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Letters
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- Written by: Judith Steele Lanfranco
The Lake County Passion Play thanks all who worked so diligently preparing, cooking and hosting our fundraising event this past Saturday.
We also extend thanks to all who contributed and attended, and lastly to Bill and Jan Thompson for providing the venue.
Judith Steele Lanfranco is director of the Lake County Passion Play, held in Lakeport, Calif.
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- Written by: Deb Baumann
Not surprising, you say? Kind of like, uhm, common sense, perhaps?
Well, here in the United States of America, it is NOT illegal to sell food contaminated with salmonella, or even E. coli.
Armies of lobbyists have been working diligently for decades to dismantle the food safety laws put into effect back in the day when there was a strong consumer protection movement.
The FDA and USDA no longer have the laws, the budget or the mandate to protect America's citizens. It's all about deregulation and enabling greater profits for Corporate Food, now.
Meanwhile, America has fallen to almost 40th among the world's nations, for population longevity and health.
Our “standard American diet” is now so bad, that people having children today are likely to outlive those children.
That's right – young parents giving birth to babies today are, for the first time, likely to outlive their own children. That's how severe the decline of our nutrition has been in just twenty years, and that's how dramatically nutrition affects the very young.
If you were born 20-30 years ago, the nutrition you received in your first five years was that much better, making your life expectancy much longer than babies born today, in the USA.
Giant food processing companies selling to Americans do not need to manufacture food to the same high safety standard as, say, a company selling goods in Denmark. This is a triumph for Corporate Food. And a tragedy for the thousands of Americans who sicken and die from eating the contaminated results.
In the world of Corporate Food, thousands stricken by totally preventable food-borne illnesses are just numbers to crunch during profit calculations.
American CEOs are tough enough to handle the truth: If you want to see those profit dividends stay high, a certain percentage of your customer base is gonna die (collateral damage).
The reason a company recalls contaminated ground turkey is not because they have to, but because their number-wonks have determined that the potential costs of litigation and damages, and the negative publicity, might outweigh other factors, thereby justifying the cost of recall.
The cost of increasing manufacturing quality to the same high degree that consumers enjoy in Europe might negatively impact the seven-figure salaries and hundred-million-dollar bonuses that so many American CEOs have become accustomed to.
Most importantly, there is no need to squander money like that. Because, here in the USA, there's no law against selling food contaminated with toxic bacteria.
Remember this the next time your family sits down to supper and says grace: “Thank God we live in a country that puts corporate profits ahead of all other considerations. Amen!”
Deb Baumann lives in Upper Lake, Calif.
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- Written by: Bill and Carol Kenner
On July 4 the owners of Lucky 4 Trailer Resort in Lakeport, Mike and Marilyn Williamson, celebrated their 50th year as a family-owned business.
At this event a raffle was held and the proceeds were given to Brian and his family.
A simple “thank you” does not seem enough.
Mike and Marilyn, you will never know how this act of love and kindness has touched our family. Thank you!
Bill and Carol Kenner live in Lakeport, Calif.
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- Written by: Allison and Greg Rodgers
Special thanks are in order to Pine Summit Pool and Recreation, The Moore Family Winery, LakeCoNews.com, the Record Bee, Middletown Times Star, The Bunk House, Patrick Star and Cathy Coyne McCarthy, Rob Roy Golf Course, Happy Smiles, Lisa Powers, Jon and Jennifer Wall, Tina Ryan-Rockwell and Become Skin Care, Hidden Valley Country Club, KPFZ, Laurel Phillips and Cliff Morris, Meadowmont Farms, Scott and Kim Ferguson, Ronda Baklin and the Pine Summit Snack Bar Crew, the Pine Summit Pool Lifeguards, David Neft, Hardester's Markets, Earth & Fire Pottery, Loch Lomond Market, The Haute Spot, Jackie and Larry Berlogar, Lesley Warnshuis, Alana Tanner, ZD Wines, Twin Pine Hotel & Casino, Clover Dairy, Century 21, Christine and Greg Lynch, David Leonard, Ami Barker, Patricia Jekel and Reikor Deacon, the educators at Cobb, Minnie Cannon and Coyote Valley Elementary, and all of the excellent performers at the Open Mic Benefit … rock and roll!
We had a lovely evening filled with many instrumental and vocal talents, from musicians of all ages. Our guests enjoyed music, food, drinks, games, rollerskating, swimming and playing.
Our graciously donated raffle and silent auction items, as well as personal donations helped to raise almost $3,000 for Middletown Unified School District's Elementary Instrumental Music Program, and funds are still coming in!
Mountain High will continue their online fundraiser for the music program through September.
If you missed the festivities and would like to contribute to our online fundraiser and support music in our schools please visit the Mountain High Web site at www.mthicoffee.com.
The strength in our community lies in our ability to take care of ourselves and support each other. Our communities continuously grow together and are strengthened by your support for community fundraisers and events.
Thank you for supporting our community event and an environment that inspires us to embrace our creative soul!
Allison and Greg Rodgers own Mountain High Coffee and Books in Cobb and Hidden Valley Lake, Calif.