Town Crier: Oakland teachers get married at school

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MONTCLARION: June 25, 2010

What a way to ring in summer, with the harmonious blend of wedding bells and school bells. Beloved teachers Candice Cheng (first grade) and Jesse Inclan (PE) got married at Hillcrest Elementary School, last week, in a surprise ceremony during circle time. “Naturally, they couldn’t invite 300 kids to a wedding,” says photographer Reenie Raschke, “so they brought it to the kids on the last day of school.” The bride looked beautiful in her white wedding gown and veil and the groom was dapper in his summer suit. For the kids – it was a school day they’ll never forget. Continue reading →

HAPPY WANDERER: WHITEFISH, MT.

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Café Kandahar’s Premier Chef Andy Blanton

     CONTRACOSTATIMES.COM: June 25, 2010

     Montana…there’s nothing here. Playing on a common misconception about the Big Sky state, this is Montana’s tourism slogan.

     Turns out, the joke’s on us. Montana is on the leading edge of luxury accommodations and the slow food movement.  At the epicenter is Whitefish, Mt. – population 8,000. The Western Governors’ Association meets here this weekend and with good reason. Named one of the “10 coolest small towns in America” by Budget Travel, Whitefish has a chic country vibe and is blissfully close to Glacier National Park (celebrating its 100th anniversary) and Flathead Lake (Montana’s largest lake and playground to the rich and famous).  It’s also got its own world-class ski resort (Whitefish Mountain Resort) and a mountain lake of its own – Whitefish Lake. Continue reading →

HAPPY WANDERER: Best Waterslides in America

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HILLS NEWSPAPERS: June 11, 2010

As we prepare to celebrate summer, let’s pay homage to the sultan of splash, Herbert Sellner. This Minnesota inventor came up with the water slide in 1923, the most exciting way ever to enter the H2o.

     My affair with the water goes back to my childhood, growing up in the “Land of 10,000 Lakes”. We would splash down from rope swings and rings, even bridges and cliffs. I remember as a child, the most popular kid had an above-ground pool with a slide. Continue reading →

Town Crier: Oakland hills animal rescuers need your help

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A rescued fawn suckles on the hair of his surrogate mother, Lila Travis - founder of the Yggdrasil Urban Wildlife Rescue in Montclair.

MONTCLARION: June 18, 2010

Ever wonder what a baby animal does when it’s sick or orphaned? Its chances of survival are greatly diminished, unless Lila Travis comes along. Lila runs a wildlife rehabilitation center in the Oakland hills just below Skyline and Broadway Terrace. There are 51 animals at the center right now – everything from a baby opossum to a nest of newborn peepers. The baby birds share a heating blanket with a crippled bunny. Continue reading →

Digging in for the final sprint to Montclair’s Pet Mayor 2010

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MONTCLARION: June 11, 2010

     It’s down to the wire as candidates jockey for position in Montclair’s mayoral race. Too bad the horse didn’t make the cut.

     A miniature horse named Figaro was part of the initial field of 20 animals vying for mayor of Montclair. So was a rat named Twitchy and a goat called Willow. But with the primary over and just 10 days to run, the field has been narrowed to nine. Continue reading →

Town Crier: Wild turkey’s gone mad in Montclair

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MONTCLARION: June 11, 2010

The Wheels of change keep on turning in Montclair…with Wheels of Justice being the latest business to pull up stakes. The popular bike shop is moving to a new Montclair location to save money on rent, as the economy continues to put a strain on small business. Meanwhile, the venerable Raimondi’s Paint and Wallpaper closed suddenly, last week, leaving only a sign announcing the owner’s retirement. There’s already web chatter about how much the shop’s mascot (former pet mayor Hershey the dog) will be missed.

       Turkey talk: As I mentioned last week, not everyone is happy about the wild turkey population boom in the hills. Scott Seidman says he’s been attacked so many times on his trail runs, he carries a bat for protection. “They’re not cute, they’re not endangered…and they’re dangerous,” he says, adding one of his neighbors even fell and broke an arm during a wild turkey attack. Continue reading →

Little is Big in the World of Miniatures

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OAKLAND TRIBUNE: June 4, 2010

 Meet Cindy Lovesy – the minimalist. It’s the little things in life that matter to this Montclair dental office manager – literally.

     “I started making miniatures several years ago,” says Lovesy, “when my daughter wanted a doll house.” Realizing she could make it herself, she spent the nights before Christmas crafting the tiny doll dwelling in her garage – while her little girl was asleep. 14 years later, there are miniatures in every room of the Lovesy home, as well as the reception counter at her place of employment, Dr. Laurie Shepherd DDS. Continue reading →

Town Crier: Talkin’ Turkey in the Oakland Hills

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MONTCLARION: June 4, 2010

     There’s nothing like a good gobble to get you going. I encountered a group of wild turkeys, today, and told them just what I thought of them blocking the road. Yes – I rolled down my window and gobbled – a guttural tongue-lashing that got the birds so worked up, they flared out their fans and sounded off  in unison.

     Why do I mention this? Because the wild turkey population is way up in the hills and humans are starting to complain. Not only are the birds aggressive, they peck people’s gardens – uprooting plants as they forage for food. Continue reading →

Happy Wanderer: Don’t underestimate South Dakota

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HILLS NEWSPAPERS: May 28, 2010

In grade school my daughter chose South Dakota for her “states report.” It had never been picked, according to her teacher, and I’m not surprised. Most Californians haven’t seen South Dakota, home of the Corn Palace, Wall Drug and the world-famous Mashed Potato Wrestling Contest.

Yes, the state of my birth takes a back seat to no one when it comes to attractions. Consider Wall Drug, arguably the most famous drugstore in America thanks to its iconic billboards that can be seen from South Dakota to South Korea. Really! I even saw this sign in Amsterdam: “WALL DRUG — 5,387 MILES.” Not a bad ad campaign for a Depression-era drugstore that first attracted customers by giving away ice water. Continue reading →

Men’s Wearhouse chief chooses comfort over style

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OAKLAND TRIBUNE: May 28, 2010

One of the most famous clothiers in America meets me for breakfast, sporting well-worn khakis and a baseball shirt. He’s not apologetic — just honest. “I really never liked it,” he says about the clothing business. Besides, he’s coaching his son’s baseball game later that day and doesn’t have time to change.

That’s George Zimmer, the founder and chief executive officer of The Men’s Wearhouse and longtime resident of Montclair and now Piedmont. In scores of ads over three decades, he’s been “dressed to the nines” pitching men’s suits and tuxes. Yet like most guys, he chooses comfort over style. Only one out of 10 men enjoys buying suits, he tells me. Nine out of 10 think it’s like going to the dentist. Continue reading →