Archive By Section - Columnists
Heart of the West: Thanks to those who made it happen
Happy last day of August to the Santa Clarita Valley. I hope everyone is enjoying the official "last" weekend of summer, although school has been in session in the SCV for a few weeks. A special Happy Birthday wish to my husband, Keith, who celebrates his "double nickle" birthday today!
Welcome to county regulation
Question: How can one get approval for a 110-student private school in a converted six-bedroom house in Castaic in four to five months without notifying the neighbors or the quisling town council?
Let’s all go to the river
The Santa Clara River is a part of of Santa Clarita in more ways than one. While providing a home to many species of plants and animals, the river also annually brings together thousands of volunteers who dedicate their time to ridding it of trash and debris. This year marks the 14th annual Santa Clarita River Rally Cleanup and Environmental Expo. This event will be held on Sept. 20, from 8 to 11 a.m. It ...
Whistle while you work (or at least hum a nice tune)
As a kid I often wondered, "If it's called 'Labor Day,' how come everyone gets to be off work?"
Aiding our students
As much as I appreciate and respect my third graders' responses when I ask them about their future careers and they provide me with ... firefighter, police officer, teacher, professional basketball player, veterinarian, movie star and president, I know that their minds will likely change several times throughout their school years.
Steps to saving our national ship from distress
America's in crisis. With an out-of-control national budget deficit, plummeting support from many countries, a U.S. dollar with Third World-country clout, a war on terrorism that is costly and seemingly endless, a government that has at its core pork-barrel spending - is it any wonder we are in the mess we're in?
Say thanks on Labor Day
Labor Day is more than 110 years old, yet it's especially relevant today. The U.S. Department of Labor's Web page says it best: "The vital force of labor added materially to the highest standard of living and the greatest production the world has ever known and has brought us closer to the realization of our traditional ideals of economic and political democracy. "It is appropriate, therefore, that the nation pay tribute on Labor Day to ...
A tax plan for a better America?
"It's a paradoxical truth that tax rates are too high today, and tax revenues are too low, and the soundest way to raise revenues in the long run is to cut tax rates now."
A cold wife and a food court rendezvous
Son announces big loss in third quarter My 5-year-old son posted a big loss in the fiscal third quarter, despite an effort to clean up more than two dozen gold coins from his pirate ship play set during a routine vacuum cleanup in the living room earlier this month. The boy claims Mommy rolled right over the coins with the vacuum. Mommy denies the accusation. "I opened up the vacuum bag and didn't find one ...
Why can’t planners just say no?
Last Wednesday the Los Angeles County Planning Commission approved a controversial senior housing project next to Towsley Canyon Park.
Red, white & green for Democrats in Denver
Media from all over the world descended upon Denver last weekend to kick off the 2008 Democratic National Convention. The media party was held at Elitch Gardens, an amusement park in the heart of Denver. The city may have been painted red, white and blue, but Denver was all about being green.
Helping the less fortunate
My sister, Cathy Horton Bagnall, recently passed away after a long, stoic battle with Machado-Joseph Disease. Cathy, once active and vibrant, had been reduced by this inherited illness to a life defined by paralysis, wheelchairs and hospital beds.
Bribery in politics unacceptable
An American tourist might be appalled by the way police take bribes throughout much of Asia, Africa and Latin America. Local customs in these parts of the world not only permit but condone payoffs to the police.
Idealism vs. realism in politics
It was November 1979. I was a major in the U.S. Air Force assigned to the office of the Secretary of Defense and had just been ordered by my boss to report to the Joint Operations Center in the bowels of the Pentagon to join a Crisis Action Team - or CAT, as we called it.
The things you learn when you tear apart our dropout numbers
Let us return to the topic of dropout rates in the Hart District. Over the past two weeks I further analyzed the public dropout data from the state Department of Education and spoke to representatives of the Hart district and of Opportunities for Learning, the district alternative high school charter school. I determined the Hart district accurately reported dropout data based upon the rules of the Education Department. I also concluded one could legitimately level ...
Articles by Section - Columnists
Danny Tyree: Cyborg-bugs and robo-rats
Salon.com recently ran excerpts of Emily Anthes's book "Frankenstein's Cat: Cuddling Up To Biotech's Brave New Beasts," and I may never look at national security the same way again.
Jonathan Kraut: Signs of spring
As warmer weather approaches, there are some tips that I might offer to help you save your hard-earned money, precious resources, and make your home and family safer.
Richard Hood: Confession: It was I who cut down the tree
I cannot tell a lie. It was I who chopped down the tree.
Susan Stamper Brown: Camps, clinics and selective ignorance
In a cold and snowy day in January a few years ago, I took a guided tour through the Dachau Concentration Camp in Germany.
Phil Kerpen: Repeal the mandate tax
With more than 2,000 pages of legislative text and more than 20,000 pages of regulations so far, most Americans can't possibly know all the details of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare.
David Hegg: The Value of Valuing Something
About 10 years ago I officiated a wedding for two young people entering into marriage for the first time. It was a big deal, with a proper venue, pictures, and lots of family and friends in attendance. But for me it was very different from any I had done before.
Rick Jensen: Politicians in both parties need some class
Republican Mike Gmoser, the country prosecutor in Butler County, Ohio, wasted taxpayers' time and money by charging Pennsylvania's winter-predicting groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, with "misrepresentation of early spring."
Peter Funt: Taken in by April Fools
he calendar says Monday is April 1, but lately it seems that foolishness occurs year-round.
Tim Myers: Should the Santa Clarita City Council be elected by district?
On Nov. 3, 1987, a now-remarkable 25 percent to 30 percent of eligible voters in the area midwifed the city of Santa Clarita into existence, voting nearly 67 percent to 33 percent in favor of the formation of the city.
Marsha McLean: Live from City Hall
A strong retail environment is one of the foundations of a healthy economy and a strong community.
Scott Wilk: Teacher firing reform needed
As a father of two, I believe no one - particularly a child - should live in fear in his or her school or neighborhood. So one of my top priorities as your assemblyman is public safety.
Joe Gandelman: Sample some popular political whines
The phone rings in a big warehouse in Oriskiny Falls, N.Y.
Jason Stanford: Turning Texas into a battleground state
Those of us who worked for the late Ann Richards used to run our plans by her. The former Texas governor did not suffer fools, gladly or otherwise, and if your plan had flaws, she'd let you know in great detail.
Michael Stafford: The Cult of Self
According to the Bible, the ancient Israelites strayed from worship of God into idolatry. Today, America has done the same - except rather than placing a golden calf upon an altar, we have erected a mirror.
Will Durst: The GOP autopsy
Normally you don't expect to see the words "Republicans" and "introspection" right next to each other. Like "supermodel" and "barbecue." "Physicist" and "polka." "Gazelle" and "ophthalmology." You catch my drift.
