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Written by: Bill and Joshua Conway

Published: 22 December 2008

Created: 21 December 2008

Last Updated: 22 December 2008

This Christmas season is not very merry for a lot of families that live month to month.

On Dec. 20 I found myself very depressed over the Christmas funds I had counted on not being available.

That same day I heard a knock at my door when to my surprise, like in the story of the three wise men, three representatives from the Vietnam Veterans Chapter 951 were standing with arms full of much-needed gifts and groceries.

My son Joshua and I wish to thank Vietnam Veterans of America President Dean Gotham, Vice President Daniel J. Davi and Veterans of Foreign Wars Adjutant Kirk Macdonald, for turning a depressing holiday into one that mere words cannot describe.

Thank you form the bottom of our hearts.

Merry Christmas and God bless.

Bill and Joshua Conway live in Glenhaven.

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Written by: Barbara Christwitz

Published: 21 December 2008

Created: 19 December 2008

Last Updated: 19 December 2008

 

"Damn the torpedoes! Full steam ahead!" were the words of Union naval officer David Farragut in 1864 as he moved through the heavily mined Mobile Bay, center of the Confederate blockade. (Mines at that time were known as torpedoes.)

Farragut's quote occurred to me after Clearlake Planning Commission members expressed their enthusiasm on Dec. 16 for the idea of the proposed Provinsalia development which could become the largest housing project in the history of our city. This enthusiasm was in spite of the prior Dec. 2 Planning Commission meeting in which the bulk of the public comment articulately, passionately and wisely voiced its opposition to building this development.

Never mind the torpedoes of our time:

Torpedo 1: severe local and regional drought (golf courses need incredible water);

Torpedo 2: economic decline ( we hope “collapse” is too strong a word);

Torpedo 3: environmental decay;

Torpedo 4: scarce (and getting scarcer) natural resources;

Torpedo 5: home loan failures at record highs.

 

I can understand our city’s leaders wanting to raise our standard of living here in Clearlake at least to the level of other Lake County towns; however, I believe a Provinsalia would backfire at this point in history in that attempt. We would be better to promote the sale and renovation of our present numerous vacant homes.

I suggest leaders promote environmentally friendly cottage industries, private industry, drug/alcohol counseling and education for our city. Continue to improve the streets we have rather than build new ones. We can improve our quality of life here in Clearlake without desecrating our wild spaces.

Farragut seemed to luck out in that he made it through Mobile Bay; however, that is where the analogy breaks down. I predict we wouldn’t be so lucky. This project would be a blight on our city, and our children will ask, “What were they thinking?”

Barbara Christwitz lives in Clearlake.

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Written by: Bron Locke

Published: 18 December 2008

Created: 18 December 2008

Last Updated: 18 December 2008

Outside of Walmart, an incredible event has been taking place for some time now. Two young people are holding up a cardboard sign and asking if people could spare something. Yeah right, in today’s economy? Sparing a dime is almost as difficult as it was in the 30s.

However, on seven separate occasions now, I’ve caved and given them what it is they ask for. I sincerely hope that EVERYONE who has driven past them has also taken the time to spare what they ask for.

What is it they are requesting with their old cardboard sign with black magic marker lettering? A smile, the sign reads “Spare a Smile.” So simple a request, yet I can’t help but wonder how many people haven’t given in to their selfless request. I’d imagine there are those who see the sign and the young people and, rather than read the sign, assume it says something like “Will work for food” or “Need money for heat.” Sadly, even those signs shouldn’t be ignored.

But a sign saying “Spare a smile”? No, this request is too curious and too out-of-the-ordinary to deny. As a cynic, the first time I smiled I did so to see what the “catch” was. Catch turned out to be that I had to suffer through returned smiles and “peace signs.” Now, this cynic has given them numerous smiles and waves, I even took the time once to drive up toward Walmart, turn around, and then back down on my way to a meeting in Clearlake. One day, when it was warm and my side window was down, I was even greeted with “God bless and have a nice day.”

I don’t care what the motives are. I don’t care why they are doing what they are doing. I simply care that there are two outstanding young people in our county willing to suffer through the bitter cold just to see myself, and everyone else, smile. The Lord knows with the wars, terrorism, economic crisis, poverty and hunger in the world we all have plenty to frown about. It’s nice to have someone give everyone a reason to smile.

I hope that some day I have time to stop and thank them personally for their efforts and I hope that all passersby reward them with a smile and a wave.

If the two youngsters are reading this, thank you for making this cynic smile.

Bron Locke lives in Clearlake Oaks.

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