I am now 60. People from 37 to 96 wished me well at an event at an Upland coffeehouse, including the mayor, 66, who showed up and surprised me with a certificate of recognition. (That and six bucks will get you a cup of coffee, right?) I write about the cheerful event in my Sunday column.
Category Archives: Around Upland
Column: Store still awaits opening; city council restores perks
An all-Upland column! Amazon Fresh store remains unoccupied, Starbucks is belatedly coming, City Council restores some perks for itself, a famous novelist will give a talk, and a new sign downtown is a replica of an old sign. For one day, I’m all about Upland, in my Friday column. It’s an experiment on my part. They’ll probably love it in Upland and neighboring cities and shrug in Riverside.
Column: Readers talk about Upland statue, NYC and Portland
For the holiday weekend, I excerpt reader comments on recent travel columns involving the Madonna of the Trail statue that I saw in Illinois (with some history of Upland’s) as well as thoughts about New York City and Portland. Those are in my Sunday column. Look for one or two similar columns soon.
Column: A party fit for a queen, and a royal time
A group of friends, all British expatriates or Anglophiles, gathered Sunday to toast Queen Elizabeth on 70 years on the throne. I joined them for food and conversation. Some remember her coronation. I write about the party in my Wednesday column.
Column: Upland woman loved her newspaper
An obituary this week for one Eleanor Meek noted that she read the Daily Bulletin and that her favorite newspaper writer was, well, yours truly. I had never met her or heard of her, and here I am in her obituary, a rare honor. I talk to her son and daughter-in-law about her for my Friday column.
Column: Remembering Tom Thomas, the cycling councilman
The former councilman from Upland was among the first people I met in this job. The avid cyclist was struck and killed on the road last week. I write about him in Friday’s column.
Column: Upland man, 102, was broadcasting favorite in Kansas
I write about Gus Grebe, whom I knew slightly, and who died last month. His death was news in Kansas, where longtime college sports fans still revere him. That and a few more items make up Wednesday’s column.
Column: At 101, he’s ready to wave at Christmas parade
Bob Scudder will lead the Upland Christmas Parade this Saturday as its grand marshal. He’s 101, lives independently, manages properties and drives. In the parade he’ll concentrate on waving. I interview the surprisingly with-it Scudder for my Wednesday column.
Column: Bullwinkle’s is returning under ‘old’ management
Hokey smoke! Bullwinkle’s is near to reopening its amusement park in Upland under the original owners. I preview the plans in my Wednesday column. Don’t let it fall into enemy hands!
Column: She provides aid downtown and all around
For my Christmas Day column, I write one of our Holiday Heroes stories about a local do-gooder. In this case, it’s Linda Trawnik, a force in downtown Upland who is largely responsible for the holiday decorations and music there, and whose food deliveries this year have helped many. (She also willingly suffers the headache of running a community Facebook page.)