I return to the subject of famous Disney comic book writer-artist Carl Barks, who lived in remote Riverside County while producing work read by millions of children. A few rare pieces of his art turn out to be in the hands of Chino Hills reader (and frequent commenter here) Doug Evans, who was gifted them as a teenager. I tell that story in my Sunday column.
The student representative to the Chino Valley Unified school board took an active role in board debates, including pushing back on culture-war issues and speaking up from students’ perspective. In May, a lot of that came to a head when she criticized two board members’ proposal to oppose a state abortion-rights bill. Some parents booed her. One of those board members said her parents must be doing a poor job raising her. And that wasn’t the end of it. I recount the drama and speak to a calm and collected Esther Kim for Sunday’s column.
This weekend brings the 15th annual Steve McQueen Car and Motorcycle Show at Boys Republic in Chino Hills. Yes, that Steve McQueen. Did you know the late actor once lived at the reform school, and quietly supported it once he was famous? I write about him, Boys Republic and the car show in my Wednesday column.
It seemed every restaurant meal last week would be my last, until, finally, lunch in Chino Hills last Wednesday really was it. I write about several last lunches and one last dinner in Sunday’s column.
Who says local government is dull? Chino Valley Independent Fire District meetings have gone off the rails as the board attempts to corral dissident member Winn Williams. If your jaw doesn’t drop at least twice while reading Sunday’s column, I’ve failed. Unless your jaw opens once and stays that way for the duration.
Sensing column possibilities, I attended last week’s Chino Hills City Council candidate forum. I was amply rewarded, as you’ll see in Sunday’s column.
Judy Rogers, the director of Caring for the Hills, a food pantry and more that operated from her home in Chino Hills, died in August. But the effort continues under the auspices of her husband, Ned, and a band of volunteers. I tell the story in Sunday’s column.
Catching up on some news from my vacation, I write about the newly appointed councilman in Chino Hills, as well as about the sendoff (in a dinner with a travel theme) for his predecessor, in Friday’s column.
Chino Hills has a vacancy on its City Council after Ed Graham’s resignation. Graham sent his former colleagues a funny text message just as the meeting was starting. I have more about that and the vacancy, as well as a Gold Line meeting schedule, three Culture Corner items and more in Sunday’s column.
All our cities have political intrigue, even the ones that seem sleepy and don’t get much coverage. Chino Hills has had to shift to districts for its City Council elections, and the map process is already having an effect even though it doesn’t kick in until the November 2018 elections. I share what I’ve learned in Sunday’s column. (Plus, for the non-politically-minded, there’s some pet news.)