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It's time to start thinking about holiday decorating. If that makes your palms sweat or gives you a headache, take a deep breath and don't worry! Decorating for the holidays doesn't need to be a huge or expensive production. Craft and grocery stores are great places to pick up inexpensive ingredients for your seasonal decorating. Here are some easy ideas that will make your autumn decorating simpler, less expensive but still seasonal and fun.

Fall is the traditional time in the northern hemisphere to celebrate God's blessings and express gratitude for successful harvests. As our nation's “chief annual ceremony of American civil religion,” Thanksgiving has had an interesting history.

In London in 1976, composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyricist Tim Rice released an album of a show that would be called “Evita.” By early 1977, the album took the world by storm and when “Evita” premiered in London in June 1978, everyone was humming "Don't Cry For Me Argentina." In September 1979, “Evita” opened on Broadway to a sold out run and won seven Tonys, including Best Musical, Score, Book and Director. “Evita's” Broadway run went on for four years.

I hadn’t seen Karen – or her sister – in a while, but she was a thought that popped up a few times in my mind before getting buried by “the next” of a busy American life. Then, I got an email that directed me to a site and the news written by Liz Fortino Glass: “Karen Covington Fortino had an active, vibrant life as an aqua aerobic instructor, manager of a coffee house, barista and waitress at night. Then, during a routine doctor appointment on June 14, she was diagnosed with extreme hypertension … But that didn't get her down; she picked up the pieces … found another job at a doctor’s office and began a new journey … a few months later, Karen noticed a suspicious lump in the back of her throat … more bad news; there was a large mass and the diagnosis had progressed to stage 4 (cancer). The only good news: it was 90 percent curable.” “Barista” Karen – I use the term loosely and with affection – made my morning for years at the coffee shop downtown on Fifth and Monterey. Her personality, friendly greetings, banter on the Gilroy issues of the day and hearty laughter coupled with a “cup of Joe” were a true pick-me-up. Her insurance, of course, won’t begin to cover the treatment, so there’s a website called gofundme.com where you can help. A direct link is www.gofundme.com/4wlztk. There’s $6,500 in the help Karen kitty and every bit truly helps.

The students of Gilroy high School should be applauded, their generosity and willingness to work never ceases to amaze me.

Created from the inspired best-selling novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, “Peter and the Star Catcher” is imaginatively transferred to the stage by Tony Award-winning writer Rick Elice, with award-winning directors Roger Rees and Alex Timbers. Twelve actors play some 50 characters, telling the story of how and why Peter Pan came to be the boy who never wanted to grow up.

The Boy Scouts of America is one of the country's most respected institutions. While nearly everyone is familiar with its work, far fewer are aware of its long history.

For anyone who hasn’t checked out the newspaper’s website recently, you might want to take a quick peek. It’s been revamped and redesigned, with an easier to use, drop-down navigation bar and a special “Helping out for the holidays” section, where you can find out what area organizations need for the upcoming holiday season.