The 17-room luxury Tallman Hotel is photographed with the Blue Wing Saloon in the foreground of Main Street in Upper Lake in Lake County. (Ginny Prior/For Bay Area News Group)

EASTBAYTIMES.COM: May 12, 2017

When western grebes mate, they literally walk on water in a dancing ritual unlike no other. This is something you see on Clear Lake, the largest natural freshwater lake in California and a birding paradise on the Pacific Flyway. Continue reading →

MONTCLARION: May 12, 2017

Psst. The password is 2907. Use it to unlock the box in Montclair Park and you’ll magically turn into a steward. Continue reading →

Tyler Carson, owner of Hayasa Motorbikes, 430 E. 10th St., in Oakland, will celebrate his 20th anniversary next year running the motorcycle repair shop with a refreshing integrity and passion for the sport, Ginny Prior writes. (Ginny Prior/For Bay Area News Group)

MONTCLARION: May 2, 2017

One of our paper’s more popular features was the Good Neighbor column written by Dave Newhouse. Too bad Newhouse has retired … because Tyler Carson would have been perfect for his column. Continue reading →

This is a view of Pacifica’s Rockaway Beach from the Coastal Trail. Pacifica is that rare place where a visitor can see the Pacific coast, wildlife and wildflowers. (Ginny Prior/For Bay Area News Group)

Mercurynews.com: April 11, 2017

Wild coast, wildlife, wildflowers. One of the prettiest places to see all three is Pacifica. From the moment you round that first tight curve on southbound Highway 1, you are thrust into a dramatic coastal vista that engages all your senses. The blooming ice plants and wildflowers are in the foreground this spring; but since Pacifica is the fourth richest marine habitat in the world, you could see porpoises or even whales in the distance. Continue reading →

Northstar California Resort holds its pond skimming event April 1 with a 1980s throwback theme and prizes for the top three pond crossings, best crash and best costume. (Northstar California Resort)

Mercurynews.com: March 28, 2017

Spring fever is breaking out at ski resorts across the country. In Northern California, record snowfall means epic snowmelt and a wacky tradition called pond skimming. Continue reading →

East bay times.com: March 9, 2017

Mud and muck and who knows what. All this rain has tongues wagging about the condition of the many trails lacing our Oakland hills. Some trails are mud pits, some even closed, like part of the stream trail in Redwood Regional Park — Skyline Gate. Clearly, it’s more than our park employees can handle. Continue reading →