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Opinion
I wish to thank and acknowledge Kelseyville School Superintendent Dave McQueen for his commitment and passion for our children, his staff and our entire community.
In this unprecedented and most challenging time of the pandemic, he has demonstrated leadership and strength in making the tough decision to start the school year with distance learning rather than in-person.
Though this presents new challenges, he has followed the advice and experience of doctors, scientists and public health officials.
He is not only protecting those of us in the community who are more vulnerable to the virus, but this action will also help to more quickly slow the spread so students and staff can return to safe and healthy schools. This helps all of us.
We are all very anxious to return to the days of healthy schools, businesses and communities, and leadership like Dave McQueen’s are what we need.
Kathy Windrem lives in Kelseyville, California.
In this unprecedented and most challenging time of the pandemic, he has demonstrated leadership and strength in making the tough decision to start the school year with distance learning rather than in-person.
Though this presents new challenges, he has followed the advice and experience of doctors, scientists and public health officials.
He is not only protecting those of us in the community who are more vulnerable to the virus, but this action will also help to more quickly slow the spread so students and staff can return to safe and healthy schools. This helps all of us.
We are all very anxious to return to the days of healthy schools, businesses and communities, and leadership like Dave McQueen’s are what we need.
Kathy Windrem lives in Kelseyville, California.
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- Written by: Kathy Windrem
Is a Dollar General store in Clearlake compatible with our vision for the city of Clearlake?
I would argue that it is not compatible with my vision for the city of Clearlake; there are several reasons:
It will take business away from the local nearby mom and pop stores – just ask Gary Nylander from the Red and White Store in the Oaks. They have always invested in the social fabric of the community; Dollar General will not. Their profits do not stay in the county or city.
The Dollar General business model is such that they build their stores in low-income areas, hire one full-time manager and the rest of the employees are part-time at minimum wage, and there are horror stories of employee exploitation.
A comment of a Dollar General manager is “they pay you for 48 hours but say you’re not owning your business unless you work 60-plus hours.”
They will sell the store to outside investors with no local commitment to the welfare of the community.
They will concentrate several stores in a certain area hoping to ward off bigger stores, that will certainly put a stop to new investments of local business owners with more ambitious plans for our city.
We could possibly lose the chance of a new shopping center at the airport property.
Other communities in the county have rejected Dollar General for all the right reasons. Family-owned grocery stores operate at thin margins and Dollar General stores can pressure them with sometimes lower prices. Most Dollar General stores do not carry fresh groceries; they offer the same household products and general essentials, which are the highest margin items.
So when Dollar General takes that business away from the local grocer, you are left with no mom and pop stores that sell fresh groceries in economically depressed areas.
Other complaints that will arrive from the Dollar General store is an increase in crime and loitering around the store. The design of the store is the cookie-cutter approach with an unattractive exterior and obtrusive signage.
It is clear to me that we do not want a Dollar General store in our city.
Dirk C. Slooten is vice mayor of the city of Clearlake, California.
I would argue that it is not compatible with my vision for the city of Clearlake; there are several reasons:
It will take business away from the local nearby mom and pop stores – just ask Gary Nylander from the Red and White Store in the Oaks. They have always invested in the social fabric of the community; Dollar General will not. Their profits do not stay in the county or city.
The Dollar General business model is such that they build their stores in low-income areas, hire one full-time manager and the rest of the employees are part-time at minimum wage, and there are horror stories of employee exploitation.
A comment of a Dollar General manager is “they pay you for 48 hours but say you’re not owning your business unless you work 60-plus hours.”
They will sell the store to outside investors with no local commitment to the welfare of the community.
They will concentrate several stores in a certain area hoping to ward off bigger stores, that will certainly put a stop to new investments of local business owners with more ambitious plans for our city.
We could possibly lose the chance of a new shopping center at the airport property.
Other communities in the county have rejected Dollar General for all the right reasons. Family-owned grocery stores operate at thin margins and Dollar General stores can pressure them with sometimes lower prices. Most Dollar General stores do not carry fresh groceries; they offer the same household products and general essentials, which are the highest margin items.
So when Dollar General takes that business away from the local grocer, you are left with no mom and pop stores that sell fresh groceries in economically depressed areas.
Other complaints that will arrive from the Dollar General store is an increase in crime and loitering around the store. The design of the store is the cookie-cutter approach with an unattractive exterior and obtrusive signage.
It is clear to me that we do not want a Dollar General store in our city.
Dirk C. Slooten is vice mayor of the city of Clearlake, California.
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- Written by: Dirk Slooten
No. Fishing tournaments in Lake County are not safe. In fact it's an outrage to suggest otherwise.
We as a nation, as a state and as a county are now demonstrably worse off than we were in April when the lake was shut down even to local kayakers. How in the world can we do otherwise now?
COVID-19 is out of control in this state and all over the US and yet we are asked to open our county to swarms of fishermen from everywhere ... anywhere, including states where infections are rampant. We are talking about 160 boats, 320 fishermen and who knows how many others ... in our grocery stores, casinos, our community?
Already every special event from concerts in the park, Brews and Blues, the Pear Festival, the Harvest Festival and most recently the Konocti Challenge have been canceled. Why are fishing contests different?
Almost a quarter of the population in Lake County is 65 and older and at particular risk of illness and death from this virus. We have two small hospitals in this county and double the number of coronavirus cases in the last two weeks.
So far, perhaps because of our relative geographic isolation, we have been spared most of the consequences of COVID-19. That could change. It's not worth the risk.
Drew Tritchler lives in Lakeport, Calif.
We as a nation, as a state and as a county are now demonstrably worse off than we were in April when the lake was shut down even to local kayakers. How in the world can we do otherwise now?
COVID-19 is out of control in this state and all over the US and yet we are asked to open our county to swarms of fishermen from everywhere ... anywhere, including states where infections are rampant. We are talking about 160 boats, 320 fishermen and who knows how many others ... in our grocery stores, casinos, our community?
Already every special event from concerts in the park, Brews and Blues, the Pear Festival, the Harvest Festival and most recently the Konocti Challenge have been canceled. Why are fishing contests different?
Almost a quarter of the population in Lake County is 65 and older and at particular risk of illness and death from this virus. We have two small hospitals in this county and double the number of coronavirus cases in the last two weeks.
So far, perhaps because of our relative geographic isolation, we have been spared most of the consequences of COVID-19. That could change. It's not worth the risk.
Drew Tritchler lives in Lakeport, Calif.
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- Written by: Drew Tritchler
I am decorating our house for the Fourth of July – Old Glory hung near the door where I have placed a patriotic wreath and some pennants drape the porch. It is going to be different this year. Long ago, we said goodbye to fireworks; living in an area prone to wildfires forbids them. This year COVID-19 begs that we skip the parade and the parties. The unrest in our country demands we do something more than any of that.
My social media feed is reminding me to check my voter registration status. Have you checked yours? That’s a very patriotic thing to do in observance of this holiday. It’s a decisive step. Register to vote. Pick a party; it’s up to you; that’s your prerogative!
I invite you to go a step further. I invite you to decide today to be more active in our local levels of government. A few years ago, I started attending meetings for the Cobb Area Council. It is an advisory council to the Lake County Board of Supervisors, like Middletown Area Town Hall, among others. About 18 months later, I found myself in a position of council leadership and organizing events that actually help my community. I found myself in a position to hear the concerns of others and relay those opinions to our district supervisors.
Last summer, I took another step. I started to actively campaign for a candidate I believe in: Jessica Pyska for District 5 Board of Supervisors. I’ve gathered signatures, I’ve hung signs, I wrote postcards, I made phone calls. I even did something that I never thought I would do. I knocked on doors to tell my neighbors about her. And everyone I spoke with (even those who were endorsing other candidates) was nice. I should have said it before now, but thank you District 5 for being so polite and civil!
My latest step was very serendipitous. As a full-time teacher, I have not been able to attend Lake County Board of Supervisors meetings. The shelter in place orders resulted in some openings to my schedule and I was able to listen in and even comment on their discussions since March when the BOS started virtual meetings. It is a great way to be informed of and participate in local decision-making.
Last winter, I took another tentative step. I was encouraged to attend a meeting of the Lake County Democrats. I honestly expected five people to be there. Boy, was I wrong! It was a larger group of about 30 people who were present, of varying ages and professions, from all over Lake County. The meeting was run professionally, but with a welcoming air. I was so impressed with the businesslike mind with which they approached this most basic and local level of political participation. By the following month I was unanimously voted in as representative of my district.
Lately, we are meeting online. I am learning more and more about our representatives at the state and national levels and how they are trying to serve us here in Lake County.
The point is, I find myself participating in our government in a way that makes a real difference. I am not just a spectator or giving commentary on social media. The monthly meetings of the Democrats are informative and dare I say, a little fun? With exciting programs being planned by Susan Cameron (like Second Saturday Cinema) and interesting reports from our chapter president, Deb Baumann, as well as reports from all of the offices of our state and national representatives.
This is a season of celebrating our Independence and the grand experiment of our Democracy.
Since you are probably looking for a new way to display your patriotism, this is what I offer you:
– Register to Vote: https://www.usa.gov/register-to-vote .
– Attend your local advisory councils, and Board of Supervisors meetings, https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx .
– Actively support your favorite candidates: https://jessicapyskaforsupervisord5.com/ .
– Join Lake County Democrats (or your preferred party – again, that’s your choice to make): https://lakecountydemocrats.org/ .
Happy Independence Day to all of us!
Cathy McCarthy lives in Cobb, California.
My social media feed is reminding me to check my voter registration status. Have you checked yours? That’s a very patriotic thing to do in observance of this holiday. It’s a decisive step. Register to vote. Pick a party; it’s up to you; that’s your prerogative!
I invite you to go a step further. I invite you to decide today to be more active in our local levels of government. A few years ago, I started attending meetings for the Cobb Area Council. It is an advisory council to the Lake County Board of Supervisors, like Middletown Area Town Hall, among others. About 18 months later, I found myself in a position of council leadership and organizing events that actually help my community. I found myself in a position to hear the concerns of others and relay those opinions to our district supervisors.
Last summer, I took another step. I started to actively campaign for a candidate I believe in: Jessica Pyska for District 5 Board of Supervisors. I’ve gathered signatures, I’ve hung signs, I wrote postcards, I made phone calls. I even did something that I never thought I would do. I knocked on doors to tell my neighbors about her. And everyone I spoke with (even those who were endorsing other candidates) was nice. I should have said it before now, but thank you District 5 for being so polite and civil!
My latest step was very serendipitous. As a full-time teacher, I have not been able to attend Lake County Board of Supervisors meetings. The shelter in place orders resulted in some openings to my schedule and I was able to listen in and even comment on their discussions since March when the BOS started virtual meetings. It is a great way to be informed of and participate in local decision-making.
Last winter, I took another tentative step. I was encouraged to attend a meeting of the Lake County Democrats. I honestly expected five people to be there. Boy, was I wrong! It was a larger group of about 30 people who were present, of varying ages and professions, from all over Lake County. The meeting was run professionally, but with a welcoming air. I was so impressed with the businesslike mind with which they approached this most basic and local level of political participation. By the following month I was unanimously voted in as representative of my district.
Lately, we are meeting online. I am learning more and more about our representatives at the state and national levels and how they are trying to serve us here in Lake County.
The point is, I find myself participating in our government in a way that makes a real difference. I am not just a spectator or giving commentary on social media. The monthly meetings of the Democrats are informative and dare I say, a little fun? With exciting programs being planned by Susan Cameron (like Second Saturday Cinema) and interesting reports from our chapter president, Deb Baumann, as well as reports from all of the offices of our state and national representatives.
This is a season of celebrating our Independence and the grand experiment of our Democracy.
Since you are probably looking for a new way to display your patriotism, this is what I offer you:
– Register to Vote: https://www.usa.gov/register-to-vote .
– Attend your local advisory councils, and Board of Supervisors meetings, https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx .
– Actively support your favorite candidates: https://jessicapyskaforsupervisord5.com/ .
– Join Lake County Democrats (or your preferred party – again, that’s your choice to make): https://lakecountydemocrats.org/ .
Happy Independence Day to all of us!
Cathy McCarthy lives in Cobb, California.
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- Written by: Cathy McCarthy