Almanac staff: rooted in the community Almanac staff: rooted in the community (September 14, 2005)

By Marion Softky

Almanac Staff Writer

Five local women have worked for the Country Almanac for a total of 164 years.

Marion Softky, Marjorie Mader, and Jane Knoerle started writing stories for the Country Almanac between 1969 and 1974, when their children were still in school. They have been writing ever since about government, schools, business, environment, people, science, history, food, homes, and community events.

Jane Coladarci of Woodside appeared at the office one day in 1974 wanting to work. She soon became a powerhouse of the advertising department, convincing merchants along the Peninsula the Country Almanac was a good place to advertise their products. She retired last year.

Carol Ivie started taking pictures for the Almanac in 1976, and continued, literally, until the day she died in June. She often photographed the children of parents she had photographed when they were kids. She even got knocked over once taking pictures of a football game at Woodside High, and ended up in the emergency room.

Over 40 years a lot of bright and talented people have contributed to the Almanac. Many of them lived, and still live, in the area; they know it personally.

Many locals remember "Kip's Corner," a sprightly column by Kip Pond of Woodside about shopping local specialty stores.

Starting with Herb Dengler, many local writers have shared their thoughts and information with Almanac readers in columns, ranging from nature and stitchery to history and wine. Most popular, perhaps, was Carlton Morse, who entertained a generation with his radio serials, "One Man's Family," and "I Love a Mystery." People opened the Almanac first to see what his column, aptly named "Random Reflections," had to say.

Other columnists over the years included Gil Richards, Robbie Fanning, Everett Farwell, Dorothy Regnery, Elaine Levine, Will Finley (aka Dr. Bill Fry), and Barbara Luplow. Today, the Almanac still runs columns by Barbara Wood, Nancy Lund, and a variety of others.

Starting with Hedy Boissevain, who took a workshop with Ansel Adams, the Almanac has always sought out striking photographs. Mrs. Boissevain's classic oak trees on the cover became a hallmark of the paper in its early years.

Others who have contributed memorable images to the Almanac include Dr. Sheldon Woodward, who took scenery and soccer; Ken Gardiner, known for spectacular birds; Fran Dempsey; Lowell Johnson; Jane Ames; and the stunning nature photographer, Robert Buelteman.

More recently, Almanac readers have enjoyed paintings by the late Portola Valley artist, Jane Gallagher; Portola Valley photos by Susan Thomas; and lively cover designs by Production Manager Bill Murray -- before he left for Half Moon Bay.

On today's full-time reporting and editing staff is Managing Editor Richard Hine, News Editor Renee Batti, and reporters Andrea Gemmet, David Boyce, and our newest reporter, Rory Brown. Kainaz Amaria is our new staff photographer.

Among many contributors are Barbara Wood, Kate Daly and Bryan Wiggin.

One of the Almanac's most notable alumni is Tom Rosenstiel, who grew up on Skyline and attended Ravenswood High School. In 1977, he spent a winter quarter from Oberlin College as an intern at the Almanac. He prepared a special section featuring major interviews with some of the area's leaders: longtime Portola Valley Mayor and Councilwoman Eleanor Boushey; film star and Ambassador Shirley Temple Black; then-Secretary of Resources for California Claire Dedrick; developer/philanthropist Tom Ford; Congressman Pete McCloskey; birth-control pill developer Dr. Carl Djerassi; and the Renaissance couple, Nils and Karen Nilsson of Ladera.

Buoyed by his time at the Almanac, Mr. Rosenstiel went on to an impressive journalistic career at the Los Angeles Times and Newsweek. Now he's director of the Project for Excellence in Journalism (journalism.com) and a frequent commentator on news media issues on television and in the press.

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