How to resolve AdBlock issue? 
Letters
- Details
- Written by: Conrad Justice Kiczenski
My name is Conrad Justice Kiczenski and I am first and foremost one of the people of the Lake County community. I am also a dedicated programmer, member and loyal listener of the full power radio station KPFZ 88.1 FM, which is owned by the honorable and private nonprofit corporation known as “Lake County Community Radio” (LCCR).
I have a show called “Guerrilla Radio” which is aired live every Thursday morning from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., and which is rebroadcast every Thursday night from 11 p.m. to midnight on 88.1 FM.
I am writing this letter to present my concerns to the Lake County Community in regards to the programming policies of LCCR, and to also present what I feel is a solution to those concerns.
From my experience, the programming decisions of LCCR are made in the capacity of a private corporate structure. I feel that this creates four main issues which need to be addressed if LCCR is to live up to its name and mission statement as a true “community radio station”.
The programming policy issues that I am concerned with are as follows:
1. Transparency.
2. Community involvement and open collaboration.
3. Accountability.
4. Efficiency.
I feel that a private corporate structure, when it comes to the programming policy decisions of a “Community” radio station, does not effectively meet or address the aforementioned issues.
I feel that the solution to these issues is in the structural implementation of a “Community Programming Committee.”
Station manager of KPFZ, Andy Weiss, who is also the radio producer of the famous and well-loved show called “Karma Cola,” has authored a beautifully democratic proposal which lays out the basic guidelines necessary to create a “community programming committee.” The basic structure of this committee is set up in the following manner:
This committee would be accessible to anybody in the community who is:
1. A financial contributor to LCCR as a regular member.
2. A person who participates in at least 75 percent of regularly scheduled programming meetings.
This committee would have the responsibility of:
1. Electing the program director.
2. Actively collaborating with the program director in programming decisions.
3. Acting as an appeal or grievance counsel for “disgruntled programmers.”
4. Providing a three-fourths vote to determine what programs go on or off the air.
This proposal is in two short and simple pages which can be viewed at the following links:
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g86/RadicalJusticeMan/COMMUNITYPROGRAMMINGCOMMITTEE1.jpg
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g86/RadicalJusticeMan/COMMUNITYPROGRAMMINGCOMMITTEE2.jpg
I think this proposal would not only benefit the people of the Lake County community through empowering them with direct responsibility and interaction with the sacred rights of freedom of the press and speech to facilitate true connection among the community, but would also boost support, listenership and the membership base of KPFZ to bring the potential of this radio station to its fullest bloom.
On Sunday, July 18, at 3:30 p.m. the Board of Directors of LCCR will hold their annual board meeting upstairs at 149 N. Main St. in Lakeport. The topic of “Creating a Community Programming Committee” is on the board meetings agenda and I am proposing that the board vote whether or not to implement this community programming committee into the structure of the station. I hope that the board will vote yes if they see it is something that the community truly desires.
So please, I ask that you show up so that the board can see that the Lake County community is capable of handling such a sacred responsibility and to please show your support for this proposal.
Conrad Justice Kiczenski hosts “Guerilla Radio.” Visit the show online at www.guerrillaradiokpfz.podomatic.com, www.radicaljusticeman.podomatic.com or http://kpfz.org/home/. He lives in Lucerne.
- Details
- Written by: Jeri Spittler
Sober Grad Night at Lower Lake High School was fantastic. So many people came together to make this night possible.
I would like to thank all the business and all the special people who worked all day and then all night to make it happen.
At the top of my list: Sears for the 40-inch big screen television, which was the bait on the hook that I needed for such a late start on a Sober Grade Night that the kids had been told all year they were not going to have.
Becky Whimeyer, from Becky's In Home Care, spent a lot of money, even had paid employees to help us set up. This event would not have been possible without her help.
Tess Long – girl you keep those kids going all night long. You are one in a million.
Barbara from Burger Time, you are awesome. She helped keep those kids going in activities all night long. Thank you for talking to your brother, Andre, who owns Silk's Bar and Grill; that pool table was a hit.
Guy Strohmeier's Auto Center in Lakeport was very generous at such short notice and donated a $750. down payment on a used car.
Renee from Valley Glass ran around and picked up bags and cheesecake that Konocti Vista Casino donated and stopped by Epidendio's to get some t-shirts. She also hit up Walmart and got four $25 gift certificates.
Theresa Hernandez from Cabo's Mexican restaurant made the best chili verde, with yummy chips and salsa and beans, too.
Tom Hewlett had his camera ready and took some great pictures and burned CDs. They are great; what a nice man to stay up all night with us.
Dan at Griffin's Furniture made all the moving of pool table, shuffleboard and Girlfriends salon furniture possible. He got it there and loaned us the truck to get it back.
Bob at Bob's Vacuum donated all the paper goods.
Donations and help also came the Highlands Senior Center, Hospice Services of Lake County, Safeway, Grocery Outlet, Foods Etc., Westamerica Bank (which donated a basket of money totaling $100), the staff from Girlfriends, Clearlake Cottages and Marina, Animal Hospital of Clearlake, One Stop Automotive, Alba Ruport, Four Corners, Lake County Fire Protection, Fawn Williams, Jonelle Grandi, Neb, Joe and Joe's Family (school custodians). These were the best people I have ever worked with to throw a party.
Most of all I want to bring attention to the great group of kids who came to Sober Grad Night. They had great attitudes all night.
Good luck in your future endeavors. You are the new generation that can and will make a difference in this world.
And, as for myself, it was my pleasure.
Jeri Spittler lives in Clearlake.
- Details
- Written by: JoAnn Saccato
I'm elated to see the excitement build around the senior center garden in Clearlake. The fact that so many people are rallying around this grassroots effort for a vital community project leads me to think that the garden will be a resounding success.
While the county and city have been working on the community garden's infrastructure, as was reported in a recent article in the Clearlake Observer (June 9, 2010), Linda Burton, Highlands Senior Service Center (HSSC) Director, and David Goolsbee, board member of the Lake County Community Co-op (Co-Op) and CREATE (the public benefit nonprofit arm of the Co-op), have been laying out the detailed plans of the actual garden including the physical design of the space, operating guidelines, and gardener agreements for the individual plots.
Additionally, both have been working physically on the site on things such as facilitating the removal of firewood and installing irrigation.
Donations for the project in the form of plants and tools are beginning to show up at the Center. Barber's Country Farms, Lovie's Garden Emporium and Easter Seals of Northern California are some of the benefactors.
Partnerships are forming, too, including one with the Master Gardeners, who hope to give education classes in the demonstration garden portion of the project. The co-op's Web site (www.lakeco-op.org) details garden ideas and includes a list of items currently needed, contact information for those interested in getting involved, and a list of those that have donated to the effort.
The fact that so many people had germinated the idea at around the same time tells me that the project is a good one. I'm referring to the knowledge that Ms. Burton and Walter Robinson, previous director of HSSC, had been dreaming of a garden for the senior's use for many years.
When Barbarajo Bloomquist stood up and mentioned the co-op's intention of supporting community garden efforts, which spurred the conversation between Jeff Smith and others in attendance at a Judge's Breakfast over two years ago, I was delighted to see the enthusiasm around the project. That type of spontaneous creation effort is at the core of the co-op's principles of co-creation and sustainable projects.
"What does community want?" and "What is community willing to sustain?" are the founding inquiries of the Co-op and its projects. We applaud the county, city and community members for their efforts to create the community garden thus far.
Once the longterm agreement between the city and HSSC is in place, we will be actively enlisting the larger community for ongoing support and participation.
The idea that HSSC will be able to help bridge a food security gap with fresh produce, and community members will be able to grow their own produce when otherwise they wouldn't, is at the heart of one of the co-op's goals – and for that I'm grateful.
JoAnn Saccato, a native of Lake County, holds a master's degree in co-creating sustainable futures and is chair of the Lake County Community Co-op and CREATE. You may reach her at
- Details
- Written by: Denise Rushing
Thank you so much to all those in District 3 who voted for me and everyone in Lake County who supported me in the District 3 supervisor election on June 8. The opportunity to represent you is an honor.
To those who endorsed, supported or contributed to my campaign and especially to those who worked on the campaign by walking precincts with me, organizing events, running the office, placing signs and contacting voters – THANK YOU. I am humbled by your ongoing support and am so grateful for it.
I also want to thank my opponents, Robert Hesterberg and Gary Lewis, for their issue-oriented campaigns and for caring enough to run for office.
Whether or not you voted for me, please know that I will continue to work hard on your behalf.
Together, with you, I am certain we can create a positive, hopeful future for Lake County, our home.
Denise Rushing lives in Upper Lake. She was elected to her second term as District 3 supervisor on June 8.