Funding for education has been decimated by the current state leadership. At a time when lawmakers mouth the importance of improved test scores and quality education, they are firing young teachers and increasing class sizes!

Locally, school district leaders are choosing to “balance the budget” on the backs of students, teachers, and support staff by laying off school site employees.  In our county, 10 percent of the Del Norte Unified School District teaching positions have been eliminated in the past three years. At the same time, administrative costs have increased with only a few reductions in days and no reductions in administrative positions.

One of my favorite pastimes as a former Warrior coach is to look back at past players position-by-position and try to pick my dream team.

When I look at the tight end position one name always pops up and that is Nick Baker.

As a former supervisor who was very involved in the matter of Tolowa Dunes State Park, Lake Earl flooding and the closing of Kellogg Beach to traditional uses, I take exception to Peter Douglas’ rantings at Del Norte County’s government decisions (“‘Rogue behavior’ cited: Coastal chief blames damage on the county,” March 4).

This Saturday, March 13, The Daily Triplicate, with the help of sponsors and friends, is bringing the authors of “Locally Delicious” to the fairgrounds for a book signing and presentation. The ladies from Humboldt County, known as the “Heirloom Tomatoes,” have compiled recipes and resources for eating on the North Coast. “The first goal of Locally Delicious is to encourage you to obtain a larger percentage of your food from our region,” editor-in-chief Ann Anderson writes in the forward. “Eating within our region gives you better-tasting food, improves your nutrition and our local economy and enriches our community.”

This is that uncomfortable part of the year when we’re forced to remember that climate is what we expect and weather is what we get. We go to bed gazing at a full moon and wake in darkness to the sound of thundering rain and wind chimes. Magically, by morning the sky is clear and the sun comes up but the whole world drips and there’s a river running down the driveway.

Throughout the day, sunshine and showers alternate every couple hours while the barometer bounces up and down and the ears of the barometrically sensitive pop and ache.

The North Coast deserves a thriving economy that celebrates our magnificent natural resources, rewards innovation and supports communities with family-wage jobs.

Despite incessant calls for greater diversity in our economy, no business sector has stepped up to drive an economic revival. Ecotourism has yet to be a significant economic factor in our economy.

Perhaps Arbor Day/Week March 7-17, with its focus on conservation and planting trees, will shift attention to an often overlooked path toward economic stability.