OK. Tonight is the night. The Castaic Area Town Council is having a meeting at Denny’s to go over the new bylaws, policies and procedures and whatever else. I would recommend you show up a little early. It starts at 6:30 p.m., so be at the place by maybe 5:45 p.m. Oh, the place? Go to the Denny’s in Castaic. Should be a good time.

Did any of you attend the California High Speed Rail meeting at Hart Park on Tuesday? I just couldn’t take another dog and pony show from the folks who think it is a good thing for our formerly great state of California to build a railway. Same old stuff presented in the same old way. Are they ever going to get the idea we don’t want it here in the SCV at all, and hopefully it will never be built at all, either?

This weekend a few events are going on in our little part of the world. On Saturday there is a birthday party for old William S. Hart himself. He’d be 150 years old, so it seems a good reason to celebrate for him. You can call the Friends of Hart Park to join that little group and get tickets for a great show of Western Music by Cow Bop. Join the Friends and get a ticket. Just call 661-222-9542 for reservations and membership information. Tour the Hart Mansion, all made up for Christmas, and you don’t have to walk up and down the hill. A shuttle will be running. Starts at 7 p.m. this Saturday, Dec. 6.

In the same park there is a place operated by the Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society, and this weekend they are having a Christmas Open House. Also on Saturday, it runs from noon until 4 p.m., so all y’all will have time to go home and change for the evening with Two-Gun Bill. There is an animal blessing at 1 p.m. I wonder if getting Mr. Renly blessed will make him act any less heathen? Sometimes he can be a dirty, nasty little basset hound.

The Historical Society is also sponsoring a lecture series on Saturday at the Old Town Newhall Library. Dr. Laurie Solis of COC will be speaking about the original people of the SCV, the Tataviam. “Ancient Enterprises: How the prehistoric Tataviam survived and thrived in an ancient landscape.” Her talk is at 2 p.m. and is free.

So that gives you a few events on Saturday.

More stuff for the weekend:

Saturday and Sunday at Rancho Camulos, there is the Festival of Lights. Runs both days from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. There is an admission fee of $5 for adults; 12 and under are free.

Take a drive out to the Placerita Canyon Nature Center for the Holiday Craft Fair, too. Create your own wreaths, centerpieces and other decorations. It is being held both Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. You can always call 661-259-7721 for more information.

So that gives you some idea of things to do on your days off. I did confuse myself since I’m retired. I’ve got six Saturdays and a Sunday every week (unless there is a holiday).

I know there are many more events and things for you to enjoy this weekend. Looks my day Saturday will be mostly at Hart Park. I could do worse.

I know I won’t be running up and down the hill around the mansion playing army like a bunch of us boys did about 1960 or so. The mud was intense. Can’t forget that fun.

Starting the first leg of my HSR-B reporting soon. (High Speed Rail  Boondoggle). Taking the ride with Billy Bob and Betty Boop in tow up the Soledad to Acton. I still wonder if the HSR-B folks know the proposed route might go directly through the old Governor Mine. If they find gold, I hope they use it to finance a water project.

The next segment will be Acton to Bakersfield. Got to time the weather and the paychecks. Billy Bob does get decent mileage, but even with cheaper prices for diesel fuel, a fill-up can run around $275. But I can travel nearly 700 miles on that amount. Big RVs are fun, but unlike other homes, one has to check the tires, fuel and all of the other things a vehicle needs on top of the normal plumbing and appliance issues.

You know, I’ve developed a rather large checklist that I use to get the RV ready to go. It isn’t unlike a checklist I’ve used on a ship. Some of the same terms apply like “shore power” (electrical supply), water and sewer lines, Slide out retracted, and the Jeep connected. Seems simple, but leave the poser cable connected or TV antenna up one time and a bank account can take a major hit. Same goes for the Jeep being connected. Do not leave the parking brake engaged. (That was a lesson in how to buy new rear tires for Betty Boop.)

So for today I’ll complete the checklist and head up Soledad Canyon Road. I’m wondering about rock slides and mud. I’ll bet the old road is in good shape. I hope so, because getting Billy Bob with Betty Boop turned around can be a real problem. It doesn’t take 40 acres, but it would be nice to have that much room to do it at times.

I’d imagine the HSR-B folks have a checklist, too. Maybe not official, but every scam has some sort of list. It all involves taking your money. Lots of your money.

The journey has started. Let’s see what they are up to so far.

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. His older commentaries are archived at DManzer.com; his newer commentaries can be accessed [here]. Watch his walking tour of Mentryville [here].