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Opinion
Over 15 years ago I enrolled my children in the Lake County Channel Cats swim program because I realized that by living in Lake County, they desperately needed to know how to swim.
When I joined the Channel Cats, I didn’t realize that teaching kids to swim would become a huge part of my life. In addition to teaching swim lessons for the Channel Cats, I am now the head coach for two high school swim teams – CLHS and KHS.
Both of my children not only learned to swim with the Cats, they also went on to swim in college – both earning swim scholarships based on skills they had learned with the swim team. We have taught hundreds of Lake County kids to swim.
Nationally, drowning is the No. 2 cause of death amongst children. But we are currently beating that statistic in Lake County because we are still able offer swim lessons.
For the last 50 years, the Channel Cats have been able to offer swim lessons at the Lakeport Unified School District’s pool – Westshore Pool – located on the grounds of Clear Lake High School.
Several years ago, when the Westshore Pool required some costly repairs, we thought we were about to lose our ability to offer swim lessons.
But then the superintendent of LUSD at the time – Erin Hagberg – came to the Channel Cats and said she had a solution. The school district was going to put a bond initiative on the November 2014 ballot that would contain enough money to build a new pool on the grounds of Clear Lake High School.
We were hopeful and optimistic. The Channel Cats promoted the bond on the promise of a new pool. The school district printed brochures containing pictures of a pool that would be built if the bond was passed.
Though many people told us that the district would renege on their promise of a pool, we never faltered in our support of the bond. And, in November 2014, the bond passed with many community members stating that they only voted for it because of the promise of a pool. We have been waiting since that moment for even a glimmer of construction on the pool.
The waiting is now over because we learned at the LUSD board meeting on Sept. 6 that there is not enough bond money left to build a pool. The money has already been spent and the pool construction isn’t scheduled.
I am terribly disappointed that we were deceived when we voted for the last LUSD bond. My disappointment leads me to believe that there need to be changes made to the LUSD Board. In the end, the bond decisions, priorities and fiscal management falls to the board. They need to be held accountable for ignoring the will of the voters.
I know that Carly Alvord, Dan Buffalo and Jen Hanson understand what the voters expect, and that the safety of our children must be taken seriously. If you want accountability, you must vote for change.
Therefore, I recommend Alvord, Buffalo and Hanson for the LUSD Board.
Agustin Merodio is head coach for the Lake County Channel Cats and the swim teams for Clear Lake and Kelseyville high schools. He lives in Kelseyville, Calif.
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- Written by: Agustin Merodio
My name is Carly Alvord and I am running for the Lakeport Unified School District Governing Board.
I have had the privilege of living in this community since 1980. I attended LUSD from kindergarten through high school graduation, and now have two children beginning their seventh year in the district.
My mother enjoyed a 32-year career with the school. I have two sisters currently employed by the district, and six nieces and nephews enrolled. To say that Lakeport schools are important to me is an understatement.
I hold a Bachelor’s Degree in business and English from the University of Maryland, have been a member of the School Site Council for six years, served on the Wellness Committee, the PTO, volunteered several years in the classroom and served on the District LCAP Committee to establish fiscal and academic goals.
I’m accustomed to working cooperatively with people to understand the issues and goals, and help make them successful.
One of the great qualities of growing up in a small, rural school like Lakeport is continuity and familiarity. As I have visited the school over the years, it has always felt like “coming home.” Familiar teachers, administrators, and staff greeting you with a warmth and affinity cultivated by years of shared experience.
Sadly, I feel that my children may miss out on this experience.
Today we are suffering an alarming exit of qualified teachers. Last year the Elementary School, alone, lost more than 50 percent of its teaching staff – among them, an LUSD “Teacher of the Year,” who after 22 years with a district she loved felt she could no longer stay. This is extremely concerning to me and one of the major factors that led to my decision to run in this race.
Great schools start with great teachers. Great teachers need support. They need to feel valued, appreciated and safe. Unfortunately, the interactions I’ve had with past and current teachers show the opposite.
Lack of discipline has led to great concerns over student and teacher safety, and appropriate consequences for violent conduct appear to be lacking. We must get to the bottom of these issues before it is too late.
I ask for your vote, so that I may be a voice for the community. I want Lakeport residents, school staff, parents and students to know that I’m on their side. I am their elected representative, and it is my duty to listen to their concerns.
I will work diligently to understand the causes of these issues, and help make meaningful changes in policy and leadership that will return our district to a place of safety, academic excellence, and prominence.
Real change on a school board takes three votes. I’ve teamed up with two other outstanding individuals who are also running for school board. We ask you to vote for all three of us: Carly Alvord, Daniel Buffalo and Jennifer Hanson on Nov. 6.
If you’d like further information or wish to get involved, please visit www.fixLUSD.com.
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Carly Alvord lives in Lakeport, Calif.
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- Written by: Carly Alvord
Once again, the loss from our most current fires here in Lake County is devastating.
I want to thank all our first responders, our warriors who put themselves in between us and the fires to ensure our safety. I want to give credit additionally to the people who braved the fires to keep our pets and working animals safe.
What the organizations like ASCPA, SPCA, Orphan Dog, the Lake Co. Animal Care and Control and Lake Evacuation Animal Protection, or LEAP (Lake County’s animal disaster group), do is truly above and beyond the call of duty. They work around the clock during the fires to make sure our animals are out of harm’s way.
During this fire, 5,609 animals were evacuated, sheltered in place (kept at their homes and provided with food and water) or sheltered at Animal Control as well as provided veterinarian services as needed.
I had occasion to see their effort firsthand this during this last fire. After my family returned from a six-day evacuation, I was at my vet when a mother cat with a severe eye injury and her 2-day-old kittens were brought in by rescuers, arrangements had been made for them, but I knew there must be more like them in need out there.
I reached out to the SPCA and arranged to foster a mother and her five 2-week-old kittens who had been dropped off during the fire. They are doing great and my daughter now has several new friends until they are old enough to find new homes.
These dedicated workers also ensure that all animals who are not reunited with their families are adopted, often sending them to other counties where their chances of adoption are higher or taking in donations to pay for the adoption fees locally.
I want to encourage everyone to support the efforts of these organizations and help where possible with the ongoing need for families to foster or adopt the pets left homeless by the fire.
Donations to LEAP can be dropped off at the Lakeport shelter. Or you can donate online to Orphan Dog, ASPCA or SPCA of Lake County through their Web sites.
Shanda Harry lives in north Lakeport, Calif.
I want to thank all our first responders, our warriors who put themselves in between us and the fires to ensure our safety. I want to give credit additionally to the people who braved the fires to keep our pets and working animals safe.
What the organizations like ASCPA, SPCA, Orphan Dog, the Lake Co. Animal Care and Control and Lake Evacuation Animal Protection, or LEAP (Lake County’s animal disaster group), do is truly above and beyond the call of duty. They work around the clock during the fires to make sure our animals are out of harm’s way.
During this fire, 5,609 animals were evacuated, sheltered in place (kept at their homes and provided with food and water) or sheltered at Animal Control as well as provided veterinarian services as needed.
I had occasion to see their effort firsthand this during this last fire. After my family returned from a six-day evacuation, I was at my vet when a mother cat with a severe eye injury and her 2-day-old kittens were brought in by rescuers, arrangements had been made for them, but I knew there must be more like them in need out there.
I reached out to the SPCA and arranged to foster a mother and her five 2-week-old kittens who had been dropped off during the fire. They are doing great and my daughter now has several new friends until they are old enough to find new homes.
These dedicated workers also ensure that all animals who are not reunited with their families are adopted, often sending them to other counties where their chances of adoption are higher or taking in donations to pay for the adoption fees locally.
I want to encourage everyone to support the efforts of these organizations and help where possible with the ongoing need for families to foster or adopt the pets left homeless by the fire.
Donations to LEAP can be dropped off at the Lakeport shelter. Or you can donate online to Orphan Dog, ASPCA or SPCA of Lake County through their Web sites.
Shanda Harry lives in north Lakeport, Calif.
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- Written by: Shanda Harry
Aretha Franklin was 76 when she passed away. I will be 76 in September and I pause to think about firstly the contributions Aretha gave to our world.
Seventy six years is nothing to sniff at and I think about what I feel I have contributed to our world.
I am in no way comparing Aretha's life and mine I am just reflecting on what it means to give and the years we have to give to the world something that hopefully makes this world a better place.
I want to honor Aretha's life by saying, "You gave us so much joy and love, maybe I can do the same with my life.”
I have had the joy of working with young people for more than 50 years. I believe in our youth and pray for them in terms of what the future world may bring them.
I want the young people to know, never give up giving, never lose hope and try and leave a positive footprint.
Look up to those who have contributed to make your world a better place and know you too can follow in their footsteps.
As a nation we are too quick to give in to those who teach hate instead of love. We as a nation are building barriers to understanding and acceptance. Now more than ever we need to listen to the words of Aretha, Martin Luther King, Malcolm X and Obama among the many teachers that have traveled through this life.
Young people, we are here for you, we pray for you, we believe in you. I for one we never turn my back on realizing the importance of being a positive role model. Trust me, to fight for understanding, peace and love is a brave thing to do. To honor differences is a value, to work for peace is honorable.
I will miss Aretha but in the time I have left I will renew my commitment to the youth (our future) and realize each day I can do something to make this a better world.
Yes, to be 76 means I am "old," but what is wrong with that? Seventy six just means I have some time to keep giving and can look back on my life and realize the joy I have experienced being a part of our nations children’s lives.
Come on seniors, here is my challenge: Reach out to our youth and let them know we are here for them and together we can make this world a better place.
Sue Williams lives in Kelseyville, Calif.
Seventy six years is nothing to sniff at and I think about what I feel I have contributed to our world.
I am in no way comparing Aretha's life and mine I am just reflecting on what it means to give and the years we have to give to the world something that hopefully makes this world a better place.
I want to honor Aretha's life by saying, "You gave us so much joy and love, maybe I can do the same with my life.”
I have had the joy of working with young people for more than 50 years. I believe in our youth and pray for them in terms of what the future world may bring them.
I want the young people to know, never give up giving, never lose hope and try and leave a positive footprint.
Look up to those who have contributed to make your world a better place and know you too can follow in their footsteps.
As a nation we are too quick to give in to those who teach hate instead of love. We as a nation are building barriers to understanding and acceptance. Now more than ever we need to listen to the words of Aretha, Martin Luther King, Malcolm X and Obama among the many teachers that have traveled through this life.
Young people, we are here for you, we pray for you, we believe in you. I for one we never turn my back on realizing the importance of being a positive role model. Trust me, to fight for understanding, peace and love is a brave thing to do. To honor differences is a value, to work for peace is honorable.
I will miss Aretha but in the time I have left I will renew my commitment to the youth (our future) and realize each day I can do something to make this a better world.
Yes, to be 76 means I am "old," but what is wrong with that? Seventy six just means I have some time to keep giving and can look back on my life and realize the joy I have experienced being a part of our nations children’s lives.
Come on seniors, here is my challenge: Reach out to our youth and let them know we are here for them and together we can make this world a better place.
Sue Williams lives in Kelseyville, Calif.
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- Written by: Sue Williams