Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/29946
4A – Daily News – Saturday, April 23, 2011 Opinion Resist oppression Editor: D NEWSAILY RED BLUFF TEHAMACOUNTY T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U N T Y S I N C E 1 8 8 5 On April 11, as I was just fin- Greg Stevens, Publisher gstevens@redbluffdailynews.com Chip Thompson, Editor editor@redbluffdailynews.com Editorial policy The Daily News opinion is expressed in the editorial. The opinions expressed in columns, letters and cartoons are those of the authors and artists. Letter policy The Daily News welcomes let- ters from its readers on timely topics of public interest. All let- ters must be signed and pro- vide the writer’s home street address and home phone num- ber. Anonymous letters, open letters to others, pen names and petition-style letters will not be allowed. Letters should be typed and cannot exceed two double-spaced pages or 500 words. When several letters address the same issue, a cross section of those submit- ted will be considered for publi- cation. Letters will be edited. Letters are published at the discretion of the editor. Mission Statement We believe that a strong com- munity newspaper is essential to a strong community, creating citizens who are better informed and more involved. The Daily News will be the indispensible guide to life and living in Tehama County. We will be the premier provider of local news, information and advertising through our daily newspaper, online edition and other print and Internet vehi- cles. The Daily News will reflect and support the unique identities of Tehama County and its cities; record the history of its com- munities and their people and make a positive difference in the quality of life for the resi- dents and businesses of Tehama County. How to reach us Main office: 527-2151 Classified: 527-2151 Circulation: 527-2151 News tips: 527-2153 Sports: 527-2153 Obituaries: 527-2151 Photo: 527-2153 On the Web www.redbluffdailynews.com Fax Newsroom: 527-9251 Classified: 527-5774 Retail Adv.: 527-5774 Legal Adv.: 527-5774 Business Office: 527-3719 Address 545 Diamond Ave. Red Bluff, CA 96080, or P.O. Box 220 Red Bluff, CA 96080 ishing burning a small pile of prunings, three CalFire trucks and two sheriff’s deputies rolled up and demanded I extinguish my fire. I defended that I was posing no fire risk, but rather mitigating risk by burning my prunings in advance of the fire season. No matter, they said, a new law says I’m not allowed to burn after 5 p.m. I defended it was not my policy to comply with oppressive laws that make no sense. When the deputy then asked for my identification, I refused, reminding him I was on my own property and not hurting anyone. He then asked if I wanted to go to jail. I told him I’d rather go to jail than acquiesce to a band of thugs bullying me on my own property. I then countered that they them- selves were breaking the law — trespassing — and I asked them to leave. When they refused, I asked to see their identifications. Only the sheriff’s deputies complied. A CDF official then radioed a fire engine, which came up the hill and extinguished my fire. I then grabbed my video camera to tape the ridiculous events. When I returned, the sheriff’s deputies were down talking to my neigh- bors, who apparently reported my burning to get back at me for com- plaining about their loud music and barking dogs. It’s good to know state and Tehama County tax dollars are being well spent. Nathan Esplanade, Corning Business senseless Editor: A friend of mine decided she wanted to buy a new refrigerator. After a couple of weeks of shop- ping around, and comparing them, she found the one she wanted. Then she decided to shop local- ly, instead of online, or in Redding or Chico, where she could have gotten her refrigerator much cheaper. That left two businesses to chose from. The first business gave her a good deal, promised that it would- n't be a floor model, and would deliver on Saturday, between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Then slammed the competitor that carried the same make and model, assuring her that she chose the right place to buy, and the other place would deliver damaged goods. On Saturday, she called at 2 p.m. to get a time of delivery. They called her back, at 2:55 p.m. informing her that her refrigerator wouldn't be delivered until Mon- day. On Monday, when it did show up late, the inside was filthy, it had smudge marks inside, the shelves had been wedged in, the doors did- n't shut right and there was notice- able damage on the outside. Needless to say, it was taken back, and she got a full refund. Then she went to the other busi- ness, got a better deal, and promised a Saturday delivery, between 9-11 a.m. Assuring her that the delivery man shows up at 8:30 a.m., and she would be the first delivery. Her new refrigerator before you can benefit from it. You also worry your children and grandchildren will be saddled with a big debt. Well, you should — but let's put the blame where it belongs. arrived at 11 a.m. The delivery man apologized for being late, even though he was within the time period. And the refrigera- tor had all the protective linings on every surface. Basically, business number two delivered as promised and busi- ness number one dropped the ball. Maybe they should take lessons from business number two, instead of slamming them. Used to be, keep the customer happy, but you don't see that much anymore. Maybe all businesses should go back to that philosophy and people might shop your busi- ness with confidence. Just something to think about, before you lose more customers. Roger Gauthier, Red Bluff Social Security Editor: Attn: Baby Boomers, you worry that Social Security will fail Your Turn Pres. F. D. Roosevelt estab- lished Social Security — and did it right. Later presidents have been robbing the Social Security account. When Reagan was president, accountants discovered many thousands of money was missing from the Social Security account. Reagan's answer? "Oh yes, I forgot to tell you I borrowed it to balance the budget." Borrowing implies a payback. Never has any money been returned — by any president. Now it's happened yet again.The Daily news recently reported that Obama took many thousands from that same account. No wonder Social Security is in jeopardy. If it had been left alone, Social Security would be healthy for years to come because it was designed to be self-sustaining. If you question this, check it out on your own computer. It is quite disturbing and very eye opening. Let's all remember this at elec- tion time. Ruth Holmes, Gerber Your officials STATE ASSEMBLYMAN — Jim Nielsen (R) State Capitol Bldg., Room 6031 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 319-2002; Fax (916) 319-2102 STATE SENATOR — Doug LaMalfa (R) State Capitol Bldg., Room 3070 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 651-4004; Fax (916) 445-7750 GOVERNOR — Jerry Brown, State Capitol Bldg., Sacramento, CA 95814; (916) 445-2841; Fax (916) 558-3160; E-mail: gover- nor@governor.ca.gov. U.S. REPRESENTATIVE — Wally Herger (R), 2635 Forest Ave. Ste. 100, Chico, CA 95928; 893-8363. U.S.SENATORS — Dianne Feinstein (D), One Post Street, Suite 2450, San Francisco, CA 94104; (415) 393-0707. Fax (415) 393-0710. Barbara Boxer (D), 1700 Montgomery St., Suite 240, San Francisco, CA 94111; (415) 403-0100. Fax (202) 224- 0454. A pool, right here in River City Commentary Trouble, oh we got trouble, Right here in River City! With a capital "T" That rhymes with "P" And that stands for Pool, That stands for pool. — From the Music Man Most of us remember Professor Harold Hill singing of the evils of having a pool hall in a certain Iowa town. If we are not careful, we could be singing the blues about not having a swimming pool, right here in River City, I mean Red Bluff. The City Pool, as we came to call it was the summertime focal point in our family’s life for at least 15 summers while our children were growing up. We brought the kids there to enjoy the pool, sup- ported them while they swam for the Red Bluff Tritons, and watched our younger son work there during his summers home from college. Jim, our younger son, sent me an email, asking that I write some- thing about the pool, our memories of it, and the important role it plays in our community. He had received an email from a friend of ours who also had children on the swim team, and who had enjoyed the City Pool while he was growing up in Red Bluff. The City Pool is an enormous pool, Olympic size, and over 74 years old. Like most of us in our 70’s it requires repair and mainte- nance, often expensive; unlike us, however, the pool does not have Medicare and supplemental health insurance, and, as most of us real- ize, the City’s coffers are barren. Therefore it takes volunteer effort to raise the funding needed to oper- ate and maintain the pool. Normal- ly the pool operates nine weeks of the summer and relies on Mother Nature to heat it. The McGlynn Family donated the pool, and its land; they also obtained the grants needed to open the pool after losing a family friend in the nearby Sacramento River. The pool was donated to the City to provide a safe place for children to swim; it is hard to place a dollar value on safety, but the recent data released by the Robert Wood John- son Foundation (see next week’s column) underscores our need for healthy, safe places, and reason- ably affordable recreation in Red Bluff and Tehama County. Schools are no longer able to provide the programs once available to youth; the Parks and Recreation programs are a mere shadow of their former selves. Having a pool as large and as old as the City Pool may seem like an extravagance, even in good eco- nomic times; however, I believe the pool is an invaluable resource to our community and our youth, in particular. It is a place where peo- ple can gather and have “good clean fun.” Blues for the Pool was orga- nized in 2002 to help with funding the pool. Over the years it has raised sufficient funds to keep the pool open; the pool was closed once, in 2007. Current efforts involve the creation of the 400 Club, hoping to get at least 400 people or businesses to donate at least $100. Those donating will be recognized, but anonymous dona- tions are okay, if you’re shy. I recently visited a woman who passed away just a couple of weeks ago; she had long time roots in Red Bluff, and she referred to it as “Dead Bluff”. In her youth, she said, if it weren’t for the church and the pool there would be nothing to do in the sum- mer. She had fond mem- ories of both and shared one of her few remaining smiles when she remi- nisced about them. Our family's memo- ries are more recent; they include: a cold July Red Bluff Triton Invita- tional swim meet when we had to wear jackets and rain coats to conduct a swim meet (those who came a long way for the meet were shocked by the rare July weather); a swimmer on a scholarship who biked all the way from Proberta to be on the team; a friend diving into the pool to stop a swimmer who had false started, before he remembered he had his contact lenses in (we had to stop the meet to allow swimmers to search for them, one swimmer found one); writing young swimmers events on their hands so they would remember when it was their turn to swim; a former Marine parent swimming the length of the pool with a perfect butterfly stroke; for- mer swim coach John Wyness swimming the length of the pool underwater; kids lined up and clamoring to get in at pool opening time; the happy noises of children splashing and jumping enjoying the relief from the normally oppressive Red Bluff summer Joe Harrop heat; family picnics at the pool; the large number of young parents smiling as their children were introduced to water safety; our son providing swim lessons; and, of course, the shock when taking that first plunge before Mother Nature could work her summer magic to heat the pool. Blues for the Pool is sponsoring a festival to support the pool on the weekend of June 25th. This will be “A city wide celebration with 3 days of fun-filled activi- ties to attract local and non-local RBUHS alumni to visit Red Bluff for the weekend while joining and recon- necting events and activ- ities. This 3 day festival begins with a kickoff party at Wilcox Oaks, a fun River Park Festival, an evening Dance Party at the Fair- grounds, and Sport Challenges throughout the city.” Their hope is that between this event and other activities they will raise the $40,000 necessary to keep the pool open for another summer. The fes- tival is on the weekend of RBHS reunion activities, so that may draw some participants who remember the pool with great fondness. Mark the date on your calendar, and consider joining the 400 Club. Take the plunge. Joe Harrop is a retired educator with more than 30 years of service to the North State. He can be reached at DrJoeHarrop@sbcglobal.net.