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Letters
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- Written by: Phil Myers
As a person living with Parkinson’s disease, the sad news this summer surrounding Robin Williams’ diagnosis has hit close to home, as does the speculation in the media regarding the disease, its medications, depression and suicide risk.
I would like to help set the record straight for the families affected by Parkinson’s disease in Lake County and to let people know that there are resources available to help.
According to the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation, depression is very common in Parkinson’s. But in most cases, it can be successfully managed under the supervision of a doctor who specializes in PD. I am fortunate that I do not have any symptoms of depression with my Parkinson’s.
More importantly, there is no evidence that medications typically prescribed in the early stages of Parkinson’s are associated with risk for suicide. In fact, the risk of suicide among people with Parkinson’s seems to be the same or lower than the general population.
I encourage others to find the facts by contacting me, or by visiting the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation (PDF)’s Web site at www.pdf.org or contacting their National HelpLine at 800-457-6676 or
Each person will have a unique journey with this disease and its symptoms. But there are places to turn for help including the Lakeport Parkinson’s Support Group that meets once a month on the second Monday.
Phil Myers is a research advocate for the Parkinson's Disease Foundation. He lives in Lakeport, Calif.
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- Written by: Paula Pepper-Duggan
The 18th annual Taste of Lakeport was another huge success, thanks to the community support of our gold sponsors Northlake Medical Pharmacy, Savings Bank of Mendocino County, Law Office of Judy Conard, Sutter Lakeside Hospital, Golden Gate Meat Co. and Hillside Honda; our silver sponsors, Tomkins Tax Consultants, Robinson Rancheria Hotel & Casino, WestAmerica Bank, Clearlake Club and Konocti Realty; and our bronze sponsors, Marymount California University and Mendo Lake Credit Union.
The sponsors' recognition event was the night before the Taste of Lakeport at the last concert in park hosted by Bicoastal Media, KXBX.
Lakeport Main Street Association President Barbara Breunig presented sponsors with plaques and certificates and a special thank you for sponsoring our biggest fundraiser organized by the LMSA.
The summer concert series ended with a barbecue by Lakeview Market and wine and hors d'oeuvres served by Lakeport Main Street Association with recognition of community support given. With community support anything is possible.
Patrons of the event enjoyed tastes from local wineries and restaurants, such as Chacewater Winery, Smiling Dog Ranch, TNT Mexican Restaurant, Old World Tavern and many more.
During the tasting music from “Without a Net” and “Pole Cat Rodeo” added to the ambiance of event and for the street dance classic tunes played by the band Jimi Z was center stage where hundreds of patrons enjoyed music and danced well into the evening.
The highlight of the evening was the wine basket raffle, the basket was won by Allison Aclufi.
Last but not least, the Lakeport Main Street Association would like to extend a very special thank you to Amy Casey, Linda Wankel, Marc Spillman, Toni Vaars and many others who volunteered their time and attention to this year’s Taste of Lakeport.
Paula Pepper-Duggan is executive director of the Lakeport Main Street Association, based in Lakeport, Calif. For more information about the organization, visit http://www.lakeportmainstreet.com/ .
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- Written by: Michael Horner
Day after day we see so many conflicting stories about marijuana.
If you read only local news you see the continuing political disagreements, the continuous back and forth that seems to distract our leaders from addressing more important issues for our county.
Then there are daily headlines and press releases from the Lake County Sheriff's Office, one farm after the other, how many plants they seized, how many guns or dogs they had, and all the asset forfeiture trophies.
National news seems to tell a different story. Twenty-three states currently have laws legalizing marijuana in some form. Even our nation's capital, Washington DC, has an initiative on the November ballot that will make it legal to posses and cultivate marijuana for personal use.
In neighboring Oregon, Proposition 91 looks to pass easily, and with good regulation and control, it will position the state to be the largest producer of legal marijuana in the country.
They join Wisconsin, Tennessee, West Virgina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, North Carolina, Mississippi, Minnesota, Missouri, Maryland, Kentucky, Kansas, and Florida, all of which have either introduced legislation or placed measures on the ballot.
In 2016 there will be an initiative on the ballot in California that will make marijuana legal for adult recreational use.
Presented by the Coalition for Cannabis Policy Reform, the initiative will tax and regulate marijuana like alcohol; in fact, the regulation will be done by the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.
Then there are Washington and Colorado, two states with two different laws permitting sales of marijuana for recreational use in a highly regulated market place.
In Colorado the first six months of recreational sales produced $13 million in new tax revenue and there have been 10,000 new jobs created. Gov. John Hickenlooper, who originally opposed the amendment, now attributes Colorado's robust economic recovery to marijuana sales.
The feds have agreed to not interfere in states with regulation as outlined in a memo from the US Department of Justice, citing the 10th Amendment rights of states to create these laws.
Lake County's climate and unique landscape lend themselves to producing a top quality sungrown medicine (the industry's name for cannabis grown outdoors). The science suggests that sungrown medicine is higher in cannabidiol content, which is the extract being used all over the world to cure epilepsy and other ailments.
So far our community leaders have lacked the creativity to come up with a solution that mitigates the negative impact of cultivation on our community, without instituting an all-out ban on cultivation.
Under the current law in Lake County less than 1 percent of the rural land is legal to use for marijuana farming. This is effectively a ban on cultivation.
Even patients who wish to grow their own must be fortunate enough to live on one acre or more outside of a community growth boundary (whatever that is). It could only be more of a ban if patients were required to have access to rainbows and possess a unicorn.
Why should our community be denied the tax revenue, jobs and economic opportunity that seems to follow everywhere legal marijuana goes?
Measure O on the November ballot is the only compromise being offered to a community weary of the debate.
Measure O is the only option presented that tries to balance the needs of the community with an emerging industry, poised to bring an economic windfall to Lake County.
Cannabis is not a crime, cannabis is an opportunity. Measure O is a positive step forward.
Michael Horner lives in Cobb, Calif.
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- Written by: Darrell and Bev Westphal
“True meaning is found in the little acts of kindness that spring from the heart.”
There are no truer words to describe the wonderful care and compassion provided through Hospice care.
We are so appreciative to have had them in our lives to care for Susan Westphal.
We also give our sincere thank you to Dr. Maes, Dr. Turrill, Chapel of the Lakes, and their staffs for their patience and assistance in taking such great care of Susan.
We are extremely fortunate to have these wonderful, caring people in Lake County.
Darrell and Bev Westphal, on behalf of the family of Susan Westphal of Lake County, Calif.