I have been bombarded recently with the subject of trash. It made me think about what constitutes a good neighbor. Have you ever thought about whether you are a good neighbor? If so, what would your answer be? I certainly like to think I am a good neighbor, but am I willing to put a few more dollars...

I was at the Chiquita Canyon Landfill the other, day taking a load of construction trash for a customer. Yes, I use the dump, and I would happily drive anywhere else to use a different landfill if Chiquita closed as promised. I noticed a large pile of really black, wet dirt. What caught my eye was the...

I’m always amazed and extremely grateful that I live in a place where folks can cross political lines to get things accomplished. Let’s face it, we’ve had some real humdingers in that past few months. While I didn’t like the outcome and still think folks will regret it, it is a fact a lot of...

The following is an open letter to the Santa Clarita City Council.   Honorable Council members, On Tuesday I testified along with a group of community advocates at the Board of Supervisors on the issue of the Chiquita Canyon Landfill expansion. We implored the board to facilitate a public hearing...

Got to love this weather. I like it that all of the Rose Parade tourists left before it got warmer. Many of them went back to very cold parts of the country. Why, one friend in Kentucky told me she hated me because I’m basking in the sunshine and 82 degrees while she is in Murray, Ky., at 6 degrees....

I have lived in California for 33 years, and I have discovered that our local television news is interested only in shock and sexy reporting. Every day, the news reports on murders, robberies, automobile accidents, celebrities’ affairs and politicians’ shortcomings. How often do you hear about the...

I asked a few of my fellow bullies here in Val Verde to come and have their pictures taken. I wanted the rest of the Santa Clarita Valley, Los Angeles County and all who care to see some of the faces of those fighting for their health here in Val Verde. The Chiquita Canyon Landfill representative said...

[KHTS] – Three Santa Clarita Valley groups are planning to attend Tuesday’s meeting of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to ask for another public hearing on the environmental report for an expansion for the Chiquita Canyon landfill. Officials from the Val Verde Civic Association, Citizens...

Val Verde has had an agreement with the Chiquita Canyon Landfill for years. Val Verde residents live by this contract, but as of last week, landfill representatives informed the residents of Val Verde it is not a contract per se, but a term sheet. When does a contract lose its definition? The definition...

I am not a writer, so please forgive me for any lack of cohesion in my rants. I moved to Val Verde 2½ years ago. I wanted to know about my community, so I attended the monthly town meetings. There were always rosy presentations from the Chiquita Canyon Landfill. But there were a few who would complain...