8 a.m. Tuesday: Note to readers: I originally posted a version of the story below, on young people and suicide, last night, after hearing from someone in… Read more “Apology to readers, but mostly to the family and friends of a young Orinda man”

Sorry. Suicide, especially among young people, is not a pleasant thing topic to contemplate, much less read about. But the topic has been on my mind lately,… Read more “Depression and suicide among young people: Difficult topic, but here is some information that parents, kids might want to know”

UPDATE Tuesday 8 a.m. A Contra Costa County Coroner’s representative has said that Yee died of “blunt force trauma to the head,” but that the “manner of… Read more “Coroner’s office investigating what led to Orinda man’s death”

With news reports from Claycord.com and the Contra Costa Times saying that two more students at Concord’s El Monte Elementary have flu-like symptoms–and that swine flu is… Read more “Medical expert explains how a healthy person can suddenly die from any flu and the difference between swine flu and regular flu”

Walnut Creek city staff and downtown residents have given cautious support to a proposal to tear down the empty eight-story former bank building–otherwise known as 1500 Newell–and… Read more “Plan to replace 1500 Newell with condo/retail complex (so far) receives thumbs up from neighbors, city planners”

The news of the May 29 death of Karen Perez, a student at El Monte Elementary School, is of course tragic and troubling. The troubling part comes… Read more “9 year old Concord girl, with swine flu, dies: How worried should we be?”

In terms of good food and drink it’s going to be a busy weekend in Walnut Creek. It starts with the official opening Saturday morning of Walnut… Read more “New Farmers Market, WC’s annual Art and Wine Festival”

Two weeks ago, I was at the Lesher Center, attending one of the three-back-to-back ceremonies hosted by the Walnut Creek Police Department to celebrate local fifth-graders who… Read more “Does Character Counts steer kids from alcohol and drugs when they get older and help prevent tragedies like the Orinda teen’s death?”

As Memorial Day, you should be able to park on the street in downtown Walnut Creek and not have to feed coins into the meter. Memorial Day… Read more “Because it’s Memorial Day, it’s a parking meter holiday today in Walnut Creek, and what do you think of those Main Street parking meter machines?”

No, not The Rock, as in Alcatraz island, but “The Rock,” as in the boulder where my father’s ashes are interred at Oakmont Memorial Park in Pleasant… Read more “Memorial Day weekend visit to "The Rock"”