Chico, CA|News|
Camp Fire Volunteer Will Never Be The Same
Despite living hundreds of miles away, volunteering to help after the deadly, destructive inferno touched this reporter in a profound way.

I've been a writer as long as I can remember -- in my secret hiding places as a kid growing up in Woodstock, Vt. Professionally, I've worked for decades as a reporter and editor for a number of California publications, including the North County Times (which was folded into the Union-Tribune group in San Diego County), Del Norte Triplicate and Times Standard on the Redwood Coast, Tahoe Daily Tribune and most recently with the online community news site Lake Tahoe News on the South Shore.
I've written in many beats, with some travel involved. My travels have taken me to cover U.S. sprinter Michael Johnson delivering the Olympic torch to Stonehenge at sunrise on its way to London for the 2010 Summer Games. Eight years before, my press coverage granted me my own running leg of the Olympic torch in South Lake Tahoe on its way to the Winter Games in Salt Lake City.
Despite living hundreds of miles away, volunteering to help after the deadly, destructive inferno touched this reporter in a profound way.

Frank Matoes is enduring his second loss in 13 months. The Paradise resident is offering advice to others at the Residence Inn In Chico.
The town of 27,000-plus did everything right, including an evacuation drill this year, and still could not thwart the rage of this inferno.
The holiday season is prime time for home and auto burglaries -- crimes Palo Alto Police would like its citizens to avoid.
Carl Smith of Santa Clara was nominated among 170 others as America's Favorite Crossing Guard for his rewarding work at Sutter Elementary.
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The victim told police he met a woman on the Internet and agreed to meet her in a motel room when four allegedly assaulted and robbed him.
Patch loves photos. Share your photos with your local Patch, and your work could be featured.
The riveting production highlights the banter between English television talk show host David Frost and former U.S. President Richard Nixon.
After a long discussion and consideration of allowing cannabis businesses within its boundaries, the Milpitas City Council opted out of it.
The name of gardening guru Jim Clansky tells it all -- Year Round Landscaping. He urges pruning, planting and prepping for a great yard.
The police explorers will accept jackets of any size for the "One Warm Coat" program.
A Hayward man was arrested in the 1973 murder of Leslie Perlov of Palo Alto. Santa Clara Co. investigators submitted many items to probe.
Raking leaves is not going to cut it to reduce risk in six Santa Clara Co. and eight San Mateo Co. communities at high risk.
A job during the holidays may put you in a festive mood fast.
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Almost $1 million could go toward Santa Clara Valley Water District projects deemed to fulfill rehabilitation needs.
The Santa Clara town hall is scheduled for next Wednesday in chambers where prospective homeowners can learn how to secure a down payment.
The incident occurred on East Meadow Drive at midday Monday. The suspect remains at large.
The new Palo Alto scoop shop marks the first Silicon Valley location, joining two in San Francisco and one in Burlingame.