A lifetime of movies on Smith Ranch Road
The Regency 6 movie theater on Smith Ranch Road in San Rafael opened in 1983. I remember seeing “Scarface” there that year. The theater recently ceased operations (“San Rafael movie theater closes after lengthy run,” Nov. 29). For its first six years of operation, I remember it being the only place to catch a daily matinee in Marin County. It was a huge, well-run facility with a large parking lot.
On the same site, in 1962, the 101 Movies Drive-In operated for 20 years. It opened with the Elvis Presley movie “Blue Hawaii.” It was a very large drive-in with a capacity for 1,000 cars.
What good memories these theaters afforded us.
— Alan Rossi, San Anselmo
Novato has a history of holiday celebrations
For 100 years, Novato has been steeped in traditions that are kept and honored by dedicated community volunteers. Downtown Novato, a charming and vibrant destination throughout the year, is the backdrop for many annual events.
December begins with Saturday’s Downtown Novato tree-lighting festival, which started a century ago by local businesses. That year, they paid all expenses, including the electric current for the 100 10-watt lights. Throughout the years, volunteers and sponsors bring the magical spirit of the season to hundreds of families. It features a visit from Santa Claus, musical and dancing performances, crafts and holiday treats.
The new year begins with Novato‘s birthday party to celebrate our community and Novato’s 1960 incorporation. Sponsors support and volunteers plan the elegant event to honor residents who work to make Novato an exceptional place. Safety employees and business award winners are honored, the Spirit of Novato Award is given and the highlight is the surprise announcement of the Citizen of the Year Award winner.
Midyear, we have one of the best Fourth of July parades in the Bay Area. Like other events in Novato, the parade is planned, organized and executed by enthusiastic volunteers.
The popular Novato Downtown Business Association Nostalgia Days auto show and the Chamber of Commerce Art, Wine and Music Festival also depend on many community participants.
As you reflect on your past year and look forward to the new year, please consider getting involved in these or other community activities wherever you may live. You will forge new friendships and experience the innumerable joys and pride that come with participating in and strengthening your community. If you need a jump-start to get involved, consider joining a leadership program in your city or volunteering for a local event.
— Jeanne MacLeamy, Novato
Create government controls, legalize all drugs
After reading the heart-wrenching story about Jessica Schiller’s daughter dying from a fentanyl overdose (“Mill Valley parent reflects on losing daughter to fentanyl,” Nov. 13), I felt the need to say something about these terrible events, which are happening all over our country on a daily basis. Addiction is a scourge that many of us have to deal with, whether it be ourselves or a loved one, it is pervasive in our modern society.
I see the solution being the legalization of all drugs with government controls. Drug dealers are just like all capitalists, they have a product that the public wants. But, instead of delivering that product, they use cheap, readily available fentanyl to doctor the drugs they are selling. It’s time our government takes away the profit motives of these dealers and provide the portion of the public who wants or needs drugs to have access to a clean, unaltered supply.
We have had an endless “war” on drugs since former President Richard Nixon started it in 1973 with the creation of the Drug Enforcement Administration. Since then, the government has spent an incredible amount of money to stop the flow of drugs into our country. It has failed. The money spent on this war needs to be put into education, treatment and allowing those who choose to take drugs to have access to a clean, safe supply.
We can no longer let our children die at the hands of international criminals who simply get richer every day as we spend so much trying to stop them. Many European countries have legalized with great success. Americans have a right to happiness. If that happiness includes drugs, they should be able to get them, register as a drug user and get treatment (if they want it).
At the very least, we must stop the senseless deaths from taking drugs. We owe our children that much.
— Paul Bartolini, Santa Rosa
Golf course grounds are a disappointment
Recently, I drove past San Geronimo Golf Course — or what was the San Geronimo Golf Course before some so-called conservationists bought it to make what I believed would be a beautiful open-space land for residents (“Marin delays decision on purchase of former San Geronimo Golf Course,” Nov. 14).
After all these years, it appears to be nothing more than a huge wasteland. I worry it is perfect for burning if a fire gets in there.
— Bill Hess, Greenbrae
Hospitals did not deserve A rating from Leapfrog
I am writing in regard to the article published Nov. 26 with the headline “Marin’s hospitals get As in latest national survey.” After studying how these ratings are assigned, I realize that an A does not mean much.
The Leapfrog Group rates the hospital on several dimensions, including safety. The latter is its primary focus. When focusing on safety, out of seven different metrics, MarinHealth got three “below average,” two “average” and two “above average” ratings. Meanwhile, Kaiser got two “above average” and five “average” ratings. That seems less than superlative.
Another critical dimension Leapfrog looked at was “problems with surgery.” Out of seven metrics, MarinHealth got one “below average,” four “average” and two “above average” ratings. Kaiser did not submit any data for four out of the seven measures. It got one “above average” and two “average.”
On “infections,” the Novato hospital did not submit any data on four out of six metrics and Kaiser skipped two of six.
Using Leapfrog’s own data, I feel that these hospitals do not deserve an overall A rating.
— Gaetan Lion, Mill Valley
Speaker’s flip to Trump appears to be hypocritical
It’s a very sad day when the speaker of the House demonstrates such hypocrisy. The definition of hypocrisy is “behavior or words that contradict what one claims to believe or feel.”
In 2015, Rep. Mike Johnson said, “The thing about Donald Trump is that he lacks the character and the moral center we desperately need again in the White House.”
In 2023, Johnson changed his tune when he said, “During his 2016 campaign, President Trump quickly won me and millions of my fellow Republicans over. When I got to know him personally shortly after we both arrived in Washington in 2017, I grew to appreciate the person that he is and the qualities about him that made him the extraordinary president that he was.”
What changed from 2015 to now? I worry those “qualities” include the fact that Trump has been impeached twice. He’s also a narcissistic braggadocio who has been indicted with over 90 felony charges. He seems to believe certain dictators are smart and strong. Trump has been convicted of sexual assault. He tried to overthrow a presidential election and is currently being tried for fraudulent business practices. And these “fine qualities” led Johnson to endorse Trump for president?
It’s a sad day. The majority of the Republican Party will never be profiles in courage.
— Dr. Kenneth Olshansky, San Rafael