My dad was a floor layer before he became a general contractor. Millions of tourists have walked and continue to walk on my dad’s work. Many visitors who visit Yosemite make sure to stop off at the Ahwahnee Hotel. The floors are my dad’s work. That was long before he became a general contractor. Once...

A few months back, the county experts who gave permits to the immense expansion at the Commerce Center near I-5 and SR-126 attended a town meeting in Val Verde. The officials were there because the enraged residents of Val Verde had called and sent letters to the county, asking why a protected ridge...

Years ago when I was a new teacher, I learned a valuable lesson. It was a hot winter day when one of my students approached me with tears in her eyes and a quivering voice. A boy had choked her. I could visibly see the finger marks on her neck. I demanded that the boy come over. “Why did you choke...

At the Sept. 16 meeting of the Castaic Area Town Council, with nine board members present and an audience of 25, a resident of Val Verde named Susie Evans requested that Greg Kimura, the representative for Val Verde, be recalled. The board was in shock. The sitting president did not know how even to...

At last night’s meeting of the Val Verde Civic Association (Sept. 10), the residents of Val Verde exploded with anger. Why? Well, they had just found out the residents of Val Verde are not being represented. Val Verde currently has two people who represent them at Castaic Area Town Council meetings...

I sat through a fascinating meeting of the Val Verde Community Advisory Committee as I listened to a scientist, A.J. Atkins, sing the praises of the Chiquita Canyon Landfill. I have to be honest. I was thinking: Man, they are really working hard to ensure our safety. I personally think they are trying....

This is something I am now pondering. Do I have an asking price? Maybe I do. I don’t think I do, but I have not been offered anything as of yet. This I bring up because of a vote that happened at the Castaic Town Council meeting Wednesday. A person researching substances taken in from the Chiquita...

Friends often tell me how their child is struggling in school. I usually give them some ideas that could further their child’s achievement and, let’s face it, in the workplace far down the road. I would like to think every parent’s and every teacher’s dream is for the children in their care to...

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...