On May 31 (Memorial Day), 1947, I visited the Courthouse Park for the first time, while moving here from Laredo, Texas, and in those days there was a zoo there at the park. Also in those days, I enjoyed seeing all those animals at the zoo. I was only 16 years old — now I am 78 years.

I enjoyed seeing the alligators, Galahad and Polly the Parrot.

In this last 15 years, while setting up our Eddie Chapa Santa Maria Tri-Tip Booth, we notice that they have made lots of good improvements at the park. It sure looks nice this year, so at this time I would like to congratulate the Madera County Historical Society and the City of Madera for all the work they have done for us.

Now, we can enjoy it during the Old Timers Parade and for other occasions.

Some of the improvements that I have noticed are the John Baker Stage, the two walk-in arches at Yosemite and Gateway and 6th Street. New light poles, new tables and chairs have been added. They replaced the old roof that was in the middle of the park with a gazebo.

Also this year, they put a new roof over the John Baker stage and I am glad because this last few years the Shades of Gray have been playing during the Old Timers festival, along with some other group, and now they can be in the shade.

So, once again, Historical Society and County of Madera, congratulations. See you during the parade.

Eddie Chapa,
Madera

All comments are edited for length and content. Due to content or space limitations some comments may not be published. Please limit your calls to two minutes or less. Repeat messages on the same subject adding to the length will not be published.

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A “longtime Maderan” said this about Old Timers week, “I am looking forward to this week. Like I always have. The parade, the people, the town getting together in the park afterwards; it makes you happy and proud to be from Madera.”

Several calls were received about the lady last week who, when talking of the concession at the football games formerly run by the Evening Lions Club, questioned where the money raised went. She had noted, “Obviously, it didn’t go to the football team because they can’t even afford matching cleats.”

One other caller said, “if the lady who called last week wants to know what the Lions Club does all she had to do was look at today’s (Monday, Sept. 22) paper. Members came out on a Saturday morning to help with the Punt, Pass and Kick contest for the kids.”

A lady said, “the article in Saturday’s (September 13) paper was misleading about Van’s (Studio). They are taking senor pictures for the yearbook, but at a cost of $35. Madera North (High School) will not accept pictures from any other studio for the yearbook.”

Another caller on the same subject had a different viewpoint. “Van’s has been taking senior pictures for years. He is a true professional and helps not only the students, but the community. I do not know of one studio or photographer, and I have checked, who would provide such service. And none of them would even think about giving back to the community like Van’s does.”

A lady was “so happy there are building up the other side of town by Tozer and Yosemite because it was so terrible and so run down.”

A man called about “the Tuesday, September 16 Red Line. Regarding ‘the Republican Headquarters, look at all the white faces.’ The Republican Party is not exclusive to just white people. Anybody could be in that picture.”

A youngster called mentioning school, home and mom, but the message was indiscernible.

“After reading the police log,” a caller “found it quite amusing that they’re citing people for standing in the alley. If they can take the time to do that, I would think they could take the time to take the shopping carts away from the centers. And also the people who intentionally walk against the ‘Do Not Walk’ signs at the traffic signals.”

“We (Madera High) scored 20 points,” said a man. “Just take a look at the scores between the first (string) teams in the first three games they played. Don’t let anybody fool you that they’re getting any better. They scored 20 points against the second or third teams. Please don’t buy into this guy (Coach Blankenship). This guy needs to go. Lets give these kids a fighting chance. He should be carrying himself right out of town.”

“Now that the power pole has been removed for a long time on east Olive Avenue between the new housing developments are they ever going to open the two lanes going east?” asked a gentleman. “They have broke ground for the Crossroads Shopping Center and the Youth Center and I would bet both are finished before the opening of those two lanes to the county offices out Olive Avenue.”

A visitor to the Red Line online, self-identified as “Ken Taylor,” had stopped for lunch in Chowchilla during a summertime multiple-family camping trip and had discovered his trailer’s suspension was broken. He spotted a repair shop and, he writes, “I swear I heard heavenly music playing and saw a halo all around their sign. Could they possibly be open (on a Saturday)? They were. Could they possibly fix my trailer? They could and did in less than an hour — and it was no simple repair.

“The gracious hostess —I can’t believe I forgot her name— seated all 12 of us in her air-conditioned office while a very nice young man stopped everything and slaved away in the hot sun to fix my broken trailer. They could have charged five times more than they did for the repair. We were desperate and completely at their mercy. I actually had to complain that the price was too low but they would not change it. I will always have a fond memory of Chowchilla…”

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Thank you for your calls. Remember, the Red Line is open for your messages 24-hours a day by calling 674-4478, or by visiting www.maderatribuneredline.com.

By Chuck Doud
The Madera Tribune

China’s food-safety chief has quit over the tainted baby formula that has been showing up in Chinese markets and apparently causing kidney failure in Chinese babies. The dairy industry in China apparently has been adding melamine to watered down milk, which went into the formula, to make it appear it had more protein than it actually did.

I don’t know what will happen next to the Chinese food-safety chief, but I doubt he will get a golden parachute. He may be taken away quietly and put into a prison, he may be sent into the countryside and made to labor on a rice farm, he may be put to milking cows, so he will learn what real milk looks like. But for sure, he will no longer enjoy being driven to work in big cars, or be able to delegate work to flunkies, or be able to have lunch in an executive dining room.

In other words, he is very unlike those executives who seem to have run the country’s financial industry into the ground.

Those otherwise unsuccessful executives will get a lot of money when they clean out their desks. Big fat checks and the promise of a nice pension will go with them out the door.

Most Americans find this hard to understand, particularly when the supposedly corrupt Chinese communists seem to be able to hold their high officials accountable for failure as well as rewarding them for success. (The Japanese are even tougher; every once in a while you hear of a failed business executive
falling on his sword.)

Here’s an idea: Instead of sending those failed executives out the door with a pot of gold, make them pay everybody back. Instead of giving them checks, make them write checks. That has a nice ring to it, I think.

By Chuck Doud
The Madera Tribune

A national health initiative called Healthy Aging has declared September to be Healthy Aging Month, according to USA Today, and it is being suggested that people who want to celebrate the month should do such things as walk in malls, run five kilometers, or have a group reading session in which people read aloud from their favorite books.

Mrs. Doud is keeping healthy by walking in malls, but she is getting some shopping in along with the walking, and I’m not so sure shopping counts. I think it does if you buy something heavy and you carry it around while you walk some more, so she should be getting healthier and healthier, which is a good thing.

I walk in malls sometimes, but most of the time, I drive to local stores and buy what I need. I enjoy going to the grocery store, and sometimes I’ll walk around the store a lot because I have forgotten what I went there for and am in hopes that I’ll spot it during the walk and remind myself. Sometimes that works, sometimes not, but I think that may count as much as walking in a mall. Carrying the groceries to the car should count, too.

I have no interest in walking five kilometers or in riding a bicycle, but I do sometimes exercise at my office.

For example, the other day I put my hand in the pocket where I keep my car keys and accidently thumbed my key fob. My car alarm went off, and I had to get up, walk outside and see whether it was my car just honking because I brushed against the key fob or if somebody was breaking into it. That happens two or three times a week. With that and walking around the grocery store, I am feeling healthier by the day.

By Chuck Doud
The Madera Tribune

The federal government has taken over Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, and now is buying out American International Group, the insurance company, and it also looks like the feds will have to invest another $400 billion or $500 billion in buying up bad mortgages and other securities.

Mrs. Doud and I have been thinking that given the government’s present generous frame of mind, it might be a good idea to get a federal bailout loan for ourselves, while the getting is good. We have a few bad investments on our books, and it would be nice if Uncle Sam would take them off our hands.

For instance, there is this bag of cat food that I bought that the cat won’t touch. It is a highly rated cat food, and pictures on the bag show very happy-looking cats appearing to be ecstatic at the prospect of diving into the bowl that the cat owner is putting in front of them. Our cat took one sniff at her bowl of this cat food, turned and walked away. The next day, the cat food was still there, and so was the cat, looking unhappy and making unpleasant noises. It would be nice to be repaid for this cat food so we could get a bag of the old food that we know the cat likes.

Also, I bought a T-shirt a few months ago that is about three sizes too large, and when I put it on, it makes me look like a homeless person, so I never wear it. I would take it back to the store, but I bought it while on vacation out of town. I would like Uncle Sam to pay me for this shirt so I can get one I like. I would also throw in a hat I bought on the same trip, and also a pair of undershorts that doesn’t fit.

It would be nice not to be held accountable for my bad judgment — er — I mean luck.

You need to know the facts about our health care reform legislation now on the governor’s desk for signature.

We can end the health care crisis, and California has the right plan do to it: SB 840 (Kuehl).

A clear majority (62 percent) of California’s legislators approved it, 70 percent of all Californians want it and 59 percent of our physicians support it. And a massive grass roots movement is working hard to make it happen here in California.

Yes, we know the governor called this bill “socialized medicine” in 2006. But he knows full well that SB 840 is a not-for-profit, single-payer health insurance plan much like Medicare. The government won’t own or run medical services.

Austria and all other developed nations know a non-profit, guaranteed health insurance system is the only affordable and fair way to assure health security for all residents: Full care, for all, for life, for less.

Private insurance wastes 33 percent of every health care dollar on administration and corporate profits. Medicare costs just 3 percent to administer. SB 840 and single payer are inevitable. The insurance and drug lobby knows it. And the governor knows it.

Only the governor has the power to truly lead California to real health care reform. I urge the governor to sign SB 840, California’s Universal Health Care Act
Over 500 endorsing organizations, including businesses, city councils, churches, unions and statewide organizations and millions of Californians vigorously support SB 840.

Rena Soddy,
Chowchilla

In response to Mr. Fred “irked” Thomas’s letter, I would agree only with the first sentence of his long, rambling diatribe. I also hope many Americans, especially in California, aren’t as “dumb” as in the last presidential election.

Thankfully, the rest of the nation bailed us out and elected Bush instead of Gore. This election will be the easiest to decide because there is really only one qualified candidate running for president of the United States.

During the primaries, both Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden stated in the debates that Barack Obama was inexperienced and not ready to be president. That is still true today.

Mr. Thomas lamented on the bad storms, and on global warming, the drought in California and that the San Luis Reservoir is about dry. Mr. Thomas, mother nature, or God, if you will, will trump either party anytime, so quit whining that these are the fault of the Republican Party.

It hurt him to have to admit that we are winning this war in Iraq, we did not quit and run, and the “surge” has worked. Naturally, he will not give President Bush or General Petraeus any credit. He even says the terrorists have already won and he sounds a lot like Sen. Harry Reid, who said a couple of years ago that we had lost the war in Iraq.

Wrong, wrong, wrong.

Some months ago a U.S. warship launched a rocket and hit a satellite that was about to fall into the earth’s atmosphere. I know of no other nation that could have done such a thing, but if Obama had been president we could not have done that.

This was a big deal. Obama has said he will cut U.S. space technology and push for nuclear disarmament.

He would be a disaster as a commander in chief. Carter weakened our armed forces during his tenure and Reagan had to build them up again.

Just a word about John McCain’s pick for his vice president. I had never heard of Sarah Palin before he selected her but I have been learning more about her and begin to believe more and more that he made a good choice, and he had several to pick from. She actually has more executive experience than either of the Democratic candidates.

Frank Bradford,
Madera

On Sept. 9, as promised the Madera County Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 to sign the siting agreement with the state for a re-entry facility to be built in Madera County.

There was talk about collaboration between Fresno County and Madera County. Yet, there is none of what I would call collaboration between Madera and Fresno counties. We get stuck with the prison and they get to put prisoners in it.

I am not sure if the supervisor that made the motion was not listening or just did not understand. As the motion was being made a supervisor said, “We will move forward cautiously.” Madera County Counsel Dave Prentice had just explained that this was a binding contract. The only way the County has to get out of it is if the State does not pay. Not much caution there. The state, however, can back out of the deal at any time.

Madera County just signed on the dotted line.

Dale Drozen,
Coarsegold

By Chuck Doud
The Madera Tribune

It is beginning to look to me that the law which makes it mandatory that we use hands-free devices while talking on the cell phones in our cars is being ignored by quite a few people in Madera.

Just Thursday, I saw four people holding their cell phones in one hand and driving with the other. If I had had red and blue flashing lights on my car top, and a gun and a badge, I would have pulled them over and given them a good talking to.

But actually, I was able to only pull one of them over, and I gave the old boy a good talking to. After much consideration, I let him off without a ticket.

You might be saying to me at this point, “where do you get off pulling people over? You are not a cop. You are just an old fuddy duddy in an old fuddy duddymobile. You could get pulled over yourself for impersonating an officer.”

The answer to that question is pretty easy. The scofflaw I pulled over was yours truly.

Yes, I was one of those holding my cell phone in one hand and driving with the other. Old habits are hard to break. Also, I don’t have a hands-free device. I’m not sure I know what one is. When my cell phone rang, I forgot all about the law and answered the phone. And as I drove west on Yosemite, talking away, I spotted another guy talking on his cell phone, and I thought, “look at that jerk talking on his cell phone.”

Only then did I realize that I, too, was talking on my cell phone. Of course, I am not a jerk — just the other guy is. My conversation was important, the other driver’s couldn’t have been. And I did pull over to finish talking, and I’m sure the jerk didn’t.

Just don’t tell Mrs. Doud about this, or she will take my cell phone away.

By Chuck Doud
The Madera Tribune

As you read this, the stock market may be falling some more, another big bank or two may be collapsing, and the Federal Reserve may be getting out its wallet again to keep the financial system running instead of watching it collapse more.

A lot of critics are blaming the banks who made the loans that were defaulted that led to the crisis, and it is true those banks were much at fault. They made loans that under normal banking rules would never have been granted, and they had to know, from a fiduciary standpoint, that what they were doing wasn’t right, and may have been morally wrong as well.

But that aside, there is more blame to pass along, and that is to those who took out these loans and then decided not to pay them. These people knowingly signed up to buy houses that were far more expensive than they could afford, and then, when it became evident they would have to either make sacrifices or work harder to make their mortgage payments, they turned around and left.

It would be easier to feel sorry for them if it weren’t for the fact that most people are toughing it out and paying their mortgages, even those adjustable rate mortgages, which have reset to higher interest rates. And these people who are continuing to pay their mortgages are coming off as financial heroes of sorts.

Each circumstance is different, of course. Some people who have given up their homes had no choice, but many just walked away, and they should not be surprised if they never have another chance to buy a house.

The days of rock ’n’ roll lending are over, which is a good thing, and let’s hope it’s replaced by a return to banking practices.