Archive By Section - Columnists
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.
The ethics of water ownership
In 2003 a Superior Court judge ruled for Newhall Land, now Lennar Corporation, thus allowing the Newhall Ranch Specific Plan. He made this ruling based on the assertion that the developer had purchased water from elsewhere in the state to supply these housing units and that together with the ground water used for farming, there would be a sufficient supply to serve this 21,000-unit proposal.
In Iraq, it's all about oil
Many believe we have had a successful surge in Iraq. But few if any troops are coming home to stay. Instead, rotation from home to Iraq has been bounced from 12 months to 15 months, depending on whether you like Gen. Petraeus or the president. Could it be that we don't plan, for covert reasons, to have our armed forces permanently leave Iraq in numbers any time soon? And it may have nothing to do ...
Kudos in Canyon Country
Once a year, I write an op-ed piece about the area of Canyon Country. Specifically, I provide a "to-do" list, and I applaud the city for making improvements and taking action.
Springtime for politicos
Is this a great year, or what? It is only April and I have already voted in two elections, the presidential primary in February and local City Council race last week. And because this is the best election year ever, we get to vote two more times before it is over.
Who pays for litigation?
Rarely will you ever hear an attorney complain about the increasing number of frivolous lawsuits being filed by plaintiffs across this state. After all, as a defense attorney, these lawsuits help to pay my mortgage, my car payments and eventually will finance college for my three girls and hopefully a comfortable retirement.
Disaster doesn't wait — in Santa Clarita, prepare for 2008
Finding yourself in the center of either a natural disaster or an emergency of some sort can be a trying experience. These disasters and emergencies never call us to schedule a visit, or send an e-invite to let us know ahead of time what is planned, but instead they happen without warning. This can lead to much more chaos than necessary if we are unprepared for the unexpected emergency.
Crunch affects more than schools
hen my family moved from Tennessee to California, more than loved ones were left behind. My uncle, a Vanderbilt alum, parted with his corporate expense account and corner-office salary. My aunt, a master's-degree graduate from the National Institutes of Health, left behind the leverage of a upwardly mobile medical career.
Articles by Section - Columnists
Right Here Right Now: Ending bad finance deals in education
In a rare display of solidarity, the California Assembly approved AB 182 by a vote of 73-0.
Kevin Bayona: What happens after Boston?
The bombings in Boston are beyond what I ever thought I would see in an American city.
Jim Mullen: Algebra comes in handy
Pop quiz: How often do you use algebra, trigonometry and calculus as an adult? Most of us would say "never"! The folks who do use advanced math would say that without it, you wouldn't have cellphones and Wi-Fi and TV and weather satellites and GPS and Google and nuclear power and a gazillion other things that make modern life worth living. And for a change, both camps would be right.
Gary Horton: Timeless lessons to be remembered
Last week our Starbucks friend Herman invited Carrie and me to attend a special Holocaust memorial service at Santa Clarita Valley's Congregation Beth Shalom.
Maria Gutzeit: California needs to improve business attitude
My one-word summary of the community lobby day put on by Assemblyman Scott Wilk. R-Santa Clarita, and KHTS radio last month?
Peter Funt: Steal this video
Back in 1971 when the hippie revolution's Pied Piper, Abbie Hoffman, authored "Steal This Book," he got the very outrage he sought. Thirty publishing houses rejected it and, when the book finally came out, more than a dozen newspapers refused to print ads to promote it.
Kevin Buck: It's been a long and winding road
Over the course of a lifetime I have observed, joined, written about and learned much from political battles.
David Hegg: Ethically Speaking
The existence of evil in our world has been the grounds for some of the greatest questions we humans ever ask. Why did tragedy take the life of someone so young? Why did a stray bullet hit an innocent bystander? Why did my father die of Alzheimer's?
Kathryn Lopez: Abortion law ramifications frightening
In the face of the darkness that befell Newton, Conn., there has been an expectation of something more, but it doesn't have to do with legislation. Father Peter Cameron, a Dominican priest, preached to the families gathered at St. Rose of Lima Church there the Sunday after the school massacre about the hope that he saw in them.
Timothy Myers: What I like about the SCV
The die for the Myers clan is finally cast. This past week we made an offer on a home in Irvine, California.
Joe Gandelman: Why Mike Rice had to go
Retired professional basketball coach and former basketball player Phil Jackson once said: "Not only is there more to life than basketball, there's a lot more to basketball than basketball."
Marsha McLean: Live from City Hall
Santa Clarita's rich Western heritage takes center stage each year at the city's acclaimed Cowboy Festival. This year marks the 20th annual event, which attracts more than 10,000 visitors each year from all over the country and beyond.
Tom Purcell: Financial responsibility Obama-style
Get this: President Obama has proclaimed April as National Financial Capability Month.
Danny Tyree: R.I.P. Roxanne
Most likely, by the time you read this, one of my dearest family members has either died of natural causes or been euthanized.
Joe Messina: National Day of Prayer supports the SCV
An estimated 400 Santa Claritans will participate in the 2013 National Day of Prayer. This is the ninth year that an event has been hosted in our valley and I have served as its chairman.
