Archive By Section - Columnists
New enterprise zone already boosting economy
After nine full months of operation, the city of Santa Clarita's Enterprise Zone has proven to be an amazing new tool in the economic development toolbox, benefiting the local business community. All types of city-based businesses have taken advantage of the hiring tax credit including car dealers, restaurants, retail, and industrial and manufacturing companies.
Big steps toward stomping out arthritis
The prevalence of arthritis and chronic joint symptoms is surging, affecting more than 45,000 in Santa Clarita alone and approximately 46 million (one in five) Americans.
The lies of the Clintons
Hillary's latest effort at "embellishing" (actually, it's called "inventing" or "fabricating") on her visit to our troops in Bosnia while a war was going on there comes as no surprise. She was merely trying to inform
Earth Week in Santa Clarita
The first Earth Day on April 22, 1970, was conceived by Sen. Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin as a means of
A legislative solution to a nonexistent problem
One thing everyone can agree upon: Water served to the public should be clean, safe, potable and free of
Endless Iraq Whack-a-Mole
"I want to cut off the finger I voted with." Ayad Hassan heaps scorn on the Iraqi government that he cast a ballot for two years ago. Hassan finally got out of Sadr City three weeks ago after being pinned down in his house for days while renewed open warfare again devastated his neighborhood.
A checklist for buying a new home
Home ownership and housing are essential to the strength and vitality of a region. It is the cornerstone of family security and stability; it strengthens our communities; it is crucial to the national and regional economy; and it enhances overall quality of life.
Some legislative relief for schools
The most distinguishing factor between national, state and local government is the ability of local politicos to shed the mantle of partisan politics in an effort to work together to achieve the common good. The city of Santa Clarita is a prime example of that very fact. With that in mind, I offer hearty congratulations to Mayor Bob Kellar and Laurie Ender, the clear winners in Santa Clarita's City Council election. Bob Spierer, Diane Trautman, ...
The best medicine Medicare can allow
My mother used to say, "Whoever called old age the 'Golden Years' must have been color-blind." Having recently spent time visiting elderly relatives in some rather sad and sterile skilled nursing facilities, I've been giving serious thought to how I'll be living out my Golden Years, should I make it that far.
Annual Cowboy Festival rides into Santa Clarita Valley
Since 1994, the Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival has been recognized as one of the best in the West, taking visitors back in time and bringing to life the music, magic, and spirit of the Old West. The city of Santa Clarita encourages folks of all ages to come and enjoy the sights, sounds, and original cuisine of the 2008 Cowboy Festival. The main festival is set to run Saturday, April 26, through Sunday, April 27, ...
Are you ready to cowboy up?
SCV Scene The best time of the year is here. The Cowboy Festival at Melody Ranch in Placerita Canyon rides into town next weekend. Great food, great music, great fun and a chance to walk the historic streets of the Melody Ranch Motion Picture Studio where many famous Western films and television shows were made ("The Lone Ranger," "Gunsmoke," "Hopalong Cassidy" and many others). Visit www.cowboyfestival.org for schedules and ticket information. Santa Clarita Symphony For ...
Our water supply 'portfolio'
If you're an investor with a diversified portfolio, there's a pretty good chance you have greater peace of mind during an economic downturn than you would if all of your financial eggs were in the same basket. That simple philosophy - diversification - can save you money and headaches over the long run.
Supreme Court's decision means justice for victims
This week's Supreme Court decision upholding lethal injection as a legitimate method for execution is a watershed moment. The justices voted 7-2 on a Kentucky death row inmate's claim that three-ingredient lethal injection amounted to cruel and unusual punishment. The High Court rejected that argument with authority; the decision wasn't even close. This clears the way to lift the unofficial moratorium on executions.
The politics of race
When I encounter writer's block, I often go over to my Uncle Earl's. Earl is an eccentric combination of Texas Two-Stepper, Bible Belt Bully, Illinois Intellectual, and California Conservative. He's loud-mouthed, opinionated and crude, but often right. He tends to say the things I want to say but cannot. So I enjoy my visits with Uncle Earl since he fills my steno pad with column ideas. On my latest visit, I asked Earl about Barack ...
Thinking green for Earth Day
My 4-year-old son is very excited about Earth Day on Tuesday. Yup, Earth Day, the annual celebration of our planet during which Americans promote awareness and appreciation for the environment. My wife and I told our boy about Earth Day, and he seems more excited about cleaning up beaches and recycling than he's been about opening presents on Christmas morning or trick-or-treating on Halloween night.
Articles by Section - Columnists
Terri Crain: Don’t misuse environmental protection law
In 2008, Santa Clarita was named the most business- friendly city in Los Angeles County by the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation.
Joe Gandelman: Watch the credibility games
Forget the political "blame game." The biggest game in town now is the credibility game - a high-stakes exercise that will end with America's political middle deciding who is trustworthy and who isn't. Some key players:
The scandal of scandal in Washington, D.C.
If you listen loud enough you can almost hear the siren song of the Republican Party spread its dulcet tones across Washington. It's scandal season boys and girls, and for the GOP it's Mardi Gras, Christmas and The Spanish Inquisition all in one!
Steve and Cokie Roberts: Astonishing attack on our core values
Finally, an issue Republicans and Democrats can agree on:
The Village Idiot: Please, invade my privacy
A world-famous entertainer announced that she and her boyfriend were splitting up in one of the saddest tweets I've ever read: "We have decided to go our separate ways. Please respect our privacy."
Charlie Vignola: A scandal is only a scandal when it happens to Democrats
Imagine for a moment a President of the United States who ignored warnings about an imminent terrorist threat that resulted in an attack that killed American citizens, then argued that we didn't need an investigation to figure out what went wrong.
Tom Purcell: Advice from the master
ill Clinton, wearing a white toga and a crown of gold, sat in a garden while attractive women fed him grapes. President Obama, having just suffered the most devastating week of his presidency, sat nearby, seeking advice in the art of telling whoppers. Using the Socratic method of teaching, Clinton began to tutor his new student.
Frank Ferry: Live from City Hall
May is Building Safety Month and the ideal time to tackle all of those home-improvement projects on your "to do" list before summer is in full swing.
David Hegg: Of progress and purpose
There is no debate that time marches on. The sun rises, shines, and sets, and then does it all over again, day after day. And each day we encounter the unknown components of a whole new 24-hour set of life experience.
Tim Myers: Where respect for private property ends
As a Midwesterner and a Lutheran, I must admit to a great love of irony, and there is nothing more entertaining and ironic than the practical behavior of an elected official, particularly a locally elected official, when their ideology runs straight into the practicalities of the moment.
Phil Kerpen: Government can't be trusted with our health
"We have a large government," political consultant David Axelrod offered as a plea of ignorance to all of the scandals swirling around his boss. "Part of being president is there's so much beneath you that you can't know because the government is so vast."
The Village Idiot: Why I hate my Facebook friends
When I first signed up for Facebook, I was thrilled to get back in touch with old friends, distant relatives, high school classmates and old co-workers. I'd check in to find out that they had new children, new spouses, new lives, new hobbies, new kitchens, new news.
Gary Horton" Why can't California be more like Texas?
I just returned from a three-day business trip to Austin, Texas. This was my third visit to Austin in 18 months. Each time, my visit has focused on business opportunities stemming from Austin's robust population growth.
Jonathan Kraut: Domestic violence advocates needed
My firm was contacted last year to support a domestic case involving a young woman and her year-old baby. She needed help keeping legal custody of her child. The baby's father, a volunteer counselor with a drug rehab program, had claimed the mother of his child was unfit and a drug user.
Tom Purcell: Speech to the best graduating class ever
Students, faculty, family members and friends, it is my great honor to deliver your commencement speech today.
