Archive By Section - Columnists
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.
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.
Articles by Section - Columnists
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.
Cary Quashen: Help for today, hope for tomorrow
April is National Alcohol Awareness Month, and this year's theme is "Help For Today, Hope For Tomorrow."
Ken Blum: Is bad news good news?
It's the most common reader complaint, heard throughout the history of hometown newspapers. Benjamin Franklin got an earful as publisher of the Philadelphia Gazette. You probably heard it yesterday.
Steve Lunetta: Faith-based discrimination at CSU sites
Have you ever been driving in a car and find yourself drowsy? We've all done it.
David Hegg: This is why discipline matters
Our English language has many words whose forms remain the same even though the context changes their meaning.
Tim Myers: An older person's journey
Nate Silver, the sage oracle hero of all number-crunchers like myself, recently posted several fascinating blog entries about polled attitudes on same-sex marriage and the changes in those attitudes since 1996, when Congress enacted and President Bill Clinton signed into law the Defense of Marriage Act.
Kevin Bayona: US should not be ashamed of its recent wars
Forgive me for not writing sooner about the 10-year anniversary of the invasion of Iraq, which was March 19. I found myself engaged in deep reflection over what the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan really mean and where they fall within the spectrum of American history.
George Runner: State can't tax itself into prosperity
Last year California voters approved two tax increases aimed at bringing billions more dollars into state coffers.
Joe Guzzardi: Here we go again, immigrants to march on D.C.
Here we go again. On April 10, thousands of illegal immigrants and their lobbyists will gather on the National Mall to support an immigration reform bill that the Senate is expected to introduce this month.
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.
