San Rafael historian receives California E-book Award – Marin Unbiased Journal

Laura Ackley, of San Rafael, has been selected as a winner in the 84th Annual California Book Awards Competition sponsored by the Commonwealth Club of California in San Francisco. (Frankie Frost/Marin IJ archive photo)

Laura Ackley of San Rafael has been selected as a winner in the 84th annual California Book Awards competition sponsored by the Commonwealth Club of California in San Francisco.

Ackley’s book “San Francisco’s Jewel City: The Panama-Pacific International Exposition of 1915” won the Gold Award for the best book in the California category. Ackley will receive her award at 6 p.m. June 1 at the Commonwealth Club of California.

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Hospice by the Bay in Larkspur recently honored 135 volunteers at its annual Volunteer Appreciation Reception, with the top service award going to Nick Kunst of San Rafael.

Kunst was given the Dee Fahy Volunteer Achievement Award for his leadership as a member of the Hospice by the Bay Foundation, fundraising board, audit committee, three years as chair of the annual ball committee and as a Mary Taverna Quality of Life Circle Member. This is the 10th year the nonprofit has presented the award, named for 25-year hospice advocate Dee Fahy.

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Brad Lensing of Corte Madera has been appointed chief marketing officer at Sindeo, an online mortgage marketplace based in San Francisco.

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Evelyn Wood and Nick Davoren of Novato, owners of Local Spicery, a producer of all-natural artisanal spice blends, opened their first dedicated spice shop at 80 Main St. in Tiburon.

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North Bay-based Holmes Burrell Real Estate opened a new office at 181 Third St. Suite 225 in San Rafael.

Movers and Shakers is compiled by Adrian Rodriguez and appears weekly. Send information to arodriguez@marinij.com.