Letters
There is a consistent chorus of anti-corporate, pro-living wage, protect our children voices singing out against a proposed Dollar General store in Middletown.
Their narrative includes a number of reasons why a Dollar General store is not a good fit nor welcomed in Middletown.
Some local business owners want Middletown to look like Calistoga or Healdsburg with gift and specialty shops, coffee shops, restaurants, day spas and wine tasting rooms.
Many of them, but not all, believe a corporate small-box retailer is out of character with their vision for our downtown.
Dollar General’s wage structure and mix of part-time versus full-time employees is also drawing fire.
Starting wages are $9 per hour with medical dental, vision and stock purchase options offered for full-time employees only. Approximately one-half of Dollar General’s employees are part-time and are not eligible for these benefits.
Others point out that Dollar General stores are conveniently located next to our local schools. They fear unspecified negative influences on young impressionable minds.
Even if one accepts their concerns as legitimate, any potential influences generated by a Dollar General would pale in comparison with those resulting from our county’s leading threat to children – poverty.
One-third of Lake County’s children are growing up in poverty. These children are informed by this experience in lasting and often unalterable ways. Poverty not only forecloses many of their lives, but its consequences often become generational.
I’m sure we can all agree that:
– having 27 percent of Lake County’s population living in poverty is unacceptable;
– having 26 percent of our households making less than $15,000 is unacceptable; and
– being ranked the poorest county in California in a recent USA Today article is unacceptable.
I believe those wanting to block a Dollar General store in Middletown represent the status quo. We have been presented with an opportunity, and I believe it is time to try something different.
I believe a careful and measured mix of economic interests is needed in order for our community and Lake County to prosper economically.
In less than a year, a primary election will be held to select our next District 1 supervisor. To those who have announced their candidacy and to those considering running for the office, I pose the following question(s): Do you believe it is possible to create 60 new jobs in South Lake County over the next three years? And if not, what do you believe are the three major obstacles/problems facing us?
A Dollar General store in Middletown would serve as a nice down payment of 10 jobs towards the goal of creating 60 new jobs over three years.
This would be a good start, but I acknowledge that $9 an hour is insufficient for a single parent to cover rising housing, child care and health care costs.
Mike Tabacchi lives in Middletown, Calif.
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- Written by: Michael Tabacchi
Your recent article on the Coyote Valley Elementary Garden ( “Coyote Valley Elementary project introduces children to wonders of gardening,” June 7, www.bit.ly/1Het7GA ), shows the result of community spirit and the generous support of area businesses.
When we were getting started on our garden renovation in early winter, Hardester’s Markets supported us with a generous discount on lumber and irrigation materials for our garden beds.
Managers Duane Harper and Gail Wright helped us maximize our grant funds for the benefit of the students. Guy and the Hardester’s Lumber team cut the heavy boards and rebar to size and delivered the materials to the school garden free of charge.
Parent volunteers and their children built raised beds and filled them with organic soil. Steve Ellis of Ellis Ranch supported us with a free delivery and reduced price. His soil proved to be a wonderfully fertile medium for growing the winter crops.
Star Gardens Nursery and Lovie’s Garden Emporium provided moisture retentive soil amendments at a significant discount.
Tanya Striedieck of Star Gardens provided expert advice and specific soil amendment recommendations which were necessary details for a successful grant proposal. Chanele and Margaret at Lovie’s donated bags of compost.
Parents and students maintain the garden pathways with wood chips donated by Quackenbush Recycling, Hidden Valley Lake and Coyote Valley PTO.
Bennett & Sons Painting refurbished the tool shed. Curtis Edwards Construction supplied customized foundational carpentry for the new beds. Key families and scores of helpful supporters supply the volunteer labor that has been essential for the growth of our school garden.
The Coyote Valley Elementary students receive their gardening education through the efforts of Lisa Rogers, Farm to School aide.
Cindy Leonard of Cobb School Garden raised enough funds from our community to start our Farm to School program. She included Coyote Valley and Minnie Cannon schools in the expenditure.
As a result, classes of children have the opportunity to visit the school garden each month and learn with a fabulous science teacher, Mrs. Rogers.
Our students, teachers and parents appreciate this community and love their school garden!
Elsie Mackesy lives in Hidden Valley Lake, Calif.
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- Written by: Elsie Mackesy
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