Thanks to business who volunteered time for tour

Many thanks to some special people and businesses. On May 21, Nora Ortiz and co-workers at the Hyatt Valencia hosted a group of special education students from Valencia High School on a tour and shared career information.

McKeon out of touch

Buck McKeon may have some admirable qualities, but he was off base in blaming Democrats for gas prices.

At last, justice for Mary Jo

Ted Kennedy has finally received his sentence for his part in the Chappaquiddick death of Mary Jo Kopechne.

Rent control harms people in the long run

One of the reasons Democrats are against Proposition 98 is because of the rent control elimination clause. They believe such laws prevent landlords from price gouging. What is the real impact of rent control? All it takes is simple applied economic principles from Econ 101.

Is this Phoenix or Santa Clarita?

This is my favorite time of the year. Every tree bursts forth with new foliage that ranges from blossoms to colorful new growth. All around our homes, paseos, city-landscaped roads, there are bushes, groundcovers, flowers, vines, all eagerly competing with each other in sheer beauty.

Thanks, Tom Purcell

I recently read the (syndicated) column written by Tom Purcell, "Don't take your mother for granted," and I loved it. I am blessed to have one of the most amazing moms on the planet. I was raised to be confident and believe in myself. I was taught that I can do anything, I just have to try. My mom made sure that my brother and I always came before her.

500,000 people in SCV

In reading that the population in Santa Clarita might go up to 500,000, I noticed a few important things were left out: such as the schools to be built, the extra police and paramedics, not to mention hospitals. We sure like to build here, but we sure don't plan for what will be needed after the building.

Same-sex ruling

In response to the article "Same-Sex Ruling Stirs SCV" (May 16, 2008), by Parimal M. Rohit and Katherine Geyer, I begin with one simple question to the readers of this newspaper: When so many Christian leaders assert that "marriage has been a union between a man and a woman since time immemorial," what Bible are they reading that has no mention of the many Hebrews who had multiple wives and concubines on the side?

Coyotes killed my beloved dachshund

In the quiet moments of the pre-dawn hour on a recent Saturday morning (April 26), coyotes entered my yard and took the life of my beloved dachshund.

TCU kept seniors close to their homes

I was not able to attend the meeting regarding the closing of the Transitional Care Unit at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital. However, I did watch the "show" on television. I would love to have been there to voice my opinion.

Please don’t leave pets in hot cars

On May 14, it was 93 degrees outside at noon. I got out of my car in the Mervyn's shopping center and I could hear a dog barking. I thought to myself that no one could be stupid enough to leave a dog in a parked car in this heat. I was able to trace the barking to a silver Toyota Sienna minivan, license number 5DXL812. The van was parked partially ...

On the passing of Dick Martin

Goodnight, Dick.

Vote ‘no’ on Prop 98, ‘yes’ on Prop 99

To The Editor: RE: Proposition 98: Again the special interest people have put together a ballot issue under the guise of limiting the use of government eminent domain. That seems reasonable on the surface. However, when you read the proposition, it also does away with rent control. One must ask what these two issues have to do with each other? Nothing! When ballot propositions have little "oh, by the ways" added, the true purpose of ...

Plan for lowering gas prices

Boycotting gas does not work. Everyone needs gasoline to live, so let's not boycott gasoline. Get as much gasoline as you need.

Marriage ruling’s unintended consequence

Now that California's liberal judges have once again erased the will and intent of the voters in ruling to make gay marriage legal, let's see if they have the same fortitude and tenacity for what they would call an "unintended consequence."

Abortion should be illegal

I believe that abortion should be deemed illegal in all 50 states. Aborting an unborn child should be considered as murder. Murder is defined as; the crime of unlawfully killing a person especially with malice aforethought. What makes killing an unborn baby different from killing an adult? When does a fetus' life begin?

Cemex Bill Would Cost Us Millions

At last week's regular meeting, the Santa Clarita City Council voted unanimously to endorse the Soledad Canyon Settlement Act introduced by Senator Barbara Boxer. This legislation defines a process by which the sale of excess federal land near Victorville would be sold to compensate Cemex for sand and gravel mining rights in the Santa Clarita Valley.

The Obama scandals

Obama and his minions are mired up to their eyeballs in scandals, what with Benghazigate, the IRS targeting of conservative groups for harassment, and the Justice Departments secret grab of Associated Press phone records, not to mention the lingering Operation Fast & Furious debacle.

Boy Scouts of America

Dear Editor,

Toll roads are discriminatory

I urge all drivers to contact the California Transportation Commission www.catc.ca.gov (and any local representative) to voice their disapproval of Assembly Bill AB 680, which gives private entities the right to charge drivers to use the highways they are already paying to build and maintain.

Let’s keep our low-chloride water

Once we have removed the excess chloride from our wastewater, are we just going to give the water away to the farmers in Ventura?

Safety and our youthful drivers

Concerning Jim Holt's article on teens dying in the SCV ("Sand Canyon residents remember youth killed at oak tree 32 years ago," May 8), I can understand his concern.

State Supreme Court ruling on pot shops was victory for families

Good job, Gary

I just finished reading Gary Horton's column on victimhood. If I didn't know better I'd swear he suddenly became a Republican. His comments were spot on. In this age of blame the other guy for your own lack of responsibility, it's good to see that someone else gets it. Good job, Gary.

Special moment

Thanks for hosting the Summer Meltdown. This is so important to the Yes I Can program. I witnessed a special moment that I will never forget. One of the Yes I Can students was withdrawn and another student was holding her arm around her. One female teachers from the Yes I Can program went up to her and held her in her arms for a good couple of minutes (just the kindest hug) as to say it's OK. Then the girl and friend went on their way,

Lessons to be learned

The Boston bombing brought to light a very clever way of carrying out covert operations in another country. Our own CIA can learn from the Tsarnaev brothers on how to conduct an operation and have that country finance it for them.

Here is one for the books

Remember when that man, Rick Perry, came to California to promote and emphasize "that HIS state of Texas doesn't bother with pesky regulations on industry.

Gay Rights in the SCV

Not two weeks after "our" 13-year-old gay teen, Nigel Hardy,committed suicide in Palmdale from being bullied as his school's male cheerleader, the president of the board of "our" Hart School District, Joe Messina, brought a known (adult) bully of gays, Brad Dacus, of the ironically named www.pacificjustice.org, as the keynote speaker at "our" city's Mayor's Prayer Breakfast at the Hyatt Regency Valencia. Even after the AV teen's death, Dacus called for parents not to attend ...

McKeon and gun control

I always enjoy a good chuckle on a Sunday morning, and the letter by Richard Myers today allowed me a good one.

Gun control and voters in McKeon’s district

I recently read Brian Baker's April 24 letter "On logic, liberated thinking and gun control."