About

2009.04.18

Neal by Grant Neal Ross Attinson has worked at various times as a spa attendant, printer’s devil, printer, bookseller (new and used), bike messenger, hawker, deckhand/docent, broadcaster, radio dramatist, teacher, process server and newspaper reporter. (And that’s just what he’s been paid for.)

Neal’s news career began in 1995 at Santa Rosa radio station KSRO. While reporting for the Sonoma Index-Tribune he earned professional accolades from the National Newspaper Association (Third Place, Best Breaking News Story of 2000; Second Place, Best News Feature of 2002), Society of Professional Journalists, Northern California (2001 James Madison Freedom of Information Award) and the Sonoma County Press Club (2001 Lincoln Steffens Investigative Reporting Award). He has written for the Sonoma Valley Sun, North Bay Bohemian, PunkTorah.Org and the j, and “appeared” on KOME and KSVY, and in the j. and The Forward as a subject). (Clips: http://metaphorager.net/clips/.)

A Para-Rabbinic Fellow since July 2000, Neal has taught B’nei Mitzvah students at Congregation Shir Shalom and leads a twice-monthly living-room Torah study in the Sonoma apartment he shares with wife and inspiration Ann Clark.

Neal’s freelance availability includes writing, speaking and teaching as well as officiating at services, weddings, funerals, celebrations and important moments. (All genders and ethnicities and most modalities welcomed.)