A reader’s fond email about ’50s-’60s KFWB disc jockey Elliot Field was not only funny, in recounting the various on-air characters Field invented, it led me to a surprising find connected to two recent columns. Also: more about Biddy Mason and a personal recollection about Lawrence Ferlinghetti’s visit to Claremont, all in Sunday’s column.
Monthly Archives: February 2021
Column: Mural adds flavor to neighborhood taqueria
I take a drive to San Bernardino to interview a muralist putting up a sharp-looking work on the side of a taqueria. The Ontario man has pieces scattered around the region. He’s the subject of Friday’s column.
By the way, if only all columns could come together as easily as this impromptu interview and photo shoot did, life would be a breeze.
Column: Details of Dylan’s ’64 UCR show are blowin’ in the wind
While I like researching local angles to subjects I’m not even particularly interested in, like Van Halen, it was a rare treat to research a local angle to a subject about which I’m intensely interested, like Bob Dylan. His Feb. 25, 1964 concert at UC Riverside is the focus of Wednesday’s column.
Column: Mt. Rubidoux walking paths once carried cars
In a series of items, I share a reader comment about the days when you could drive up Mount Rubidoux, and a hiking video in which the hiker pooh-poohs the whole thing. Then I write about the importance to journalists of spelling names correctly, followed by some historical perspective on the weather. All that is in Sunday’s column.
Column: Childhood pal recalls ‘sweet,’ ‘tough’ Ritchie Valens
When a Riverside County reader told me he grew up with rocker Ritchie Valens, and had photos, I thought this sounded promising and made an appointment to meet him. He was definitely worth talking to, a story I tell in Friday’s column. (I’m hoping I’m not testing the patience of those uninterested in Valens. Sometimes when it rains, it pours.)
Column: Freed slave Biddy Mason to be focus of museum talk
A free, livestreamed talk Saturday morning will be devoted to the 19th century slave in San Bernardino who was freed by a judge in 1856 and went on to local fame in L.A. I’ll be asking the questions of two experts (but don’t let that stop you from watching!). Also: a little history concerning Pomona’s involvement with the L.A. County Health Department, and the LA County Fair is canceled again. All this in Wednesday’s column.
Column: High school students met a ‘shy’ Ritchie Valens
I follow up my recent Ritchie Valens column with, well, another Ritchie Valens column, this one largely based on another find: A Pomona High student’s meeting with Valens a week before his Pomona concert. That and a few other stray comments, plus a brIEfly item out of Upland, make up Sunday’s column.
Column: Queries, comments sprout about famed orange tree
I follow up my recent column on Riverside’s parent navel orange tree by gathering up reader questions, comments and lore, with answers and wisecracks by yours truly, in Friday’s column. Plus, at no extra charge, a “brIEfly” closing item.
Column: Skipping football made for Super outing in LA
Did you watch the Super Bowl or skip it? I’m perennially in the skip-it category and try to go somewhere that would normally be crowded. This year I went to L.A. to hike in Griffith Park and, near game time, eat at Philippe. That’s the subject of Wednesday’s column.
Column: Some news about ‘Newsome’ from a recall backer
I visited with the homeowner who has the “Recall Newsome” sign in her yard at her invitation. She knows it’s misspelled but accepted the sign because of its message. We have a friendly chat in Sunday’s column.