This is in response to the article on the water and sewer rate hike in American Canyon (“Water rate hike draws fire in AmCan,” Jan. 24). When a city council turns a deaf ear to the voice of the residents, the residents have to speak a little louder to be heard.

Seven long years ago, a new president submitted his first budget - an optimistic document now relevant only as a chastening artifact of a bygone era. In that “Blueprint for New Beginnings,” George W. Bush grappled with the supposed challenge of dealing with a projected surplus of $5.6 trillion over the next decade.

Dear editor, In response to Charles Belcher’s letter, “Napa is home to courteous drivers,” on Jan. 25, I would have to say that I agree that there are courteous drivers who are not acknowledged enough. I have to admit that I am one of those drivers who will slow down to let someone into heavy traffic (so long as the person behind me isn’t too close, or the traffic isn’t moving too fast), or I will stop for pedestrians. I try to let other drivers in when I can, without disrupting the people behind me and while being courteous to other people. But, there are only a select few people who do these good acts of kindness.

Dear editor, To the Emergency Room staff at Queen of the Valley Medical Center: I would like to express my sincere appreciation and gratitude for all that you did for my daughter, Brittany Scott, on the afternoon of Jan. 27. Even though Brittany was extremely upset and resisted treatment, Justine, Cori, Joel and Dr. Richard Bernini (I apologize if I’ve gotten any names wrong), all treated Brittany with the utmost patience and respect. I know we didn’t make your jobs easy that day, but you went out of your way to make an unpleasant situation much more bearable. For that, on behalf of Brittany and myself, I thank you.

Dear editor, Well, contrary to what the CEO of a French bottle company says, this here is one voter who would definitely vote for and encourage, the permits for a bottle manufacturing company right here in Napa, out by the airport (“Bringing in the bottles,” Jan. 29). Absolutely. We need the jobs. We need the tax revenue. And, hey, we need the bottles! Do I have to point out the obvious impracticality of shipping breakable bottles all the way from France? Two-Buck Chuck Fred Franzia has it right when he factors in the diesel-driving hours that a Napa-based bottle-making factory would save, decreasing emissions by more than 32,000 tons! I cannot believe any thinking environmentalist would object to that, contrary to your article. Of course, that French CEO doesn’t think it’s realistic, but who cares what he thinks? Build it and they will come.

Dear editor, I originally decided to write in and say thank you to the three people that stopped and asked me if I was OK after an accident, as many others just turned around and left, afraid of getting out in the wind and sprinkles. But I decided to note to the public that there was a little more to a story that ran on the front page of your newspaper.

Some voters cast their ballots in the presidential primary race early with an absentee ballot. But because the political landscape can change quickly, many of those votes went for phantom candidates that had dropped out of the race. Should voters wait until election day to cast their ballot?

the $178 million Napa Valley College bond measure appears to have lost, so now what do college administrators do?