Two Gents' Worth
November 22, 2024
Civil Society
I’ve lived in the San Joaquin Valley practically my whole life. The Sierra Nevada range is within easy driving distance, and, indeed, I’ve been to the mountains countless times. But I regret to say, there are still many places up there that I’ve never been to. You see, I’m a typical “flatlander.” Mountain folks love…
Read More about Up to Central Camp
Civil Society
Sharon and I attended a community party in Madera this past Saturday, and we had a blast. For starters, we dressed up as early 20th century folks. We did that with the great help of Karen Elmore, curator of the Madera County Historical Society. She’s an expert on how men and women dressed back then,…
Read More about Party Time in Madera
Business
This past Saturday on Labor Day weekend, I escaped the Valley’s summer heat — and learned a whole lot about history — by joining a small group on a trek into the Sierra. A couple of months ago, I had taken a similar trip with some of these same folks. That time, we traveled to…
Read More about To the Sierra, AgainCivil Society
Points I’m pondering… We’ve had more 100-degree days around these parts recently, and our Valley’s favorite TV weatherman, Kevin Musso of Channel 30, promises more will be on the way. As of this past Thursday, we had racked up 49 days of 100-or-higher temperatures. Last summer, we had 36. Of course, we can’t possibly compare…
Read More about Odds, Ends & More
Civil Society
The other day, I decided to wind up my dad’s old wristwatch. I had taken possession of it after my brother Ken passed away a few months ago. I remember seeing Dad wear it on special occasions. That old Royal watch (15 jewels, it says on the front) sat on our bedroom bureau ever since…
Read More about Dad’s WatchCivil Society
As you may recall, I wrote a piece in this space a few weeks ago about some of the experiences I had at TV stations where I worked during my 40-year career in broadcasting. A long-time friend read it and reminded me that I had left out a few funny and even crazy stories that…
Read More about Goofy Tales From My Stations
Civil Society
Have you ever gone someplace new and been so impressed — you wondered whether you could have lived there? I had such an experience a couple of days ago — courtesy of my friends at the North Fork History Group. The history group had set up an excursion to Kinsman Flat above North Fork. That’s…
Read More about Up to the HillsCivil Society
“Good morning, yesterday, You wake up and time has slipped away And suddenly it’s hard to find the memories you’ve left behind. Remember, do you remember?” (Paul Anka) My life has been a true Game of Numbers. Channel numbers, that is. During the course of a broadcasting career that began more than a half-century…
Read More about My Life of Channel-SurfingCivil Society
The coming of Memorial Day always excited me when I was growing up. It wasn’t because the Indy 500 auto race took place then — though that race was quite an important event, indeed. No, Memorial Day grabbed my attention because it meant that another summer was — at long last! — just around the…
Read More about My Favorite Summers