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Posts published in “Essays”

In Support of Andrew Wiggins

Andrew Wiggins, 26, the Golden State Warriors smooth small forward, had a rational reason to fear getting vaccinated. He’d once had an allergic reaction to Tylenol so severe that he started carrying an Epipen. Presumably…

Looking for Answers

In response to my recent column on the continuing chaos of marijuana cultivation in this county, a number of folks sent along their thoughts on possible solutions. Kirk Vodopals had this to say: “Good luck…

In Thieves We Trust

My close friend Sally’s health took a nosedive after her second stroke. And like many old people – and candor demands that we ourselves could well choose this path for ourselves one day – Sally…

Our Times: The Importance of the Hed

The Power of the Hed Back in the day, newsroom wisdom had it that approximately 1/4 of readers would glance at the headline and not read the story, 1/4 would read only the lede (first…

The College Kid Runs the Auction, Part 2

Last week I recounted how, with  a mere half dozen years of sheep farming experience, I undertook the job of managing the weekly sheep sale at the Ukiah Livestock Auction. The time of year I…

River Monster

A century back, and then on back into the century before, the sun shone on huge redwood and fir that had not yet been felled. Back into the first half of the 1880s, when the…

Ashley Jones

If you’re a long-time Alamedan, you know him. He might have been your teacher, therapist or coach. Perhaps you recognize him as a two-time City Council candidate, a competitive master swimmer or abstract painter. If…

Hippie Days

It was the time of year when the sidewalks of Garberville were crowded with pretty young women (and men I suppose) looking for work...

Fur & Feed

For many years a Junior Livestock Auction has been held during the Redwood Empire Fair in Ukiah. The community supports the auction buying all sorts of species of livestock that are raised by 4-H members,…

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