California has seen an increase in norovirus. Help stop the spread | Opinion

Be aware of norovirus spread

“‘Very contagious’ vomiting virus surging in West. How to stay safe in California,” (sacbee.com, Dec. 9)

Winter is often associated with colds, but this season, another illness has been especially prominent. As a medical resident, I’ve noticed a marked increase in norovirus cases, which has also been widely reported in the news due to high outbreak numbers across California. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, norovirus spreads year-round, but most outbreaks occur between November and April — when many people spend more time indoors and in close contact.

Norovirus is extremely contagious and can spread rapidly through households, schools and workplaces. Unlike many respiratory viruses, alcohol-based hand sanitizer does not reliably kill norovirus. Frequent handwashing with soap and water, especially after using the restroom and before eating, is the most effective way to prevent infection. Disinfecting commonly touched surfaces and staying home for at least 48 hours after symptoms resolve are also key steps in limiting spread.

Consistent prevention can make a real difference for our community.

Monique Cantu DO

Fresno

River District needs city’s attention

“Blue Diamond looms large in Sacramento. The site’s future is an open question,” (sacbee.com, Dec. 18)

While the owners of Blue Diamond have decided to move on, contemplating how to market their 53-acre facility, one has to wonder to what extent the continued decay of the River District played in the decision to vacate the site.

A close review of how the city has treated neighborhoods in the River District is warranted. One developer planning a mixed-use development nearby the Blue Diamond plant describes the district as “one of the best-positioned, nascent parts” of the real estate market in Sacramento. But how is this so? The city’s efforts to ameliorate the situation have proven unsuccessful, despite years of concern from the community.

Bill Motmans

Sacramento

A different opinion on BioMAT

“CPUC must extend BioMAT to fight wildfires and protect jobs,” (sacbee.com, Dec. 17)

This op-ed misrepresents the realities of biomass energy. Contrary to claims of being climate-friendly, biomass combustion releases significant carbon dioxide and harmful particulates, undermining California’s carbon reduction goals.

Studies show that biomass plants emit more CO2 than natural gas, challenging the idea of “carbon neutrality” in forest waste. Furthermore, while removing dead trees helps reduce fuel loads, relying on biomass is not the most effective wildfire prevention strategy.

Alternatives like prescribed burns and community fire-hardening are more cost-effective. Economically, Bioenergy Market Adjusting Tariff (BioMAT) subsidies increase electricity costs for ratepayers, diverting funds from cheaper, cleaner sources such as solar and wind. The state has ample opportunities to expand its clean energy portfolio without supporting biomass. BioMAT is not the sustainable path forward for California’s communities and environment.

Jennifer Normoyle

Hillsborough

Protect BioMAT program

“CPUC must extend BioMAT to fight wildfires and protect jobs,” (sacbee.com, Dec. 17)

As a Calaveras County Supervisor, I am concerned that the California Public Utility Commission’s plan to terminate the Bioenergy Market Adjusting Tariff (BioMAT) undermines California’s wildfire prevention strategy and rural economic goals.

Restoring forest health is a public safety priority, yet the proactive thinning needed generates excess biomass that must be removed. Without a viable market, that material has to be burned or left as potential fuel for wildfires. In calling for increased investment in biomass energy, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Jobs First Council recognized the role these facilities play in safety, wildfire risk reduction and rural economies.

In Calaveras County, we secured $1.4 million in California Jobs First funding for a 3-megawatt facility converting forest waste into renewable energy and biochar. Without BioMAT’s stable power market, that investment and its local jobs may never materialize.

Crucial projects at various stages are at risk, including $30 million in federal grants West Biofuels received to develop statewide BioMAT projects. Loss of the BioMAT program undermines the governor’s economic blueprint and increases wildfire risk. I urge Newsom to intervene and protect this vital program for rural communities.

Amanda Folendorf

Supervisor, Calaveras County District 4

Trump the philistine

“Kennedy Center board votes to add Trump to name,” (sacbee.com, Dec. 18)

President Donald Trump’s presumptuous addition of his name to the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is nothing less than sacrilege and hypocritical beyond belief.

Trump is a philistine: He wants to abolish the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities; he cancelled federal funding for the Public Broadcasting System and National Public Radio; and he cannot be bothered to invite distinguished artists to perform at the White House.

What he’s done is a grievous insult to one of the nation’s most prestigious cultural institutions.

Sharon Dalrymple

Woodbridge