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Our Hometown Stories

Our Hometown Stories: My Pursuit Of The Perfect Christmas Card

– By Rachel Singer Several years ago, my friend Margaret Hansen gave me a wonderful book entitled, “From Our House to Your House,” by Martin Parr. The small red book is a collection of vintage black and white Christmas cards from the 50′ and 60’s. The book documents an era where silver tinsel was painstakingly hung from each tree branch ...

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Our Hometown Stories: Roger Roberge: Behind Closed Doors…

Not long ago, San Fernando Road became Newhall Avenue. Though the name has changed, it still remains the same stretch of road that I navigate at least twice a day on my cross-valley excursions. It is a given that if you take in the scenery on Newhall Avenue you will observe day laborers hoping for work, a deputy hiding with ...

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Our Hometown Stories: Mark McMullen: Salt Of The Earth

In the early afternoon of October 21st, 2007, KHTS AM-1220 reported that there was fire in Agua Dulce near Mint Canyon and Sierra Highway. It was initially described as small. I was relieved. We had lived through enough raging firestorms in our fair valley to last a lifetime. However, the Santa Ana winds and dried brush did not play fair ...

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Our Hometown Stories – Micaela Bensko: Iraq Star

By Rachel Singer Beauty is only skin deep- Beauty is in the eye of the beholder- These are great platitudes if you are having a “bad hair day” or if you wake up with a blemish on your face. If you are a wounded warrior returning from the battlefields of Iraq or Afghanistan with disfiguring physical injuries, you realize that ...

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Our Hometown Stories: Six Flags Magic Mountain: Park of Dreams

Where do you live? Santa Clarita. Where? You know, Six Flags Magic Mountain. Oh, of course. When I finish this exchange and see the dawning comprehension, it makes me proud that us “Claritans” have a claim to fame.   Our Hometown Stories usually focus on an individual in the Santa Clarita Valley who has a “great story to tell.”  Yet ...

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Our Hometown Stories: Harry Ingold: Nine Lives

Last year when it was my turn to make the selection for our book club to read and discuss, I was in a quandary.  The pressure was on.   My quest brought me to Sam’s Club; food first, book aisle second… A paperback in the display caught my attention.  A stark black cover with the title in large print “The ...

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Our Hometown Stories: Barbara S. Cochran: English Rose

By Rachel Singer In September 2008, my girlfriend Belinda and I traveled for a week through England on a “Tudor Tour.” We are Anglophiles who love everything English, from the countryside to the history. It is no secret that we are certain in a previous life we walked the dark palace hallways with Henry VIII, his legions of admirers and ...

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Our Hometown Stories – Rodney Bayne: Going Horizontal

By Rachel Singer “My goal is to deny yours” If you do not play or follow soccer, you may have to sit and ponder that quote for a moment… If you are a goalkeeper on the soccer field, it makes perfect sense.  If you are a 71-year-old goalkeeper, it is your mantra!   I bring to you the words and ...

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Our Hometown Stories – Hobart Ellis: Semper Fidelis

By Rachel Singer Sometimes by a stroke of luck your stars line up and you meet someone who leaves an indelible mark on your life.  On Armed Forces Day 2009, I was fortunate enough to be introduced to such a man and I was grateful to sit down and listen to his story.   The story begins with a black ...

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Our Hometown Stories: T.Katz: Telling Tales And Making Music

By Rachel Singer I may require an Intervention. I have an addiction…it interferes with the running of my household, taking care of my kids and being a doting wife. My name is Rachel and I am a “Bookaholic”   A few Mondays ago, while patiently waiting in the carpool line, I tuned into John Boston’s afternoon KHTS show and heard ...

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