Charles Cass: Bay Park’s Fearless G-Man
During the Roaring Twenties, Chicago had Eliot Ness and his "Untouchables." San Diego had Charles Cass and his "Drys."
They were not as dull as the name implies.
The National Prohibition Act, known as the Volstead...
21st Annual Clairemont Garden Tour
"I have such wonderful memories of Jim and Lise's gardens. I remember the first time I visited, as I drove down the street, wondering which house I was going to visit, I saw the...
Clairemont Little League Jock-and-Cup Stories
In the 1960s, my neighbor's 10-year-old son, Joey Schickler, was a catcher for one of the Balboa Little League teams. He was a nice kid, but not much of a ballplayer. His younger brother,...
Clairemont’s Long Forgotten Little League Ballfields
Although Jim Bouton won 21 games for the 1963 New York Yankees, he is better known as the controversial author of the tell-all baseball classic, Ball Four. John Thorn, the official historian for Major League...
Heavenly Views from Clairemont
If you have a predilection for adventure and a full tank of gas, you should know the "Joyride Guru."
Jack Brandais is an old friend of mine. His "Weekend Driver" column has appeared in the San Diego Union-Tribune for 17 years. He...
First Kiss – A Valentine Story
Who can forget their first kiss? But, what if you never had a first kiss?
This is a true story. I know it's true, because it didn't happen to me.
In 1951, I was captain of...
The tradition continues…
Six people were honored in the first 2016 edition of "Who's Who in Clairemont." The criteria was simple (and tongue-in-cheek): live in Clairemont and send an e-mail to this column. In 2015, only five...
75th Anniversary of the Attack on Pearl Harbor
Robert Garcia (97) and Stuart Hedley (95) are a couple of old salts who, for over 45 years, have lived a few blocks from each other in North Clairemont. A few days before Thanksgiving,...
Frye Wings
The Greek philosopher Plato noted, "The natural function of the wing is to soar upwards..."
Hindus believe that wings symbolize freedom. In Pre-Columbian cultures, wings represented flight from one world to another.
Wings are the logo...
Dorothy Carroll, The Jacaranda Lady
By Bill Swank
Kate Sessions, Mother of Balboa Park, was the Johnny Appleseed of Jacarandas in Southern California. Over the years, other women earned the title and San Diego's current Johnny Appleseed of Jacarandas is...