MONTCLARION: October 25, 2013
One aisle has pumpkins — the other has baubles and wreaths. Thanks to the sputtering economy and six fewer days between Black Friday on Nov. 29 and Christmas, the lines have been blurred between Halloween and the holidays. Continue reading
MERCURYNEWS.COM: October 25, 2013
After a pleasant day of wine tasting, I like to kill a few zombies. What red-blooded woman wouldn’t? Still, pairing these odd but enjoyable outings seems strange — until you’re struck with the fever. The Delta fever, that is. Continue reading
MONTCLARION: October 18, 2013
The lazy days of October are upon us. The sun gets up late and retires early. The leaves turn and swirl to the ground. Pumpkins take on human characteristics and stand guard (or is it gourd?) in yards across the land. Of all the fall holidays, Halloween is my favorite. No major meals to make, no relatives to entertain and no gifts. It’s just chili and costumes and silliness. This year, I’m going as the government slim-down — just a thin sheet of tin foil devoid of transparency. Meanwhile …. Continue reading
MERCURYNEWS.COM: October 9, 2013
The Grand Canyon. Bora Bora. Ipanema and Greece. On the list of the world’s top sunsets, Ojai rarely makes the cut. Yet, when I saw the sky on my birthday, it was a Monet masterpiece.
Locals call it the “pink moment” — this phenomenon where the sky takes on a soft, amaranthine glow at dusk. Unlike most sunsets, this one comes from the east, where the Topatopa Mountains act like a mirror to reflect and diffuse the orb’s light over Ojai Valley in Ventura County. As if touched by the brush of God, the colors combine to stir the soul. Continue reading
MONTCLARION: October 9, 2013
For a little swath of land, Splash Pad Park has a big following. The greenbelt at Grand Avenue and Lake Park turns 10 on Oct. 20, and neighbors say the place will be rocking with five Oakland bands and a beverage garden. Splash Pad Park has an interesting past. In the early ’90s, it was a severely neglected piece of land that the city wanted to turn into a commercial development. Continue reading
MONTCLARION: October 4, 2013
It was painful, but I did it. I shelled out $18 for parking at the O.co Coliseum. Over time, I supposed I’ll get over it — but it does pose an interesting question: what is a premium parking place worth these days?
Montclarions may soon find out. The Village is being considered for the city’s first test of flex meter parking. Motorists would pay up to $3 an hour on popular streets, such as Antioch Court, and as little as 50 cents an hour on streets with plenty of parking, such as Mountain Boulevard. Continue reading
Ginny Prior 