November 27, 2012 – Daily Brief — The SCV Talk Archive

Thank you for the emails asking where I've been and if I'm okay. No, I've not fallen off the face of the earth, my mind has just been elsewhere lately. My wife and I are expecting our first baby any day now (indeed, the little guy is 5 days over due!) so we've been nesting at a frenetic pace, cleaning until two in the morning sometimes and getting to know employees at the Bouquet Lowes on a first name basis. This crazy time caps months of home improvements, marathon baby-naming sessions, long range planning what-ifs (will he go to Harvard or Stanford or CalTech?) and other typical baby-is-coming rituals. In short, I'm becoming a dad and it's been hard to focus on the site.

Historical preservation ordinance, appeal of a planning commission decision regarding some land in P-Canyon, and a few other items on the agenda for tonight's Council meeting AGENDA
Damn: Maru Sushi is closing its doors after 11 years as probably the best independent restaurant in the SCV, according to the SCV Beacon. The Beacon says Maru tried to negotiate lower rents with Westfield but was "given the boot" by Westfield's leasing department. Maru will close December 12. SCV BEACON
The Signal has released two more of its liberal-leaning columnists this week, following the dispute of early November in which Gary Horton's column endorsing Lee Rogers was spiked a few days prior to the election (but McKeon endorsements weren't). You will not read Horton or Lori Rivas in the Signal anymore; they follow John Zaring out the door. You can and should read Lori Rivas' last Signal column (the Signal says it was full of "inaccuracies" and has refused to publish it) here.
Meanwhile, Tim Myers, who hasn't gotten the ax from Creekside (yet), notices that SCVi, a popular charter school in town, makes a big ad-buy on KHTS and gets not only commercials around the clock, but positive news stories as well. FACEBOOK
The Hart District's CADRE anti-drug program is getting all sorts of national media attention following an LA Times article profiling the program last week. CADRE allows parents to volunteer their children to be drug-tested. Critics like the ACLU says it violates children's rights, and if a Hart student were to refuse testing, it could set up a big legal challenge for the district, but District & Sheriff officials say they're just trying to get a handle on the heroin problem.63 students enrolled by their parents last year were tested positive for drug use. LA TIMES, AP
The LA Regional Water Quality Control board wants to fine the LA County Sanitation District $280,000 for "discharging excessive chloride into the Santa Clara River from two Santa Clarita Valley treatment plants." LA TIMES
Amgen Tour of California organizers will announce the route & host cities for the 2013 bicycle race this afternoon. The race bypassed the SCV last year; hopefully we'll get a stage finish this time! KHTS
Brief profile of the SCV's other new State Senator, Steve Knight. Knight says he wants to be bipartisan and focus on the economy SCVNEWS
New Vietnam history book about the 9th Infantry Division debuts. The book tells the story of the 9th and "Charlie Company," which was made up of several SCV veterans including Bill Reynolds. Stephen Peeples has a good story KHTS
The beloved Metrolink holiday Toy Train rode into town last night. COUGAR NEWS
Newhall Library goes Hobbitt, with a painting of a Shire door on the main entrance BLOG
Bakersfield Californian newspaper comes out in favor of High Speed Rail, noting that the massive public works project will create thousands of jobs. "High speed rail is moving forward, with us or without us," the paper concludes HSR BLOG
I Heart SCV builds new blog highlighting major events and milestones of the City's first 25 years. He promises an honest look at the City's history, unlike the Signal whose 25th Anniversary issue is being sold as a "good branding opportunity for businesses" by Publisher Randy Morton. Read it and bookmark it, I Heart will be posting new entries every few days. I HEART SCV HISTORY

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