Opinion: Monster movies
October is winding down and with it, a plethora of scary movies. The best horror movies for me are those “based on a Story by Stephen King.” The film “Christine” is by far one of my favorites. In it, a high school kid named Arnie Cunningham buys a red 1958 Plymouth Fury in it. He […]
Opinion: Corporal punishment in public schools
I adore throw pillows. A friend recently teased me about the number of pillows on my bed. Having half my king-sized bed covered in pillows is so much better than sleeping alone. My current favorites are a pillow with the logos of Broadway Shows and another with the covers of Stephen King books. The Ouija […]
Opinion: Preparing for Samhain
Last week, I related how and why this column was conceived and executed. “Thanx!” to our customers and especially our subscribers for reading The Madera Tribune, making us an essential part of their lives. We appreciate the business community that buys our advertising space. You are vital to the survival of your local hometown news […]
Opinion: Gallons of gravy, 17 years later
A rather auspicious day occurred last Friday. Seventeen years ago I published my first “Gravy by the Slice,” column. Before that, we ran an original column written by former staff writer Cal Tatum. A good, solid reporter, he lived up in the foothills. He commuted to Madera every day from way up above Oakhurst. His […]
Opinion: Rhetorical TMI
Previous generations practiced considerably more discretion than I typically see in my everyday walk through life. Talk shows like Oprah and Jerry Springer may not have invented the fundamental lack of self-restraint, but they heavily promoted it. It encourages people to, as was said in the 60s, let it all hang out! These days, it’s […]
Opinion: Old friends are the best friends
Fifty years in the making and better than two years of steady planning, the Madera High School Class of 1973 celebrated its golden anniversary reunion last Saturday. We had a great turnout and seeing so many of our childhood playmates again was so much fun. The very first ones on the list who need to […]
Opinion: Something to look forward to
Having something to look forward to is good for my mental health. Just this week, the novel “Holly,” by Stephen King, is being distributed. The fall season and a new Stephen King novel make for a lovely Halloween. Saturday night is my 50-year high school reunion. I will celebrate my birthday in October, and I’m […]
Opinion: Madera Fair is back
The wait is over. The Madera District Fair makes its annual visit this weekend to 1850 West Cleveland Avenue. Included again this year is a lineup of nightly concerts, commercial displays and many of our Madera businesses putting their best feet forward. Adult admission is $15; Seniors 62 & over, $10; 12 & younger, free. […]
Opinion: Old friends are the best friends
Hey, Madera High School Class of 1973, we are in the final countdown. In 21 days, we are gathering at the Elks’ Lodge to celebrate the 50 years since graduation. I remember that I sat next to a girl named Suzanne Hill on graduation night. She said, “I always knew we would sit together at […]
Opinion: Playing with words
I enjoy playing with words. Of all the apps on the Internet, “Dictionary” must be my favorite. I don’t always know how a new word is pronounced. But the way it’s spelled and its various meanings captivate me. At a Fresno City College psychology class in my youth, my professor divided his class in half […]