Letters to the Editor

A fisherman’s hardships

I n response to Don Canestro (Voices, April 16):

1. The vessel monitoring systems are not proposals; they are in use.

2. Responsible commercial fishermen do not exploit fisheries; we protect the ocean.

3. The GPS units may not be used for navigational purposes. The location transmitted may not be correct.

4. The VMS units may not be turned off at any time, and commercial fishermen view them as Big Brother. For example, a fisherman with a unit on his boat received a phone call in the middle of the night informing him that it was off and that he had to turn it back on or be fined. Because the voice on the phone could see the unit was turned off and because he had reached the fisherman in the middle of the night at home, the fisherman was obviously not out fishing.

5. As for your “science article” that reported “fishermen …have exploited fisheries through the centuries until they crashed,” that’s a pretty broad brush to paint commercial fishermen with when there are other factors.

Next time you sit down to a nice fish dinner, remember that a commercial fisherman risked his life.

Many fishermen will be happy to have you take their calls from NOAA in the middle of the night. May we have your phone number?

Lori French

Morro Bay

Heaping helping of help

A sincere thank-you to all those who volunteered and donated to People Helping People’s April 10 ham dinner fundraiser. A hearty, homemade meal was enjoyed by all with music performed by concert pianist Louise King. Special thanks to outgoing President Len Soldano, incoming President Jerri Walsh and the “boss,” Juanita McMurry.

In 1972, caring Los Osos- Baywood Park seniors created the nonprofit organization People Helping People in order to help meet special needs of local seniors. Until Dial-A-Ride came to town, PHP owned, operated and maintained the South Bay Express, carrying people to San Luis Obispo and back. PHP donated $58,000 toward initial construction costs of the South Bay Community Center in Los Osos.

Today, PHP serves 70 to 100 elderly, needy and homeless with its weekly grocery distribution program. PHP loans its inventory of wheelchairs and other medical equipment to those in need and puts people in need in touch with people who can help. Members hold monthly potlucks with gaming, entertainment and community resource speakers.

For more information, the PHP office is at the South Bay Community Center and is open from 9 a. m. to 1 p. m. Monday through Friday. The phone number is 528-2626.

Carol Cribbs

Los Osos

Cancer effects differ

I recently read the series on cancer written by Sarah Arnquist. I realize it was supposed to be one person’s journey. I myself have been diagnosed with breast cancer and have had four treatments of chemotherapy so far. My experience has been, although not a piece of cake, a whole lot different.

I had no nausea because of anti-nausea medicine added to the chemotherapy and not too many side effects. Yes, I shaved my head because I knew that I would lose my hair, but you know that going in, so it’s no surprise. I still have several more months of chemotherapy and then surgery and radiation.

I feel the article should have had others who have been going through the same type of journey with a far better outcome. It is a very devastating diagnosis in the first place, then to have this horrifying article that can scare the hell out of you is not a good thing to publish.

J. B. Bates

San Luis Obispo

Mayor is supportive

Recently, a number of people have questioned Morro Bay Mayor Janice Peters’ support of the commercial fishing industry. The Morro Bay Commercial Fishermen’s Organization would like to clear the air on this issue.

Since Janice became mayor —she is now nearly through her second term—she has supported our industry and the fishermen and women in Morro Bay on any and all of the issues that she was asked to do so. She has appeared in person on our behalf on many occasions and written numerous letters in support of fishery issues. Whenever Janice has had questions about anything involving commercial fishing, she has been in touch with the officers or directors working on that issue.

We would just like to assure anyone who has doubts, that the Morro Bay Commercial Fishermen’s Organization has received full support from the mayor on all fisheries issues.

Jeremiah O’Brien,

Morro Bay Commercial Fishermen’s Organization