Letters for September 2, 2010

Train spotting

Re “One vision for a sustainable future” (East of Eden, Aug. 26):

I really enjoyed the East of Eden column this week. Having a glimpse of what the sustainable future might look like gave me a moment of encouragement. If there was a bullet train between Vegas and Reno, I would travel on a monthly or bi-monthly basis. The drive is just too much to make on a regular basis. Flying is getting cheaper, but the split in costs between flying and driving is so close. I really wish there was a bullet train or if there are discussions of such an idea, I would be willing to get involved to help such a cause. I know of way too many people making that drive too often. If we are all paying around $150 in gas to drive roundtrip, I’ll bet we would all be willing to pay $100 each way for a faster option like a bullet train. As I get older, I am finding a deeper general distaste for flying, and it would be nice to have other options. I’d like to read more about Jen’s thoughts on what a sustainable future looks like; its fun to think about the possibilities.

Erinn Thomas
Reno

Editor’s note: Thanks for your comments. Jen Huntley is going to continue her East of Eden column as a blog at an as yet undisclosed location. The newspaper has chosen to take that column space in a different direction to better balance out the column next to it. I’d like to welcome Deidre Pike back to the left-hand page.

No Muslim Founders

Re “Do the right thing” (Filet of Soul, Aug. 19):

My frustration is that I see my country’s heritage under attack. I see people who say they are tolerant being the most intolerant, labeling those who oppose their viewpoint as Nazis, bigots, etc. That to me is hatred.

Our country was once a proud nation, but we have abandoned the principles upon which we were founded. Rather, we now have people trying to redefine our nation and history-revisionists who think they know more.

If you study history, the decline of a nation starts from within—morally. And that is what we now have.

Chris Mitchell
via email

Oil and water

While running for office, President Obama promised that if elected, he would get us off OPEC oil within 10 years.

Two years are gone, and we still don’t have a plan. In fact, there is some evidence that we’re going in the wrong direction. In July 2010, we imported 388 million barrels of oil. That’s the single largest import month since President Obama was inaugurated.

The NAT GAS Act will create jobs, clean up the environment and improve our national security by providing tax incentives to organizations which operate fleets of vehicles that are fueled with imported oil to be replaced with vehicles that run on domestic natural gas.

Election Day will soon be here. Those who are running for office need to take a look at this legislation and make promising to reduce our need for OPEC oil a central part of their campaigns.

Michelle Elia
via email

Pretty parks

Re “Home sweet home” (Feature story, Aug. 19):

I warmly endorse Ms. Deidre Pike’s excellent R.V. park article, but I note she neither mentioned the Panther Valley RV Park, Reno’s best, nor Mrs. Doreen Huff, Reno’s prettiest park manager, proving, of course, that no one is perfect.

John White
President Panther Valley RV Park

Alternative homes

Re “Home sweet home” (Feature story, Aug. 19):

Deidre Pike’s article was thorough and insightful while showing the human aspect of long term living in a recreational vehicle. I have worked in the RV industry for over 10 years and have seen all kinds of RVers. My husband and I lived in an RV with our border collie for almost 10 years. Unfortunately, in this economic downturn, we see more and more opting to live this type of life, even if for only a short while. I manage Bonanza Terrace RV Park, and we try to provide a safe, comfortable, and clean park for our longer-term tenants, and I appreciated very much the treatment used in the writing of that article.

Charlotte Rose-Lawton
via email

There’s Gino

Re “Where’s Gino?” (Letters to the editor, Aug. 26):

Stephanie Gabler’s letter touting Gino DiSimone as a viable gubernatorial candidate is curious. Where did those poll numbers come from? I can’t find a single reference to that poll, not even on DiSimone’s website. She fails to mention that he’s a right-wing crackpot who will, according to his website, institute a “Nevada Day of Prayer,” stand strong against “wicked judges” who “distort justice and arrest our Christian roots,” and put an end to abortion and gay rights in our state. Guess what, Gino and Stephanie: There are Jews, Buddhists, atheists and Muslims in Nevada who have no Christian roots. Separation of church and state sound familiar? There are gay people who don’t want an end to their rights. Inventor, engineer, and grandpa he may be. Representative of the people of Nevada, not even close.

Marc Tiar
Reno

Walk the guac

Re “Surprise” (Foodfinds, Aug. 26):

So, let me understand this: Grant Nejedlo liked neither his burrito nor his wife’s al pastor tacos, but he was “pleasantly surprised” (and stated that was an “understatement”) and would return to Arroyo Mex Grill? What? I’ve tried Arroyo and would never go back due to the crappy service, nothing-to-write-home about food, and inflated prices. I have heard that the guacamole is good, but I make an exceptional guac, so I have not tried Arroyo’s. My husband ordered the Arroyo enchiladas, and the waiter brought him enchilada rojo. We speak Spanish, but obviously the waiter did not if he mistook Arroyo for rojo. My husband ate it, as we were really hungry, but when he pointed out the mistake to the waiter, the waiter not only did not apologize nor offer him the correct entree, but acted like it was no big deal.

Leslie Trippy
Truckee

Help out

Re “A Vicious Cycle” (Green, Aug. 19):

I recently read Kat Kerlin’s article regarding volunteering in Nevada. I thought your readers would appreciate additional positive information. I am the Project Director for the Retired & Senior Volunteer Program of Washoe County. We are sponsored by the Nevada Aging and Disability Services Division and the Corporation for National and Community Service, which created the document cited by Ms. Kerlin.

We have over 600 registered volunteers who serve in over 80 non-profit organizations in Washoe County. From July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010, these volunteers reported (to us) 108,000 hours of volunteer service.

Yes, Nevada is ranked 50th in volunteerism, however, it ranks 13th in volunteer retention rate at 70.5 percent. Further into the report cited (“Volunteering in America 2010”), there is a statistic about “mid-cities.” In this statistic (2007-2009), Reno is listed as No. 14 out of 75 in volunteer hours per resident with an average of 45.2 hours per resident. The national average volunteer rate is 26.5. .

We find that many people volunteer; they just don’t report their hours! RSVP continues to encourage people to join our organization so that their hours can be counted—this is the only way we can move Nevada to the top!

Carole Anderson
Director, Volunteer Programs
Sanford Center for Aging