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Letters
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- Written by: Johnnie Flato
During my short term as the chair of the Lake County Democratic Club, I thought that bringing people together, giving them informed information on candidates and issues was what we stood for.
I had to go over my vice chair’s head (this position assigns speakers) to bring in speakers who would speak on yes on Measure N and the rest of the candidates for the May meeting.
I thought that this was the Democratic thing to do, give the members and the public the opportunity to hear the pro and cons. I guess I was wrong.
Becky Curry, the Lake County Democratic Central Committee chair, held a meeting on April 3. The members and the public were given notice that a vote for candidates and issues would be held. A no endorsement on No for Measure N passed.
The agenda for the Lake County Democratic Club April 12 meeting was sent out. No notice of a vote was included in this agenda nor did the newspaper insert of the meeting mention a vote taking place. The reason for not scheduling a vote at this meeting was that not all the candidates or all sides of the issues had yet been heard.
At the April 12 meeting of the Lake County Democratic Club, Becky Curry came prepared with the by-laws, membership forms, voter registration forms and an up-to-date roster (since recently several new members joined). New members also joined that day.
During the meeting, a motion was made for an emergency amendment to the agenda to allow for a vote on candidates and issues to be held; of course, it passed.
Subsequently, a vote was held for No on Measure N. The vote passed.
This is what happens when the deck is stacked. As a result, 90 members who were not notified in advance that a vote was to be held were not given the opportunity to vote or give their input.
I feel that this action was a push to support no on Measure N, since it failed at the Lake County Democratic Central Committee meeting. I feel these actions do not represent democracy.
I have resigned from the Lake County Democratic Club and the Lake County Democratic Central Committee effective April 12, 2014.
I want to thank all the good people of Lake County for their past support. I wish the few long-term members who are left in the club the best of luck.
Johnnie Flato lives in Lake County, Calif.
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- Written by: Naomi Richmond
An open letter to all,
I wish to thank each and every one of you for the support you have demonstrated and offered to me.
The outpouring of compassion and caring that I have received is almost overwhelming and has done much to reinstate my core belief in the basic goodness of humanity.
I have received messages, emails and letters from people around the world expressing their condolences at the loss of my husband and best friend, David.
They also expressed their outrage at my home having been burglarized while I followed the ambulance to the hospital when David died.
I believe that this public expression of outrage was a key element in giving the courage necessary for those who knew anything to speak with the Lake County Sheriff’s Department, which then enabled the detectives and officers to make the arrests of two lost souls suspected of being the burglars.
For this, I am eternally grateful. Hopefully, it will also lead to the return of the things removed from my home.
It saddens me that there are people who for whatever reason have reached a point in their lives where they feel it necessary to rob and hurt someone else. How horrible it must feel to be that desperate.
As hatred hurts only the person doing the hating, I have chosen to forgive those involved. This doesn’t mean that I think they should go unpunished, it just means that forgiving them is easier than the burden of my having to carry the poison that is hatred.
It also saddens me that the same people who have shown such compassion for me cannot find it in their hearts to show some compassion to the people who must have been so desperate that they were capable of the despicable act of robbing from the dead.
Having not lived their life, I am unable to comprehend what could have brought the suspects to such a low point in their lives, that committing such an act seemed a reasonable option for them.
It is also my wish that some compassion could be spared for the families of these two suspects. Their hearts must be breaking. I can’t imagine the pain and embarrassment they are going through. I hope they know that I wish them no ill will and do not hold them responsible.
I believe in the words of Ezekiel 18:20 “ … The son will not bear the punishment for the father’s iniquity, nor will the father bear the punishment for the son’s iniquity; the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself.”
I am still trying to cope with facing the everyday challenges of finding my way in life without my love and best friend, David, at my side.
However, I do wish to again thank each and every one of you for all you have done in helping me to heal and in helping to bring these two suspects to justice.
It is my hope to be able to share the many blessings I have by paying it forward and helping others. I would love it if you all would join me in spreading the goodness of humanity and maybe together we can make it a better world.
Naomi Richmond lives in Lower Lake, Calif.
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- Written by: Nicole Massey
The American Red Cross American Red Cross Sonoma, Mendocino & Lake Counties is celebrating its volunteers and the work they do in the community during National Volunteer Week, April 6 to 12.
Last year, Red Cross volunteers in the Sonoma, Mendocino & Lake Counties chapter provided food, shelter, comfort and hope to 112 local families who faced home fires and other disaster situations. They trained 5,640 people in lifesaving skills and provided services to military members, veterans and their families in 99 cases.
We want to invite the public to sign up to volunteer and be a part of our lifesaving work. We’re looking for diverse volunteers of all ages and skill levels.
Go to www.redcross.org/SML to learn more about volunteering with us and how to submit a volunteer application.
If you want to volunteer to help when a disaster strikes our community, download the Team Red Cross app for your smart phone. You’ll receive notifications when Red Cross volunteers are needed in the area.
The app can be found in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store by searching for American Red Cross or by going to www.redcross.org/mobileapps .
I want to extend my sincerest thanks to the 578 local Red Cross volunteers who help us fulfill our mission 365 days a year, 24 hours a day in Sonoma, Mendocino & Lake Counties.
Nicole Massey is regional volunteer director for the American Red Cross' California Northwest Region, based in Santa Rosa, Calif.
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- Written by: Mike Gingerich
As a relatively new resident of Hidden Valley Lake – just since 2010 – I became interested in its history.
I believe that someone's history tells us a lot about them; and, I believe this is also true of communities.
What I discovered was that there is really no information that is readily available: Nothing on the Hidden Valley Lake Association Web site, not much anywhere on the Internet, a little in a booklet about the “Stone House” within HVL and bits and pieces from residents.
Here's what I've found so far.
Hidden Valley Lake was started in 1968 by Boise Cascade Corp. during its real estate development heyday.
Due to a variety of factors, but mostly excessive losses, Boise Cascade Corp. sold it in 1974 to the Hidden Valley Lake Association. The “Hartmann” building and the Community Center (originally the “Country Club”) were built in the late 1960s or early 1970s.
For the remainder of the 1970s and through most of the 1980s a majority of property owners did not live in Hidden Valley Lake, holding the land for investment. It fell into receivership in the late 1980s.
By the 1990s more young families began moving in, partly triggered by Hidden Valley Lake's then-inexpensive housing and partly by the desirable amenities.
To support and maintain the amenities, property assessments were instituted in the early 1990s. It again dropped into receivership in the mid 1990s.
For most of its history HVLA has been managed by a small group of residents; not only, but primarily golfers.
Somewhere in the late 1990s, apparently as association members began to realize HVLA was becoming too big and complex for them to run without outside help, they began to hire paid staff.
Since then there have been four general managers and two interim general managers. Some of these general managers had professional credentials, some did not. Two general managers were terminated rather suddenly, partly as a result of conflict with the board and/or staff. Once (about 2000) several board directors were recalled.
In 1990 the Hidden Valley Lake population was about 1,960. By 2000 it had grown to about 3,780 and by 2010 to 5,580. Current estimates are around 7,500. It is no longer a little community. It's a small city.
Although Hidden Valley Lake was originally started as a “golf community,” according to current statistics this is no longer the case. It is now largely a “family community.”
Less than 15 percent of Hidden Valley Lake residents use the golf course; less than 5 percent have memberships in the golf course.
Well, that's it, so far. I'm still trying to fill in some of the “blanks.” My next area of exploration will be the community dynamics within HVLA.
Mike Gingerich lives in Hidden Valley Lake, Calif.