Editorial

Today (Thursday, May 14) is the annual “Bike to Work Day,” equal parts celebration and encouragement of safe and affordable transportation that doesn’t involve driving a fossil-fuel powered vehicle.

On our terms

EDITOR:Lastwinter,inspiteoftryingtokeepthethermostatlow,mypropanebillskeptgoingup.Well,theculpritturnedoutnottobemyusage.My(nowformer)propanesupplierhadbeenquietlyraisingthepricebymorethan$1pergallon. Isay"quietly"becausethestatementsIwaspayingdidnotshowthepricepergallon,onlythegallonsandtotalcharge,soittookmeawhiletorealizewhatwasgoingon.InMarch2005,thepricewasabout$2.65pergallon.ButbySeptember,itwentupto$2.98pergal.Then$3.34pergalinNovember.Andupto$3.66pergalinMarch2006‹morethat$1pergalhigherthanthepreviousyearandalmosta40percentincrease. Atfirst,Ithoughtthatthiswasageneraltrend‹liketheincreaseingasoline.WhenIcalledotherlocalpropanesuppliers,Iwassurprisedtolearnthattheywerestillquotingbetween$2.45and$2.75pergallon,nowhereclosetothe$3.66my(former)supplierhadbeencharging.Andtheirtankrentalswerelower,too.Iuseabout500gallonsperyear,whichistypical.Unlikeelectricity,somepropanesupplierschargemorepergallonthelessyouuse. WhenIcomplainedtomyformersupplieraboutthehighprice,theyimmediatelyrefiguredmylasttankfillatabout$2.50pergallon(a$100credit). Buttheywouldn'tgivemeanycreditforthefillssinceNovemberthatchargedwaymorethan$2.50pergallon.IfigureIwasstilloverchargedby$200. So,ifyouhavebeenpayingmorethanabout$2.75pergallon,checkwhatothersuppliersarecharging.Itwaseasytoswitch.Ittookaboutanhourformynewsuppliertoremovetheoldtank,transferthegas,andinstallthenewtank.Andaskyournewsupplieriftheycandeliveryouroldtanktoyouroldsupplieratnocharge.Thatmayalsosaveyouover$50thatsomecompanieschargetopickuptheiremptytanks. Apparently,thereislittleornoregulationofthepropaneindustry.So,shoparound. -DonKelsey,Guerneville

Reflecting on the ongoing national debate over the influx of immigrant children from Central America, columnist and political commentator, George Will, who will never be mistaken as a bleeding heart liberal, said on Fox News Sunday, “We ought to say to these children, ‘Welcome to America. You’re going to go to school and get a job and become American. We have 3,141 counties in this country. That would be 20 per county. The idea that we can’t assimilate these eight-year-old criminals with their teddy bears is preposterous.’”

As our cold, wet winter continues, we feel blessed to be out of the six year drought, but also bruised by the damage and harm caused by our recent flood waters. As those Russian River waters climbed, we as a community responded to those in need; once again showing that Northern Sonoma County is a community of compassion, care and action.

It was one of those great Sonoma County spring mornings. Sun shining, wind blowing. Pollen – and hope – in the air. I walked out on my veranda overlooking the nine-hole golf course I recently completed. I relaxed, with mimosa in hand, while watching the kids frolic on the water slide they crafted for a science fair project at school (using only recycled water from our indoor waterfall) and smiled knowing that my family is set financially for the rest of our lives, and my children will be attending the finest colleges in the land with perhaps some overseas study to broaden their understanding and appreciation of different cultures.

Kicking the can down the road

Crowds can be powerful, dangerous, glorious, murderous. Think of the crowds in the streets of cities in the middle east in what has been called the Arab Spring, a spring that has blossomed in hope for justice and freedom, a spring that has also suffered the chill of brutal repression. Think of the crowds of the Occupy events around the US, citizens gathering in protest, in hope, in resentment, and sometimes in crazy violence.