LOCAL CULTURE

Alameda, a city with a rich history, has been home to some surprising figures. Tom Hanks, Jim Morrison, and Phyllis Diller all lived there at different times. Their stories show how ordinary places can shape extraordinary lives. Tom Hanks spent his teenage years on a floating home at Barnhill Marin

In Hayden, there's a mom who found her passion in making people smile. Elise Smith started her journey in 2022, after spending over a decade at home with her four kids. Her mom's visit in Texas was the spark she needed. There, she saw women setting up large, colorful yard signs and learned about Sig