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Posts published by “Malcolm Macdonald”

Uncle Leonard and Fat Man

Whenever the first days of August arrive I think of Uncle Leonard. Actually, Leonard Roy Ward was my great uncle, Mother’s side. He was born at the dawn of the twentieth century and by the time Pearl Harbor brought the US into World War II, Leonard had lived several lifetimes full of adventure as a gambler and rodeo cowboy.

Chief Mayberry’s Resignation

There were 70 or more supporters of Scott Mayberry in the audience August 11th when Mayor Dave Turner asked for a show of hands at the outset of the meeting (another ten or so were there with concerns about water rates). The size of the crowd was impressive, considering many City Council meetings are sparsely attended at best. The Wow factor hit about 18 minutes in when Roberta Mayberry stepped to the podium. She is the wife of the police chief. At first Mrs. Mayberry turned her back to the City Council and city staff, directing her opening remarks to the crowd. Then she faced City Manager Linda Ruffing and her chief assistant, Ginny Feth-Michel, asking them “to maybe pay attention when people are speaking.”

August Adventures

August should be a month of adventure, entertainment and fun. For the last two, readers can't do much better than the Mendocino Theatre Company's production of The Graduate. If you're thinking, I've seen the Mike…

Nuthin’ But Sunshine

Last week I described how the Albion River had gone dry at the confluence of its two main branches. Well, in the last few days I've walked west from the Macdonald Ranch, and sadly I…

The Albion River Is Dead

The Albion River is dry. That should be enough of an alarm for some people. Obviously, there is water at its mouth, but the river itself is not flowing. At the confluence of the south…

The Battered Bastards of Baseball

Critics still argue about which book might qualify as the greatest American novel. Moby-Dick, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and numerous others have been put forth as candidates. The “just-the-facts-ma'am” answer lies in Philip Roth's 1973…

Crime & Punishment In The Garden

The mouse sniffed its way through the dark. Rejecting the wild pea vines, it scurried past the oak barrels full of strawberry plants. Been there, snipped that, tucked away in its nest. The mouse knew…

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