Dunsmore Park on Dunsmore Avenue above Foothill Boulevard contains a fascinating example of folk art, very similar to the famed Watts Towers. On the sloped acreage of the park are miles of decorative retaining walls snaking through the landscaped grounds. The low walls are built of a myriad of materials mortared in place to create […]
At this time of year, my family often participates in a ritual we started when our kids were little. We make a “Thankful Tree” for our living room wall. Its trunk and branches are made from rolled up brown paper shopping bags. We cut out leaves from red and yellow construction paper. Then family members […]
Many times when I sit down to write this column, I wonder what I’m going to write about. I generally will go over in my mind the things that are going on in town or what is going on in my life that I think may be of interest to you. Sometimes I hit the […]
Last week I discussed the mountain of federal, state, county and local taxes, surcharges, user fees, and myriad of add-on charges we are all subject to at increasingly oppressive levels. Alarmingly, if you follow what our “leaders” in Washington are planning, we ain’t seen nothing yet. Last week I also mentioned that my wife and […]
Secretary Arne Duncan has released the final guidelines for the Race to the Top (RTTT) federal education grants and states now have only 60 days to pass necessary legislation and craft applications to qualify for the funding. Earlier this month the California Senate passed SB 1-5X, authored by Senator Bob Huff and other members of […]
Our recent downpour was a wake up call to our community (like we needed one) about the potential devastation we face in the next few winters to come. That small amount of rain put an amazing amount of mud and rocks in backyards and streets below the burn areas, letting us know what we face […]
Offers note on Anglican/Episcopal relations I noted the recent exchange between Kenneth Grissom and Patrick McDonald regarding St. Luke’s of the Mountains Anglican and Episcopal Churches in La Crescenta and thought I should clear the air a little. While we appreciate the support of members of the community and their coming to our defense, the […]
Next week is Thanksgiving. Holy cow! I am still cleaning up from the summer Station Fire and now it’s time to set the Thanksgiving table. Talk about feeling overwhelmed. The holiday season is supposed to be a time of joy when we’re able to spend time with our loved ones. Too often, however, it becomes […]
This Veterans Day we paid tribute to the bravery and sacrifice of our veterans. With over two million veterans in California alone, we have a duty to the men and women who defended our nation to ensure that they have access to the services they deserve. That is why I recently voted to provide $76.5 […]
This is getting ridiculous. It was bad enough when the airlines started charging hefty fees for each piece of luggage. And that was after they had already figured out they could charge for meals, drinks, pillows, blankets and headsets. Sigh. I wonder how long until they realize they can charge a toll for access to […]