BURSON, CA -- February 11, 2009 -- Do you know that the first California native to become an admiral was born near Valley Springs? Or that Wallace was named after the older brother of one of the most famous naturalists of the modern era? Or that a poet-soldier of the Civil War was a Burson postmaster? All that and more, accompanied by dozens of photographs, comprise “Something From Nothing, The Early History Of West Calaveras County, Vol. I,” a collection of the first 20 installments of the popular monthly column penned by Sal Manna for the Valley Springs News and now entering its fourth year. The 48-page, full color magazine adds numerous photographs to the originally published columns.

With most of the subjects never before written about, and as the only authoritative color publication ever produced about the area’s history, “Something From Nothing, Vol. I” debuts Friday, February 20, from 5:30-7:00 p.m. at the Valleys Springs Area Business Association monthly mixer to be held at the Valley Springs News, 10-G Nove Way. Copies signed by the author will be available for only $10. For further information, or to obtain copies, please call 772-0336.