Letters

Local leadership on Measure J has been disappointing. Some local leaders say they support Measure J and some say they don't. And some don't have anything to say at all. Most are afraid that “fracking” is too controversial a subject to waste time on because of the negative social connotation the word conjures, even though fracking isn't proposed here in San Benito County.

When Eric Tognazzini passed away from cancer on May 20, 2011, San Benito County mourned. He was only 64 years old, but he had somehow managed to become known, loved and an inspiration for an amazing number of people. His smile and friendly wave greeted everyone he passed as he rode around Hollister on his three-wheeled bike, collecting aluminum cans for his recycling business. On any day of the week, Eric could be seen around Downtown Hollister. From Nino’s Pizzeria to Baywood Creamery, from Public Drive-In Market to Schipper’s, from Ladd’s Hardware to Muenzer’s Sporting Goods, Eric was part of Hollister itself.

The Discovery Channel has a new television program called “Backyard Oil”. It depicts the supposedly modern day oil boom in the hills of south central Kentucky. Astoundingly enough, environmental concerns are never mentioned during the show. It seems as though oil production is as easy as using a dousing rod to find a likely spot in your backyard, and then calling up the drilling rig to start work the next day.