Opinion
Zach Harney, Financial Planning: The power of direct indexing
At its core, direct indexing gives investors ownership of the individual securities that make up...
Barbara Rose Shuler, Intermezzo: The changing sound of leadership in classical music
The podium long seemed an exclusively male domain because conducting was believed to demand qualities...
Letters to the Editor: March 3, 2026
Wobbly water solution Your recent Jeff Davi op-ed touting Cal Am’s wobbly “three-legged stool” argument...
Helen Dennis, Successful Aging: Falling for snake oil pitches
The first step is to determine whether your father’s physician has addressed the two issues...
Tom Karwin, On Gardening: Hummingbirds in flight
One of nature’s fascinating aspects in the garden is the flight of hummingbirds. The UC...
Dennis Beaver, You and the Law: Looking for a financial book that won’t put your young adult to sleep
"Wealth Your Way" by Cosmo DeStefano offers a highly accessible guide for young adults and...
Marco Lucido, Workplace Law: Minimum wage and salary reminder
With the increase to the minimum wage rate, employers also need to ensure that the...
Guest Commentary: CSUMB transforming education to power the Central Coast economy
The strength of our university and the strength of our region are inseparable.
Steven Merrell, Financial Planning: Should I reduce the risk in my portfolio?
Risk is one of the most misunderstood concepts in investing. Many investors equate risk with...
Travels with the Mullallys: Searching for peak experiences around Palm Springs
Palm Springs rolls out an annual parade of events to highlight Modernism Week.
Patrice Vecchione, Walkabout Town: Walking with bees
I knew my pop was guiding me — his love had sent me bees.
Barry Dolowich, Tax Tips: Filing separately in a community property state
You should understand how community property laws affect the way you figure your income on...
Barbara Intermill, On Nutrition: The skinny on fat
While no one argues about the incredible health benefits of vegetables and fruit, there’s been...
Helen Dennis, Successful Aging: A crisis looms on Caregivers Day
Caregiving affects an increasing number of us. And many are currently feeling the impact, or...
Tom Karwin, On Gardening: Pointers for perennial plant propagation
"Our column focuses on propagating herbaceous and woody perennials through stem cuttings. The process uses...
Liza Horvath, Senior Advocate: My inheritance, my birthright
Our children may have the expectation of receiving whatever is left of our estates when...
Dennis Beaver, You and the Law: A wake-up call and a healthy dose of terror: How to survive your first days in prison
This young man needed to be scared straight after his mother expressed her fear that...
Letters to the Editor: Feb. 21, 2026
STR debate The debate about short-term rentals in Monterey County comes down to this: will...
Guest commentary: Reliable water is the foundation of affordable housing
The responsible path is to complete the diversified system our community agreed on, including desalination,...
Zach Harney, Financial Planning: What about international stocks?
Investors who focus solely on the U.S. stock market may be missing a crucial piece...
Barbara Rose Shuler, Intermezzo: Carmel Bach Season 2026 set to go
“Our theme invites us to listen more deeply, not only to music, but to the...
Beth Peerless, Where it’s at: A unique pairing at Wave Street
One of the best Americana acoustic guitar accompanists together with the soulful free flowing, emotional...
Barry Dolowich, Tax Tips: Effective versus marginal tax rates
It almost ALWAYS makes sense economically to make more money. Only if the tax rates...
Barbara Intermill, On Nutrition: Real cowboys eat vegetables
Why popcorn? It’s light and extremely satisfying. Popcorn popped in oil has only 35 calories...
Helen Dennis, Successful Aging: New doctor search can bring good partnership
Choosing a physician is key, particularly in later life when we often are confronted with...
Liza Horvath, Senior Advocate: Trump Accounts for kids
As an employer, I view this as just one more way to benefit good employees...
Guest commentary: Affordable housing requires affordable, reliable water — now
The State Water Board now has a chance to do something rare in California policy:...
Dennis Beaver, You and the Law: This is how you can land a job you’ll love
“Work How You Are Wired” leads job seekers on a journey of self-discovery. Understanding your...
Cheryl Harbour, Guest Commentary: How to speak “Love” on Valentine’s Day
The perfect Valentine’s Day celebration might be picking up Chinese take-out, cuddling on the couch,...
Guest Commentary: The tournament next door
So this tournament week, I’d encourage our neighbors to get out and enjoy the event....
Marco Lucido, Workplace Law: Reminders for drug-testing policies
There are circumstances in which employers can require drug and/or alcohol testing. However, employers should...
Steven Merrell, Financial Planning: Watch out for IRMAA
The acronym stands for income-related monthly adjustment amount, and while it sounds technical and harmless,...
Barry Dolowich, Tax Tips: Prize winnings
Generally, prizes you win from sweepstakes, raffles and contests are taxable as ordinary income.
Barbara Intermill, On Nutrition: Reader comments
In this week's column, Barbara Intermill is responding to a couple recent comments from readers.
Helen Dennis, Successful Aging: Judgments around age fade but persist
For many, it has been the age to receive full Social Security benefits; for those...
Tom Karwin, On Gardening: Growing plants from seeds
Now is the appropriate time to plant seeds for spring blooms in the garden. Growing...
Letters to the Editor: Feb. 8, 2026
Just give it to him Instead of the constant and financially wasteful probe into the...
Liza Horvath, Senior Advocate: The ghost of Facebook
Laws are in place that can help dictate how our digital footprint can be dealt...
Dennis Beaver, You and the Law: Response to our story on AI and attorney fees: ‘You saved our company thousands!’
Attorney Dennis Beaver discusses the response from last week's column about AI helping lawyers cheat...
Zach Harney, Financial Planning: The SALT tax deduction: history, limits and the OBBBA
The state and local tax deduction is a federal income tax provision that allows taxpayers...
Beth Peerless, Where it’s at: Dark Star Orchestra a fitting tribute to Dead
We’ll find out Thursday evening at Golden State what music the band is bringing to...
Barry Dolowich, Tax Tips: Losses from side business
Generally, losses from your business will be deductible against your gross income. However, the Internal...
Barbara Intermill, On Nutrition: Feeding kids with Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes in young people. It happens...
CSUMB teacher honored nationally
“It was very moving, and I felt very honored,” Jose Pablo Dundore-Arias said in a...
Tom Karwin, On Gardening | Using AI to empower gardening
"Our recent columns have focused on uses of artificial intelligence to select plants, address plant...
Liza Horvath, Senior Advocate: Why not name all the kids as co-executors?
Even though all three of your kids will share the estate equally, naming all three...
Dennis Beaver, You and the Law: Is your lawyer ethical or shady?
Research shows you can’t rely on some state bar websites to vet a lawyer you’re...
Marco Lucido, Workplace Law: A look at arbitration agreements
Arbitration is a private alternative to court that provides the parties with a legally binding...
Steven Merrell, Financial Planning: Find Your why
Understanding our why matters in the more ordinary—and often more persistent—challenges of daily life. Consider...
Barbara Rose Shuler, Intermezzo: Local soprano makes triumphant return
Murphy has appeared on some of the most prestigious stages of the world.
Barry Dolowich, Tax Tips: Deduction for sales taxes
Sales tax was a deduction until the 1986 Tax Reform Act “simplified” the tax system.
Helen Dennis, Successful Aging: Leaving legacy that’s more than financial
Q: I have been thinking about the concept of legacy over the past few years...
Tom Karwin, On Gardening: Scheduling care and maintenance
"This column focuses on scheduling plant care and maintenance," writes columnist Tom Karwin. "We begin...
Dennis Beaver, You and the Law: Billed 12 hours for a few seconds of work?
The ability of AI to reduce the time required for certain legal tasks is exposing...
Marco Lucido, Workplace Law: New employer layoff notice obligations
Employers considering a triggering employment action should plan ahead and contact their labor counsel to...
Beth Peerless, Where it’s at: A tribute to Django Reinhardt
Coming to both Monterey and Santa Cruz this weekend are the Django Reinhardt Tribute Shows
Zach Harney, Financial Planning: How to do a ‘money autopsy’
A money autopsy has one purpose: to help you make clearer choices going forward.
Barry Dolowich, Tax Tips: Depreciation of rental property
Believe it or not, you are actually ahead of the IRS.
Barbara Intermill, On Nutrition: The ‘new’ food pyramid
The goal — to “shift our food system away from chronic disease and toward nutrient...
Helen Dennis, Successful Aging: What to consider when helping an older person to age in place
Sara Zeff Geber, an expert on solo aging, reframes the notion of aging in place...
Liza Horvath, Senior Advocate: When can I get my inheritance?
Question: I am a beneficiary of my grandfather’s estate. There was a lot of real...
Lisa Uttal, Finding Sanctuary: Restoring and conserving Elkhorn Slough through science, resource protection and stewardship
Elkhorn Slough, a coastal wetland visible from the Highway 1 bridge in Moss Landing, CA...
Dennis Beaver, You and the Law: An elder law attorney can help protect your aging parents from financial mistakes
If you are worried about older family members or friends whose financial judgment is raising...
Letters to the editor: Jan. 16, 2026
Update from Vistra This week marks the one-year anniversary of the battery fire at Vistra’s...
Steven Merrell, Financial Planning: Stocks vs. Bonds: Finding the Right balance
Markets don’t move in straight lines and neither do investors’ lives. A formula that ignores...
Barbara Intermill, On Nutrition: Keys to surviving winter
Bundle up to get some exercise when you can.
Mary Jeanne Vincent, Career Talk: A toast to new beginnings
Speaking of change and priorities, I have committed to cutting back my work schedule and...
Guest commentary: Why should opportunity depend on your ZIP code?
Families should not have to leave their community to find a great public school. Let’s...
Tom Karwin, On Gardening: Real gardening with AI — Problem solving
"Our current topic concerns ways a gardener can use AI to answer questions and solve...
Wendy Root Askew, Guest Commentary: Everyone deserves to get home safely
The Transportation Agency is committed to eliminating traffic fatalities and reducing serious injuries
Letters to the Editor: Jan. 11, 2026
Emergency response fee Monterey’s intent to bill residents for 911 calls involving an ambulance is...
Liza Horvath, Senior Advocate: She is rich, he is not
Being a wealthy woman, I find that some men feel emasculated by my wealth.
Dennis Beaver, You and the Law: Embracing self-doubt can be a gift
An aging couple hired a remodeling company that illegally required large deposits, and then they...
Patrice Vecchione, Walkabout Town: Walking in the Dark
When I wake in the very early hours, there’s a sense of mystery and magic...
Zach Harney, Finanical Planning: Financial habits worth keeping — and dropping
The most meaningful financial changes rarely feel dramatic. Financial progress doesn’t require a fresh personality...
Beth Peerless, Where it’s at: Beating the post holiday blues
There are plenty of shows to catch at the many small venues sprinkled around our...
Commentary: Looking back at the year that was, ‘25
In '25 F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote "The Great Gatsby," a look at this current era...
Barry Dolowich, Tax Tips: Taxability of unemployment insurance and worker’s compensation payments
You should receive a 2025 Form 1099-G by Jan. 31, reporting the amount of the...
Tom Karwin, On Gardening | Real gardening with artificial intelligence
"Gardeners can use AI technology to manage routine tasks, improve the accuracy and timing of...
Liza Horvath, Senior Advocate: A year in review
It is simply impossible to anticipate all the possible outcomes of our “planning.”
Dennis Beaver, You and the Law: How to protect yourself and others from a troubled adult child
This case of a violent and entitled adult son whose parents are in denial is...
Marco Lucido, Workplace Law: Protected leave for civic duties and victims of violence
The leave laws in California are ever-expanding. Employers are encouraged to stay up-to-date
Steven Merrell, Financial Planning: Surprise! When your IRA owes taxes
Unrelated Business Taxable Income issues are complex and frequently misunderstood.
Barry Dolowich, Tax Tips: The five stages of tax debt
The word combination of “Death and Taxes” has inextricably been linked together for as long...
Barbara Intermill, On Nutrition: Out with the old
That stroke of midnight that begins each new year seems to ignite something in us.
Barbara Intermill, On Nutrition: Recipe for healing
Besides key nutrients, my physical therapist also reminded me that my body really needs rest....
Vanya Quiñones, Guest Commentary: A New Year’s wish for Cal State Monterey Bay
May every student find success. May every action of the university open more doors. May...
Mary Jeanne Vincent, Career Talk: Spreading holiday cheer
Every year for the last ten years, Mary Jeanne Vincent has taken a shift ringing...
Liza Horvath, Senior Advocate: A trustee’s costs and expenses
Finally, depending on how the trust is written, administration costs like legal defense, are charged...
Dennis Beaver, You and the Law: What makes this business so successful? We find out from the founder’s kids
The children of Morgan Clayton, founder of Tel-Tec Security Systems in Bakersfield, California, share how...
Hannah Rogge, Financial Planning: Tips for keeping your financial information secure
In today’s digital age, most of your personal financial information exists somewhere online. While this...
Barry Dolowich, Tax Tips: A gift for your loved one
Today's column is about peace of mind
Liza Horvath, Senior Advocate: Skipping the trustee
Being sensitive to our children’s vulnerabilities and creating an estate plan to best support them...
Dennis Beaver, You and the Law: Meet the world’s unluckiest — not to mention entitled — porch pirate
Attorney Dennis Beaver discusses the case of an inept teenage porch pirate caught by homeowners,...
Marco Lucido, Workplace Law: Don’t forget about new guidelines on harassment prevention heading into 2026
The Guide does not create new laws, but it is a practical roadmap from the...
Zach Harney, Financial Planning: Why predicting the next market crash is so dangerous
Market crashes are dramatic events. The 1987 crash, the dot-com bust, the global financial crisis...
Barry Dolowich, Tax Tips: Should I sign this tax return?
It would be a gross understatement to describe a marriage separation as an emotional trauma....
Mary Jeanne Vincent, Career Talk: Safeguard your job
The economy is growing at a modest rate; however, there is some concern the 2026...
Tom Karwin, On Gardening | Focusing on foliage
"Many flowering plants are currently dormant, so the current season presents an ideal time to...
Liza Horvath, Senior Advocate: We don’t have an estate
Putting together a strong estate plan can be time consuming and appear expensive and, moreover,...