Town Crier: Black Friday kicks off a white Christmas

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MONTCLARION: Nov. 21, 2012

It’s Black Friday. Honestly, couldn’t we have picked a more cheerful term for the kickoff to holiday shopping season? Black Friday sounds like the day aliens took over our planet. On second thought, maybe it’s apropos, considering the scene at the malls today.

But I digress. What I’d really like to ponder is the generosity of two East Bay men and a church group from St. Paul’s Episcopal in Walnut Creek. Together, they’ve given us a holiday gift. All we have to do is hop on a BART train to see it. Continue reading →

Happy Wanderer: For a unique stop, try Hyatt Regency SFO

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HILLS NEWSPAPERS: November 9, 2012

His steely eyes stared at me from across the sweeping lobby. Long hair tumbling down his back, he wore black boots and armor and spoke in a strange, guttural tongue.

I’ve met a lot of men in my travels, but never a Klingon. In fact, dozens of these Star Trek aliens were staying at the Hyatt Regency SFO recently as part of a science fiction and fantasy convention. Continue reading →

Oakland remembers October disasters

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MONTCLARION: October 19, 2012

October is a month of celebration and sadness. Memories of the Loma Prieta earthquake and the Oakland hills firestorm are seared in our collective memory.

Not as many of us remember another disaster that struck 50 years ago this month. Oakland’s “Great Columbus Day Flood” caused death and widespread destruction. In a copy of The Montclarion, saved by JoAnn Newcomb and sent to me by reader Harriet Schlader, it shows photos of flooded streets and mud-ravaged homes and businesses. Continue reading →

The Happy Wanderer: “Nosing around”

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HILLS NEWSPAPERS: October 12, 2012

When it comes to travel — the nose knows. It’s the sense of smell that stimulates your olfactory nerves, sending messages to your brain. Take Hawaii, for instance. From the minute you step off the plane, the perfumed scent of gardenias seduces you. The nose tells your brain this is a pleasing fragrance — perhaps one you already recognize. If so, it’s even more enjoyable. Continue reading →

Oakland Zoo to unveil new veterinary hospital

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MONTCLARION: October 5, 2012

Lions and turtles and condors — oh my. The Oakland Zoo opens its impressive 17,000-square-foot veterinary hospital on Oct. 11. This handsome cedar structure at the top of the hill will be a lifesaver for animals of all stripes. There’ll be two veterinarians on staff (in addition to zoo director Dr. Joel Parrott), two vet techs and interns from UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. Continue reading →