I've been a professional journalist since 1987 when I started out as a sports department clerk at the San Jose Mercury News during my years at San Jose State. Upon graduation I took a sportswriting job at the Santa Cruz Sentinel and stayed eight years, including six as assistant sports editor. I moved up to the Marin Independent Journal in 1996 and held seven titles in various newsroom departments. As a news reporter in my final two years there, I covered Novato along with several other countywide beats. I departed the IJ in August 2010 to become local editor for Novato Patch. My freelance experience includes writing for a beer magazine and a tennis magazine and handling media relations for an international professional tennis tournament.
I met my future wife, Edie Holmes, on the first day of eighth grade in Moraga, right after I'd moved there from suburban Chicago. We "went steady" that year but drifted apart and remained friends through high school and college. After college we reconnected and got married in 1990. Our two daughters were born in Santa Cruz and attended public schools in Novato. My wife is the Mrs. Ainsworth who teaches fifth grade at San Ramon School.
As for claims to fame, I covered the 1989 World Series "earthquake game" at Candlestick Park and served as a part-time equipment manager for the San Francisco 49ers from 1984-86. I have a beer can collection left over from my childhood, a 1955 VW Beetle (junker status) and a 95-pound Chesapeake Bay retriever named Bruin. I'm a fan of the Giants, 49ers, Sharks, Chicago Cubs, Chicago Blackhawks, Boston Red Sox and Cal Bears. Other than sports, my hobby is sampling fine ales with my fellow beer geek friends.<br><br><b>Beliefs</b><br><i>At Patch, we promise always to report the facts as objectively as possible and otherwise adhere to the principles of good journalism. However, we also acknowledge that true impartiality is impossible because human beings have beliefs. So in the spirit of simple honesty, our policy is to encourage our editors to reveal their beliefs to the extent they feel comfortable. This disclosure is not a license for you to inject your beliefs into stories or to dictate coverage according to them. In fact, the intent is the opposite: we hope that the knowledge that your beliefs are on the record will cause you to be ever mindful to write, report and edit in a fair, balanced way. And if you ever see evidence that we failed in this mission, please let us know.</i>
There will be occasions when I need to cover Novato Unified School District topics. My wife's role as a teacher in the district will not influence how I write those stories.
<b>Politics </b><br>I'm a registered Democrat but drifting in the moderate direction the older I get.<br><br><b>Religion</b><br>I grew up attending Unitarian and Presbyterian churches but consider myself a respectful observant and do not attend services regularly.<br><b><br>Local Hot-Button Issues</b><br>In Novato, the controversial state-mandated housing element update has set off a firestorm of public protest about the benefits and drawbacks of concentrated affordable housing. The future home of the city's administrative offices in the downtown area is fascinating as well. The location of rail transit stations and major commercial developments and the possible redrawing of school district boundaries continue to prompt creative dialog.
Four horses were confiscated from a West Marin ranch in December and treated for emergency medical reasons. The ranchers' attorney said it was an unjustified move.
Just passing by the wetlands at the end of Olive Avenue and this buzzed by. Any idea what this is all about? Share a comment below.
Cal Fire Battalion Chief Karen Shubin, a mother of four, died of brain cancer and was laid to rest Tuesday at Valley Memorial Park in Novato after her funeral in Napa.
Man not seriously injured after wreck on Highway 37 near Atherton Avenue.
Cal Fire Battalion Chief Karen Shubin, a mother of four, died of brain cancer and was laid to rest Tuesday at Valley Memorial Park in Novato.
Paramedics treat man for broken leg after crash.
Kitty Houghton was a trustee at a private school and a retired business counselor with the U.S. Foreign Service, according to the Associated Press.
A Marin man parked a truck with ammonium nitrate and nitro methane outside his wife's home. The two chemicals act as an explosive when mixed together.
Parked van with ammonium nitrate and nitro methane outside his wife's home. The two chemicals act as an explosive when mixed together.
Parents discovered inappropriate relationship on their daughter's Facebook page.
City is under pressure to locate spots for future housing developments. San Andreas Drive property is a prime candidate.
About 75 people listened Patch contributor Bob Silvestri talk and to discuss Novato's general plan update.
Here are some of the most-read articles published on Novato Patch in the past few days.
'It was critical that the North Bay be connected to its airport infrastructure,' Sen. Evans announced Wednesday.
Richmond woman is third to face charges over accidental death of 4-year-old boy at now-closed day care center in Terra Linda.
"It was critical that the North Bay be connected to its airport infrastructure," says Sen. Evans.
Conga line of cement mixers pull up as new administrative building gets its concrete garage floor.
'It was critical that the North Bay be connected to its airport infrastructure,' Sen. Evans announced Wednesday.
'It was critical that the North Bay be connected to its airport infrastructure,' Sen. Evans announced Wednesday.
Novato detectives, store clerk help in identifying woman tied to numerous fake check incidents in the North Bay.
