LOCAL RUNNING FAMILY BY WITH HARD TIMES

The running community on the Central Coast is like an extended family. We all share a common hobby and lifestyle, and spend a lot of time together. Many of us are close friends, and we all appreciate the different talents and personalities among our group.
Sadly, the last few weeks have been tough ones for this local family of runners, as two of our members were forever taken from us.
By now, nearly everyone in the area has heard about the senseless deaths of Mel and Elizabeth Grimes. The running community took this news particularly hard, as Mel and Elizabeth were an integral part of the local running scene.
They were both members of the Big Sur Marathon Board for many years. Mel's main job was to head the committee in charge of the starting area. But on race day, he loved to run the marathon as well -- a ...

Turning into Beautiful

Good things come to those who wait. I would've waited 20 years for this album but fortunately for you and I, it's only been 10. Ferron released other albums in that time but this is her first studio release in a long while.
Ferron's been compared to Dylan, but really, her style is much different and in a class all her own. It's just that when an artist is this good we reviewers stumble when it come to comparisons. We just choose someone else who's an amazing talent and hope that the readers get it.
Ferron's band provides a subtle and well played background for this set of exquisite songs. From the fluid bass of D.B. Benedictson to the sweet pedal steel of Ron Halldorson to the just-right background vocals of Chris Webster, they frame Ferron's songs wonderfully. And, oh, those songs. Her metaphors and images paint an emotional picture without telling us how to feel. While there's a sadness to many of her songs, there's always that element of introspection that gives us hope. The title cut is an affirmation of all that is good. In "More Than That" she sings, "I feel so happy to be back." We're happy you're back, too. Highly recommended.