Opinion

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Written by: Pete McGee

Published: 18 October 2011

The recent Lake County Land Trust annual benefit dinner was a success due to the help of many people who made it possible.

Thank you to our sponsors: Katzoff & Riggs Law Firm, the Lake County Winegrape Growers, Brad and Kathy Barnwell, the Law Office of Dennis Fordham and Hanchett Publishing.

Delicious wines were provided by Six Sigma, Tulip Hill, Wildhurst, Steele and Shannon Ridge. Thanks to all of the silent auction donors who are too numerous to mention here but are very much appreciated.

Tom Nixon and Doug Kauffman provided great music during the social hour and also allowed the use of their fantastic sound system so everyone could hear. Ciao Thyme Catering provided a plentiful and delicious meal and the facility and helpers at Rancho de la Fuente made the whole evening perfect.

Thanks to Bonnie Piccolo for overseeing the organization of the dinner as well as Sherrie Hidalgo; and many thanks to Greg Giusti our wonderful and interesting guest speaker.

Thanks also to all Land Trust volunteers and employees who worked during the evening to assure a successful event. Hard workers also included a great group of teens from Kelseyville High School, including Jeannie Johnson, Maeve Rixen, Lisa Kurth, Kali Powell, Dakota Rixen, Carlee Harpe, Joey Avakian, and Ashley Osborne and their advisor Michele Malm also from KHS.

Last but not least, thank you to the 130 people who attended to support the Lake County Land Trust – thank you for sharing our special evening and for helping us to raise over $6,000 to continue our efforts to preserve Lake County's beautiful places.

Pete McGee is president of the Lake County Land Trust, based in Lake County, Calif.

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Written by: Franklin Ley

Published: 14 October 2011

The more we learn about the bankster bailouts and the “Federal” Reserve Bank, the more we see who really pulls the strings in our country. What we are witnessing is not capitalism; it's criminal, and we're the victims.

The plans they're making don't look like anything we would choose for ourselves. How much further from our constitutional base will we allow ourselves to drift? Who does our elected government really represent? What is the cause and cure of empire?

This is an uncommon opportunity to frame our own debate against a shared threat. Step outside the bickering of “conservative” or “liberal” politics to see that our country and our future are being stolen while, divided, we fall.

We are the 99 percent. There are hundreds of millions of us, and we've all been had. Now let's be heard.

The Occupy Lakeport event will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, in the “banker's block” at Fifth and Main streets.

Franklin Ley lives in Lakeport, Calif.

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Written by: Amy Collins

Published: 10 October 2011

 

 

On Sunday, Oct. 9, a support rally was held for the three men accused of allegedly raping a woman.

Approximately 35 family members, friends, old bosses and supporters of the men gathered at the Lake County Museum on Third and Main in Lakeport.

Together they made signs with various slogans: “Free the boys!”, “Lies ruin lives,” “Innocent until proven guilty” and several others were seen.

The rally started at noon and went on until the last few people finally left at 6 p.m.

Several times people driving by would pull over and speak to the rally attendees, and give their blessings. Also, a vast number of people drove by, honked their horn, pumped their fist in the air, or screamed: “They are innocent!” out of their windows.

Upon speaking to the supporters, it was apparent that everyone is worried about negative press turning this entire situation into a huge problem for the men.

I write this as a friend of theirs, but as a community member as well. I know what negative press can do to a person’s reputation in a community as small as ours.

Ajai Rodgers is a sweet soul. I have known him for about nine years. In that time I have watched him grow from a child into a man. I have seen how he treats other people, which is always with kid gloves.

I have never known Ajai to be a violent person. He has always been full of smiles, laughter, love and a whole lot of hugs.

Upon hearing the charges against him, I was sick. Never would Ajai be capable, even in the heat of the moment, to hurt a woman like that. He has had a few girlfriends in the time I have known him, and I have seen the gentle, loving way he treats them.

Isaiah Rodgers is Ajai’s brother and I am sad I am not better acquainted with him. He has been described as a wonderful man, much like Ajai in the way he treats women.

Isaiah has many, many friends in this community who are outraged to hear of the charges against him. In the few times I have met him, I never sensed violence, towards women or anyone else.

Leandro “Lee” Guerrero is a shy man, never the first to make a move. He has always held himself with the decorum of a gentleman around women. He has always been a shoulder to cry on for his female friends, the strong silent type, and protective.

Never, in the eight-plus years I have known him, have I seen him disrespect a woman. It’s not in his nature, he has been taught to respect women.

It was a lesson learned well, as I have seen with my own eyes how he treats his female friends. Lee is not the sort of man to be violent towards any woman, in any circumstance.

I am sure of their innocence, I support them.

I, like their other family and friends, am outraged at these charges. Upon speaking with the parents of the men, I was left feeling so sad.

Just the looks on their faces when they saw all the supporters was enough to make me cry. They walked around, hugged people, thanked them for their participation, cried, hugged more people and so on. It was an emotional day.

I only hope these men will be found innocent. They do not deserve the blame that has been placed on them. I, along with their family and friends will be waiting for the day of victory for them.

Free the boys!

Amy Collins lives in Lakeport, Calif.