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Opinion
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- Written by: Bill MacDougall
The Safe House of Lake County, and the six teenagers currently living in the house, would like to thank all of the donors and participants of its recent golf tournament fundraiser.
Your kindness and generosity will bring safety and hope to the residents because all proceeds of this fundraiser will go directly to food, utilities and supplies for the house.
Specifically, we would like to thank the following donors/sponsors: A&B Collision, Rich and Pat Adam, Vincent Arroyo Winery, Henry and Bernice Bartolucci, Barbara Barron, Gene Bates, Bob and Aggie Berry, Bikram Yoga, Braito’s Marina, Braito’s Riviera Foods, Brassfield Estate Winery, Pat Brooks, David Browning O.D., Roy Burnham, Calpine Corp., John Cappa, Ceago Vinegarden, Chernoh Excavating, John Clark, Clearlake Dental - Thomas Hewlett, DDS. Clearlake Dental - James Kinsel, DDS., Clearlake Veterinary Clinic, Coastal Mountain Electric, Greg and Sue Conley, Bill and Denise Cornelison, Coyote Valley Pharmacy/Kelseyville Pharmacy, Crossroads Community Church, Robert D. Crowder, Noele DaRosa, Stephanie Davies, Doreen Del Testa, Elegant Touch - Angie, Ashley, Audra, Jenny Lynn, Stevie, Economy Heating and Cooling, Jack Elizares, O.D., Ellis Ranch, Venette Feldstein, Foods Etc., Kathy Fowler Auto Center, Pete and Carol Germenis, Gregory Graham Winery, Griffin’s Furniture Outlet, James and Jan Hagan, James Hagan, DPM, Hardester’s Market, Havy’s Restaurant, Here for the Holidays/Accents on the Lake, Hidden Valley Golf Course, Don and Sandi Holland, Italian Village, John Jennings, Tom Jordan, Bill and Dana Kearney, Konocti Lioness Club, Lakeport English Inn, Lakeshore Lioness Club, Laujor Estate Winery, George and Georgina Lehne, Little Cowpoke Cafe, Lower Lake High School Welding Class, Dave and Cheryl Lucido, Bill and Karen MacDougall, Norm and Margaret Madison, Bob McDonald, Mendo Lake Home Respiratory Services, Middletown Animal Hospital, Moore Family Winery, Suz-Anna Morandin, David Neft, Nestegg Investment Consulting, North Lake Medical Pharmacy, Larry and Denise O’Shea, Paradise Design, Parkview Podiatry, Rainbow Balloons and Flowers, Richmond Park Bar and Grill, Riviera Common Grounds Coffee Shop, Rob Roy Golf Club, David and Verna Rogers, Rotary Club Kelseyville Sunrise, Rotary Club of Clearlake, Specialty Care and Surgery Center - Paula Dhanda, M.D., St. Helena Hospital Medical Specialties - Corey Warner M.D., Wayne Scheidemann, M.D., Shannon Ridge Winery, Steel Wines, Guy Strohmeier’s Auto Center, Tallman Hotel, U.S. Congressman Mike Thompson, Ting’s Thai Restaurant, Tom’s Auto Dynamics, Tri-County Certified Inspections, Twin Pines Casino and Hotel, Josh and Angie Wade, Wharfmaster’s Inn, Alanna Wargula, DPM, Corey and Amber Warner, Jim Warren of Jim and Linda’s Photography, and Wildhurst Vineyards.
It takes a community of people to raise these needy, desperate, young adults.
The businesses and individuals above have made a huge difference in the lives of these teens.
They are now safe, fed, cherished and achieving.
Bill MacDougall is a Safe House board member. He lives in Kelseyville, Calif.
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- Written by: Patrick Iaccino
Upper Lake High School would like to extend a special thank you to the following individuals and businesses who donated to support the ULHS Robotics Team trip to Kansas City, Missouri for the Skills USA National Championship.
A big thank you to the Lake County Office of Education and the LCOE ROP Program, Calpine Corp., Lake County Land & Cattle (Mr. David C. Weiss), Valerie Duncan, Ronald Raetz, Chuck Mansell, Rob Brown and the ULHS Booster Club.
Without the support of our community, these events to support the future of the youth of Lake County would not be possible.
Thank you!
Patrick Iaccino is principal and superintendent of Upper Lake High School in Upper Lake, Calif.
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- Written by: Nelson Strasser
I am told that wolves don’t go after the elk that are young and strong, but rather seek the old, the halt, and the lame. It is not pretty. As the philosopher Hobbes put it, in his classic work, The Leviathan, “the trouble with life in nature is that it is often nasty, brutish, and short.”
Recently the wolves bought the senior park where I live. They raised the rent 7.5 percent. And they are going to raise it again. So, the wolves circle the park, excited by the scent of weakness and debilitation. The prey in this park is defenseless, and the wolves are hungry. I can hear them howl late in the evening.
I was surprised to discover, that, rent control notwithstanding, they can squeeze us until we eat kibbles, and they can do it with impunity. Rent control was attempted a few years ago, but these are very clever wolves, with lawyers on retainer, and money for media blitzes.
There is nothing wrong with wanting a reasonable profit. I owned and operated a small business for 32 years, and I was there to make a profit, but, at the same time, I was always aware that there was a human being on the other side of the counter, and not an object or an elk.
There are fair ways to deal with seniors. In New York City they have a rent control law which has a senior exemption: If you are over 62 and earn under a certain amount, your rent can’t be raised. This seems eminently fair, especially for people on a fixed income.
I spoke with many folks in and out of government about this situation. Most were sympathetic, none were hopeful.
So, I thought about what I could do for myself and my fellow residents. All that I needed, I did not have: Power, money, lawyers, and the overwhelming support of the populace.
Sadly, my only weapon is this computer, so, I am throwing words at the wolves, hoping to scare them away, but hunger is not easily deterred.
Nelson Strasser lives in Lakeport, Calif.
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- Written by: John Alotta
For nine years I proudly served my country. In 1959 I was diagnosed as having PTSD at Fort Ord, Ca. Unfortunately, there was a fire – the Fire of 1973 at the VA Records Center in St. Louis, Mo. All my records were destroyed. I did not know that I should have kept documents myself proving this.
After my years of military service I saw civilian doctors and psychiatrists for many, many years until the 1980s.
In the 1980s I filed a claim with the VA for my PTSD. I have not received any benefits because they do not have my records. I have been fighting this for over 30 years.
The VA finally re-recognized my PTSD in 1996 but still I have received no monthly benefits, but they did give me medical benefits.
In 1996 I had hip replacement surgery on my right hip at Ft. Miley in San Francisco. That surgery worked well. In 1997 I had a hip replacement surgery on my left hip also at Ft. Miley. Since that surgery I have had constant pain and my hip kept dislocating. And I have had nine surgeries to correct the mistake that was made in the original surgery.
Now I have chronic pain for life and cannot walk unassisted. The pain is so bad I have to use a wheelchair.
In 2004 when my hip dislocated for the last time, I had to have emergency surgery to remove the hip hardware and have it replaced because the doctors discovered that the wrong size hardware was used in the original surgery. It was an error of judgment.
After this emergency surgery I filed another claim with the VA. I had four doctors’ write reports of my hip to the VA stating what they observed. These are well established and trusted doctors, Dr. Axtel, Dr. Schideman, Dr. Vernetta Johnson and Dr. Fred Johnson. The VA is not recognizing these doctors’ reports. I have been fighting this all the way to the VA Court in Washington DC, to no avail.
I will not stop with my pleas until they pay me for my PTSD and for all the extra surgeries I had to go through for a mistake made on my hip.
I am disabled for life. I went through a horrible trauma during my military time. I am unable to purge the images from my mind. To this day I have horrible dreams every night. I cannot sleep. I am so depressed. No one understands except for the VA doctors in Ukiah and San Francisco but even their reports won’t budge the Veteran’s Affairs. I do not understand this. I am only asking for service connected 100 percent disability monthly benefits.
This case has to end. I need the VA to help me.
John Alotta lives in Upper Lake, Calif.