Montclair neighbors say “We’ll keep the lights on”

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MONTCLARION: June 15, 2012

It’s almost summer — do you know where your Christmas lights are?

Most are in storage, tucked neatly between the nutcrackers and the plastic reindeer. But three of my neighbors have re purposed their lights for year-round enjoyment. For this, I’m eternally grateful.

“They’re Fourth of July lights,” says one neighbor, who calls her treetop twinklers patriotic. In September, they flash for the autumnal equinox. In October, for Halloween. With each passing month they splash shards of color across the evening sky. Continue reading →

When your body thinks it’s still winter

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MONTCLARION: June 8, 2012

It’s swimsuit season, and I’m in a panic. My body clearly thinks it’s still winter, and is storing up fat like a squirrel stocking nuts. Add to this the fact that my health club, the Hills, has just opened a new saline swimming pool. Suddenly, all the beautiful people are flocking to be seen on the decks by the jewel-bedecked waters. Their bodies are bronzed and their clothing divine, and they’ve clearly raised the bar for what suffices as swimwear in the hills. All I can do is pray for rain until I emerge from my long hibernation. Continue reading →

Happy Wanderer: Discover Yolo — ’cause You Only Live Once

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HILLS NEWSPAPERS: May 24, 2012

“She thinks my tractor’s sexy”

— Kenny Chesney

I admit it: John Deer tractors turn me on.

I was sharing this tidbit with a Yolo County grower, the other day — a bit like preaching to the choir since 94 percent of Yolo is agriculture.

“There’s something kind of sexy about farm implements,” I told him. “You know, the circular blades tilling the land and the leafy greens springing up from the soil. It’s Americana. It’s romantic.”

In many parts of the country, farming is a lost art. But in Yolo it’s hot again, especially with the farm-to-table movement that’s drawing young people back to the land. Continue reading →

Town Crier: Break out the grills, fire up the coals, Montclair

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MONTCLARION: May 24, 2012

It’s Memorial Day weekend, and all across the land, there are wispy clouds of grilling smoke, with just a hint of cayenne. And mesquite.

The barbecue is more than just a cooking device — it’s a savory symbol of summer. We lovingly spritz our veggies in olive oil and make up our marinades days in advance. We crisp the greens and shape the patties and load up the coolers with drinks. It’s a ritual we do better than anyone on earth, and we’re proud of it. So fire up the coals and let the barbecuing begin. Continue reading →

MERRITT COLLEGE HORTICULTURE

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MERRITT COLLEGE HORTICULTURE

Permaculture class at Merritt College
Members of the permaculture design class receive instruction from teacher Christopher Shein, below on hill, as they maintain the hillside in the landscape and horticulture lab at Merritt College in Oakland, Calif. on Friday, April 20, 2012. (Jane Tyska)

Town Crier: Bay Area moms, put your feet up this weekend

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MONTCLARION: May 10, 2012

It’s Mother’s Day Weekend. That’s right — we do way too much work to be honored on just one day — we deserve a long weekend like Washington and Lincoln.

They ran the country, but we run companies, households, churches and schools. Let’s put our feet up this weekend and, with any luck, we’ll come out of it with a pedicure and a foot massage. Continue reading →

Town Crier: The dark side to spring

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MONTCLARION: April 27, 2012

There’s a dark side to spring. Yes, it’s a time for growth and rejuvenation. But it’s also a time for death.

A sweet, spotted fawn died the other night — most likely orphaned after losing his mother.

Lila Travis with Yggdrasil Urban Wildlife Rescue did everything she could. When she got the call from reader Sandra Pohutsky, she rushed over to Clarewood Drive between Village Market and St. Theresa’s School. Continue reading →

Ripley’s and the Hyatt: A strange, cultural connection

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Steven Backman with his Golden Gate Bridge Replica

HILLS NEWSPAPERS: April 27, 2012

“I have traveled in 201 countries, and the strangest thing I saw was man.” — Robert Ripley

Truer words were never spoken, to coin another phrase. During much of the 20th century, Robert Ripley roamed the planet, looking for oddities to include in his cartoon “Ripley’s Believe It or Not!” To say he was eccentric was an understatement.

The Santa Rosa-born man was an oddity himself, sporting a coolie shirt with batwing tie and a pith helmet. His house was a zoo, with a 28-foot boa curled up in a cage and squirrels and chipmunks scampering about as he worked. Oh, and he had girlfriends — five or more at a time — under his roof. Continue reading →