To the Editor: Were you perplexed as I was over the May “Health in Humboldt 2026” issue of Senior News? As in this issue, recent local forums have addressed the current defective state of healthcare availability in Humboldt County. While pertinent questions have been asked along with recognition that our curr...

To the Editor: I want to thank Dr. Heidmann for her March column “What is Good Health?” As a participant of Redwood Coast PACE, I was encouraged by her words and insights. I live daily with chronic illness and pain, and her last paragraph has become a great way for me to focus on my health: “Good health is, a...

To the Editor: Thank you, Senior News, for sharing information about and keeping us updated on local efforts to improve access to medical care here in Humboldt County [“Health in Humboldt 2026,” May Senior News]. I was especially glad to learn about the local businesses and public organization leaders coming ...

To the Editor: We’ve left Humboldt County, our home for 50 years. It wasn’t our choice, but we chose to. We moved to New York City because of age, because our children and grandchildren are here and for access to medical care. It’s a mixed bag. We don’t own a car, which is fine. We live in an apartment. We ha...

To the Editor: As a Board member of Tri-County Independent Living, I agree with Tim Haskett that there are many barriers for the disabled community to navigate in our area [“Challenges of Accessibility,” May Senior News, page 6]. I believe that improvements to accessibility have taken place in Humboldt County...

To the Editor: As elders, our mission is to set the table for the upcoming generations — our biological family and planetary family. As such, we’ve not only got the forks on the wrong side of the plates, but the plates are currently upside down and the napkins besmirched. We’ve got some work to do! One of the...

To the Editor: The May issue of Senior News (“Health in Humboldt 2026”) is much appreciated from first page to last. Special thanks to Julie Fulkerson for “It’s Just Wrong” (page 6), as more of the same continues when vindictive, narcissistic, divisive, lying behavior by our president becomes familiar week af...

Dear John Heckel: I am an avid reader of the Senior News here in Santa Cruz. I, too, am a carepartner. I am so truly sorry for your loss. I am so happy, however, that Lucy has come into your life [“Lucy the Lifesaver,” April Senior News]. We have two dogs and five cats, and they are a great addition to our li...

To the Editor: Throughout various professional and civic roles, Mary Burke has shown that she knows how to bring people together to improve our environment and our communities. One of her recent accomplishments here in McKinleyville is the Baduwa’t Project at the end of School Road, which improved salmon habi...

To the Editor: I had the pleasure of working with Mary Burke when I was chair of the McKinleyville Community Services District Parks & Recreation Committee and Mary served as MCSD liaison to this committee. In my experience, Mary was always prepared, knowledgeable and creative in her work for our community. M...

To the Editor: I’ve known Mary Burke for years and look forward to her becoming the next District 5 Humboldt County supervisor for several reasons. She brings people together: During her tenure with both McKinleyville Community Services District and the McKinleyville Advisory Committee, she has shown that she...

To the Editor: I wholeheartedly support Mary Burke for supervisor. Beryl Feldman, McKinleyville

To the Editor: I’m honored to be a teammate for Blood Cancer United’s Team in Training campaign, and I’m writing to ask for your support as I work to help advance their mission: ensuring access to cures and treatments for blood cancers. This June, I’ll be fulfilling a long‑held dream by bicycling 100 miles at...

To the Editor: The June 2 primary election is VERY important as regards the California gubernatorial race. Something to get informed about! It’s coming right up. Be ready to VOTE! Laurel Wanner, Blue Lake

To the Editor: This letter is prompted by John Heckel’s recent articles, “I Need a Hug” and “After Janet.” In November 2024, after 52 years, I lost my wife, Judy Little. Much of what John wrote about the loss of his wife rings true for this widower. Judy suffered from COPD and dementia, both of which grew wor...

To the Editor: This letter comes in response to the great stories and experiences your writers so wonderfully shared with all your readers in the March issue [“The Reading Habit”]. I grew up around books. Our mother read us a story most nights before bedtime until we got into reading ourselves and checking ou...

To the Editor: Thank you for the acknowledgement of Redwood Coast Village’s 10th anniversary [Tasha Romo, “Redwood Coast Village — 10 Years of Aging Well,” March Senior News, page 11].

To the Editor: Editor’s Note: Columnist John Heckel received this as an email. With the sender’s permission, we include it as a letter to the editor.

To the Editor: Hello John. You don’t know me, but I feel I know you a bit from following your columns in the Senior News for many months. I appreciate your honesty in describing your life and challenges with your wife, Janet. How difficult it must be to balance all the emotions after saying your last goodbye....

To the Editor: For years, I’ve been distressed about the anger and disrespect between the political Left and Right in our nation and in Humboldt County. I was a staunch Democrat most of my life, but in 2015-2016 something unexpected happened. I had volunteered with Betty Chinn for a couple of years and wanted...