Letters to the Editor

Clearing the air on varmints
The reason for the use of
”
anticoagulant baits
”
is to prevent secondary poisoning of non-target species.
All rodent baits are colored to avoid being eaten by birds.
Birds are shy of colored grain.
Snares are equipped with breakaway links so if an animal larger
than a coyote gets caught the line automatically breaks due to the
size and weight of the animal. The animal is then free. Snares are
also set at heights that exclude smaller animals like foxes,
raccoons, opossums and other smaller animals from being caught.
Also, the trappings laws require snares to be checked at least
every 24 hours so animals are not caught and left for longer
periods.
Camilla Fox and organizations like hers took away the best tool
that trappers had to control depredating animals: the padded
steel-jaw leg hold trap, and they know it! The traps’ jaws are
padded to allow for minimum damage to an animal’s leg during the
period they are in the trap. This humane type of equipment was
banned by vote, but the snare was still a legal way of trapping
animals, no way as humane as the padded steel-jaw trap. So all
these so-called animal rights do-gooders were responsible for the
neck-hold snare being in use as a control method.
Paul Matulich
San Benito County
Agricultural Commissioner
Clearing the air on varmints

The reason for the use of “anticoagulant baits” is to prevent secondary poisoning of non-target species.

All rodent baits are colored to avoid being eaten by birds. Birds are shy of colored grain.

Snares are equipped with breakaway links so if an animal larger than a coyote gets caught the line automatically breaks due to the size and weight of the animal. The animal is then free. Snares are also set at heights that exclude smaller animals like foxes, raccoons, opossums and other smaller animals from being caught. Also, the trappings laws require snares to be checked at least every 24 hours so animals are not caught and left for longer periods.

Camilla Fox and organizations like hers took away the best tool that trappers had to control depredating animals: the padded steel-jaw leg hold trap, and they know it! The traps’ jaws are padded to allow for minimum damage to an animal’s leg during the period they are in the trap. This humane type of equipment was banned by vote, but the snare was still a legal way of trapping animals, no way as humane as the padded steel-jaw trap. So all these so-called animal rights do-gooders were responsible for the neck-hold snare being in use as a control method.

Paul Matulich

San Benito County

Agricultural Commissioner

Bunch of whiners

What a bunch of whiners! Has there been a single rally supporter who has expressed gratitude towards the citizens of Hollister for welcoming the bikers and paying for their party eight years running? Not only have I not heard a thank-you but it’s been suggested that those of us who don’t like it should leave.

Will those of you suggesting that pick up the tab for my “vacation” I must take each year as the only means of escaping the incessant roar of the bikes past my house three-four days consecutively each year.

The noise is invasive, inconsiderate and immature. This year I wondered if perhaps I’ve missed something. Maybe there is fun in being invasive, inconsiderate and immature. I determined to give it a whirl.

One night I drove to a campsite where many of the bikers who had spent their day roaring past my house were staying. They were enjoying a quiet time. I blasted through their campsite, the heel of my hand pressed hard against the horn. What a hellish noise! Guess what? They didn’t like it. They didn’t receive me with welcome grace. I didn’t like it either. I derived no pleasure from being invasive, inconsiderate and immature. I won’t do it again.

Rally supporters, grow up. Get on your feet and pay for your own party. Find a location where you’re not willfully forcing your presence upon those who have tolerated your noise pollution long enough.

What a bunch of ungrateful whiners.

Christy Estrada

Hollister

Intimidating the intimidators

Some of the bikers of Hollister were planning their party, the party they seem to feel is their right, even though none of them will take responsibility for it.

So this past Fourth of July, when the city did not sanction the ever-indebted event, these bikers were angry, as they still are. They were going to have their party, sanctioned or not. They were going to have their event through intimidation if necessary – or so they thought!

The problem was they came upon a more intimidating force than their own, law enforcement that shut them down.

I personally feel law enforcement did an excellent job and every one of them should be applauded. They did what they were hired to do. They shut down the unsanctioned rally and intimidation.

When I hear this fiasco is based on history it sickens me. What history? A few low class drunks came into town with no respect for the town or the people in it and acted irresponsible.

Are these the type of people we want to celebrate, emulate and make icons? I think not, especially on the Fourth of July.

Maybe it is time for all of us to take a history lesson and relearn what the Fourth of July is truly based upon. It should be held in respect of the great people who made the ultimate sacrifice for the betterment of all, not a couple of drunks who thought only of themselves.

Thomas A. Estrada

Hollister

Working for Big Oil

It is sad that President Bush cannot find the courage to have as much concern for the brave troops shown in silence on the Lehr News Hour as he has for discarded embryos from fertility clinics. The embryos could give hope and real help to thousands of desperate American families. The brave troops have given their lives so Halliburton, Bechtel, Big Oil can continue to reap record profits.

The president’s mindset: “Do as little as possible for American families while doing as much as possible for Big Money.”

Frank Crosby

Morgan Hill

Hospital makes great strides

Community support is vital to the success of Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital, and our community has proven its support by the overwhelming passage in May 2005 of Measure L. Since receiving our funding, we have completed the first two projects of six planned for the renovation and expansion of the hospital.

Measure L funds have already begun to make a significant difference in patient care with the hospitals acquisition of a new Siemens 65-slice CT scanner which brings an entirely new dimension to diagnostic testing for patients. The new CT scanner which obtains 64 slices per rotation, significantly reduces scan times, while improving patient comfort and reducing the radiation dose. The scanner will be utilized to provide inpatient, outpatient and emergency diagnostic CT scans.

Our second project, the new parking lot with 35 additional parking spaces, was completed and opened to the public June 28. We are pleased that this has had a tremendous impact on the ease of finding a convenient parking spot for our patients and visitors.

One of the most important messages we received when polling the community was the need for a larger emergency room. Our next project will be the construction of a new 10,000 square foot Emergency Department. Architectural plans are being completed and will go to OSHPD for approval in the fall. Construction is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2007 with completion slated for the summer of 2008.

The department will have 12 exam rooms, a trauma room, a four-bed Fast-Track area, a triage area, a decontamination area and an isolation room. The emergency department will be constructed in the area where the helipad currently sits. Once construction is complete, the helipad will be located on the roof of the new ER.

Again, I’d like to thank the community for its continued support. I’m proud to be associated with our local, publicly owned, hospital that truly cares about service to the residents of San Benito County

Ed Stephenson,

Chairperson, Measure L Oversight Committee

Who pays for development

Your article on the large increases in charges for sewage service being proposed explained that the increases were needed to pay for the new sewage treatment plant. It went on to say that we need the new plant in order to lift the building moratorium and so permit new development that Hollister so badly needs.

Just how does new development benefit existing residents, especially when we have to pay so many of its costs?  Sure we many get a few new stores, but new residential development rarely pays the community for all the support it requires. And many costs are indirect, such as more traffic and overburdened police, schools and hospitals.

We ask the council and the supervisors to represent the interests of all residents, not just those who do stand to benefit from development.

Having said all this, I do not feel that we should curtail all new building.  Certainly, desirable industrial development, infrastructure improvements, individual homes and other projects of obvious benefit to our community should be allowed.  But our officials should be very skeptical about benefits alleged for even moderate scale development projects. 

John Blake

Hollister

Telling it like it is

In the letter to the editor in the July 9 Sunday Pinnacle, Alan Viarengo really told it like it is. I’m not alone to see police harassment and intimidating anyone and everyone they can for no reason at all.

What kind of example are they teaching our youth? By walking 10 and 12 abreast on the sidewalk not making room for having anyone to get by, having people get out on the street or squeeze up against a building to let them pass? What makes them mightier than thou?

Other cities’ and towns’ police are very polite and cordial, never, never with an attitude like they were here.

In the 1950s, ’60s and even ’70s you never heard of police harassing anyone when the bikers came to town. All went well. Why couldn’t it be like that again?

Barbara Bailey Valdez

Hollister