If you’re an early riser, there’s still time on this Saturday morning to make your way down to Gauche Aquatic Park where the “Walk to End Alzheimer’s” starts out. 

We’ve got all of September to think things over and then, in the front part of October, mail ballots go out ... and then, decisions.

We’re wishing our friend T.J. Fetters and all his associates the best today as they host some 300 athletes and coaches for the Northeast Regional Softball Tournament – a Special Olympics event. And we’re wishing all the best to all the athletes, too – have a great day on the diamonds.

I go back to my home place in Gage County, Nebraska, every year to see my old dad, uncle, cousins and some friends I’ve been close to forever. I just returned from a visit.

There’s no question that it’s more convenient – communicating with friends and family via social media. But more convenient for what purpose?

I’m proud to be part of a community where officials and workers do what they can to keep hungry kids fed. It would be a lot easier to take the summer off and not think of the problem, but a lot of people connected to the school systems and volunteer groups work out programs to provide lunche…

I’m not sure turning into a fireworks hater is a sign of the approach of curmudgeonliness ... or just greater common sense mixed with irritability. 

I wasn’t going to write about this subject. I don’t know why, though I suspect it’s because writing about it acknowledges the thing and it’s a scary thing. I’ll admit it: I’m a little shook up.

Every year the California Assembly honors worthy veterans. This year, the local honoree was Mike Nichols.

Part Two of “From where we sat.” Here’s the ultra-brief rundown on differences (or not) noted in Wednesday’s forum featuring Yuba County District 5 supervisor candidates Randy Fletcher, John Mistler, and Alton Wright.

From where we sat: here’s an ultra-brief rundown on differences (or not) noted in Wednesday’s  forum featuring Yuba County District 1 supervisor candidates Andy Vasquez and Joan Saunders (candidate David Joyce was absent).

We get calls now and then from people who want us to help them and do something about something. Some of the calls are genuine and tug at the heart-strings ... they’re from victims, from the powerless, from people who are in bad situations through no fault of their own.

We wouldn’t normally make a big front-page splash over a new small retail business. There’d be some mention, for sure, and the greater the economic impact, the better. Beyond that, to be blunt, there’s advertising.

Come on, weatherman, cooperate!

Hey, I’m very concerned about the environment and support all sorts of environmental causes; and as soon as I see some actual science proving that throwing a lead sinker in the river when I’m trying to catch a fish actually raises the level of lead in the river enough that there could actual…

It took a couple years, after we moved here, before I made it out to the Museum of the Forgotten Warriors. It should have been one of the first places I visited – it’s certainly one of the most meaningful sites in the Yuba-Sutter area. In my mind, it’s one of the more significant reference p…

It happens every once in a while – a tragedy on the railroad tracks involving a young pedestrian. 

Thumbs Down: The American Lung Association recently released its State of Tobacco Control 2018 California Local Grades ... a long title for a report on looking at what counties are doing to discourage smoking.

Thumbs Down: OK, for reals, no one really thought there was more than the merest glimmer of a chance that Amazon might pick the Sacramento area for it’s new headquarters and that an actual campus might be plopped down in Sutter County ...

This weekend especially, a thank-you to all the volunteers – and specifically to those volunteers who coordinate things for all the other volunteers.

Our thanks goes out to Vere Gardner for sharing his story with us for the Thursday, Dec. 7, Appeal-Democrat. That was the Pearl Harbor Day edition.

What’s the reason you keep a monster alive and caged? A verifiable monster, that is, such as Charles Manson. That’s what we’re wondering about. There might be a few reasons for not executing convicted murderers, the only thing we can think of in Manson’s case is simply that execution wasn’t …

If you’re interested in dichotomies ... how things can be in complete opposition ... you might consider all sorts of social themes. Here’s one you probably hadn’t thought of before: a fundraiser for an arts group that offers diners a choice between oysters and other stuff.

We had a good solid start last winter for a new Yuba-Sutter tradition honoring those who served in our military: the Wreaths Across America program not only honored the veterans whose graves were decorated, and their families, it also made all of us stop and think for a little bit about what…

News was late Friday afternoon that evacuation orders were downgraded to warnings and roads into the fire areas were being opened. And everyone, finally, would be able to return to their homes.

We support the celebration of Indigenous Peoples Days at the Sycamore Ranch park east of Marysville, and encourage area citizens to visit and learn – we’re assured by organizers that it is one of their goals.

We’re taking the advice of a friend and watching the PBS documentary, “The Vietnam War,” by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick, by streaming it via our Roku. That way, we can watch it together and watch an episode every few days. Having a day or two between makes it more bearable.

We know a lot of our friends are preoccupied this week with the documentary, “The Vietnam War.”

He was the father of one of my best buddies in high school. You just naturally respected him for a couple of reasons: 

Yuba-Sutter folk love their downtown celebrations and arguably the biggest of the year is now in session. Marysville's 18th annual Peach Festival opened last evening and continues through the day today with all sorts of vendors, all sorts of entertainment, and all sorts of peach stuff ... pe…

I could sense her level of excitement downshift and I almost felt a little sorry I corrected her. But the record needed to be kept straight as it circled the globe.

A couple questions we often get: Will there be newspapers for much longer? Will there be an Appeal-Democrat for much longer?

They still care in Martinez.

By the time we get to the tiny cove on the downstream edge of Hammon Grove Park, Susan the border collie/Lab mix has usually picked up a stick and dropped it in front of me a few times until finally we're at the edge of the river and I pick it up and throw it in the water for her.

Our gratitude goes out to Roy and Miriam Hatamiya, who related their experiences to our reporter Jake Abbott for a story last Sunday about the 75th anniversary of Executive Order 9066 and the internment program.

Very serious allegations are made in a lawsuit brought by Anu Chopra against Sutter County. The former deputy district attorney, who was let go from the Sutter County District Attorney's office, alleges she suffered through a hostile work environment, discrimination, retaliation and more.

You can ask readers and website and social media viewers for their opinions and comments on any number of things … and you just never know what will spark their interest or what will fall flat.

Not bad for the first time!

We'd noticed — in emails and messages we received, as well as wire stories, posts on social media sites and in conversations overheard — a very real yearning and push for unity now that a fairly divisive election is behind us.

I was thinking about this last Monday during Scarysville: I'd like to forget about Ralph Nader's assault on the hot dog ("among America's deadliest missiles," he said, because they could be filled with all manner of things and probably not good things …). Just thinking of his campaign agains…

We lost our dog Lola last weekend.

Perspectives: I'd like to encourage local folks, when Columbus Day rolls around next year, to take in a little bit of Indigenous People's Day. Drive out to Sycamore Ranch, check out the vendors, listen to the music, and find a place to sit and listen to the stories.

It was just about perfect — one of those times when you're enjoying yourself to the point that you've forgotten about things and then you sort of come to, look around, and realize it's all a big smile.

Thumbs Down: Part of you wants to have a laugh about the "creepy clown" phenomenon. (Facebook joke going around: "Humans: 'Well, there's nothing that could make 2016 any weirder.' God: 'Send in the clowns.'")

It's a sad note for lots of locals who grew up here in the past decade and a half, or had kids that grew up utilizing the Allyn Scott Youth and Community Center.

Speaking of Olympics gold medalists, a couple Marysville Kiwanis members will be working to break their record set last year in the Men's Doubles Tiki Hut Construction Marathon.

We loved those pictures in Friday's edition of kids on the first day of kindergarten.

We've really enjoyed following our Olivehurst-Linda junior softball team at the Little League World Series in Kirkland, Wash. No small number of us were checking the play-by-plays on our smartphones.