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April 29, 2026

The civic union breakdown

housing being torn apart by a machine
After decades spent as a divorce attorney, I’ve realized that most people view the end of a marriage like a disaster movie: there should be a massive explosion, a dramatic betrayal, or a 1989 Loma Prieta-magnitude earthquake leveling everything. But in my experience, the...

Author Diane Dreher on why we’re losing our sense of community

stock image of a bunch of people together looking forward
More and more these days, we Americans are losing our sense of connection and community.  In 2023, former US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy reported an epidemic of loneliness and isolation. This year, the American Psychological Association warned of a crisis of disconnection in the...

Blum: My ideas for attracting new members to Rotary

Jeffrey Blum
Somehow through my years as a volunteer in many different endeavors I’ve gotten the notion that I know how to generate interest about the organizations I’ve been involved in. In many cases I did this by writing articles about the organization, such as the...

What I didn’t know before I opened a bookstore

business owner photo
My North Santa Cruz Avenue business, Beyond Text Bookstore, has now been open for over six months. That’s six months the place has been filled with real people—not just my dreams and hopes. Upon reflection, I wanted to share a little about what I didn’t know...

Blum: Student absences have exploded

Jeffrey Blum
The familiar hum of a well-oiled machine is a comforting sound. It suggests efficiency, precision, and a harmonious system. This is an analogy I provided to Town Council at a council meeting on Aug. 6, as I, along with Chair Eleanor Yick, presented the...

Guest View: ‘Work Hard, Play Hard’

Jeffrey Blum
In 1950, Rotary International adopted two mottoes. One was “He Profits Most Who Serves Best” (Rotary did not officially welcome women until 1989), and the other was “Service Above Self.” To this day, Rotary continues to use the latter motto. After being a member of...

Mayor’s Message: The path toward a safer e-bike landscape

officials at the Los Gatos high school bike cage
One of the things I love most about Los Gatos is how easy it is to get around on two wheels. Whether it’s families riding along the Los Gatos Creek Trail, students biking to school, or neighbors choosing a bike instead of a car for...

Here’s how we can improve mental health and substance abuse services

Jeffrey Blum
The Community Health and Senior Services Commission (CHSSC) recently reported to the Town Council, detailing deficiencies in the delivery of mental health and substance abuse services in Los Gatos. CHSSC’s possible next step, subject to council approval, will be to develop a roadmap to...

Our firefighters are facing a silent threat: PFAS

wildfire in SoCal
Gearing up every morning for a job built on danger just comes with being a firefighter. Yet for thousands who hold this job in the Bay Area, the greatest risk may come not from flames or collapsing walls, but from the gear meant to...

Facing old age

Jeffrey Blum
As I move through my senior years in semi-retirement mode, I share jokes about ailments and commiserate with fellow old timers about lost loved ones. At the same time, I apply myself to my job as a commissioner on the Community Health and Senior...

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