Town Crier: Halloween holiday my fall fave

Posted on by

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 →

Happy Wanderer: Seeking the ‘pink moment’ in relaxing Ojai

Posted on by

 

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 →

Town Crier: Splash Pad Park turning 10 with fanfare

Posted on by

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 →

Town Crier: Premium parking’s value worth discussing

Posted on by

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 →

Town crier: Thieves look for opportunities in Oakland hills

Posted on by

MONTCLARION: September 13, 2013

The Oakland hills have been in the “crime-light” a lot this summer. It began June 20 with two thugs ramming their truck through the front of the Park Boulevard 76 station and hauling away the ATM. Then there were the trio of robberies at Bank of the West in Montclair — seemingly all committed by one suspect. Last week, employees spotted the man outside the bank — yet again — and this time they locked the door and called police. Continue reading →