Perhaps a Better Way to Honor I sympathize with and respect military families, especially those who have paid the ultimate price [“The American Flag: We Retire Her from Duty,” April 28]. We must certainly remember and honor the victims of our wars, but to me such honor needs to go beyond the traditional memorial monument. […]
The media coverage of last week’s devastating tornado outbreak back east carried descriptions that are eerily familiar to me as a local historian. People reported having no warning. They suddenly heard a deafening roar and felt their walls shake. They had seconds to decide where to run, where would be the safest place in their […]
What a week. I’m sure more than a few regular readers will think today’s column will be about the royal pain in the … er, I mean … the royal wedding of last Friday. With the deconstruction of societal norms in full swing, I admit it was wonderful seeing such an unabashed celebration of traditional […]
The most difficult and painful part of being dog lovers is when your beloved pet’s all-too-short lifespan comes to an end. That awful time came (again) for my family last Friday afternoon when one of our two dogs – a beautiful golden retriever, Sierra, barely just 10 years-old – took her last breath and was […]
If you grew up in the Crescenta Valley, then you’ve probably known someone from the Rakasits family. They are a common thread running throughout the history of our valley. Not because they did anything outstanding or infamous – it’s merely for the fact that there were so darned many of them, and they were always […]
I know that I’m preaching to many in the choir when I say I’m weary of information overload. The TV and radio – I still listen to “free” AM and FM stations – of course are constantly blasting info at sometimes lightening speed. On a recent Saturday evening my 22-year-old son and I were watching […]
Back in the ‘30s, the Jensen family of La Crescenta had big problems with their son Richard, nick-named “Red” because of his mop of curly red hair. The kid had a penchant for thievery, and starting at 6 years old, began a steady stream of burglaries and vandalism. Often caught at it, he was sent […]
Writer and philosopher Henry David Thoreau once observed that “the mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.” Being self-employed for the past 14-plus years (not to mention raising four kids, two of whom are still in college), I know intimately about being in a state of quiet desperation. Trust me. And yet, I tend […]
Found the Parrots Interesting Many thanks to Mike Lawler for his column on “The Parrots of Crescenta Valley” [Treasures of the Valley, April 7]. On a morning walk recently I spotted a pair flying from tree to tree just above Santa Carlotta. They were active, communicative, loud – and fascinating to me, piquing my interest […]
This weekend promises to be a gorgeous one with Saturday’s temperatures expected to be in the high 70s. It will be a perfect day to head to Crescenta Valley Park to enjoy the annual Hometown Country Fair. The Crescenta Valley Chamber of Commerce is hosting the annual event and it has everything one would want […]