Author’s note: The tape recording of the newspaper meeting began shortly after the meeting started so, regrettably, this document does not include remarks by several community members. In transcribing the tape, I made the best attempt I could to understand each speaker, although at times it was impossible to hear each word. Rather than editing for the written page, my decision was to literally transcribe the spoken words and punctuate as best I could. Other than words that I could not understand, nothing was edited out. The style of the meeting was informal; a cordless microphone was passed around as people requested it until everyone felt satisfied that they had said what they came to say. Robert Plotkin, editor of the Point Reyes Light, was in attendance the whole time and gradually participated in the community conversation. Some of the comments were directed to him. On the whole, the tone of each person’s comments was spirited, serious and eloquent. The value of this document continues as others read it and ponder the seriousness of the issues raised here.

—Elizabeth Whitney, meeting organizer

Sim Van der Ryn: I moved back here because I feel this is a positive place and this is a place that has a lot of potential, that still feels like a community, even though it has changed a lot. I’d like a paper that reflected the positive—obviously, you have to have some things that are negative. But I think the ones that have been in the paper have been pretty stupid and disgusting. Saying the cemetery is “spooky” in a small town to me doesn’t honor the dignity of the people that are in that cemetery who lived here, who are our ancestors. Maybe it makes a Halloween story but I...

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