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Opinion
Distance Learning
(One teacher’s perspective)
Do you like distance learning?
It really is quite concerning.
Teachers don’t love distance learning.
Their stomachs are always churning.
There seems to be many voices,
Telling us of different choices.
Everyone wants what’s best,
But we are, oh, so stressed.
Staying at home I’d prefer,
Or back in-person as we were.
Is hybrid really the way to go?
It might be but, I don’t know.
There seems to be a lot of rules
And, we need to learn new tools.
In the morning we love to greet,
All our students on the MEET.
“Mute your mic. Camera on.”
“Please sit down. Now he’s gone.”
It is always quite the feat,
To get everyone on a MEET.
You know we all must sanitize,
Not sure what to do otherwise.
Lesson planning is quite hard.
Some we’ve had to disregard.
We still might have to video,
But we never want the status quo.
Teachers want their students back.
Parents are ready to fill their pack.
We all know this could multiply
If we don’t start to unify.
Please keep teachers in your thoughts.
Some are feeling quite distraught.
Davina Pyzer teaches at Coyote Valley Elementary School and lives in Hidden Valley Lake, California.
(One teacher’s perspective)
Do you like distance learning?
It really is quite concerning.
Teachers don’t love distance learning.
Their stomachs are always churning.
There seems to be many voices,
Telling us of different choices.
Everyone wants what’s best,
But we are, oh, so stressed.
Staying at home I’d prefer,
Or back in-person as we were.
Is hybrid really the way to go?
It might be but, I don’t know.
There seems to be a lot of rules
And, we need to learn new tools.
In the morning we love to greet,
All our students on the MEET.
“Mute your mic. Camera on.”
“Please sit down. Now he’s gone.”
It is always quite the feat,
To get everyone on a MEET.
You know we all must sanitize,
Not sure what to do otherwise.
Lesson planning is quite hard.
Some we’ve had to disregard.
We still might have to video,
But we never want the status quo.
Teachers want their students back.
Parents are ready to fill their pack.
We all know this could multiply
If we don’t start to unify.
Please keep teachers in your thoughts.
Some are feeling quite distraught.
Davina Pyzer teaches at Coyote Valley Elementary School and lives in Hidden Valley Lake, California.
- Details
- Written by: Davina Pyzer
To all who supported me and believed in me as a school board member, I will continue to always do my best for all students at Upper Lake Unified School District.
In these difficult times and limitations with COVID-19, I remain proud, confident and very appreciative of the leader Dr. Annous, and the leadership of principals Annie, Mike and Stephanie who help to make the educational process for our students challenging, engaging and successful!
All employees at ULUSD have worked tirelessly to keep the schools safe for the students to learn. From all the teachers, office staff, leadership staff, the school bus drivers to the cafeteria workers to those who keep the classrooms sanitary for our students. You all have made this happen to keep our school open for students. Thank you!
I will make your children my first priority always! ULUSD continues to shine!
Our children, our future!
Claudine Pedroncelli lives in Upper Lake, California.
In these difficult times and limitations with COVID-19, I remain proud, confident and very appreciative of the leader Dr. Annous, and the leadership of principals Annie, Mike and Stephanie who help to make the educational process for our students challenging, engaging and successful!
All employees at ULUSD have worked tirelessly to keep the schools safe for the students to learn. From all the teachers, office staff, leadership staff, the school bus drivers to the cafeteria workers to those who keep the classrooms sanitary for our students. You all have made this happen to keep our school open for students. Thank you!
I will make your children my first priority always! ULUSD continues to shine!
Our children, our future!
Claudine Pedroncelli lives in Upper Lake, California.
- Details
- Written by: Claudine Pedroncelli
Hidden Valley Lake water and sewer fees are projected to soar – unless a majority of ratepayers writes to protest by Dec. 15.
The HVL Community Services District is proposing rates that would cause the average household's monthly water bill to go up 78 percent, from $63 currently to $112 in July of 2024. The steepest increases would come immediately, first in January and again in July of the new year.
In justifying the increases, the district has cited a backlog of infrastructure maintenance, needed upgrades, and the impact of natural disasters and public safety power shutoffs. However, community members have named a number of potential cost-saving measures, such as having employees share a portion of health insurance costs or postponing salary increases.
Another way of easing the burden of sudden large rate hikes would be to finance needed infrastructure upgrades through a bond. A bond would be paid off, with interest, over a longer period.
At an informational meeting last week, General Manager Dennis White said that bond financing would be explored in the future, but he gave no explanation for why it hasn't been considered to date. Neither did he offer any hope of relief from the looming rate changes.
With many people out of work, now is not the time for exorbitant utility fee increases. Homeowners and landlords are likely to watch their property values decline in reaction, and renters already on the edge may be forced out.
Enough letters of protest could stop the increases under Prop. 218 law and send the district back to the drawing board. Such letters must meet specific criteria and be hand-delivered to the district office or mailed for receipt by Dec. 15.
A local citizen's group, HVL Now, has been distributing a fill-in-the-blank template letter. Their email isThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or you can visit their Facebook page.
Elizabeth Montgomery lives in Hidden Valley Lake, California.
The HVL Community Services District is proposing rates that would cause the average household's monthly water bill to go up 78 percent, from $63 currently to $112 in July of 2024. The steepest increases would come immediately, first in January and again in July of the new year.
In justifying the increases, the district has cited a backlog of infrastructure maintenance, needed upgrades, and the impact of natural disasters and public safety power shutoffs. However, community members have named a number of potential cost-saving measures, such as having employees share a portion of health insurance costs or postponing salary increases.
Another way of easing the burden of sudden large rate hikes would be to finance needed infrastructure upgrades through a bond. A bond would be paid off, with interest, over a longer period.
At an informational meeting last week, General Manager Dennis White said that bond financing would be explored in the future, but he gave no explanation for why it hasn't been considered to date. Neither did he offer any hope of relief from the looming rate changes.
With many people out of work, now is not the time for exorbitant utility fee increases. Homeowners and landlords are likely to watch their property values decline in reaction, and renters already on the edge may be forced out.
Enough letters of protest could stop the increases under Prop. 218 law and send the district back to the drawing board. Such letters must meet specific criteria and be hand-delivered to the district office or mailed for receipt by Dec. 15.
A local citizen's group, HVL Now, has been distributing a fill-in-the-blank template letter. Their email is
Elizabeth Montgomery lives in Hidden Valley Lake, California.
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Montgomery
This month is National Hospice and Palliative Care Month.
Thank you to all the incredible health care workers who deliver hospice care day in and day out.
To the providers, nurses, aides and staff, we are in awe of your compassion, dedication and selflessness.
And we are so grateful that you help those patients who need this care, often in the most vulnerable time of their lives.
As the husband of a former hospice nurse, I know this work can be daunting. But we are forever grateful to you for what you do.
Let’s all take a moment this month to express our gratitude to hospice workers and to help raise awareness as to the critical nature of this care.
Rep. Mike Thompson represents California’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties.
Thank you to all the incredible health care workers who deliver hospice care day in and day out.
To the providers, nurses, aides and staff, we are in awe of your compassion, dedication and selflessness.
And we are so grateful that you help those patients who need this care, often in the most vulnerable time of their lives.
As the husband of a former hospice nurse, I know this work can be daunting. But we are forever grateful to you for what you do.
Let’s all take a moment this month to express our gratitude to hospice workers and to help raise awareness as to the critical nature of this care.
Rep. Mike Thompson represents California’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties.
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- Written by: Rep. Mike Thompson