Letters to the Editor Dec. 24

Editor:

Carson Valley is a bright, shining star in Northern Nevada. This years annual Channel 2 News Share Your Christmas Food Drive collected an unimaginable total of 58,682 pounds of food (2007 - 48,399 pounds) and $31,592 in monetary donations (2007 - $25,832). What can we say but thank you, thank you, thank you. All of the donations will be used by the Carson Valley Community Food Closet to help persons within Douglas County that are less fortunate than ourselves.

This incredible 12 hours of holiday giving would not have been possible without our sponsor KTVN Channel 2 News, our hosts for the past 10 years the Carson Valley Inn and "Bob V" and KCMY Radio AM 1300. These community-minded businesses continue to support the food closet throughout the year and for this we give you our heart felt thanks. We would especially like to thank Carson Valley Inn's Bill Henderson and Tom Philips, for their commitment to ensure that Santa made it to the food drive.

We also wish to thank all of those who came out to help make this such a success by volunteering, entertaining or making special presentations of donations.

You may recognize some of the following names, so the next time that you see them tell them "great job."

State of Nevada Department of Corrections Correctional Officers (eight years in a row). "Relaxed Fit" Men's Quartet, Minden Village businesses, Carson Valley Lions Club with Dolly's Llamas, Sunflower Learning Center (Daycare), Carson Valley Community Food Closet Crafters, Care Flight (Santa), Carson Valley United Methodist Church Carolers, Kiwanis Club of Carson Valley, POBOB Motorcycle Club, Carson Valley Middle School Band (Directed by Sarah Holland), Pau-Wa-Lu Middle School Choir (directed by Tammy Owens), Douglas High School Jazz Band (Directed by Bill Zabelsky), "The Bell Cases" Carson Valley United Methodist Church Youth Bell Choir (Directed by Kathy Chipman Wicker), Carson Valley Sertoma Club, Walmart (Carson Valley), Raley's (Gardnerville) and their customers, "Free To Fly" Christian Rock Band, Douglas Disposal, Inc., East Fork Fire & Paramedic Districts and the cadets, Douglas County Sheriff's Office, Douglas County Sheriff's Mounted Posse, Marines (seven in dress blues) from Pickel Meadows Mountain Warfare Training Marine Base, Douglas High Junior ROTC, Douglas High National Honor Society, Douglas High "Upward Bound" UNR, Rite of Passage and food closet volunteers (some who were there for 13 hours).

A special thank-you to those who provided food for the volunteers: The Carson Valley Inn for the pastries and hot drinks, Raley's for the sandwiches and Gil Goode for the barbecue tri-tip and salmon cooked on site.

A very special thanks to the Douglas County Sheriff's Protective Association who continue to supply us with candy canes for all of the people who come to the food drive and to Dan and Sandie Morris who always make sure that dog treats are on hand for our four-legged friends.

Thank you to the people of Carson Valley for making this such a wonderful place to live. Happy holidays to one and all that made this years food drive such an incredible, unbelievable and miraculous event.

Len Frueh

Food Drive Chairman

Editor:

Recently our young friend died. My sister called Pizza Barn from California to order us some dinner for comfort. Unpacking all the pizzas and salads I found a sympathy card signed with her last name.

The Pizza Barn owners must have gone out and purchased that card and signed my sister's name. What a loving gesture during such a difficult week. How lucky we are to live in this town.

Jenny Rich

Gardnerville

Editor:

To employees at the Topsy Lane Wal-Mart:

Thank you for the gifts. I received the first one when I left my camera's memory chip in the photo machine. A week later, I was frantically looking for it and there it was.

An employee found it, figured out it was mine and placed it in the envelope that held the pictures I ordered.

I received the second gift today when I realized my wallet was missing. As I was frantically (yes, I know, sounds familiar) looking for it, making notes of credit cards to cancel, wondering how we would pay for Christmas presents, I called Wal-Mart and discovered someone turned it in. Last night I left it at the register, an employee found it and turned it in, cash and all.

So, as I research the benefits of ginkgo biloba, Thank you so much to the honest and caring employees of Wal-Mart.

Natalie Pitts

Minden

Editor:

Kelly Kite steps down as commissioner in January, but knowing him, I rather doubt he will ever step down from his role of service to our community.

Commissioner Kite has proven that he is not afraid to roll up his sleeves, step up, and contribute.

Service, significance of duty and sense of community " rallying points, that offer courage, when courage fails, that assist us in regaining hope, when hope seems to be abandoned.

These noteworthy goals provide individuals, such as Kelly Kite, the ability to serve us, with a temper of will, a quality mind's eye, a freshness for vision, a vigor of emotions, an incentive to shepherd, and a temperamental predominance of courage over fear.

Goals such as these inspire pride, acceptance and tolerance of honest failure, the ability to remain humble and gentle in success; not to substitute words for actions; not to seek a path of comfort, but to face the stress and spur of difficulty and challenge; to stand against the storm, yet to have compassion for those who blunder; to master ourselves before we seek to master others; to have a heart that is clean, a goal that is high, a laugh that is genuine, and a tear that's sincere.

Commissioner Kelly Kite's performance in service to Douglas County has offered us an opportunity to reach for the future, yet never neglect its past.

A serious leader " yet never takes himself too seriously; always modest " yet firm and strong enough to stay in stride with the simplicity of his authentic, dedicated vision.

During his years of service he has demonstrated humility and true grace amid adversity, took some hard knocks, held his position, and continued forward in service.

His contribution of time, energy and assistance to the county has made all the difference.

For this we thank him. Thank you Commissioner Kelly Kite " well done.

Carole Thompson

Gardnerville

Editor:

I think we all remember when the cost of fuel started to skyrocket last spring. It was hitting everyone's pocket book. Most businesses were forced to raise the price of their merchandise or services. Now the price of fuel has come down to more normal levels. How has our business community responded to that? With the increasing price of fuel, a loaf of bread went up from about $2 to almost $4.

Has anyone noticed a price reduction? Maybe it will take a while for the system to catch up, so I shouldn't complain.

Since this is the Christmas season, (the season of good will) I would like to thank one business that is really looking out for their customers.

I live in Coleville and our garbage is being removed by D&S Waste Removal Inc. of Yerington. They have been doing an excellent job, never complaining when occasionally I had more than two cans.

With the high price of fuel they had to add a $3 surcharge to their service. I was truly surprised to see that surcharge being removed with the decline of the price of gasoline. Thank you, D&S Waste Removal. I wished there were more companies like you. Merry Christmas to you, and everyone else that follows your lead.

Dieter Hoffmann

Coleville