that most, if not every award given has roots in some written work. I don’t know the statistics but I would venture that few “Best …

March delivers just enough springtime to whet our appetites. Along with chilly evenings and the occasional rainy day, we are also treated to flashes of sunshine, emerald-colored hills, and colorful, sprightly flowers. At the farmers’ market tender spring vegetables like asparagus, artichokes, and peas come on strong, pushing aside winter’s broccoli and Brussels sprouts. I …

When one typically thinks of a sports vehicle the mind takes you to a low riding car with a powerful V8 under the hood and limited room for a few passengers. That packaging works out great if you are either traveling without kids or have become an empty nester. But what about the rest of …

The Grimm Legacy starts when a quiet, studious, teenage girl named Elizabeth Rew gets a recommendation from her social studies teacher to work as a page at the New York Circulating Materials Repository. It is a library that lends objects instead of books. Elizabeth may not fit in very well at school or at home …

Eighteen years ago a movie hit the big screen that should be resurrected. This is me, Carolyn Hastings, exhuming Dave. Dave was released in 1993. I loved it then and I loved it even more the second time around. With all the “stuff” hitting the proverbial fan right now, Dave Kovic would be a refreshing …

Q. After a two-year layoff because of the gophers, I’ve decided to plant tomatoes again. My planting area is a thirty-inch wide strip between the house and the driveway facing east. This time, I plan to plant them in pulp containers buried in the ground, leaving two inches above the soil surface. The tomatoes will …

The fiscal problems here in California and other states have been making headlines the last few months causing uncharacteristically high levels of volatility in the municipal bond market. This volatility has sent muni prices down and has led to sizable outflows from muni bond funds and ETFs. Many investors are wondering if they should be …

Q. Tom, we may be in the market to purchase a home in the next 3-4 months and we want to ensure that we are in the best position possible to obtain a loan; please explain the difference between being ‘pre-qualified’ versus being ‘pre-approved’ by a lender? This is a very insightful question because not …