Opinion: Cruising main street

First published Saturday, Oct. 5, 2013.

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This week, my column celebrates its seventh year as a weekly feature of The Madera Tribune. When I played journalist Lois Lane as a child, I dreamed of the day when I would have my very own soapbox on which to rant. I am honored to comment on the news of the day or to give my views on a particular piece of business for my hometown audience. 

It is gratifying when I get correspondence from readers telling me I’m saying things they believe to be true. When a reader approaches me in the grocery store or on the street, more often than not, it is because they enjoyed my column. I have learned a lot in my almost 58 years in Madera. We aren’t the same little town where I grew up. 

There have been many changes, and nowhere is that more apparent than on the road I will always call Main Street, although the street’s proper name is Yosemite Avenue. Before commerce spread north, south, east and west, Yosemite Avenue and Downtown Madera was the retail mecca of our town.