Letters to the editor

Beginning of end

for Candy Dance

Editor:

Candy Dance, a time-honored tradition for Genoa and Douglas County, began in 1919 as a means to provide funds for street lights in Genoa. Over the years it has evolved from not only a dinner-dance, but into a two-day juried arts and crafts show, providing the primary source of revenue - 75-80 percent - to support the town. It was never intended to be an event for personal gain.

The proceeds realized by Genoa come from the rental of spaces to juried artisans and food vendors. Genoans and outside volunteers spend hundreds of hours every year to insure the success of Candy Dance.

Some businesses have cooperated with the town in allowing juried vendors to be placed on their property and sharing in the proceeds. Other businesses piggyback on Candy Dance and rent spaces to nonjuried vendors, some without permits and not contributing in any way to the town.

Last year an individual who lives at the Lake and owns property in Genoa that is zoned residential/commercial was permitted by the county to rent more than 60 spaces to nonjuried vendors, and, according to rumor, pocketed more than $30,000. The county has once again (this time with the town board accepting their ruling in the hopes of being able to negotiate resolution to this undermining of Candy Dance before the 2009 event) issued permits to these "stand-alone" events. I understand the local businesses' desire to realize a profit during these two days of Candy Dance, and I applaud those businesses who cooperate with and operate under the permits secured by Genoa.

However, the bottom line and the big question is who - when Candy Dance dies and it surely will with the county issuing permits for individuals to have their own events on the same weekend with no apparent regard for the established purpose of Candy Dance - will provide the revenue to operate the town? When the death knell tolls for Candy Dance, the county will have to assume the expense of running Genoa, impacting every taxpayer in Douglas County. Because of today's economy, Douglas County has had to cut back on some very worthwhile programs, including funds for the library. Are they ready to take on the support of Genoa? Is it really possible that just a few people can "kill the goose that lays the golden egg" for Genoa? I surely hope not.

Marian Vassar

Genoa

If you build it, they might come

Editor:

I have read with interest the letters and articles of those who predict the construction of Piñon Aero as the beginning of the end of our Minden-Tahoe Airport as we know it.

While these writers have predicted that corporate jets are simply waiting for a place to park before they inundate us en masse, I find their thought processes are based on misinformation.

The facts are that the Brown Jet Center began leasing hangar space in 2004. Our 15 state-of-the-art hangars were built to accommodate small and large aircraft. Since the hangars' completion, we have consistently had a vacancy factor, up to and including today. We enjoy a tenant mix of local business owners and individual aircraft owners. We have only one jet tenant. This is reality at the Minden-Tahoe Airport. Any speculation as to the changing use is just that: Speculation.

Our airport serves the community well. It is user-supported and takes no funds from the Douglas County coffers, or from nonairport users; it actually pays its way. A wonderful asset to our community, it serves the needs of Carson Valley and will continue to do so.

Barbara R. Hall

property manager, the Brown Jet Center

Minden-Tahoe Airport

Environmentalists responsible for high gas prices

Editor:

I was distressed to see that when the question was asked by the Nevada Appeal "Who or what is responsible for the current gas prices?" none of the respondents got it right. No, it is not the greedy oil companies - they are trying to make a profit for their shareholders like any other corporation (and anyone who owns mutual funds or has a pension or 401K is probably a shareholder in at least one oil company). And no, we are not running out of oil on planet Earth, or reaching peak oil production, so that we must reduce our use. Yes, it's a good idea to try to reduce our dependence on foreign oil by using other energy sources, but the real reason for the current crises in oil prices lies right here at home. We have plenty of oil in mainland U.S.A. and Alaska, but the environmentalists have not allowed us to drill for it. And we also have not been allowed to build more gasoline refineries. As long as the American public does not do anything about the stranglehold that radical environmentalists have on this country, our gasoline prices will continue to rise.

David Thomas

Gardnerville

Support Devore

Editor:

Years ago my daughter was involved in a scary and rare incident in Alpine County. It eventually evolved into litigation in which it became necessary for me to contact the Alpine County Superior Court every so many years. In the past seven or so years, I have communicated with Judge Dave Devore through phone hearings and correspondence. He and his staff have always been prompt, efficient and had a good understanding of the case, as well as my situation and needs. Although I am not a resident of Alpine County, I believe through my dealings with Judge Devore, the residents of Alpine County have someone on the bench who is doing a very good job for them and he will continue to do so if elected again.

Dave D'Amico

Gardnerville

Made in America?

Editor:

Whatever happened to "made in America?" Case in point, I recently bought a jar of Pond's moisturizing cream. Imagine my surprise to see the advertising on the jar in Spanish. Why? Because Pond's, an American company, manufactures their cream in Mexico. Unfortunately, this is not unique. I bought a sweater by Liz Claiborne, also an American company. Or so I thought. The tag showed that the sweater material was from Indonesia, and the sweater itself manufactured in China.

Will we ever see "made in America" on American products? Or are we doomed to outsource even the basics in order for big corporations to pad their bottom line?

I am a discouraged and disappointed American.

Dee Rasmussen

M.A. Martin

Gardnerville

Support Devore for Alpine judge

Editor:

Years ago my daughter was involved in a scary and rare incident in Alpine County. It eventually evolved into litigation in which it became necessary for me to contact the Alpine County Superior Court every so many years. In the past seven or so years, I have communicated with Judge Dave Devore through phone hearings and correspondence. He and his staff have always been prompt, efficient and had a good understanding of the case, as well as my situation and needs. Although I am not a resident of Alpine County, I believe through my dealings with Judge Devore, the residents of Alpine County have someone on the bench who is doing a very good job for them and he will continue to do so if elected again.

Dave D'Amico

Gardnerville

What's made in America anymore?

Editor:

Whatever happened to "made in America?" Case in point, I recently bought a jar of Pond's moisturizing cream. Imagine my surprise to see the advertising on the jar in Spanish. Why? Because Pond's, an American company, manufactures their cream in Mexico. Unfortunately, this is not unique. I bought a sweater by Liz Claiborne, also an American company. Or so I thought. The tag showed that the sweater material was from Indonesia, and the sweater itself manufactured in China.

Will we ever see "made in America" on American products? Or are we doomed to outsource even the basics in order for big corporations to pad their bottom line?

I am a discouraged and disappointed American.

Dee Rasmussen

M.A. Martin

Gardnerville

Project went too far in its proposal

Editor:

I couldn't agree more with Rep. Dean Heller, R-Nev., that the wilderness advocates who are proposing nearly 700,000 acres of public land be congressionally designated "overplayed their hand." I'm aware these same advocates are now saying they don't have a proposal together yet, and that may have worked in their letter to the Legislative Committee on Public Lands on April 4 but it doesn't cut it with those of us with maps that say "Mineral County Proposed Wilderness Areas Draft - Feb. 1, 2008."

It is glaringly apparent that the Nevada Wilderness Project proponents got a wee bit heady over the way they trounced all over Lincoln and White Pine counties.

Our sincerest regrets go out to our sister counties for not having been more aware of the horrendous abuse you had to endure. When it came to Lyon and Mineral counties, they just barged full steam ahead and probably thought there would be little more than a peep.

One can't help but wonder if these advocates for taking away lands that belong to all of the people of this country think they've bought so much of Sen. Harry Reid that they can now just march through Nevada like Attila the Hun, finding opposition, but not enough that it cannot be easily crushed.

Perhaps these smug, "we know better than you" people who say they have "data" derived from their "studies" of these areas would be willing to share those studies to show those of us who actually live in these areas what horrendous things we've allowed to happen to the "pristine" areas of counties.

Perhaps these environmental know-it-alls have never heard of the great mining rush called the Comstock. Or that 10,000 people were at Aurora in what is now southern Mineral County and that when they couldn't stake a claim there they went out into the hills to find a mine of their own. Is their tunnel vision such that they cannot see these lands have been mined over and worked over for more than a century now?

Perhaps they should share how at other places where they managed to steal the public lands, they're now having to advertise for volunteers to go out and rub out those 140 year old roads that our pioneer settlers worked so hard to build so that others wouldn't have it so hard to get from one place to another. Perhaps they can explain how it is, in these now designated wilderness areas, they tell the volunteers they'll need 4X4 vehicles to get in and out when motorized vehicles are not allowed in wilderness areas.

Can we spell hypocrisy?

Sue Silver

Hawthorne

Thanks to those in our hour of need

Editor:

As the 1-year anniversary of our loved one, James W. Decker, M.D., has passed, we would like to thank all of our friends, family and the community, who have helped us through this difficult time.

We especially would like to thank the East Fork Fire & Paramedic Districts unit that always responded so promptly, professionally and with compassion, especially Matt Hill and Heidi Neilson.

We would also like to thank the Dougals County Sheriff's Office chaplain department, who quietly provided support at the time of Jim's passing.

Thank you to our backyard neighbors George and Judy Keele, and their family. They were there when we needed extra help and support and a shoulder to lean on, no matter what time of day or night.

Thank you to Dr. Robert Rosenquiest, Dr. Phil Aldrich, Dr. Frank Raschilla and good friend, Dr. Gary Williams, who were there for us even after Jim was placed in the hospice. Your support, medical input and aid will ever be remembered and appreciated. Michele Smith, St. Mary's Hospice Caregiver, you were a Godsend. Jim looked forward to your care. Thank you for the love and happiness you brought to us. You are a remarkable person. Thank you to the many people at St. Mary's Hospice for making this difficult time run smoothly. We, the family of James Decker, will never forget any of you and all you did for us. We are so grateful and fortunate to be part of this beautiful community.

Eileen Decker

Gardnerville

Thanks for buying Girl Scout cookies

Editor:

On behalf of the Carson Valley Girl Scouts, I would like to thank the following stores Wal-Mart, Raley's, Smiths, Sierra Trading, Scolari's and Bed Bath and Beyond for allowing the girls the chance to sell those wonderful cookies. A very big thank you to the community for buying Girl Scout Cookies. Your support will go a long way in helping scout programs here in Carson Valley

Ron Santi

Carson Valley Girl Scouts

Service Unit Manger