Owen a good woman and fantastic community member
My name is Bill Foltmer, I am a long-time resident of Hidden Valley Lake and I proudly support Helen Owen for District 1 Supervisor. She is a good woman and a fantastic community member. Helen, coming from a family with deep generational roots in Lake County, knows our communities. Helen is a lifetime Middletown resident and local business owner. Helen is well known and respected in the South County area.
The Owen family hosts youth rodeo events on their ranch and Helen volunteers her time in numerous ways supporting our communities’ county wide. One of the ways that she supports our County is that during emergency situations she helps to evacuate, transports and board animals at her ranch.
One of my favorite things about Mrs. Owen is what she does for the Middletown High School Football Program. She established over 20 years ago the presentation of the United States and California Flags on horseback by our equestrian youth at our annual Homecoming Football game. Year after year ever since she has organized and choreographed this highly anticipated tradition that is patriotic and well attended.
I have no doubt in my mind that if elected, Helen Owen will represent District 1 well and absolutely listen to the people. I am proud to call Helen Owen my friend and I strongly endorse her for District 1 Supervisor.
—Bill Foltmer, Middletown
Mike Thompson working for 4th District residents
As Your Congressman, I’m Here to Serve You
As your representative, my team and I work around the clock to ensure 4th District residents have access to relevant services and resources.
Our services include agency assistance to help residents navigate the complex federal agency system, including assistance working with the Social Security Administration, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the IRS, or any other federal agency.
I also offer nominations for qualified high school seniors looking to serve their country by enrolling in one of our Military Academies. These include nominations for appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York; the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland; the U.S. Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, Colorado; and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York.
As a combat Vietnam veteran, I am committed to helping my fellow veterans get the benefits and health care they deserve. My office can support service members and veterans and their survivors in accessing the benefits they are owed.
Constituents of California’s 4th Congressional District can also order a United States flag through my Washington, D.C. office. And to anyone planning a visit to Washington, my Washington office can help arrange a tour of many of the city’s most popular attractions.
If you are in need of support, contact my nearest office: Napa (707-226-9898), Santa Rosa (707-542-7182), Woodland (530-753-5301), or Washington (202-225-3311) or contact me online at mikethompson.house.gov
—Rep. Mike Thompson
Concern over the devastation commercial tobacco continues to cause in our community
The Record Bee’s recent article covering the Supervisors’ smoking ordinance update was intended to be a brief summary. However, it only featured the words of the sole opponent of the ordinance. Meanwhile, two of the four supporters, Supervisors Sabatier and Pyska, offered newsworthy, heartfelt, and crucial affirmations about saving lives and improving the health of Lake County residents. Why is this important? Commercial tobacco use is the No. 1 cause of preventable disease, death, and disability both here and across the U.S. Secondhand smoke exposure is the third leading cause of preventable disease and death. Lake County has the highest smoking rate in California, with nearly a quarter of our population smoking. This rate exceeds even the highest state smoking rates in the U.S., including West Virginia, Arkansas, and Tennessee.
At the BOS, Supervisor Sabatier highlighted the connection between these rates and the chronic prevalence of cancer, heart disease, and lung disease. Over the past week and since June, a diverse cross-section of leaders and community members have written to or attended County Supervisors meetings multiple times, voicing concern over the devastation that commercial tobacco continues to cause in our community. These voices include representatives from the Lake County Office of Education, superintendents from all county school districts, health providers, preventive health organizations, multiple local law enforcement agencies, and grassroots community members, including parents and youth.
The testimonials and concerns of these members of Lake County’s community-led preventive health movement are the real scoop, the real story. The Blue Zones Project Lake County strives to bring attributes from areas where people live longer around the world. One of these is helping people and communities flip the script on unhealthy habits and mindsets, working together to make healthier choices easier choices. Lake County has a growing movement to reclaim health and well-being. Remembering our progress, both personally and as a community, is key to fostering a mindset that will help expand this progress. One of our most urgent priorities is solving the chronic teen nicotine vaping epidemic and reducing smoking rates and exposure.
Please invest more in covering this angle of the bigger story—our county’s progress. The 20th-century mindsets compromised by Big Tobacco, which have enabled, promoted, and normalized high local smoking rates, are old news. Please cover the expanding local health movement. Please tell the personal stories of those advocating for stronger commercial tobacco retail policies and protections for non-smokers. These policy innovations are evidence-based and have been shown across California to lower teen nicotine initiation rates and reduce smoking in general. Lake County is making great strides and incredible positive changes for health and well-being. Please tell this story too. Your readers want to hear it.
—Greg Damron MPA, Public Policy Advocate Blue Zones Project
