Letters for July 14, 2011

The beauty of creeks

Re “Two towns, two creeks” (From This Corner, by Robert Speer, July 7):

The old Fosters Freeze site on Broadway was a recent missed opportunity to take advantage of the beauty of Little Chico Creek.

The city’s planned development of the parcels at East 11th Street and Park Avenue presents a new opportunity to incorporate Little Chico Creek for the public’s enjoyment.

Big and Little Chico creeks are wonderful natural resources that could be better incorporated into the lives of the community and visitors.

David Hopper
Paradise

Salt and water

Re “Divisions and delusions” (Guest comment, by Thomas Mays, July 7):

Mr. Mays’ guest comment has a very important and much-needed message. However, the attempt to use the words “land” and “sea” to launch into the concept that somehow humans imagine a line that separates land from sea, thus having a division of the two, is highly questionable. The same is true of stating that, upon evaporation, we get salt-free molecules of water from the sea.

Indeed, evaporation of water leads to water vapors that are necessarily salt free. It is not the molecules of water that are salt free. For that matter, the molecules of water in the sea are also definitely salt free.

It is not obvious how observations couched in scientific terms are relevant to the message.

Brahama D. Sharma
Retired chemistry professor

Aesthetics before cars

Re “Modern monster?” (Newslines, by Tyler Ash, July 7):

I hate to see the interests of cars and parking being more important than aesthetics. Reduce the number of cars on the campus first. The area is flat—bike, take public transportation. Not all universities allow cars on campus (especially for freshmen). Don’t do this!

Cathy Porter
Moscow, Idaho

Don’t knock it

Re “Reverse makeover” (Newslines, by Christine G.K. LaPado, June 23):

I am a Parkview parent and a former Super Luper parent, and I have known about the Super Luper Preschool coming to Parkview. I am in full support of this program. My children attended both Super Luper Preschool and the Head Start program at Chapman, and I feel the future students of Super Luper Preschool are greatly going to benefit.

As far as neighbors not knowing—that’s unfortunate. However, I think the writer should have chosen an unbiased neighbor to interview, instead of a former CUSD employee.

As far as the garden is concerned, it was left unattended and unwatered. I am sure Super Luper will replant a garden while continuing to teach the children about growing their own food. I don’t think that we should “knock” the advancement of opportunities for our children.

Mandy Grainger
Chico

What about our spirits?

It is so ironic that the people of this world, especially America and its European allies, cannot figure out why they are becoming so obese. I cannot help but to contribute the truth to you. As you well know, all people think about are their material bodies; there is never any thought to the spirit that created them in some womb for nine months. “As a person thinks in their heart and believes in their mind, so shall they become.”

I have observed many people in my town of Chico obsessed with exercising their bodies, but I have yet to meet one person who knows the art of Zen and the fortunes of cultivating a divine human soul!

I have heard it said that a mind is a terrible thing to waste. Sadly, there is no one who even knows what a mind is! Believe me when I tell you that it is much more than the brain, and yet man has no idea what a brain is and how it works. I am asking every esteemed psychologist and mental-health expert to please tell me what a brain is and how it works.

More important, I want any professor to tell me what the human spirit is and how it works! You are the acclaimed teachers of the young minds of this world, but I have yet to meet anyone who can tell me how I was created in my mother’s womb.

Michael Philip Piña
Chico

Proper poop practices

Re “Cut moms some slack” (Letters, by Beth Presleigh, June 30) and “Growing green kids” (Greenways, by Claire Hutkins Seda, June 23):

I’m writing in response to a comment last week from a parent who apparently felt judged because she chose not to cloth diaper. I don’t feel that the article was judgmental at all—rather, very informative. Many people are unaware of the availability of eco-products in their community. Also, there is a misconception among many parents that cloth diapering is hard or more expensive.

Even though the CN&R is being nice and open-minded, I don’t have to be, so here’s my judgment:

I am a single mother who works five to six days a week and takes care of my mother who lives with me. One of my children has autism and requires extra care. I still read, dance, swim, etc., with my kids and still have time to myself. My mom did it with five kids. Women past have done it while tending a farm, milking cows, making clothes, making every meal from scratch.

So if you feel judged, fine. It’s because you’re lazy and would rather pollute the earth than take a couple of extra seconds to clean your kids’ poop off and send it down the toilet, where your poop goes.

P.S.: It’s cheaper, too!

Angela Reyes
Paradise

A celebration for Rudy

Several weeks have passed since the death of Rudy Giscombe. The outpouring of community response is truly astounding. Personalized handwritten cards and letters, photos, and medical-expense donations flood the mailbox each day.

Heartfelt gratitude is expressed to all who love and support Rudy. He is a force of nature that continues to unite us.

On May 26, 2012, we will celebrate Rudy’s birthday. Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. is donating their Big Room for the event. Local jazz musicians will headline. Rudy’s extensive photography collection will be auctioned. Proceeds will seed the Rudy Giscombe Scholarship Fund for the Arts.

Save this very important date and stay tuned for further announcements. Let us smile, laugh, and kick up our heels at Rudy Giscombe’s Birthday Celebration. See you there.

Cheryl Giscombe
Chico

Saving cats and dogs

Thanks largely to spaying and neutering, the number of homeless animals that must be euthanized each year has dropped from as many as 20 million before 1970 to around 4 million today. But as long as any animals are being born only to die for lack of good homes, we still have a long way to go.

Animal shelters are often unfairly blamed for the animal overpopulation and homelessness crisis and resulting need for euthanasia, but they are simply cleaning up after society’s irresponsibility. Shelters are homeless animals’ only hope—providing cats and dogs that have nowhere else to go with a comfortable place to rest, nutritious food and clean water, veterinary care, love, and a chance at finding a new home.

No one wants to end euthanasia more than the brave people who perform this heartbreaking task, but they don’t have a magic wand—they need everyone’s help to make it happen.

It is up to each one of us to prevent the needless deaths of healthy, loving cats and dogs by always having our animal companions spayed or neutered and encouraging and helping our friends, family, and neighbors to do the same; adopting animals from shelters; and never buying animals from breeders or pet stores.

Daphna Nachminovitch
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)
Norfolk, Va.

You too can adopt a class

In 1997, Chico Performances started a program at Chico State called Adopt-A-Class. Adopt-A-Class connects individuals, business, and schoolchildren with the arts and education. Local businesses, individuals and service groups “adopt” school classes so they may attend Field Trip performances at Laxson Auditorium at no cost to the teachers, school, district or students themselves.

Last year, more than 75 classrooms enjoyed music, dance, theater and lecture at no cost, thanks to the sponsorship of 25 businesses and individuals in the North Valley.

Our goal this year is to increase the number of students who attend a free Field Trip by 25 percent. To do this we need at least 20 new adopters to sponsor Field Trips for local school children. A minimum donation of $200 ($275 for Peking Acrobats) will allow one class to attend one field trip at no cost to the school, the teacher or the children.

Daran Goodsell
Chico Performances
Chico

Correction

Last week’s lead Newslines story, “Modern monster?” (Newslines, by Tyler Ash, July 7), misstated where the walkway behind the parking structure will be narrowest. It will be just 10 feet behind the Dean House. We apologize for the error.—ed.