Letters to the Editor Nov. 10, 2009

To those who contributed to the three-part story of Mari Tardiff, I thank you. All of us who love Mari and Peter and have felt so distraught over her sudden illness and lacked the understanding of what really happened, only that she had drank raw milk, and just getting bits and pieces of information here and there.

I really appreciate the very in-depth description of her illness and now am able to understand all the intricate details of her tragedy. The story of Mari is one of the two best I have seen in the almost 40 years that I have lived in Del Norte County.  The other of course was of Bruno de Solenni’s life in Afghanistan before we lost him there.

The only element that Mari’s story missed was that of someone who knows her, her laughter, her great upbeat personality, her sweetness. She always makes you feel good knowing her.

I had the good fortune to sell them their home when they first came to live in Del Norte County. Many of us would like to do something for her and feel helpless as to what we can do. I would like to ask those of you in your churches to pray and those who pray to a greater power for her complete wellness and give her body and her family the strength to achieve her goal. There is tremendous power in prayer, and Mari has what it takes in her to do this for her self and her family.

Thank God for Peter and their boys ... and now that the litigation problem has been resolved, the mental can heal along with the physical. Just know, Tardiff family, you are loved and maybe you can feel the warm arms of all those out here that are pulling for your full recovery. God bless.

Mimi Stephens

Hiouchi

Outstanding Legislator of the year award withheld by CSBA

Last week, the California School Boards Association announced its decision to withhold its 20-year tradition of presenting the Outstanding Legislator of the year award. After consideration of the $12.5 billion in cuts to education enacted this year, and additional delays in the allocation of billions of dollars of school funds, CSBA’s legislative committee came to the conclusion that no legislator was worthy of this prestigious award.

The decision was enacted by a unanimous vote, following a comprehensive analysis of each nominee’s 2009 voting record on budget-related bills and key policy legislation. The committee felt the Legislature failed to stand up for California’s students and schools when they needed it most.

President-elect Frank Pugh added the following statement.

“Sure, there are some legislators who have done good things for education, and others that we admire for their efforts. But for crying out loud, schools have been cut by $2,100 per student. We’d be nuts to present this award to anybody in a year when the cuts are going to have detrimental effects on an entire generation of students. We just have to draw the line somewhere.”

California School Boards Association’s OLY award was created to recognize the hard work of assembly members and senators who devote extensive efforts to the development and success of California’s schools. But the collective failure of California’s elected leaders in Sacramento to keep education funding a priority has left schools across the state with no choice but to make devastating cuts.

For the past two years the Legislature and governor have been engaged in a race to the bottom, by seriously underfunding our schools and robbing Del Norte County’s children of an adequate education. And although it is no surprise that we are unable to applaud even one legislator for his or her role as an outstanding leader, it is still a shameful reality that we can no longer look to our state officials to support quality education for our youth.

Bob Berkowitz

Member, Del Norte County School Board and California School Boards Association

Disappointed in woman who passed counterfeit bill at Java Hut

Two weeks ago Saturday a counterfeit $100 bill was passed at one of our Java Hut businesses.

The woman in the late model green Toyota Camry drove away with good bills for a phony. Our employee offered to pay us back for the counterfeit but we would not do that to a young student trying to do her best.  My disappointment comes from the older woman driving the Camry who knowingly passed this bad bill. The character and integrity of my employee far surpasses you.

We have a fine group of young people that are working hard to provide you, our customers, with the best products and service in this county.  One of my goals as an employer is to encourage my staff to always do the very best that you can wherever you are;  to be a person that can be trusted and working to the best of their ability, whether it is preparing a drink, cleaning a blender or washing the floor!

During this holiday season I am thankful for all we have but more importantly the people that we are blessed to call family, friends, customers and employees!

Adrienne Anthony

Java Hut