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Giving thanks on Thanksgiving
As we draw nearer to Thanksgiving, I am reminded of this holiday’s origins and significance.
There are some interesting and noteworthy parallels with today’s world, two years after Covid-19 began.
While Thanksgiving has only been a national holiday since it was established in 1863 by...
The paradox of progress
News cycles spin with relentless negativity, bombarding us with stories of conflict, division and environmental woes. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the volume of problems the world faces. Sometimes, the most tempting response is to bury our heads in the sand, hoping the...
Court ruling provides a cautionary tale to our town
I am an attorney, but I am not a First Amendment free speech attorney. However, as the saying goes, I know enough to be dangerous. Moreover, I am usually pretty good at issue spotting, even in areas outside of my area of legal expertise....
Coming to terms in Los Gatos
Los Gatos is not Washington, D.C. where the level of partisanship is extremely high.
Nor is it Palo Alto, where I lived for more than 40 years prior to moving to Los Gatos in November 2019, and where I observed the divisiveness our community...
Columnist lauds compassion in action
On a recent rainy Saturday morning, I attended a Rotary meeting in Cupertino. My purpose in going was to learn more about the state of mental health services in the county, in my role as a commissioner on the Los Gatos Community Health and...
Blum: The grand task of nurturing our future
During the past several years, the Community Health and Senior Services Commission has made significant strides in helping to improve senior services in Los Gatos.
Although our focus on senior services is essential, I believe we must also attend to our community’s mental health. Given...
What I didn’t know before I opened a bookstore
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...
Our firefighters are facing a silent threat: PFAS
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...
A rewarding challenge
Timing is everything, right? Somehow, in some way, I find myself serving as the chairperson of the Community Health and Senior Services Commission as it undertakes monumental tasks.
These tasks include implementing the Senior Services Committee’s incredibly comprehensive road map for improving older adult services...
Pop Pop’s optimistic outlook for 2025
As my grandkids call me, “Pop Pop,” I find myself navigating the inevitable march of time. While recent health challenges, like hernia surgery and a persistent snoring problem (these are but a few of the conditions I am having to address), have forced me...

















