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Although I wasn’t able to make it out to the recent wine strolls held in Hollister and Morgan Hill, I did take advantage of the incredible weather last weekend to enjoy Gilroy’s Art and Wine Stroll.

Take a step back in time to those thrilling days of yesteryear when the social life of the great ranchos revolved around the grand fiestas. Relive those great outdoor parties with caballeros chasing señoritas, meat cooking on an open grill, dancing and entertainment.

In times of drought, the benefits of Santa Clara County's history of groundwater management are more evident than ever, especially for our local farmers and ranchers. Unlike many of their counterparts in the Central Valley, local growers are able to tap into a healthy aquifer for a minimal charge, despite the fact that we are now in our third consecutive dry year.

When Gilroy resident Michelle Crowell Gonsolin decided to become a veterinarian, it was going to take more than a hurricane to blow her off course.

Last winter, I challenged you to join me on a climb up Mt. Tallac this summer. Judging from the attendance at our various prep hikes and the email and Facebook buzz I am getting, many of you have accepted the challenge. Last week, I took a detour on my return from Modoc County and climbed the mountain to refresh my memory.

So here we are—in the middle of graduation season in the South Valley. From preschoolers who look so cute in their hats and Hawaiian leis to Gavilan College graduates, someone, somewhere is starting a new chapter in their life.

Most people would probably like to speak a second language, for practical reasons or just to enjoy the ability to communicate with more people. And there is little doubt that languages are easier to learn at a young age.

I was recently honored to receive two design awards at the Decorating Den Interiors 30th International Dream Room competition at its 45th annual conference held recently in San Diego.

This is a salute to all the soldiers who go to war, ordinary men and women, some who return home and some who don’t. This is in memory of two brothers near and dear to Wanda Lewis, a longtime resident of Gilroy. She recalls them both with great fondness and love and has never forgotten how great these “ordinary” men were.

Award-winning Morgan Hill artist Janet Vanderhoof creates figurative as well as landscape paintings with the common thread being bright, powerful, vivid colors and her blend of Fauvism and Impressionism, originating what she calls “Modern Impressionism.”