I am a widower in my 80s, and I frequently walk at the Santa Barbara Harbor. On the last Friday in September, I started my walk and tripped just as I had reached the walking path.
A good Samaritan immediately came to my rescue, helped me get up, saw I was in reasonable condition and had not hit my head, and escorted me back to my car. I was able to get home and tend to my abrasions and sprains.
My rescuer was in his 70s, and just as he was attending to me on the ground, a group of women walked by and there was a brief and notable sarcastic laughter from them. Was I another “drunken bum” who had fallen and deserved their ridicule?
I later told a Santa Barbara doctor about this paradox. He told me that doctors were talking among themselves about how the attitude of patients has changed over the past several years, and they have become more caustic and argumentative, and swear more. Thus, they reflect more the tenor of the times.
The doctor noted that probably a few years ago that group of women would have simply just walked by and let me be in peace.
Fortunately, there are enough good Samaritans that, if you are lucky, one will be there to help you.
Richard Coleman
Santa Barbara
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I think it’s bad form to advertise a house for sale on the same page as a story reporting a murder at the same location, as Noozhawk did in its Oct. 15 article, “Suspect in Hope Ranch Homicide Shot Dead by Sheriff’s Deputies.” Don’t you?
Brent Johnston
Ontario
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The Santa Barbara City Council can tinker with the accoutrements of homelessness — such as shopping carts, RVs, panhandling, etc. — but until it develops a desire to resolve the homeless problem by setting annual objectives to attack the issues that make the city an attractive settling place for the wanderers who populate main streets, parks and the library, it’s just rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.
Robert Fort
Perinton, N.Y.
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In the Oct. 12 article, “Plane Pull Lets Teams Display Their Might in Bid for Bragging Rights,” I found it interesting that the guys in the Plane Pull are pulling a Russian MiG 21 fighter jet.
Should we be concerned that this is indicative of a Russian attempt at plane-pull contest interference?
Addison Thompson
Santa Barbara
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Great Peter Frampton article by Gary Lambert (“Review: Peter Frampton Brings Farewell Concert Tour to Vina Robles Amphitheatre”). I saw his last show of the tour in Concord. All three acts, including his son, were amazing. The “Soundgarden” song was Black Hole Sun.
Rich Hull
Santa Barbara
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This matter concerns an attempt to foist on us oil leasing and hydraulic fracturing in 1.6 million acres of our federally protected public lands here on the Central Coast.
Santa Barbara County Supervisor Joan Hartmann’s resolution opposing further dangerous oil operations here aims to protect us all. We can hope that a measure of wisdom and courage will also come to Supervisors Steve Lavagnino and Peter Adam; if not, we have the next election to correct matters. And, thankfully, Hartmann deserves our continued support against Big Oil candidate, Bruce Porter.
The entire Trump administration scheme to frack here is in pursuit of short-term profit for a few, and more oil and gas than we need or can ever safely use.
There are many well-documented concerns about fracking’s disastrous effects. Its proponents concede that it can contaminate our water, pollute our air and lead to dangerous levels of seismic activity. Moreover, oil operations and their extensive infrastructure would increase the risk of calamitous forest fires.
We depend on the wisdom of our county supervisors for decisions that will encourage our economy to grow in safe, smart and sustainable ways — ways that bring more good jobs and a wholesome and hopeful environment for our youth, while promoting less, not more, emphysema and cancer.
The Board of Supervisors may not have it within its power to block outright this ill-considered plan. We depend on all of our elected officials and agencies of government to work in our best interest.
This means simply doing everything possible to place roadblocks to protect our county from the countless destructive effects of this alien and ill-conceived Bureau of Land Management proposal.
Seth Steiner
Los Alamos
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October is Dyslexia Awareness Month. But it remains a mystery — unless you or one of your loved ones happen to be one of the 1 in 5 with dyslexia.
Dyslexia is a hereditary neurological difference in the brain. It has nothing to do with intelligence or desire to learn: The dyslexic brain processes differently, and must be taught differently.
The essential skills of reading, writing and spelling need to be taught in a direct, explicit, multisensory way — unfortunately NOT the typical approach in public schools.
Dyslexic children grow up to be dyslexic adults, regardless of whether they received appropriate instruction or intervention. When they do not, they are unlikely to reach their full potential, and may experience significant negative consequences.
I’d like to thank Santa Barbara County Supervisor Das Williams for his support of the dyslexia community. As a Santa Barbara city councilman, he listened attentively to the concerns of advocates. As an Assembly member, he co-sponsored California’s landmark dyslexia bill, AB 1369. As a county supervisor, he sponsors an annual Dyslexia Awareness Month proclamation, and recognizes community members who address dyslexia. The RiteCare Center was honored this week for its work.
Williams recognizes that dyslexia is more than a personal issue; it’s a community concern that demands our awareness, understanding and action for individuals to flourish at school, in the home, in the workplace and beyond.
As a dyslexia advocate and mother of a dyslexic son, I deeply appreciate his leadership in this important issue.
Cheri Rae
Santa Barbara
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