Lost keys led to a kind act in San Rafael

How I wish that there was a way to personally thank the very kind person or persons who found my wayward car keys in San Rafael on the Fourth Street sidewalk near where my locked car was parked on June 21.

Thankfully, my car was still there after I returned in a few hours — but there’s more. When I returned, the car door was unlocked and the keys had been placed on the center console. This could only have happened because an exceptionally kind person or persons saw my wayward keys and used the fob to locate and unlock the correct car. They must have then placed my keys safely inside.

It is so wonderful to know that, during these turbulent and chaotic times in the world, such very kind, honest and caring people exist. There are no words to express my enormous gratitude.

— B. Davidson, San Anselmo

Ross goes too far with ‘daylighting’ law

Starting Jan. 1, a well-intentioned “daylighting” law was enacted in California. The intent is to let pedestrians see the traffic coming toward them, as they step into crosswalks. Prior to the law, there could be large SUVs, trucks or other vehicles parked in a place adjacent to a crosswalk next to oncoming traffic. Because of that, they might not see what was coming. In big cities, it’s a brilliant idea, but I question the need in small towns like Ross.

Even if I did agree that it is needed in Ross, I think town officials are going overboard in how it has been enacted. The law gives local government jurisdiction, but requires only that spaces “on the vehicle approach side” are required to be kept clear. Ross officials seem to be preventing parking anywhere near any crosswalk on both sides. That’s too much.

I agree that we need to help pedestrians and others be comfortable as they try to cross the street. But I think that blocking off critical and needed parking on the nonapproach side is just silly.

— Savannah Goodman, Ross

Trips to San Anselmo end with parking meters

After seeing the new meters in downtown San Anselmo, it is with a heavy heart that I say goodbye. I was born and raised in Kentfield. My beloved grandparents, George and Marie Washburn moved from San Francisco to San Anselmo two years before the Golden Gate Bridge opened.

Their home at 19 Bank St. became my second home. At age 21, I was hired as a firefighter with the San Anselmo Fire Department. I spent three wonderful years there before moving on to become a captain in Richmond, and then on to business ventures.

Up until now, I would always enjoy shopping in San Anselmo, especially during the holidays. There are so many great little shops and boutiques.

In the 1980s, I lived in Truckee when it was unincorporated. It was a charming and wonderful mountain town. As the years passed, it became a city and the charm went away almost overnight. From a friendly mountain town to a tourist trap with no charm, paid parking arrived. I think it’s outrageous that, basically, you need to use a credit card out on the street before you can go into a shop so you can spend more of your money. On June 2, when San Anselmo turned on its meters, it fell into the same trap.

I feel sorry for all the small businesspeople. Town officials were looking to raise money from parking, but I suspect they are going to find out that tax revenue will decline dramatically as businesses begin to struggle and some shops close.

I won’t be back shopping in San Anselmo anymore, just as I have not shopped in Truckee for years now. San Anselmo will always hold a place in my heart, but only in my memories.

— Edwin G. Marshall, Stinson Beach

Rebuild Richmond Bridge with new SMART tracks

It has been in the news recently that aging portions of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge need to be upgraded. Also in the news is the extension of the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit train to Healdsburg. The two stories got me thinking.

I think the SMART train should be extended across a new Richmond Bridge to the East Bay. I realize that the different rail gauges would prevent the SMART train from using the Bay Area Rapid Transit tracks. Even so, if one could ride the train from Marin to a BART station in Richmond and get off there to take BART to San Francisco or another destination along BART’s network, it could lead to some kind of uniformity and connectedness for all of our Bay Area transportation systems.

The feasibility should be studied.

— Thomas G. Manuel, Corte Madera

State needs to creatively bolster firefighter ranks

According to news reports, California faces a significant reduction in the number of firefighters this season. That does not bode well.

Over 50 years ago while on a backpacking trip to Canada I was faced with the closure of all hiking trails due to numerous lightning-caused forest fires. The alternatives were to sit out the backpacking adventure or go and fight the forest fire.

Yes, the Canadian government had sign-ups for any able-bodied soul to fight the fires. I simply signed on. The next thing I knew, I was being helicoptered to hot spots on a huge mountain face.

The Canadian fire service was prepared to write me a check on the spot. Officials were careful not to put their new contractors near the most dangerous parts of the fire.

It seems we could do the same by getting Gov. Gavin Newsom to cut through the red tape and allow young capable bodies to assist in low-danger “pop up” operations. This is not to take away from the skills of our existing force of firefighters, however, clearing a fire break with a mattock digging tool is rather intuitive.

Certainly this would bolster the forces that will be required this significant fire season that we face.

By the way, after five days of some pretty rough work, I headed back to the Bay Area with a little extra pocket change and an adventure that I never forgot.

— Howard Ortman, Sleepy Hollow

Marin man in Israel shares his perspective

In Israel, there are no parades, only memorials. I have been in Jerusalem throughout the war, and I see no real peace for Israel — only a temporary reprieve. With hostages in Gaza and ongoing threats from Iran and jihadis, the situation remains uncertain.

The differences in values between Iran and Israel are stark. I saw reports about Iran holding a victory parade. I think it was done to mask the humiliation of being struck by Israel.

Meanwhile, in Israel, there are memorials honoring fallen soldiers and hostages. Communities gather to mourn. Children witness the toll of war firsthand.

Here in Israel, I asked my cousin about her grandchildren’s reactions to the loss of a beloved school principal. She said they mourn in their way. Her grandchild asked, “What do they put in a coffin when there are no body remains?”

For me, this highlights the profound cultural impact of war and its lasting effect on children as well as the ongoing trauma in society, contrasting sharply with places like Marin County.

— Jeff Saperstein, Mill Valley

Dismantle all nuclear weapons in world now

I believe the current crisis regarding Iran’s nuclear capabilities presents an opportunity for all of humankind.

Why don’t we all agree to dismantle our nuclear armaments, finally freeing the world from the threat of nuclear war? If not now, when?

— Dr. Ann Troy, San Anselmo

Strange to call for peace after dropping bombs

President Donald Trump called for peace following the U.S. bombing of targets in Iran. Unlike Trump, I don’t think we can achieve peace with bombs.

Neither can we achieve love with hate and violence, nor human rights with war.

He will never win a Nobel Peace Prize.

— Sandy Shartzer, Santa Rosa