Opinion

Well folks, it’s that time of the year once again. No, not the NBA playoffs, (no San Antonio Spurs this year), but rather election time.

The City of Alpine and Keep Alpine Beautiful hosted multiple beautification events in April. On April 10 Cub Scouts Pack 141 removed 269 pounds of trash and 60 pounds of recyclables from Alpine Creek and from the golf course bridge through Medina Park.

Sometimes I catch myself as I explain to 19 and 20-yearolds what life was like before Al Gore invented the internet. “In my day, if you wanted to read an old newspaper, you had to walk over to the library.” I actually said this.

Left with the cob In December 1991 the leaders of Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine dissolved the Soviet Union. At that time Ukraine held one third of the Soviet nuclear arsenal amounting to 1,700 warheads.

Alpine’s newest gathering place, Alpine Wine and Bistro, is top notch. The wine list has something for everyone, the charcuterie boards are plentiful and delicious. But what marks Alpine Wine and Bistro as truly outstanding is the lead waiter, George Barrow. A newcomer to Alpine from New Orleans, George knows how to make guests comfortable, explain everything on the menu, and as a bonus is a great conversationalist.

Are we forgetting something? Nearly everyone on both sides of the aisle says we can’t put “boots on the ground” in Ukraine because they are not a NATO member. But what about our 28-year-old promise that if Ukraine would get rid of its nukes, we would defend it against any and all attacks? When did that get repealed? And wasn’t Russia a signatory to that agreement? Why must we go back to the old isolationist regime that got us into World War I and again into World War II? Yes, virtually all the polls say we are “tired of war” and should not get involved.

There is a mayoral election Saturday, May 7, with early voting April 25-May 3 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. The candidates are Catherine Eaves and Amit Rangra. There seems to be an enormous amount of voter apathy in Alpine for city elections, and only we can change that and let your vote be your voice.

Where did all the nurses go? One of my family members ended up in the ER for a week after a bad fall. The hospital we chose and its staff were wonderful in every way, but this time one important thing was missing - an appropriate number of nurses to deliver superior care.

Troubled times are here Troubled times are here. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see folks are nervous, irritable, worried, and, yes, downright scared.

This should make Americans ask the fundamental question, “What is the difference between what a public non-profit utility company provides and what a private for-profit oil company provides?” After all they both sell energy to all U.S. citizens.