Page 5 - Delta Living Magazine_october2012

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Smilz,
Charleen Earley
5
’m pulling a quote found on Walter Ruehlig’s
website www.volunteer4antioch.com.
“If you think you are too small to be effective,
you have never been in bed with a mosquito.”
– By Betty Reese.
I love this quote, not only because Betty made me
chuckle, but because of its truth. When it comes to
making a difference in the lives of others, or in this vast
world of over 7 billion people, it’s daunting to believe that
one person can make a difference. But when you change
your perspective, you end up making a change. Which is
what Walter has been doing for many years – see what one
of my journalism students at Deer Valley High School,
Latori Shepherd, wrote about him on page
23
.
Our cover story of Mary Nejedly Peipho on page
20
is about her love for our California Delta and how she’s
doing her part to help preserve this 1,000-mile waterway.
All’s it takes is one person, but then multiply that by how
many people she educates and inspires. See how this
works!
Then there’s Jason Geirser on page
26
, who turned
a tragic motorcycle accident into positive experiences
for him and his family. I found out about Jason through
his proud grandfather who told my sister-in-law Barbara
Smith at the Walmart pharmacy how his grandson walks
like a robot. A real life robot in Discovery Bay, no way.
So when life gets you down, or you feel as though you’re
not making a difference on the third closest planet to the
sun (fifth largest in the galaxy), think about Walter, Mary
and Jason. After they’ve inspired you, take a loved one out
to dinner to Black Bear Diner in Oakley, featured on page
11
or Hannah Nicole Vineyards in Brentwood, page
13
and celebrate the fact that you were not bit by a mosquito
today!
I
C
ounty Supervisor District III Mary Nejedly
Piepho with her husband David and daughter
Mariah holding their Chihuahua Lilly in their back
yard over-looking the Delta. Mary takes a moment
out of her busy work day to tell us about her life and
her passion for the Delta.
ONTHE
COVER
editor’s
letter
Mary Piepho
&Family
Photo by Steve Nosanchuk
See page 20