Recently, a friend (on the outside) asked how someone in prison keeps from “going crazy” after spending a significant amount of time behind bars. “What do you do to help pass the time?” he asked. That [...] Continue Reading
Columns
Maria Telesco Spends a Lot of Time in Prison These Days
Dear Everybody: I heard through the grapevine that someone mistakenly thought I was incarcerated and wanted to do something to help me get out. When I learned of this, I did not take offense. [...] Continue Reading
Is the Republic Imperiled? Or Are the Voters in the Central Valley?
Book Review: Restoring the Republic by Devin Nunes (WND Books, 2010). I am not quite sure how best to approach a review of Devin Nunes’ book, Restoring the Republic. Nunes, the U.S. Congressional [...] Continue Reading
CREDO: Meet Georgia Linscheid
Georgia Linscheid describes herself as a “thoroughbred Mennonite,” with ancestors from the Old Country who became pioneer farmers in the U.S. Midwest. She grew up in a Mennonite community in Ohio, on [...] Continue Reading
Pill Call
There are multiple schools of thought about what sort of healthcare California prisoners should receive. Some folks blurt out that convicts deserve little if any help in the way of medical services. [...] Continue Reading
Surprise: Rehabilitation through Spirituality
Earlier this year, John Flock and I, Unitarian Universalists, began participating with Maria Telesco in prison ministry at a men’s state prison. We learned of a small group of men interested in [...] Continue Reading
George “Elfie” Ballis: A Personal Recollection
Few residents of Fresno County earn freestanding obituaries in the Washington Post, as did George Ballis when he died last month. That obit recounted an interesting but odd career, with moments of [...] Continue Reading
Smiling Seriously: Creative Genius at Work
[Editor: This article was originally printed in the October 2004 Community Alliance newspaper.] If you are a progressive political activist in Fresno, you have seen him with his video camera at your [...] Continue Reading
William James Tranquilli
With sorrow, we announce the peaceful passing of William James Tranquilli on September 3, 2010, after a lingering illness. A well-known activist for many causes, Will enjoyed living in Fresno for many [...] Continue Reading
Grassroots Profile: Jason Chang
Jason Chang is the young president of the local chapter of the Japanese-American Citizens League (JACL). And, he tells me, he is the newly elected vice president of planning and development for the [...] Continue Reading
Spoon
By Boston Woodard When people work at the same job for many years, live in the same locale, shop at the same stores, attend the same schools and churches, become friends and associates with those [...] Continue Reading
Carlos Alvarez: Socialist Candidate for Governor
Last month, I had the opportunity to talk with Carlos Alvarez, the Peace and Freedom Party candidate for governor. He was in Fresno the same day Jerry Brown and Meg Whitman held their debate at Fresno [...] Continue Reading