Invasive exotic

We always look forward to our Ventana. Lots of good info. But isn’t that iceplant on your front cover?

—Edna Vollmer, Santa Cruz

Stop unwanted catalogs

Yesterday marked the beginning of a season that seems to be starting earlier each year. I received my first catalog of Christmas items on July 18th! If you’re someone who works hard to minimize the amount of waste originating from your home, the first holiday catalog is an unwelcome harbinger of future trips to the recycling bin. If you want to remove your name from these mailing lists, I have some advice to pass on.

Contacting the companies behind these catalogs and asking to be removed from their list has turned out to be only a temporary measure. The catalogs cease showing up in my mailbox for three or four months and then resume, probably after an updated list is received.

While companies must advertise to attract new customers, the volume of solicitations seems excessive. I was averaging a catalog about every other day. To be removed from direct mail advertising lists, send a letter including your name, address and telephone number to the following address: Mail Preference Service, Direct Marketing Association P.O. Box 9008, Farmingdale, NY 11735-9008. Simply state that you wish to be removed from their list. By law, they must comply. There will be a lag time of up to three months depending upon how often the various companies sending you catalogs update their lists, so a little patience is required. Good luck and Merry Christmas!

—Julianne Rhodes, Santa Cruz

Too many straws

I am writing to express my opinion on the upcoming election to the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District Board. I will be giving my support to candidates that can see the “big” picture of what is at stake for the environment if Cal Am is allowed to proceed with its proposed desal plant in Moss Landing. Don’t think for one second that this is just an issue for Monterey County. This is an issue for any county that surrounds us as well. The proposed desal plant will be large enough to add many straws to the fountain.

—Paula Lotz, Carmel Valley