It has been at least three years since the last good albacore season. We have had small teases the past few years, but the red-hot fishing we saw in the late 1990s and first years of this millennium just disappeared.

EDITOR,

The Lockheed Fire has been another reminder of just how fragile we are when it comes to natural disasters.

EDITOR,

EDITOR,

I managed to get out of town for a short road trip last weekend, a nice run up into the Gold Country of Sonora, Columbia and Angels Camp. But from start to finish, I was reminded of the men and women fighting the fire in Santa Cruz County.

My home is encircled by fairy rings. But before you envision my dog, Bucky, and me hiding out at night to see if the wee little ones will appear, let me explain that these are rings of redwoods.

Dominic Grillo of Whitehouse Station, N.J., set the pace in the 41st running of the Race Thru the Redwoods on Sunday, Aug. 16, capturing the title of the annual 10-kilometer race in 39 minutes, 1 second. The 34-year-old averaged six minutes, 17 seconds per mile on the hilly course that hosted a total of 459 10K racers.