Hit one out of the park for Boys & Girls Club

Where's the June gloom? It seems to me that the weather for the SCV Boys & Girls Club Auction is historically "warm!" A Night on the Diamond for Boys & Girls Club

Gas prices: Who’s to blame?

Psychology defines an addiction as a state of being enslaved to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming, to such an extent that its cessation causes severe trauma. Observing Washington, one would think that at any given moment some pol might explode into a shivering, sweaty bout of honesty with no eye to grandstanding if "business as usual" became business as it ought to be.

A ‘main course’ for senior survival

There's no place like home." Throughout our lives we frequently hear that phrase, and often it prompts different reactions.

City expanding sports complex

In an effort to continue bringing high quality recreational facilities to our community, the city will be breaking ground this week on phase four of the Santa Clarita Sports Complex. This new phase includes a new gymnasium, a multi-use playing field, more parking and landscaping, and a new and expanded skate park, investing $25 million in this popular city facility located in the center of Santa Clarita.

I’ll have my Velveeta and eat it, too

Being single wasn't so bad. But at the time, I would've given up both my arms and a leg to have a wife like I have now. I would've given up my vision and my hearing. Heck, I would've taken more drastic measures and trashed my prized DVD collection to be with someone.

A conversation about the gay marriage ruling

When I want a different view of the world, I go and visit my friend Libby. Some of you may remember Libby from past articles. Libby drives a BMW, retains a comfortably upper-middle-class lifestyle, and owns a small poodle named Ralphie who wears more bling than some rappers. Libby lives the good life in Santa Clarita and feels horribly guilty about it. Ralphie doesn't care. He's just happy being a dog.

True patriotism is commitment to nation’s ideals

Patriotism. Nationalism. Militarism. Fascism. It's a slippery slope from the "P" at the start of patriotism to the "m" at the end of fascism. But slip-sliding away we've been, and it's strange to think we've welcomed our slide from liberty with our very own votes. Artifacts of liberty's decline abound, from "Patriot Acts" violating privacies to news of American military "prison ships" secretly detaining "war on terror" prisoners indefinitely, without trial. All the while, public ...

How to choose the local judges

Let's be honest. Who really cares about the judges on a ballot? I'm sure many of us simply guess at or skip the folks listed in the "Judicial" portion of our ballots. Does it matter which lying lawyer gets elected to the bench?

Can you go home again?

Is the old adage "you can never go home again" actually true? Nostalgia has a way of sneaking up on us at times, but recently, it knocked me over. I was compelled to do more than just reminisce about the "good old days." Feeling a strong yearning to visit my childhood home in the Santa Clarita Valley, I packed up the kids and husband and headed west. Now my husband has his need for annual ...

Take the city out to the ball game

Baseball is an American tradition that dates back to the 18th century, when amateurs played a baseball-like game by their own informal rules using improvised equipment. In the late 19th century, baseball was widely and officially recognized as the national sport of the United States.

Polluted water shouldn't count — and it doesn't

I applaud all the interest in our water quality, and truly hope those wanting more information about the process and timing of the groundwater cleanup contact our water agencies. There is a wealth of information available and it's quite fascinating.

They show what it means to give back

May is gone and June has arrived, bringing graduations, Father's Day and the countdown to Fourth of July. I have a wedding anniversary this month, too. It's hard for me to comprehend that I've been married 30-plus years! Kudos to good citizens Poole and Shaffery

10 reasons to go to Central Park today

As of 9 a.m. today, thousands of Santa Clarita Valley residents will be excitedly joining together at Central Park.

Winds of change buffet Santa Clarita

If you have ever attended or watched a City Council meeting, you undoubtedly have observed a cast of "usual suspects" who appear when the council is voting on a proposed development. This group opposes virtually every development. Over the last couple of years something has changed. Before I go any further, let me say the purpose of this op-ed piece is to not talk about the merits of each issue raised - those issues each ...

Supreme Court another reason to vote Republican

An interesting editorial appeared recently in the Los Angeles Times. It was titled "A vote against history" and referenced the Supreme Court decision that upheld Indiana's requirement for voter identification.

Will Durst: Your ever-vigilant friends at the NSA

Dear U.S. Citizen,

Charlie Vignola: Giving up freedom and privacy for security

Two weeks have gone by since Edward Snowden, a 29-year-old computer tech working as an NSA contractor, leaked information about classified government information to the press, effectively exposing top secret programs designed to combat terrorism and save American lives.

Kathryn Lopez: Semantic gymnastics rationalize abortion

t a recent Thursday-morning press conference, House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi was asked to explain the moral difference between the 20-week-old babies whom Dr. Kermit Gosnell killed in his Philadelphia clinic and the unborn children that legislation sponsored by Arizona Republican Rep. Trent Franks would help protect.

Rick Jensen: Democrats are OK with Obama spying

Liberals are slurping at a new yet familiar theme trough: Republicans are hypocrites because they're against NSA surveillance now but were all for it during the Bush administration.

Steve and Cokie Roberts: Out of their minds

Have these men lost their minds?"

David Hegg: The legacy of leadership from our fathers

Famous leadership expert Dr. John Maxwell is on record as declaring that "everything rises and falls on leadership." The ability to see into the future, understand the risks and rewards, and organize a group of people to accomplish the mission is essential for success.

Tina Dupuy: The freedom of too much information

We are all celebrities now. Ever since we won Time Magazine's Person of the Year in 2006, the same year we first found out about the National Security Administration spying on us, we've all become essentially public figures.

Bob Kellar: Live from City Hall

"Responsible," "on time," "balanced," "lean" and "sustainable" are words used to describe the city of Santa Clarita's budget and budget practices, and that's something your City Council is extremely proud of.

Timothy Myers: What to do with Stephen Winkler?

By the time this column runs, with a bit of luck, Stephen Winkler, the extremely controversial member of the Saugus Union School District governing board, will have submitted his resignation from the board.

Tom Purcell: Countering government intimidation

Admit it. You're a dirty rotten conservative!"

Christine Korenthal: Meet your new HOA, the city of Santa Clarita

I will never forget when my husband, Kevin, and I began looking for our first house. It was an exciting time for us as we began our search to find the new place that we would call home.

Danny Tyree: Toy gun buyback? Just shoot me

According to Townhall.com and other sources, Stobridge Elementary School in Hayward, California, may be shooting itself in the foot, publicity-wise.

Joe Gandelman: Will America regret Snowden’s intelligence leaks?

A popular graphic making the rounds on the Internet shows Boston Marathon bombing terrorist brothers Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev with the caption: "Apparently Not Verizon Customers."

Kevin Bayona: Things heat up in Turkey

When the Arab Spring erupted back in December of 2010, I never thought the revolutions and protests we witnessed on our television screens would reach Turkey, considered by many to be a democratic anchor of stability in an otherwise un-democratic and unstable part of the world.

Ever feel like you’re being watched?