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Letters
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- Written by: Camille Schraeder
It is hard to believe that Redwood Children’s Services has been providing foster care and therapeutic services to Lake and Mendocino County children and youth for 18 years.
We started as a small foster family agency with a commitment to doing all that we can do for our local children. We are pleased to now be adding Sonoma County to our Redwood family starting with foster care and soon to expand.
This commitment has been such an amazing and humbling experience with many emotional roller coasters, and so many amazing graduations, family reunifications, successful transitions to keep us committed to being the best possible program and staff to serve the most vulnerable children and youth in our communities.
I continue to be amazed by the resiliency, honesty and bravery of our children many of whom have suffered poverty, neglect, child abuse, school failure and sometimes personal challenges that would cripple most of us.
In light of these tremendous obstacles, with a bit of safety, love, direction, and support we have seen hundreds of our youth graduate high school, go to college, join the military, obtain successful steady employment, and start and continue to raise healthy and happy children.
There is no better reward, no better reason, to continue this work in light of the significant stress and struggle in the world of child and youth services.
These are amazing children and become amazing adults if we can just offer a little bit of love, of security, of guidance, of support; this has been possible mainly due to the commitment and support of our local communities.
The people of our communities have been strong advocates for programs, policies and resources to build on the strengths of our children and youth.
The development of our transitional housing programs for young adults, our youth resource centers, the development of foster care services, and our employment and school support programs are all possible because of the investment in time, energy, and funding that you, the community and our public community leaders have given.
Once again, I am asking for your support this holiday season by donating gifts, gift cards or money to help grant the wishes of our many foster youth. Please contact Willow Anderson at 707-467-2010 or use the return envelope enclosed.
I have never forgotten the gift I have been given to live in such a giving community, raise my family, build my own support to others because of the gift of intervention, the gift of healthy adults and a system that helped me to become who I am today.
Thank you so much for remembering and supporting our children and youth. They could be your neighbors, your children’s friends or in your local churches. Thank you for doing your part to help … it makes a difference … we have served over 5,000 children and youth in foster care services and continue to be committed to serving our community children.
Camille Schraeder is executive director of Redwood Children’s Services Inc., based in Ukiah, Calif.
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- Written by: Carol Hays
The Lakeport Main Street Association wishes to thank the many people and organizations who selflessly volunteered time, resources and expertise to Very Merry Main Street, the Lakeport holiday celebration which took place on Saturday, Nov. 24.
Without these wonderful people, there would be no Elf Hunt, no Santa’s visit, no children’s fair, no historic walking tours and no snuggler hot cocoa drinks or funnel cakes. We think you are the greatest. Thank you.
American Cancer Society
Robert Bocabella
Barbara Breunig
Paul Breunig
Tina Brown
Amy Casey
Lori and John Craig
Curry’s Furniture
Family Fun Center
Family Resource Center
Fill-up, the Clown
Anna Girod
Gossett Alarm
Jones Mortuary
Dan Labelle, Labelle Enterprises
Lakeport Antiques & Art
Marrina Lunas and friend Joey
Steven and Peggy Macdonald
Main Street Bicycles
Main Street Gallery
Main Street Gifts
Alan Mathews, Bicoastal Media
Jo Ann Morgan
Maria Mosqueda, Chayo Face Painting
People Services Gift Shoppe
Pheeperz Photography
Pieces Boutique
Pink Ladies, Relay for Life
Lakeport Police Department
Lakeport Public Works Department
Rebecca Rainer, Fox & Hound
Catrina and Brad Scott
Soper-Reese Community Theatre
Marc Spillman
Earlene Taylor
Diane Tomkins
Watershed Books
Rachel and Katie White
Rob Brown
World of Gifts
Nicole Worthen and Vanity Beauty Salon
Wreaths Across America
Your One Stop Party Shop
Carol Hays is executive director of the Lakeport Main Street Association in Lakeport, Calif. Visit the association online at www.lakeportmainstreet.com .
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- Written by: Anja Koot
The Saturday, Nov. 24, evening celebration in downtown Lakeport was a spectacular success. The annual parade, the visits with Santa, receiving a stuffed toy from Mrs. Claus and the lighting of the town tree were enjoyed by all.
Hospice Services of Lake County wants to thank everyone who helped to make the lighting of the town tree such a joyous occasion. A special thanks to our musicians, Mike Heintz, Becky Nelson and John Zimmerman.
The lights on the tree shine throughout this holiday season to remind us of the people we love and those we have loved and who have gone before us.
An event like this cannot happen without the help of many people.
I wish to especially thank Melissa Fulton, chief executive officer of the Lake County Chamber of Commerce, for her guidance and knowledge in managing the multiple last minute details of the event; the Lakeport Main Street Association and their volunteers who arranged for visits with Santa Claus and the children’s fair; Dan LaBelle, electrician, for bringing power to the event for the booths and the public address system; Marc Giberson, maintenance worker for the parks and recreation department for his invaluable assistance in arranging the lights on the tree; Lynn, Becca and Blair Brookes, and the FFA and 4H students who offered invaluable assistance; the Board of Hospice Services of Lake County for distributing cookies and cocoa; and the many generous donors who contributed to this annual fundraising campaign and the amazing staff of Hospice Services of Lake County whose untiring dedication and work helped this annual celebration be a success.
To all the citizens of Lake County who attended the event and who support the work of Hospice Services of Lake County throughout the year: Thank you for your generosity and for sharing your light and love with our patients and families.
Anja Koot is executive director of Hospice Services of Lake County, Calif.
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- Written by: Dave Gebhard
I resent the attempt by the regents of the California State University system to raise tuition, after we passed proposition 30, to make a raise unnecessary.
The governor should not have to intercede on behalf of the student population, who have already made their voices heard in the voting booth.
We must be on the alert for any attempt to make higher education reflect income status, which is the advent of a permanent aristocracy.
Education is still the key to allow all our people to utilize and realize their full potential. Skills, leadership, and teamwork are learned and practiced in schools.
Freedom and capitalism are totally reliant on an informed and trained populace.
People should be invested and feel that they can give their children a better future than they had, or we will see our society disintegrate.
Dave Gebhard lives in Lakeport, Calif.