House Calls runs every other Thursday. Today’s column is written by Sharryn Jones, a physical therapist at Sutter Coast Hospital.

The time has come for school to start again here in Crescent City after the Labor Day holiday. 

As some school districts consider swapping heavy textbooks for e-reader tablets, local health experts understand the impact an overloaded backpack can have on a child — aching back and shoulders, tingling arms, stooped posture and weakened muscles. But parents can help prevent these possible pains in a few simple ways.

According to experts within the Sutter Health System, parents are often surprised at how much their child’s backpack actually weigh.  As a general rule, to prevent injury, your child’s full backpack should weigh no more than 10 to 20 percent of his or her body weight.

I’m disgusted with how Silvey’s alleged actions impact Senior Ctr.

I’m sure I’m not alone in expressing my dismay and disgust at how Eileen Silvey’s alleged actions have damaged our Senior Center, as well as the much-needed Energy Assistance Program (“Scandal at the Senior Center: Former manager jailed; suspected of embezzlement,” Aug. 20).

My feeling is this: If the accusations are true, Ms. Silvey should sell her house, her car, her daughter’s car, the tennis bracelet, etc., etc., to pay back that money to the government.

To quote Forrest Gump, “That’s all I’ve got to say about that.”

Heidi Bauman

Crescent City

I don’t often respond in print to letters to the editor criticizing some aspect of our news product. The critics deserve their say, of course, and Tuesday’s edition featured missives from two of them. This time I am responding but hey, at least I waited a day.

Roger Gitlin took offense at my writing in a Saturday Editor’s Note column (“Tea Party surveys fairgoers”) that some county fairgoers probably stayed away from the Tea Party booth because they didn’t support that organization’s political philosophy. The implication was that I was singling out the Tea Party, when some fairgoers were no doubt choosing not to visit other booths as well.

Lost in that analysis is the fact that my whole column was singling out the Tea Party, because that was the organization that conducted a public opinion survey at the fair. Mary Wilson was kind enough to loan me the survey results, which I felt provided insight into the attitudes and concerns of local residents.

Ionce thought I had very vivid memories. Now I know I have flashbacks, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Usually caused by trauma, flashbacks transport you back to another time and place, complete with all the scents, sounds and emotions of the original experience.

The good part is that once you understand what’s happening and begin addressing the original issues, you can enjoy the flashbacks that aren’t traumatic. The only problem is that you can’t plan them, can’t avoid them and have no clue what will trigger them until the trigger’s been pulled.

Last week I was enjoying a sunny afternoon when a cricket transported me to a field surrounded by spruce trees during the opening ceremonies of the Siletz powwow.

Del Norte County will lose critical federal funding to keep our schools open and roads paved unless the federal government reauthorizes its decades-long commitment to communities with federal forest land.

The Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act may be little known, but it is a key fixture in our county’s ability to provide the most basic services to those that work and live in our area. You can get involved now by contacting Congress and urging it to support this vital program for America’s rural communities. 

When the federal government created the national forest systems in the early 20th century, millions of acres of forested land were brought into federal ownership.  While there were conservation benefits to this historic act, communities like our own must grapple with more limited economic development opportunities. We can’t build houses or businesses in the national forest.

A reader’s thoughts on survey by the Tea Party at the DN fair

I must acknowledge I was of the 254 who answered questions at the Tea Party booth at the fair. 

Triplicate Editor Richard Wiens essentially “got it right” when he writes, “The Tea Party, of course, represents the right-hand side of the political spectrum, so it’s only reasonable to expect the survey results to lean heavily conservative.”

However, Editor Wiens begins to raise my eyebrow when he writes many people may have chosen not to stop at the Tea Party booth. Certainly, there were many who did not stop by the fuchsia display, a quilt booth, or even the Democratic Party booth, all which was within eyesight of the Tea Party booth. People were just walking around enjoying the fair.

I was one of those who “lingered about” after I finished my survey. I am one of those who believe:

Perhaps it was the rather authentic-looking million-, billion- and zillion-dollar bills it was handing out.

The Del Norte County Tea Party managed to get 254 people to fill out opinion surveys during the county fair. And while the results are far from scientific, they do offer some insight into the current attitudes and concerns of North Coast residents.

The Tea Party, of course, generally represents the right-hand side of the political spectrum, so it’s only reasonable to expect the survey results to lean heavily conservative. Many people of other persuasions probably chose not to even stop at the Tea Party booth, even if they had been willing to take a few minutes out of their fair day to fill out a form.

RHS tsunami work crew member: Program is restoring lost jobs

Regarding the letters from Jim Wisbauer (“Make-work project in town a complete waste of tax money,” Aug. 12) and Floyd Burgess (“People in orange vests standing around could do more work,” Aug. 18) thank you for your input.

I am a Rural Human Services tsunami crew member. Your letters have been read and discussed by the RHS team and “orange jackets.” We know all eyes are on us. I hope you realize the RHS crew members are not afraid to work harder. We are new to this work.

Any input on jobs big or small to do in Crescent City, Del Norte County and our beloved fishing harbor are highly appreciated. These RHS crews want to work and are available to start and finish any job with a positive attitude.

From the pages of the Del Norte Triplicate, August 1963.

Supervisors considered this week a request from the Klamath game warden for a determination of the mouth of the Klamath River.

Its precise location has never been established and fishermen, who are considered by the Fish and Game Department to be taking fish illegally in the ocean, believe themselves to be taking fish in the mouth of the river.

Eugene Whallon was instructed to determine the spot at which the river meets the high water mark of the Pacific Ocean.

One of many traits I appreciate in old friend Murray is her clarity

Dear editor and citizens of the northern Crescent City (because you all already identify with the other “Crescent City” in turmoil):

I have known Kathryn Murray for more decades than either of us would volunteer to identify. Or count. But we would both answer truly if pressed for decades or dates.

Her city of choice (which was Eureka’s loss) was to move to your coastal city. The decision was made to accommodate her family, her commitment, her dedication to making everywhere around her a better place.