Democratic organizations in Lake County are proud to join with our local Lake Group Chapter of the Sierra club and hundreds of citizens in Lake County in supporting the Coalition for Responsible Agriculture’s proposal to create a genetically engineered (GE) free crop zone in Lake County. We believe that our local county legislators must take the most conservative route available to ensure both the safety of our food supply and that our local farmers have access to viable and safe soils.

Legislation is being proposed in Sacramento, supported by our Assemblywoman Patty Berg, to protect farmers who choose to grow organic from possible contamination from GE crops. Lake County Democrats are on the record as supporting this bill unequivocally.

Citizens do not have to understand any complex scientific principles to reject Genetically Engineered Foods (GMOs).

In March of 2007, the California Rice Commission has supported a moratorium on field-testing of GE rice. Markets in Japan and Europe have threatened boycott of California rice if GE contamination is possible. Anheuser Busch has refused to buy rice from Missouri, if the state allows genetically altered crops to be grown, for fear of contamination.

In February of 2007, a federal judge in Northern California decided in favor of farmers, consumers, and environmentalists who filed a suit calling the US Department of Agriculture's approval of genetically engineered alfalfa a threat to farmer’s livelihoods and a risk to the environment. He ordered a full environmental impact study on Round-up Ready alfalfa.

In the last month, Walmart announced that its store brand milk in the United States would now come exclusively from cows not treated with genetically engineered growth hormones.

Genetic modification actually cuts the productivity of crops, an authoritative new study shows, and undermining repeated claims that a switch to the controversial technology is needed to solve the growing world food crisis. The study – carried out over the past three years at the University of Kansas in the US grain belt – has found that GM soya produces about 10 percent less food than its conventional equivalent, contradicting assertions by advocates of the technology that it increases yields.

Despite industry claims, genetically modified food has not been tested for safety as the basis of a lifelong human diet. In fact, Americans now serve as the experimental guinea pigs. If industry has its way, soon you can have your burger (from cows fed Roundup Ready corn and Roundup Ready soybeans) topped with Roundup Ready lettuce and Roundup Ready tomatoes, and your Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) potatoes will be fried in Roundup Ready canola oil. Colas are already made from Bt and herbicide-tolerant corn.

For about 10,000 years, farmers and gardeners have been breeding grains and vegetables for taste, successful growing and nutritional value. Genetic engineering requires patent lawyers, Wall street investors and giant corporations to breed seeds that are more profitable for large corporations.

As Democrats, we have precedent in proposing, supporting and enacting legislation that ensures and protects the rights of our families and our communities to make their own choices. The ability to provide safe healthy food is one of those fundamental choices and must be protected. There is too much unknown about GE crops to assume that they are safe for our children and families and our communities.

Wanda Harris is chair of the Lake County Democratic Central Committee, Sunol Westergren chairs the Lake County Democratic Club and Mark Knaup is chair of the South Lake County Democratic Club.

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Teams were put together to work targeted areas, the goal was to pick up trash, pull weeds in walkways, clean signs, sweep rocks off walkways, and get the dirt out of the gutters.

Saturday was a bit windy, but sunny. The wind didn’t deter our purpose one bit. People arrived early to pick up their supplies and get started. There were youth groups working Austin Park and all ages were represented in the crews of helpers.

In writing this, it is my goal to thank everyone who helped in cleaning our town. From the local businesses that supplied the cleaning supplies for free or low cost. The business groups, social clubs, church organizations and youth groups. The City of Clearlake employees, a very special thank you to you! Not just for helping but also for keeping us safe while we worked! I saw just how easy it was to get lost in thought while you work, forgetting you are on the side of the road! Thank you for keeping us safe! There are so many people to thank, and for that, I feel truly blessed to live in Clearlake!

Lori Peters is executive director of the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce and owner of Wild About Books.

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Thanks to all the FLOW folks that contributed time, money, talent, and other resources – not to mention cookies, cupcakes, brownies, cheesecakes and Easter baskets.

A special thanks goes to donors from the Queen of the Rosary Catholic Church in Lucerne. The diverse array of sweet treats were sold out before the end of Saturday, making the two-day sale a great success.

Thanks also to the many people who stopped by the table to sign our petition to the California Public Utilities Commission regarding California Water Service Co.'s pending rate hike for the new treatment plant.

Dallas Cook is president of Lucerne FLOW.

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For many, pets are like members of the family. Animal Control has stepped in to help. Recently, Animal Control picked up and cared for a dog that was left unattended inside a patient's home when he came to the emergency room and had to remain in the hospital. They took the dog to the Animal Control kennel in Lakeport, where it was fed, walked and slept in heated kennels.

They even offered to transport the dog back and forth from the kennel to the hospital, so that the patient could have a brief visits. When the patient left the hospital, Animal Control officers were available to help re-unite the dog with his owner and provided all the necessary dog-related transportation.

In a second recent instance, an emergency department patient was extremely worried about her cats when she was transferred to another hospital outside the county. Because of the emergency, several cats were left inside the house without food or water and she was unable to provide next of kin or other contact information. Animal Control worked with the police to gain entry to rescue the indoor cats, provided food and water for the outside cats and they even helped locate next of kin.

In both these instances and many others, Animal Control has gone out of their way to help our patients and their pets. We are grateful for their help and support. Their genuine concern for the people and animals within our community is heartwarming.

Jetta Meadows is a social worker with Redbud Community Hospital.

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