As seen in the Tri-Valley Herald newspaper

This Valley Life: Spoken to any good ghosts lately?
By Jimm Ott
Correspondent
Posted: 09/29/2009 12:00:00 AM PDT

IF YOU'VE SEEN a ghost, Irma Slage wants to hear from you.
A psychic and the author of "Phases of Life After Death," Slage is writing a new book about our encounters with those who have passed on.
"People who have passed way sometimes appear to us when there's an emotional reason for it," she said. "They feel the emotions of their loved ones and want to help."
In her first book, Slage, who lives in Livermore, captures the words of departed souls through a technique called automatic writing, where the deceased are able to write their thoughts through a living person who is receptive and holds a pen to paper.
"In my first book, we heard from those who have left us," Slage said. "In this new book, I want to feature stories on this side, stories of paranormal experiences."
Slage encourages those who have had encounters to e-mail her at irmaslage@gmail.com. If you e-mail her, include what the experience taught you and how it may have changed your life or perspectives.
Slage, who says she can see deceased individuals and hear their voices as if they were in the physical world, first discovered her ability in her 20s when she was cleaning her upstairs bathroom one January day in 1977. Her friend, Rose, was suddenly standing there asking Slage to call Rose's husband.
Two weeks later, Slage learned that on the day of the visit Rose had died from breast cancer, an illness she had concealed.
"That day was a turning point," she said. "I finally realized that the voices I'd been speaking with all my life were spirits. Until then, I'd thought everyone could hear voices in their minds."
Today Slage assists law enforcement and conducts psychic readings for individuals who wish to connect with deceased loved ones. She has been featured on NBC television and led viewers on a psychic tour of the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose.
In 2005, Slage gained national media attention when the mayor of Ripon threatened to cancel library funding if Slage was allowed to speak. The mayor had received several complaints from conservatives who objected to the program.
A few residents even attended a council meeting where, according to meeting minutes, one resident said that their objections were based on "the strong Christian background that made Ripon what it is," then stated that the library "exercised poor judgment when they invited Slage to speak."
Under pressure, the library canceled the talk two days before the event. One protester, unaware of the cancellation, passed out fliers at the library warning of the "demonic" presentation.
Appalled at such censorship, many residents demanded Slage be allowed to appear. One man called for the resignation of the mayor.
With support from library patrons, and after the New York Times and the Los Angeles Times picked up the story, the library invited Slage to speak. Her appearance filled the library, and none of the attendees were protesters.
For more about Slage and her request for tales of paranormal experiences, visit her Web site at www.irmaslage.com.