Local Opinion

New Web site 'powered by you'
We're pleased to announce that we're relaunching our Web site Monday afternoon at theunion.com.

12:25 a.m. PT May 17, 2008 | more »

Lend a helping hand to new Hospice Home
As most of the community probably knows, Hospice of the Foothills has been involved in a capital campaign for the past four years to raise funds to help construct a new facility that will consist of a 12-patient suite Hospice Home (the first in our area) and an In-Home Services wing for the staff...
12:27 a.m. PT May 17, 2008 | more »

Volunteer firefighters: Real American heroes
So you're young and healthy, live on the San Juan Ridge and just got home from work. Since it's a warm day in early summer, seems like a good time to kick back and relax from the labors of the day.

12:29 a.m. PT May 17, 2008 | more »

Collaborative divorce comes to Nevada County
I have been practicing family law in Nevada County since 1980, and I can attest that traditional litigated divorces with custody battles, court appearances and increasing animosity between the parties are difficult to watch.

12:23 a.m. PT May 17, 2008 | more »

Growth: The devil is in the details
The initiative to amend the land-use element of Grass Valley's General Plan or the Friends of Grass Valley advocate for "Managed Growth" is the wrong idea.
11:43 p.m. PT May 15, 2008 | more »

Biking for health and conscience
I have not owned a car for a little over a year. I ride my bike now. I made the decision to go "carless" last March. I had been thinking about my health, the health of the planet and my personal responsibility for how I live on this planet.

12:41 a.m. PT May 14, 2008 | more »

The war over the Iraq war
The war in Iraq is in its sixth year - and we, the public, are in our sixth year of reading warring accounts about it.

7:26 p.m. PT May 15, 2008 | more »

Now drill this or continue price escalations
Eat, or drive...those are the two biggest choices facing most Americans today.

12:24 a.m. PT May 13, 2008 | more »

Unleashing a more compassionate healthcare system
Comedian George Carlin once quipped "I don't believe there's any problem in this country, no matter how tough it is, that Ameri-cans, when they roll up their sleeves, can't completely ignore." Funny? True? Ouch!

12:51 a.m. PT May 13, 2008 | more »

My primrose path
An array of primroses strikes the eye like a box of newly opened crayons. The colors are basic and pure. The blossoms are also basic, a design so simple it might have been invented by a child.

9:35 p.m. PT May 10, 2008 | more »

Note to Royal Gorge: Quit hogging the water!
In spring, when small seasonal waterfalls are bubbling down into the South Yuba River, it's hard to imagine a water shortage, least of all for the area around Big Bend and the old Rainbow Lodge.
9:36 p.m. PT May 10, 2008 | more »

Lawyer spreads untruths about mine
Re: April 29, "Mine leaders want it their way; ignore possible impacts," by Greg Martin, environmental attorney. Mr. Martin didn't mention why he is writing such distortion and untruths about mining and the Idaho Maryland Mine, in particular.

12:21 a.m. PT May 10, 2008 | more »

A Mother's Day with meaning
Tomorrow, in honor of Mother's Day, we will dedicate both Opinion pages and one extra page to Blue Star Mothers and their sons and daughters who serve or have served in the U.S. Armed Forces in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere.
1:19 a.m. PT May 9, 2008 | more »

The actions of Minutemen should ‘concern us all’
The front page headlines of the Union announced Wednesday, April 30, that the co-founder of the Minutemen, Chris Simcox, will soon address Nevada County on illegal immigration.
9:52 a.m. PT May 9, 2008 | more »

Poll workers stand on the front lines of democracy
Each election, Californians see snapshots of what makes our democracy tick. Candidates. Initiative measures. Campaign commercials. Voter registration drives. Ballots and the machines that count them.

12:43 a.m. PT May 7, 2008 | more »

'Traditionalists' best this nation offered
If I were to guess why this country may be "going to hell in a handbag," as some suggest, it's probably because we're losing a generation of tough, determined, by-the-bootstraps people.

12:24 a.m. PT May 6, 2008 | more »

Initiative gives teeth to city's stated growth plans
The "Managed Growth" Initiative proposes to have the citizens adopt the Land Use Element of the City's General Plan by initiative on the next ballot.

12:25 a.m. PT May 6, 2008 | more »

Bob Crabb cartoon - May 5

9:23 p.m. PT May 4, 2008 | more »

Our sinking economy: administration has head in the sand
The economist Milton Friedman argued that if the money supply was held steady, nations wouldn't have depressions.

8:31 p.m. PT May 3, 2008 | more »

Penn Valley supports its children
Tucked into western Nevada County is a little cow town with a huge heart. Yes, right down the hill from Grass Valley, Penn Valley has supported our school all year long.

8:31 p.m. PT May 3, 2008 | more »

A walk in the woods - for a racehorse
More than 14 million viewers are expected to watch the 134th running of the Kentucky Derby at 3:04 p.m. today.

1:21 a.m. PT May 3, 2008 | more »

A vision for the future of Grass Valley
Grass Valley is a special place. Our historic community needs to be respected and preserved while our community evolves and changes to address the needs of our children and our grandchildren. The guiding document as to how we plan for change is our 2020 General Plan.

1:31 a.m. PT May 3, 2008 | more »

Little farm in L.A. nourished family during hard times
Skyrocketing food prices. Contaminated food recalls. Corn and rice shortages.

12:38 a.m. PT May 3, 2008 | more »

A plea to the community to save Spirit
Spirit Peer Empowerment Center serves the community by offering one on one and group counseling to individuals with mental health issues. The counselors are trained peers (those who themselves have mental health issues). It is currently located in a house on Gates Place in Grass Valley.

12:30 a.m. PT May 3, 2008 | more »

Bear River High's Grad Night 2008 planning underway
Annually, a group of parent volunteers at Bear River High School organize an all night "safe and sober" graduation party for graduating seniors.
12:37 a.m. PT May 3, 2008 | more »

Thanks for supporting pizza and song
The Nevada Union Choir Boosters Club wishes to extend a musical thank you to our local community for their support in our recent fundraiser, Pizza and Song. We hope you enjoyed the musical talents of our students.

12:34 a.m. PT May 3, 2008 | more »

Golf for the blind June 11
Sierra Services for the Blind is having their 5th Annual Golf Tournament on June 11. That, in itself, is only an indication of what is different about living in a rural community. In most rural communities many human services are performed at the nonprofit level, or not at all.

12:47 a.m. PT May 2, 2008 | more »

Support volunteer firefighters in North San Juan
In 1862 the citizens of North San Juan contributed funds and labor to build a reservoir for the town. This reservoir, supplied with water from the Eureka Lake Ditch, made a local fire agency possible.

7:06 p.m. PT Apr 29, 2008 | more »

Holocaust victims 'live on in our memory'
This year, Holocaust Remembrance Day falls on May 2 and designates a time for people to pause, reflect and bring to mind the victims of the Holocaust - even if just momentarily.

12:51 a.m. PT Apr 30, 2008 | more »

John Carr cartoon

12:36 a.m. PT Apr 30, 2008 | more »