Hoffmann’s Reptiles, Concord’s Last Independent Pet Store
by David King. In 1980, Concord had about 10 pet stores. There was no Pet Co. or PetSmart. No internet. Dan Hoffmann had opened his 800 square-foot store, an exotic…
Rhino in the Room
bookends by Fran cain Rhino in the Room by Jill Hedgecock (2018, Goshawk Press, paperback, 307 pages, $11.99) is part safari guide and part eye-opener about the illegal hunting, or…
Assassin or Just Trying to Impress a Girl?
The atmosphere at a presidential function or a campaign rally is electric. People are excited, cheering, smiling, and generally, very happy and enthusiastic. With tens of thousands in attendance, Secret…
Tales from the Trail: A Solo Birthday Wilderness Adventure
Journey-man’s Journal by Scott Feuer The plan was to do something unique, something atypical of the traditional birthday celebration; a gift to myself to escape the time-crunched routine of daily…
What Does Anxiety Look Like for Kids?
PARENT FOOTPRINT by Dr. Dan Peters Anxiety is a pervasive problem in our society. It can be a fear of heights, not wanting to go to school or worry about…
Nepalese Style: Momo n Curry
OUT TO LUNCH by Richard Eber When it comes to the success of new restaurants, the real estate adage “location, location, location”, usually holds true. With such logic, Momo N…
My Name is Memory
Bookends by Jill Hedgecock, Program Director for Mount Diablo California Writer’s Club My Name is Memory (2011, Riverhead Books, 352 pages, $7.57) by Ann Brashares is the story of reincarnation,…
Dark Chocolate Guinness Cake
by Mrs. Butterbanks Grab your beer stein, a fork, and get to celebrating Oktoberfest! Who isn’t drawn by a cake that is described as a “Boozy Chocolate Lover’s Dream Cake”?…
Walnut Creek Sufi Temple Built to Serve 700 Years
Amid the booming and chaotic development of Contra Costa County, an unexpectedly tranquil and nurturing new sanctuary has been quietly completed in Walnut Creek in the Saranap neighborhood. This astonishing…
An Interview with Jill Hedgecock: Writer in the Room
Jill Hedgecock, among many other things, writes our book review column. Her book “Rhino in the Room” has recently been released, a powerful story of a young woman’s African safari…