Once more around the track, or circle, or roundabout.

Do all y’all remember the huge discussion about art that could be used for the Old Town Newhall traffic circle-roundabout? Should we have this statue or that statue, or maybe landscaping or a monument to a local hero?

One design showed what looked to be a reel of film, and another would have been a statue of our hero, William S. Hart.

I still like my oil derrick-and-well idea that could pay for it all. If we hit a gusher, we could have enough money to pay for the restoration of the Pioneer Oil Refinery and Mentryville, too.

So I’m driving along Lyons Avenue and I see Green Landscape Nursery where the old Wilcox Nursery used to be. The answer to our traffic circle art has been found. It could be well within the proposed budget for the circle.

All ready to go in the roundabout – and probably under budget, too.

Let me start with the most expensive one at right around $15,000 total, including the $200 delivery charge.

Yes, an entire life-size stagecoach with two horses. More horses are available, I’m sure.

This is a detailed, all-steel sculpture. A great piece of art in the circle or maybe your own yard. I’ll bet the Stevenson Ranch HOA would love to see one of these gracing some house along Hemingway Drive. How about putting it in the fountain? Turn off the water and mount it on the steps. Perfect for the current drought – and it is art.

But now we must move on to our next little bit of something to put in the circle.

Human not included.

How about a life-size donkey ready to go prospecting in the hills around the SCV? The guy in the picture is not included in the deal.

What I like about this is for once, some kind of Democratic Party symbol could be placed in the Republican stronghold of the SCV. Again it is a lifelike donkey, just like the horses pulling the stage. It shows more life than the last few Democratic candidates.

Might be too lifelike. Would stop traffic.

The next idea is a bear up a pole with nowhere to go. Reminds me of our current national foreign policy. Of course, it isn’t the best thing to put there, because this one looks very lifelike. What do you folks think?

There is a bald eagle, too.

They even have statues of Snow White and the seven dwarfs. Maybe we could name them after the “No on S” folks. Really. Grumpy, Dopey, Sleepy … you get the idea. Fits them well, too.

There are a lot more items there. All y’all should go look. While you’re at it, find a tree, too. It is getting to tree planting season. The same folks will sell you a Christmas tree, as well.

Now, this is all meant to be in good fun. The best idea is to do what? Any ideas from you folks? I can always return to the oil well idea.

Or maybe the old elephant statue from the now-closed Elephant Bar on McBean. Bet we could get it cheap, and the Republicans would be really happy, too.

The last but not least idea is to buy a Sherman tank from the folks at Melody Ranch. Having a cannon placed in a public square, or circle, is popular in many cities. We could have a whole tank.

Gee, I hope it runs. Imagine the possibilities for decorating for any number of holidays. Maybe it could shoot out fireworks on the Fourth of July.

What do you expect from a guy who has spent years underwater on various kinds of subs? Of course you know how submariners get selected, don’t you? Long and arduous psychological tests are administered to each and every volunteer. If you fail, you get selected. Only someone crazy would want to spend a lot of time under the sea.

I await your thoughts.

Darryl Manzer grew up in the Pico Canyon oil town of Mentryville in the 1960s and attended Hart High School. After a career in the U.S. Navy he returned to live in the Santa Clarita Valley. He can be reached at dmanzer@scvhistory.com and his commentaries are archived at DManzer.com. Watch his walking tour of Mentryville [here].