Archive By Section - Columnists
Youth make a difference
Youth make a difference You're never too young to take an active role in your community. The city of Santa Clarita provides numerous opportunities for our teenagers, allowing them to become involved in a meaningful way and impact the community through various leadership positions. High school students are making a difference in Santa Clarita by participating in the city's Visions in Progress Youth Advisory Committee, or VIP. VIP members provide input on major city projects ...
SCV’s ‘silent majority’ screams
During the upheaval of the 1960s, Republican Richard Nixon, the conservative of his day, liked to refer to the "silent majority."
Partisan bashing a lose-lose for all
Several weeks ago I attended a particularly sad funeral. Yes, I know, all funerals are heartrending. But this one was for a very special young woman, someone who should have had at least 50 more years on earth - and probably would have if breast cancer hadn't intervened. During her memorial service, I looked around at the 200-plus mourners. Whether blotting tears, sighing or shaking their heads, all were visibly shaken over Brandi Newquist's passing. ...
Curse of the Ghoul Mine
It's the season for pumpkins and ghosts and goblins, galore! It's also time to head out to Lombardi's up Bouquet Canyon in Saugus. Devastated by the Buckweed Fire last year, Lombardi's is back - and just as good as ever. Why not head out there this weekend and celebrate a Santa Clarita Valley institution?
Wish doctor at your service
My wife, 5-year-old son and I passed a water fountain, and sure enough my boy wanted a coin so he could make a wish. This wasn't your typical fountain for wishing. It was a drinking fountain.
Sailing into the new year
Children are amazing in their capacity to awaken the spirit of goodness and generosity in one's soul.
John Boston: How to repair your pets & credit
"Modern man drives a mortgaged car over a bond-financed highway on credit-card gas."
Helping create a sustainable Santa Clarita
Often at the city of Santa Clarita, we are asked for easier ways to reduce our carbon footprint.
Bailout is a temporary fix
What's up with this Wall Street versus Main Street political buzzword gobbledygook? We seem to have traveled back in time to the "It's A Wonderful Life" world of George Bailey and Mr. Potter. I thought this 2008 presidential election was about "change." A government bailout by any other term is neither a rescue nor even a policy change. Call it a temporary fix. It's just a monetary infusion of taxpayers' dollars into the credit and ...
My son’s school project
When I was a kid, I entered countless grocery store coloring contests and colored my pictures with great skill and patience, my eye always on the first-place prize.
A few thoughts on fire safety
The monster brushfire that raged through the hills above Sylmar and raced against traffic along Interstate 5 last month was finally extinguished several days after it started.
Water needs and Wall Street
So how did we get into this financial mess? Simple. We thought housing prices would go up forever. I didn't. I vividly remember the housing bubble of the late '80s. People bought houses like they were stocks. Easily available credit allowed my neighbors to buy five or more houses. Prices rose, and young couples like myself and my husband, who would have really liked to buy a house, were priced out of the market, at ...
Another look at America’s current crisis
It seems to me that all the experts evaluating this economic crisis are generally in agreement that everything is going to be OK.
Our houses, our homes
Let me tell you about our house. Carrie and I bought our 2,955-square-foot Summit house from Newhall Land and Farming Co. some 22 years ago. The Summit development had been long awaited with great anticipation in the Valencia/Santa Clarita community. Like West Ranch of three years ago, The Summit was the Next Big Thing. We'd lived in a small 1,400-square-foot home just to the west of the Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital for five years. ...
The state of the race they’re in
I have written that this national election is one of the most historic and important in modern history, and that is still true. However, recent events have conspired to turn this presidential campaign into either farce or tragedy.
Articles by Section - Columnists
Rick Jensen: Obama sequester two-step
Watching from the cheap seats, Obama's "Sequester Two-Step" is quite entertaining. While not nearly as graceful as Charles Durning's classic political footplay in "Best Little Whorehouse in Texas," only fellow Democrat Bob Menendez puts in a better performance of the beleaguered innocent these days.
Kevin Korenthal: The politics of pain
I am often stunned when I hear people, some of them friends, confess that they do not follow politics.
Cher Gilmore: Just say no to Keystone XL tar sands pipeline
More than 50,000 people traveled to Washington, D.C., from as far away as California on Feb. 17 to demand that President Obama block the Keystone XL pipeline and move forward on climate action.
Phil Kerpen: Government spending hurts people
We should not accept the statist premise that most government spending helps people.
Tom Purcell: Are humans getting dumber?
The report said people are getting dumber - at least I think that's what it said, but the big words kept throwing me off."
Diana West: Setting the record straight on Joe McCarthy
Freshman Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas is just the latest in a long series of public figures to be reviled for "McCarthyism" following his recent questioning of Chuck Hagel, President Obama's nominee for secretary of defense.
Joe Guzzardi: Obama pushes amnesty
After President Obama left for a three-day Florida golf vacation that included a round with Tiger Woods, the White House announced his latest immigration plan.
SCV Voices: From SignalSCV.com
Editor's note: On last Tuesday's Kevin Buck column "Straw men live in glass houses," one poster on SignalSCV.com asked the question, "In your opinion, what are the five biggest problems America faces right now?" Here are some responses from his fellow posters.
David Hegg: What makes right, right?
I recently met a man who was the epitome of post-modern thought in that he did not believe in absolute truth.
Tim Myers: No money, no county
I love history. I plan to purchase the Blu-Ray of the recent film "Lincoln" and rewatch certain key scenes 100 times in a row, unapologetically.
Bob Kellar: Live from City Hall
In Santa Clarita, the arts influence our community's quality of life. Without even realizing it, the arts act as an economic driver - creating and supporting jobs, generating revenue and serving as a cornerstone of the tourism industry.
Steven and Cokie Roberts: Voting reform
"Obama's proposed voting commission under partisan fire from both sides."
Alice Khosravy: California is at bottom for business
Just a few short days ago the lanterns fell, bringing an end to Chinese New Year season for 2013.
