Historic live oak at Jack London’s Beauty Ranch to be felled

Sad news from Jack London State Historic Park in Sonoma County, where the author penned much of his work and which he called Beauty Ranch: the 50-foot-tall coast live oak tree that shades London's beloved cottage must be cut down. State parks officials say the tree, estimated to be between 350 and 450 years old, is riddled with disease and poses a danger to people and the cottage. Chronicle’s Peter Fimrite writes about it.