Marin’s Homeless
I would have liked Kasia Pawlowska’s article (“Falling Through the Cracks,” March) to have included the ages or approximate ages of those featured throughout the article. Since 30 percent of Marin’s population is 60 or older and the aging of Marin is increasing, it is important to point out how old many of the homeless are and how old they were when they fell into homelessness. These people were born and raised in Marin, worked their entire lives here, and due to the increased cost of housing, the low level of Social Security checks, the lack of subsidized housing for seniors and what it costs now to be on Medicare, many Marin seniors have been pushed into homelessness. Women, who have been paid less than their male counterparts their entire working lives and thus get very little in Social Security, are falling more quickly into homelessness. A follow-up story should be done on Marin’s seniors who are homeless through no fault of their own.
ANGELA GOTT, SAN RAFAEL
Big Thanks
Wonderful article about Marin Museum of Contemporary Art (Conversation, February). I’m honored and excited to be featured in the issue. A special thanks to writer Kirsten Jones Neff and photographer Debra Tarrant — they did a great job.
HEIDI LAGRASTA, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MARINMOCA, VIA LINKEDIN
Helping Seniors
I was sorry not to see Marin Villages on your list of 25 nonprofits (POV, “Good Deeds,” December). Our senior population in Marin County is the fastest growing in the state. Marin Villages’ mission is to help seniors stay in their homes and be able to age with dignity and independence. From July 2013 through June 2016 our volunteers fulfilled 5,600 service requests from our members, including driving trips to medical appointments and social engagements, tech help, companionship, pet walking, gutter cleanouts, high lightbulb changes, plant watering, any number of things. We now have eight villages throughout Marin. We provide the services listed above plus numerous social activities and events to help keep seniors engaged.
DELLIE WOODRING, CHAIR, MARIN VILLAGES ADVISORY COUNCIL
Go Parks
I receive your monthly magazine and I look forward to every issue — they are terrific. The national parks in your backyard was the most interesting story to me in the September issue (“Park-a-Palooza”). I was born in Sonora in 1922. My mother died early and my father had my grandmother raise me in her Sonora home. My first trip away from home was to visit a cousin in Yosemite. The bus entered the back roadway in the valley and traffic was allowed one way in and one way back. I sat near the back window with the rear of the bus hanging over the cliffs. I was about 11 years old then and am now 94. Later, I visited the park many times, camping at Curry on the River. Bears would come into the campsites at night and sleep overhead in the trees. The fact the National Park Service turned 100 last year does excite me. California has five national parks in Northern California. How lucky we are.
DOLLIE FRAUENS, SAN ANSELMO
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