In your address to Californians, your proposals to balance the budget by eliminating or closing the State Parks System of California is one of the worst things you can do to the people of California. If you are in need of drastic budget cuts, you can eliminate other wastes rather than attack the people's parks across the state of California.

I have used the park over my 72 years for education for Girl Scouts, 4-H and in my later years for California Garden Clubs Inc. As the past director of the Mendo-Lake District for California Garden Clubs Inc., I chose for my director project the implementation of help from the six clubs in Mendocino and Lake counties. Each club from Willits, Fort Bragg, Potter Valley, Ukiah, Lakeport and the North Lake garden clubs have adopted a park by attending and asking what is needed and where the garden clubs could help. This project yielded very good results. Fort Bragg posted safety signs along the ocean where there had been past accidents. The Clear Lake Trowel and Trellis Garden Club continues to support the Clear Lake State Park.

Our garden clubs use these parks for our summer picnics. We also use the parks during the year for walks to identify native plants. We study the bird population in the parks.

On a personal note, Don and I own a motor home and have traveled the entire state visiting all the parks. Because gas prices are such a serious expense to us retired persons who live on a fixed income, the local state parks become our play yards for recreation and rest and education. We can no longer afford travel across the United States because of the economic situation.

Because the schools utilize the parks for so many reasons like the study of history, plant identification, bird study and many other resources, through the use of the rangers who educate these children, this will curtail the programs that are used to educate children. The outings planned in the parks are of vital importance in the growth of children.

Two major events take place each year in Lake County state parks. They are the annual Anderson Marsh Historic State Park Jazz Festival scheduled for the fall and the Heron Festival at Clear Lake State Park where a Wildflower Brunch takes place in April.

The sponsors for these events are the Redbud Audubon chapter and the Clear Lake State Park Interpretive Association. The California Garden Clubs Inc., namely, Clear Lake Trowel and Trellis Garden Club and North Lake Garden Club, utilize the parks for their June picnics.

If the State of California would stop rewarding the illegals with housing, medical care, education and food, I believe that the State of California would find enough money to balance the budget. It is my opinion that to use the money of the taxpayers of California for funding illegal immigrants' costs is a crime.

I plead with you not to take away the funding of the State Park System which belongs to the people of California.

I respectfully request that you withdraw your proposal to close California State Parks.

Sharon L. Thorne lives in Nice.

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If you have a redbud that you would be willing to donate a small portion of a branch to this project please call me at 274-8482. The slender branch will need to have growth nodes on it.

Just imagine how beautiful this stretch of creek will look once these take root and over time start blooming in all their glory in the spring!

Kim Clymire from our great Parks Department is also getting wildflower seeds to help with stream bank stabilization and beautification.

We can make this park breathtaking in natural beauty – a surefire way to catch the tourists' attention/ And maybe catch some of their tourists dollars also.

Thank you for your time.

Donna Christopher lives in Lucerne.

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I read some of the e-mails sent in response to your article regarding the illegal dumping on the Fowler property. I cannot let people criticize Sara for not stepping up sooner to help her father. He is and always has been a difficult man to deal with. His philosophy in life since I have known him for 17 plus years has been, "Do it my way and then ask forgiveness," especially when it comes to dealing with rules and regulations.

It is easy to criticize or be judgmental when you are only looking at the situation through the keyhole into a room and you do not see the whole room. Sara is doing the very best she can for a man who does not appreciate her efforts. She has already put a lot of her own money into trying to save the property so her father will be able to remain on the land which has been in his family for five generations.

Sara has worked very hard to make a successful life for herself and two sons as a single mother and I feel that she is putting it at risk in trying to help her father. Not all fathers deserve to be rescued by their children. To those who say she should have become involved to help sooner, her father would not admit he needed help until he had created such a mess he could no longer ignore it (i.e., foreclosures on his property).

Also, for those who are so naive to think that there is help out there, please wake up. The only help are fines and liens on the property.

Sara did not create this mess and she is doing her best to deal with it. As we all know ... it takes money ... so, for those who wish to criticize Sara, please take out your checkbook and put your money where you mouth is.

Yes, I am the ex-wife, but remember, you are only looking through the keyhole and do not see the whole picture. So, if you can 't say something nice, don't say it at all or write a check.

Thank you.

Christine Fowler lives in Lakeport.

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The members of the Lake County Children's Museum of Art and Science (CMAS) would like to convey to you our dismay at the recent news that Anderson Marsh State Historic Park in Lower Lake is designated for closure.

Although this park has been under-funded for years, the communities of Lake County treasure this invaluable natural and historic resource. The Anderson Marsh Interpretative Association (AMIA) has a strong docent program and has been responsible for hosting a variety of cultural events which are always very well received by both the local community and visiting tourists.

Within the last few months, CMAS and AMIA have agreed to partner on a project to create a hands-on Discovery Center, classroom and outdoor amphitheater at the park. This project aligns with the state approved park plan and has already received conceptual approval from the California Department of Parks. We have engaged the services of a grant writer and are receiving widespread support from local service groups, community leaders, parents and the general public.

While CMAS does not yet have a permanent facility, for the past five years our group has sponsored a variety of art and science events. The positive public response to these events indicates to us that there is strong demand and support for a permanent interactive art and science museum. Our partnership with AMIA will provide a powerful opportunity to pool the efforts of two respected community groups and bring a stellar educational experience to both local citizens and visitors.

Across California, art and science education are being marginalized due to the emphasis on standardized testing. In addition, we all recognize the need for engaging outdoor experiences to combat childhood obesity as well as the need to provide positive recreational experiences to offset the lure of gangs and drugs. The few dollars which could be saved by closing Anderson Marsh State Historic Park are vastly overshadowed by the negative impacts to our local community.

Please do not allow the possibility of short term gains to override our efforts to develop long term positive effects. Anderson Marsh State Historic Park is a jewel which should be supported, developed and treasured, not disregarded and discarded. We need your help to keep the park open.

Thank you for your consideration.

Carolynn Jarrett is president of the Lake County Children's Museum of Art and Science and a member of the Konocti Unified School District Board of Trustees. She lives in Clearlake.

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