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Letters
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- Written by: Hiroshi Inomata
Since this tragedy, Californians throughout the state have joined with millions across the globe to extend their prayers and assistance to the Japanese people. How can we begin to thank everyone for so many calls, e-mails, donations and other forms of support?
On behalf of the people of Japan, please accept our deepest appreciation for your compassion and friendship. Japan will never forget this kindness during the difficult hours, days and months ahead.
Of course, Japan is challenged to manage a catastrophe of this unprecedented magnitude. Yet we are not alone. We are aided by the kindness of Americans, including approximately 20,000 US military personnel, the Coast Guard, and government experts from within many fields of nuclear crisis management and disaster relief. As we work together, it is my hope that we will be able to report good news sooner rather than later.
As the situation evolves, please continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers. Once again, thank you, California.
Hiroshi Inomata is consul general of Japan in San Francisco.
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- Written by: Robert Stark
I also mentioned that to my knowledge every water customer of Lake County Special Districts has some version of a “smart water meter. Many of these may be read by a wandlike device that picks up the signal emanating from the meter box.
On the other hand, more modern water meters, which are installed in other local communities, provide a radio signal that is broadcast from the meter box directly to the meter reader’s vehicle.
I wonder if the various boards of directors asked for resident permission before these devices where installed. I wouldn’t think so, as they reduce operating costs and increase efficiency.
Oh, wait … better efficiency, that means higher cost to consumer, doesn’t it? As a matter of fact, the sales pitch from the meter manufacturers is higher accuracy means increased income. Of course I doubt if the local boards are conspiring to control your water use, or are they?
Robert Stark lives in Cobb, Calif.
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- Written by: Julie Berry
They were delighted with the exposure for their very worthwhile cause – to assist those in need in the Kelseyville community, and to help with some much-needed repairs in our building, so we can continue to offer it inexpensively to nonprofit groups for their meeting and events.
We look forward to an even bigger and better sale in October 2011.
Julie Berry of Kelseyville, Calif., writes on behalf of Kelseyville Presbyterian Women.
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- Written by: Melissa Bentley
I am also writing to remind all of us how important it is to have good friends, and to thank my good friends, Yolanda, her husband, Pat; Hank and Karen; and Pastor Jeff Daly of Jesus Christ Fellowship in Middletown.
Right after Valentine’s Day this year, power went out up here on top of the mountain with two and a half feet of snow in my downhill backyard, and 3 feet of snow drifted up against my truck parked parallel to the road.
No power from PG&E for five days, no snow plow clearing the road for two and a half days, vehicles stuck on the road blocking passage of other vehicles and 40 degrees in my house!
I called the sheriff’s department for some kind of assistance and was told, “We don’t have those kinds of resources.”
When I asked if she could refer to me to other resources in the county which might help me out, the woman who had answered the telephone replied, “There are no such resources in the county.”
My good friend, Yolanda, took me to her house to take a hot shower. Her husband, Pat, brought me a gasoline generator. My son and I had lived off the grid in Upper Lake seven years and ran a gasoline generator, had one solar panel and propane to back up our wood stove for heat from a cozy heater, hot water, gas stove and refrigerator.
Shades of living outside of Chicago 10 years in the snow and cold, and Upper Lake came back to me as I pulled the cord to start the generator, having run out of gas.
I called my pastor, Jeff Daly, and he helped me reach good friends of mine in Jesus Christ Fellowship in Middletown. Hank brought me an electric skillet and the best homemade split pea and ham soup I have ever eaten!
Two weeks ago, I woke up about 3:30 a.m. and again had no power. I thought this time it might be a problem with my breaker box because my house was built in 1965, and since I’ve lived here over three years, I’ve had to replace two breakers.
However, on my way to church that Sunday morning, I stopped at Mountain High, our local coffee house, and they were running a generator again, so I knew most of the mountain was out of power again.
As the week went on and I was running out of wood, and my monitor heater would not work without power, I was reluctant to call PG&E because I knew once again they had their hands full.
The following Saturday morning my house was 46 degrees and I called PG&E. They answered my call immediately and within half an hour Jeremy Woodruff called me and said he was on his way.
And he added, “Next time, do not wait to call us!”
We both stood out in the cold rain while he worked on my breaker box and discovered the main disconnect had power coming in, but only partial power going out to the house.
While Jeremy was correcting this problem, I went down to get us both hot coffees. I was so thankful for having this wonderful young man come out to restore power so my heater would work once again!
Readers, thank God for your good friends, and thank God for wonderful, competent PG&E personnel if you ever have this kind of crisis in your own home. Boy, I do!
Melissa Bentley lives in Cobb, Calif.