Letters
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- Written by: Greg Panella
My wife and I set our roots down in Kelseyville years ago. We are raising our three amazing children here. We farm pears and run a manufacturing company here in Kelseyville. We are deeply involved, and invested in the community of Kelseyville.
My wife and I were fortunate enough to have had an opportunity to purchase Stokes Ladders in 2012. My grandfather, Russell Stokes, founded Stokes Ladders, in his garage, right here in Kelseyville in the early 1960s. Ever since then, we have been sending our Stokes ladders of all shapes and sizes to customers from all over the US and Canada, to South America, the Middle East, Europe, and Australia.
On each one of these ladders over the past 60 something years, we have proudly stamped into the step: STOKES LADDERS, KELSEYVILLE, CA, right at eye level, on hundreds of thousands of ladders. Over the years, the font and styles have changed, but it has always displayed KELSEYVILLE, CA in all caps. There are people all over the world who have seen our name, KELSEYVILLE, CA.
When you change a name, you change a brand, you change our identity. Kelseyville has been building its brand for decades. I recently read a brilliant article by Brian Fisher: “A sucker punch to the people of Kelseyville.” He described in great detail all of the brand work that has been done on our behalf to build the name of Kelseyville into what it is today. He would know more than most the importance of brand recognition as a marketing executive.
I have a great example of this from last June. My brother was married in Palisades, California. I had never heard of this place. I had to look it up to know where it might be. This was pretty unusual as a guy who has lived in California my entire life, outside of military deployments.
I have always been interested in geography, so I am very familiar with the state of California. I didn’t realize until I was there that I was in what was previously known as “Squaw Valley, California.” I bet everyone has heard of Squaw Valley, California. If I were to look up “places to go snowboarding,” I probably would have scrolled right past Palisades to a different name that I was already familiar with.
I want to set emotions aside for a moment, and look at what would happen if we were forced to change our name.
By forcing the town of Kelseyville to change its name, which is interchangeable with brand, you will be doing so in full and complete understanding and recognition of the negative economic impacts you will be imposing on our town.
Business on Main Street is already tough enough. Main Street as everyone knows is the heart of Kelseyville. Any reduction in foot traffic, whatever the percentage, will directly affect Main Street’s bottom line. The bottom line that puts on all the events we know and love here in Kelseyville, and which brings in much needed tourism. The bottom line that affects the local employee’s ability to earn a livable wage.
A name change will have a negative economic outcome for our entire community, either directly, or indirectly.
By forcing this on our town, you will be forcing this reality on all of us, including the citizens you think you are helping.
Greg Panella lives in Kelseyville, California, home of “STOKES ORCHARD LADDERS, KELSEYVILLE CALIF” circa 1960s and “STOKES, KELSEYVILLE CA, USA,” present day.
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- Written by: Tim Prather
To start with, if you were to change the name of Kelseyville, the taxpayers would be paying a tremendous amount to enforce the name change of state and county offices/districts and businesses, such as the Kelseyville Post Office, Kelseyville Schools and Kelseyville Fire Departments … just to name a few.
With the fire department it’s not just a simple statement of saying, “We will have a new sign on the building.” It’s having to remove all decals on every truck and every building and pay for new decals and labor to put them on.
Additionally, it will be changing all uniforms as well as badges and/or hats and anything else that has the name Kelseyville in it.
A good example of an enormous waste of government spending was years ago when the state changed the name of “CDF” (California Division of Forestry and Fire Protection) to “Cal Fire.” Sounded like a good idea from some idiot who got politicians to agree to it and then realized they had to change all the decals on every truck in the state along with new signs for every “CDF” building and all uniforms, badges, business cards, etc. for every one of those employees in the state.
The cost ran into millions of dollars and what did it accomplish? Half (if not most) of the people still refer to it as “CDF,” and the bottom line is what does “Cal Fire” stand for? You guessed it, “California Division of Forestry and Fire Protection.” They perform all the same duties, but wear a different name at the taxpayers’ expense.
Regarding all of the Kelseyville schools:
You might erase the name, but good luck trying to tell people that they can’t say “I grew up in Kelseyville” or “I went to school in ‘Kelseyville’” or “ I’m gonna run into Kelseyville to get groceries and fuel.”
You simply can’t erase history, good or bad. Are all Kelseyville graduates going to destroy their Kelseyville yearbooks? I don’t think so.
From a business perspective: Do the proponents of the name change think they can force local businesses like Kelseyville Lumber, Kelseyville Pharmacy, Kelseyville Food Center and Kelseyville Appliance to change their name? Again, that’s just a few of the businesses that have the name Kelseyville in them.
Any business that supports changing their name, just go ahead and do it!
Local businesses will be hit with a huge expense, again, not with just a new sign on the building, but changing any clothing, advertisements and business cards, emblems and decals on their vehicles, etc.
Again, this is an unnecessary change that will have no effect on people who will continue to refer to it as “Kelseyville.”
The Board of Supervisors does have the power to take a stand on this issue, the supervisors could be unanimous on their recommendation to the Board on Geographic Names.
Tim Prather lives in Cobb, California.
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- Written by: Jessica Pyska
The promises I made in 2020 have guided my work and my decisions. I continue to prioritize investing in our communities for a vibrant economy, a high standard of disaster prevention, and healthy and safe neighborhoods for our beautifully diverse residents. We have a rare opportunity to physically build a better reality with housing, broadband and roads — which means good jobs, strong local businesses and the foundation for a thriving Lake County.
We have been through a lot together over the years, and when things get tough, we have always shown up for each other without hesitation, and that is what makes our community so special. With the application for the name change of Kelseyville being submitted to the federal government, we are seeing a lot of pain, fear and anger — all for very valid reasons. There are still so many unknowns about the process, and as it unfolds and we learn more, I hope that we can have empathy with friends and neighbors who may feel differently. Ultimately, this decision will be made by the Board on Geographic Names, and I encourage everyone to submit their public comments to
We have achieved so much over the past few years because of the strength of our incredible county staff, generously serving the public every day, and the community partners who dedicate themselves to building up Lake County. This genuine collaboration propels us forward, and I am deeply grateful for all who contribute in so many ways; this truly is our superpower.
I want to thank my family for their willingness to support and sacrifice so that I may serve with my whole heart, as you, the residents, require and deserve. My campaign has been 100% powered by local volunteers who also believe in the potential of our community and the bright future ahead; thank you all for your generous support!
Election Day is nearly here, and I am proud of the work I have put forward as your District 5 supervisor and the positive campaign I have run to seek another term. I hope I have earned your trust as a leader. You can count on me to build a stronger, safer and more vibrant Lake County for everyone.
Jessica Pyska is in her first term as District 5 supervisor. She lives in Cobb, California.
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- Written by: Darren Ellis
I am 37 years old, a family man, former law enforcement officer and legal consultant, former entrepreneur and current doctoral student with a master’s degree in education. I am on the board of directors for a successful restorative justice nonprofit organization based out of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and have firsthand experience in the successes of well-organized and data driven nonprofit organizations on crime and harm reduction.
I believe in parental rights and educational choice. Schools in this state are failing our children, evidenced by 40% to 70% plus of students scoring below average in areas of STEM education. Students deserve a quality education that prepares them academically and professionally for the future, not ideologically.
I am a proponent of social service programs for legal residents in need. It is ridiculous to cut foster care and social service programs for legal Californians while offering free healthcare, housing, food, and stipends to non-legal persons in this state, all at the expense of the taxpayer.
Further, I believe in fiscal responsibility. The Democrats in this state have built up a $1.6 trillion deficit in debt, bonds and outstanding obligations that they have no long-term plan to pay for. Instead, they are proposing further debt for programs like Prop 1 which amounts to roughly $440,000 per bed. We need to be rolling back regulations and legislation that have handcuffed agriculture and industry in this state to promote economic growth and financial stability long-term, not more deficit spending.
Lastly, I am a huge proponent of the rule of law. Legislation in this state has benefited criminals at the expense of public safety and security. Decriminalization and bail reform, along with overly restrictive and unconstitutional attempts at public disarmament have negatively impacted businesses, law enforcement morale, and the safety and security of law-abiding citizens.
It's time for a change in California. It would be a privilege to have you write-in Darren Ellis for State Assembly come March 5. Together, we can accomplish constitutional restoration for all.
Darren Ellis lives in Winters, California.
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