MONTCLARION: September 24, 2010
There are two times of year at my house — football season and spring football season. My husband laughs when he tells that joke, but he’s serious. When you’re outnumbered by men two to one in your home, football dominates your TV and your social calendar. That’s why God gave us girlfriends. Continue reading
HILLS NEWSPAPERS: September 17, 2010
My son had never been to Disneyland. Did that make me a bad mother?
No, it just made me a busy mother, with an active, well adjusted kid. So why did it seem like I was keeping my child from a magical rite of passage? Why did I feel, for lack of a better term, like a “Mickey Mouse mom”? Continue reading
MONTCLARION: September 17, 2010
There’s a lot of talk about crime, these days, and quite frankly it’s making me mad. When you live in a city that doesn’t spend wisely and you’re told there’s no money for police – you get a little anxious.
What can we do as citizens – to protect our loved ones and property? The answers are out there, we just need to pick the one that’s the best fit. Continue reading
OAKLAND TRIBUNE: September 9, 2010
She may be petite, but this woman can wield a weed wrench. Acclaimed television anchor/reporter Wendy Tokuda is waging war against one of nature’s bitter enemies – invasive plants. Seven years ago, when Tokuda first moved to the hills from Piedmont , she noticed that French and Scotch broom were choking the native plants in her neighboring parks. Being an avid gardener, Tokuda couldn’t let the weeds win. Continue reading
MONTCLARION: September 10, 2010
Are we becoming foodies, or what? We’ve got everything from dolmas to donuts in Montclair, along with two – count ‘em, two farmers markets. Yes – there’s the big one on La Salle every Sunday and a ‘mini market’ on Tuesday mornings (10 am) at Coldwell Banker.
“It’s more like a bake sale/farmers market,” says realtor Kerry Seo, who says they raised $284 last week for Habitat for Humanity. “We had one bottle of homemade Lemoncello, two bottles of wine, homemade organic chicken and veggie soup, homemade cookies, a homemade pecan rum pie and more.” The office staff must have been baking and brewing into the night to get ready. Continue reading
MONTCLARION: September 3, 2010
My mechanic gave me a tongue-lashing the other day. It was like something out of a Seinfeld episode.
“Have you been rotating your tires?” he inquired. “Because your tires are shot and your wheels are out of alignment.” Wait. Didn’t I just buy new tires a year ago? And didn’t I just get a wheel alignment?
Then it dawned on me. It’s Ascot Drive and dozens of other Oakland roads that are so pitted and potted, they might as well be in Beirut. Continue reading
HILLS NEWSPAPERS: September 3, 2010
Wrigley's Casino
When chewing gum magnate William Wrigley Jr. built the Casino on Catalina Island (circa 1928), he wasn’t thinking about gambling. It was music this visionary had in mind for the elegant circular structure by the sea.
Wrigley would no doubt be proud to promote one of the island’s most elegant events, the upcoming JazzTrax Festival, Sept. 30-Oct. 17. With more than 40 artists on three consecutive weekends, the old Art Deco structure is sure to be swaying again. Continue reading
MONTCLARION: August 27, 2010
They aren’t kidding when they call it the Dog Days of Summer.
I’m getting complaints about everything from soot in the air to the “garbage police” running amok in the hills. The sooty air is being documented by a number of homeowners, who say there’s a black film on their window sills and patio furniture. Reader Chris Piganelli blames the Caldecott Tunnel construction for aggravating his allergies.
“I need a third bore in my nose just to breathe” he says sniffingly. Continue reading
CONTRACOSTATIMES.COM: August 26, 2010
It’s a fact of life when you reach middle age. You spend a lot of time going back home.
By home, I mean the area where your parents live … where your childhood memories are, where you went to school, rode your bike, hung out with your friends and had your first job. Continue reading
MONTCLARION: August 13, 2010
From Facebook to Twitter, the word is spreading about Montclair Swim Team’s 50th anniversary this month. Since 1960, over 1000 little guppies, minnows and sharks have been part of this outstanding 12 and under program. From back strokers to butter flyers, the team has fielded some of California’s top swimmers – many who’ve gone on to compete at the college level. Continue reading
Ginny Prior 