NOVATO, Calif.

By Joe Wolfcale, The Marin Independent Journal, Novato, Calif. Aug. 5--Wetlands, endangered species and aircraft safety will be among the topics when the county hosts a forum Aug. 14 on a proposal to lengthen the runway at Gnoss Field north of Novato.

By Leslie Harlib, The Marin Independent Journal, Novato, Calif. Jul. 30--Leslie Burnside loves comfort food and good times so much, she bought the Flatiron Bar & Grill sports bar at 724 B St. (on Second) in downtown San Rafael.

By Joe Wolfcale, The Marin Independent Journal, Novato, Calif. Jul. 24--The letter all military families hope never arrives hangs above a Purple Heart certificate at the entrance of Ed Davis' military aviation museum in his Novato home.

By Jennifer Upshaw, The Marin Independent Journal, Novato, Calif. Jul. 24--Trainees from two-dozen federal, state and local agencies converged Thursday at the mouth of Bolinas Lagoon to test oil spill skills as they prepared for the next disaster.