We need volunteer stake-outs
Vandalism at Parks and Recreation, dirt-bikers terrorizing our neighborhoods and other crimes of this nature have a negative effect an the quality of life in the City of Clearlake. Can stake-outs and a little detective work be an option?
It is obvious that our police force does not have the resources to sit for hours on locations of such non-priority crimes. Do we have another resource to do some of this work? With the aid of video, can our “Volunteers in Policing” lend a hand?
For 25 years now “The Guardian Angels” have helped to combat crime in New York City. Doing a Goggle search on the Internet I found case after case where small town crime has been reduced significantly by volunteers working jointly with local law enforcement. We the people must take control of this town.
Stephen J. Schwartz
Clearlake
Wal-Mart didn”t deserve all $6,000 of ?Toys for Kids” community donations
I read last Thursday”s Record-Bee and saw the wonderful article and pictures regarding, once again, Thompson”s Treat and the Toys for Kids bringing Christmas to the children of Lake County. My concern is with a $6,991 shopping spree, and spending the entire fund of this project as stated, at Wal-Mart. This company has a horrible history locally and globally. I do not support them and encourage others such as this project to do your homework, be a tab bit more educated and diverse with your spending, availing the County of Lake and the various struggling businesses the opportunity to be a part of this wonderful project. In short, be inclusive; our businesses need it, especially with a Wal-Mart in town.
Lenny Matthews
Lucerne
Only seven Pearl Harbor survivors left
Last Sunday morning Jackie and I shivered through a chilly ceremony commemorating Pearl Harbor Survivors at Library Park. Our little sacrifice was so puny compared to theirs.
A poem to a young soldier, on duty somewhere in the world on Christmas Eve, brought tears to the most hardened of us. Most hardened of us have lost brave friends who lived not long enough to attend a Pearl Harbor Survivor ceremony at the mast in Library Park.
My first sea duty began aboard a submarine in Pearl Harbor in early 1947, too late for the attack in 1941 or to fight on patrol in the war. I was too young. But, oh how I learned the almost casual heroism of those who did. In 1947 submarines were still filled with men who had fought the war. What is little known is how tiny the American submarine force was and what enormous effect they had on World War II.
Only 208 American submarines, including early 1930s antiques, ever put to sea during the war, and one-fourth of them, 52, were lost forever, mostly with their entire crews. Nevertheless, they were well worth their cost; they represented only about 2 percent of the navy but sank 64 percent of all Japanese shipping.
Some fought at the attack at Pearl Harbor and then fought ”til the end. Last Sunday I realized that the “Pearl Harbor Survivors” who actually survived, entered the war at its first minute on Dec. 7, 1941, and fought through its horrors until the end in 1945.
They are now so pitifully few, only seven left in the county. I urge you to come out next December to the ceremony and pay honor to them. They are history and honor combined. They weren”t drafted; they were there.
Also, we owe thanks to Ronnie and Janeane Bogner for their thoughtfulness in arranging this ceremony each year.
Randy Ridgel
Kelseyville
Don”t forget to write!
The Clear Lake Observer*American welcomes letters responding to articles and opinions that have appeared in this newspaper, as well as on topics of general interest. Letters can be sent to ObserverAmerican@gmail.com or mailed to PO Box 6200, Clearlake, CA 95422. Please include complete name, address and telephone number. Anonymous submissions will be discarded.
